Need Savage/Stevens advice for 6mmBR

[2700tenx]

I want to build an accurate long range prairie dog gun and want some advice. I want to use a 6mmBr cartridge and would only be using the action if I buy a complete factory rifle. I'm also doing all my own work, including building my own barrel block stock. I don't plan on carrying the rifle all day, either.

I considered going with a Stevens rifle, the only problem is that it has a blind magazine. If I go with a magazine, I would probably want a hinged floorplate. Also would want suggestions as far as what caliber to go with to ease feeding of the 6mmbr cartridge if I went with a factory rifle.

This leads to buying a factory Savage rifle. But if I go that route, I may as well go with their precision actions. The main thing I would want to know on these is the difference between the target action, varmint action, and the sporter action. They all appear to be single shot, which I can live with. So I'm assuming there is no cutout on the lower side. I know that some custom builders have a tolerance differences between the target and the varmint actions. The only differences I can see is the target trigger and chrome-moly vs. stainless.

Any suggestions or comments on prior experience would be appreciated.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Matt:
If it was me trying to build a rifle,I've already got 2 and thinking about another ),
I would go with a Stevens action. They can be had for a pretty good price at Wally World.,so I'am told) Sell the barrel and stock.
As far as the blind mag, install a "single shot follower" and you won't have to deal with feeding problems from the mag.,that can be a pain to sort out) Pull the ejector rod and spring out of the bolt head and pick your brass off with your fingers. I'am able to feed 2 or 3 rounds with out too much trouble but I prefer the single shot style.
Go with a .243,.308 or .06 base rifle, add a Rifle Basix trigger and you're good to go. Just about any caliber will do for a build. Just change the bolt head. Takes about 5 minutes.
Install the barrel of your choice and get to shooting.
The barrel will probably cost more than what you pay for the complete rifle. The only difference would be that the Stevens would'nt be stainless. Got a Savage in blue that's the same thing. This one started life as a .204.,I wanted the action to build from ) Sold the barrel and stock before it was ever fired. It's been a .204, .221 Fireball,.223,6BR and now it's a 22 BR. A real fun shooter. Hope that helps, Mike.

 

[cliffe]

hi matt, i've been using the stevens model 200 action for a cheap target rifle also. i rebarreled to a 6.5-284 shilen barrel, since then i have been getting the parts together for 2 friends to build something similar. for triggers i've been using the one fred moreo sells, cheaper than rifle basix and work great. have also been getting the machined lug from fred moreo as well.
the only problems are stocks. the latest short action, the front action screw has been moved ahead about an eighth of an inch so alot of the stocks available won't work. choate is going to have a ult. varminter stock available pretty soon and have been waiting for one to complete another 6.5-284, this one has a brux barrel on it and am itching to shoot it. the other one is a long action which hasn't changed so the stock showed up right away, but still waiting on the barrel.
if you put together your own, it's always a little different from the factory guns,different is good cliffe

 

[pdog06]

the Stevens action is a great choice for an affordable prarie doggin rig. It is basically the same action as the Savage pre-accutrigger. Just add a Sharpshooter Supply trigger and your good to go.

I'm actually in the middle of doing the exact same thing. I have a pre-accutrigger long action with a SSS trigger that I'm trying to decide what caliber barrel to go with.

cliffe,
Choate actually does have the UV stock available for the newer centerfeed action. I have one on my model 12 centerfeed. It doesnt list it on their site but it is available. So now you can finish that build. If you still cannot find it pm me, I may sell mine to order a custom from SSS.

mike

 

[Thorbird]

The Savage standard small shank target action works great as well. I have to guns built on those and they accept most available short action stocks.

Hey NorCalMike, What is that stock you have on that great looking rig pictured? SSS? Which one?

 

[NorCalMikie]

Thorbird:
That stock was custom made by Joel Russo. It's his A5L.,A5 in laminated wood) A real "eye catcher". It's called "San Francisco Camo". Any color you could imagine. He has different styles too. Super nice looking and it tracks like it's on rails.
He will build one "any way you want it" :thumb: and a good man to deal with.

 

[2700tenx]

I guess I should have stressed that choosing the caliber was only for feeding with a magazine. Otherwise I would only pick one that is easy to sell.
In regards to Wal-mart. The Superstore in our town no longer sells firearms and I was told by 2010 Wal-Mart will no longer sell them. I do have a Gander Mountain nearby and a private FFL dealer I can deal with. Sorry for the short interjection.
I was going to go with a short action with a .308 boltface to strengthen the action as opposed to the long action. Do I need to remove the ejector rod? Should I sleeve the action for strength or leave it alone.
Does anyone have experience with the precision Savage actions? Would like to hear your opinion also.
I have noticed small shank mentioned in several places now. I know there is long action and short action. What is the differences/advantages on shank size and how do I determine which is which from the catalog?
Thank you for your responses.

