Mimicking the .30BR

[homefront]

I have a stock Savage Model 11, in 7mm-08. I target shoot for my own pleasure and have access to 100, 300 and 600 yard shooting ranges (I seldom use the 600). I'm interested in rebarreling it to something with less recoil and less report, using a .30 caliber bore. I want to maintain the repeating feature and use the same detachable mag.

Researching the possibilities led me to this article on the 30BR, which sounds very interesting: http://www.6mmbr.com/30br.html

The gist seems to be that the 30BR throws relatively light 110-120gr bullets at nearly 3,000fps through a slow (1:17") twist barrel. It says the cartridge is capable of excellent accuracy to at least 300 yards and that recoil is on the light side, as is powder use. However, this cartridge cannot be used in a repeating rifle due to the short case length.

I was thinking of having a barrel maker chamber a 1:15 twist barrel (a bit faster than 1:17, for some flexibility) in 300 Savage. The 300 Savage has a case capacity just slightly greater than the 30BR. All of this would enable me to shoot the lighter .30 caliber bullets and keep the repeating feature, as well as use slightly heavier bullets if I desire.

I'd appreciate any thoughts, pro or con, or suggestions on this idea.

 

[JohnHenry]

I was looking for a lower recoil deer cartridge that also was excellent for some informal target shooting. I chose a 6.5X47 Lapua with a no turn .295 nd, .100 freebore in a 22 inch #5 weight 1 in 8" twist barrel. With a .100 freebore and a bullet seated at the lands, the loaded round is compatible with a Remington 700 SA magazine. Use quality Lapua brass and quality 6.5X47 dies are readily available. Plus, the 6.5X47 Lapua in a 1 in 8" twist will perform well at your 600 yard range if desired. All was smithed by a top gunsmith located approx. 90 miles from you. Just one of numerous options you may want to consider.

PS: I believe the water capacity of the 6.5X47 Lapua is approx. 5% less than the 300 Savage.

 

[homefront]

Thanks, JohnHenry.

I had considered that cartridge. The others I looked at were the 250 Savage and 6.5-250, both of which might be easier to get brass for than the Lapua. I think all of these would work with my DBM.

Decisions, decisions....

 

[2506]

I have a Ruger 77 short action with a Canjar trigger with a varmint 24" barrel in 30X47. The case is made by taking the 300 Savage and moving the shoulder back 10 thousands inch but leaving the case the over all length of the 300 Savage thus giving you a good neck for proper bullet seating and tension. This caliber was used a while back for hunter bench rest. It gave 100% load density with 40 grs. IMR 4895 and would drive a 168 gr Sierra Match King 2600 fps which is supposed to be the optimum velocity for best accuracy at 100 yards in which the hunter bench rest matches were shot at. Mine has a 1 X 10 twist. I have never tried 110 gr bullets but it will shoot Nosler ballistic tips and Speer TNTs 125s at 2850 fps with a compressed load of 42 grs IMR 4895 and shoots bug holes for accuracy. It will shoot almost any bullet between 125 and 168 gr that I have tried with outstanding accuracy. With the heavy varmint barrel recoil is very light. It feeds from the magazine perfectly. Foster and RCBS make dies for this caliber. I have RCBS dies that came with the rifle. I got it in an estate sale and it had a Lyman 12 power target scope on it and the rifle had less than 200 rounds shot through it. The fellow had just had it made and got sick and died. He kept extensive records on every rifle he had as to shots fired, loads, targets and measurements etc. I got the whole works for about the cost of the scope alone. ;D

 

[fm1947]

since you have a savage you can get a barrel from shilen that just screws on easily with you existing nut they have a chamber 30x47Lapua all you would need to do is neck up some 6.5x47 lapua brass, then buy a PTG go gauge for 6 or 6.5x47L.

 

[homefront]

The .30x47 HBR sounds like it may be the ticket.

Again, I would go with a slower twist, like 14 or so, to throw 120gr bullets.

Thanks for all the input and the PM's!

 

[fm1947]

If you go to their site you can match your twist to bullet http://www.shilen.com/ you can also send them a dummy round and they will set the lands to it.

 

[JohnHenry]

If you want a 30 caliber, +1 for fm1947's recommendation. If you go the 30X47 HBR route, as Randy Robinette points out in the following link there is a difference in case web diameter between a 300 Savage parent case and other parent cases. The 6.5X47 Lapua case has a web diameter of approx. .470 which is greater than the 300 Savage. In my opinion, the Lapua case is certainly the preferred parent case for a 30X47.
http://bench-talk.com/articles/benchrest/256.html

 

[fm1947]

JohnHenry, I didn't know about the case web difference, but one thing I do know what ever Randy says is fact, that's for sure.

 

[GSPV]

The OP was worried about availability of 6.5x47 Lapua brass. That would apply equally to the 30x47L, of course.

Rest assured, 6.5x47 Lapua brass is but a few clicks away at any of several sites dedicated to precision reloading.

I use Lapua brass in all my target cases. None better.

For hunting applications, Winchester brass gets the nod for money reasons.

 

[fm1947]

Yes I just checked yesterday Butches Reloading has the best price at $101