 

[NorCalMikie]

I havn't tried it yet but my plan is go with a "large shank",magnum action) with a straight taper barrel. For sure it won't be a "pack gun".
Check you prices and see what you can come up with. Think about a "used" rifle as a doner? Anything to keep the cost down and get you started. Think "pawn shop". Might find a "deal" to work with. Wal-Mart stopped selling guns in our area too. :,
Seems like the "target action" are the larger shanks?? Someone might correct me if I'am wrong.
Magnum actions are "large shank"?? Most calibers .223 .243, .308 would be small shank. Again, I've only delt with the small shank actions.,so far)

 

[2700tenx]

I am looking into a used gun as a possibility. Hard to find what you want when you wanted unless you go through a supply house. Originally was going to go with a Rem 700 and actually got a .270 for $375 in good condition, minus iron sights. Didn't mind going through all the extra work since I was going to do it myself. But after reading some of this sites posts over the last year, decided to look into a Savage/Stevens. Made sense to start out this direction for time and money.
At this point, weight is of little concern. The barrel block system I plan to build will use scrap aluminum plate I have. I haven't been doggin in 10 or 12 years. Now my sons are getting close to be able to go and they are buggin me to go.,Thank the Lord, I have politically incorrect children who want to hunt). So we plan on shooting from a bench or a mat and then moving the site with a truck.
Pawn shop??, what's that??? Just kidding. Since we live so close to the People's Republic of Madison, there are few pawn shops, let alone any that sell guns. Milwaukee would probably be my best bet.

 

[cliffe]

take a look at fred moreo's site" strictly savage shooters" he lists the action variances. screw a barrel on, set the headspace, go shooting. i have been buying new stevens model 200 for just under 300 bucks, retail is 346. i hear of people selling the barrel, stock, so it's cheaper yet.
pdog06 how much for the stock?? pm me. cliffe

 

[Thorbird]

Savage used to make what were considered "small shank" actions for many years until they added the ultra mag's, and then offered those in small shank or standard shank,1.055" x 20tpi). I have included a write up by Fred below. The small or standard is handy in finding a good switch barrel because most of the aftermarket barrels that are traded and sold are small shank. Savageshooters.com has loads of info and great advise on savage stuff.


The following information was provided by Fred Moreo of SSS.

Savage Barrel Shanks

Savage 110 Barrel Shanks

In 2002 Savage offered rifles in the Winchester Short Magnum,WSM) and Remington Ultra Magnum,RUM) calibers. When these were finally in the catalog, there was a change made to the barrel shank diameter. Standard barrel shank diameter on standard calibers are 1.055" x 20tpi. On the new WSM, RUM, and SAUM calibers it is 1.120" x 20tpi. The barrel nut is also bigger in internal size, but is the same outer diameter and our barrel nut wrench will still fit. Savage also used this size of shank on the first version of the Model 10ML muzzleloader.

However, there were a few WSM and RUM rifles made on the standard barrel shank in the first production run. The best way to tell is to measure the barrel shank right against the nut. The larger barrel shank will have a step down approximately 1/8" ahead of the barrel nut. If your rifle has a serial number with a "G" prefix, it is most probable it will have the larger shank.


NOTE: The new 12LRPV's extra heavy target barrel is a large shank.

 

[pdog06]

cliffe,
I sent you a pm about the stock.

 

[2700tenx]

Duh!! I guess I wasn't thinking about the shank being the thread diameter from the barrel.

Any suggestions as far as what caliber barrel fetches the highest and quickest price? What could I expect from the factory stock and barrel?

 

[pdog06]

A factory take-off barrel would bring around $60-70,blued), and the synthetic stock about $25-35.

 

[pdog06]

As fas as which calibers would sell the quickest, I'd say .308,7mm-08,.243 or 22-250 in a short action, and probably a25-06 or 30-06 in a long action.

The good thing is you can build your 6br on either type of action. The short action should be fine, but if you think you'll need more room to eject the longer match bullets go with a long action.

If you end up with a .308 barrel let me know, I'd be interested in buying the barrel for a switch barrel hunting/varmint rig I'm doing.

mike

 

[NorCalMikie]

I built a 6BR / 22BR on a short action,.204) and have lots of room. The same on a older intermediate action. Either will work fine and the shorter the throat, the better. Longer VLD bullets, no problem. A long action is OK if that's what you end up with.
Just build with what you can get your hands on at the best price.

 

[2700tenx]

Thanks for all your help. I'll let you guys know what I decided.

pdog06, I'll consider your offer. I should be making a decision within a week or two.

 

[pdog06]

Thanks for all your help. I'll let you guys know what I decided.

pdog06, I'll consider your offer. I should be making a decision within a week or two.

2700tenx,
Nevermind on the barrel. I actually worked out a trade deal with cliffe on the choate stock that included a barrel in the trade, so I am no longer looking for one, unless it is an aftermarket one. Sorry, but it made the stock deal work out.

Good luck with your build, I look forward to reading about it.

mike

 

[OldPhil]

The new PV is the only one I know with the longer bolt spacing.
That means any stock for a short action made for two screws and a magazine should work. I would go with the short action because it is a little stiffer, being shorter. I then put a Farrell one piece Picatinny base on top. It is steel and stiffens things up a little. The Stevens action works great and is cheap. Already built one that way. The SSS trigger works real good. It is a 3 lever, rather than the Savage 2 lever. It will go lighter. Stiffness is not quite as big a deal on Savages, because of the floating bolt. Most of what you will find out there in standard calibers is the small shank. You will need to know that when you order the barrel. SSS has some really nice stocks available in several styles and colors. Just be sure to tell Fred what it is going on.

 

[cliffe]

oldphil, most of the new stevens you buy now are the new centerfeed, and the action screw spacing is 4.4". this is 3rd generation, made from 06 to present. the second generation action spacing is 4.275" and were made from 1998 to 2005. this is what most aftermarket stocks will fit. there are a few places, fred moreo of sss.and choate are making the later bolt spacing, possibly others,hopefully someone can add some others)but, i tried to get a medalist from bell and carlson and the only length available was the 4.275. they claim the other spacing will be available eventually... so if you buy a new stevens, measure the bolt spacing and make sure that stock you order is gonna fit... .125" is all that front hole has to be moved so you can't drill another hole without touching the edge of the first. hope this helps cliffe