rebarreling Savage 11 Lady Hunter to 6.5x55 (from .270)

[KAIFS]

My wife needs a around 12" LOP, I want to get her something that fits great, 80% target/ 20% deer hunting. HAS TO BE IN 6.5X55.
So, what are the opinions on this set up:
donor http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/11lady get it in available .270 or 30-06 $850.00
My understanding that 10/100 barrels are the same for 11/111, so:
http://www.kriegerbarrels.com/
Caliber: 6.5MM
Material: Stainless Steel
Contour Type: Sporter
Contour Number: Rem Varmint
Estim. Weight: 4.5 Lbs
Twist Rate: 1-8 Inches
Bore Dia: 0.256 Inches
Groove Dia: 0.264 Inches
Number of Grooves: 5R
Base Price per Barrel: $325.00
5R Groove style charge: $30
Quantity: 1
Total Charge: $355.00* (+S&H)

gunsmith work to get it to 22", blue, rebarrel and chamber into 6.5x55 ~$350
So, $1.6k when all said and done.

OR
do I just try to find a 1994 R700 Classic in 6.5x55 and just put it in a shorter stock as there are plenty of options available for R700 stocks which can be safely shorted by 2" in a LA configuration... that will set me back $1k-$1.2K considering cost of the rifle (as I am not giving up either one of mine) + stock + I can do finishing/stock work myself.

these prices do not include a base, rings, glass - I am figuring I can drop another $400-$800 for all of these to keep the rig cost at $2k or lower.

Thoughts?

P.S.: available rifles which are in 6.5x55 and can be 'transferred' into a different stock are: CZ550FS, Browning X-Bolt Hunter (yes, in 6.5x55= Limited run), Winchester M70 - that one shoots like crap (groups wise) so I am reluctant to even consider it at this point. Tikka t3 hunter in 6.5x55 can be acquired, however, later quality is not overly impressive on these (T3 Sporter seems to be OK still).

 

[dryhumor]

Re: Need an opinion on a lady rifle (rebarrel Savage 11/111 to 6.5x55)

I believe if you are considering nearly $2K for work, you may be able to order one to spec from Cooper for near or just above that.

Long actions are the cheapest out there on the used market, and not too bad if buying new. Stainless actions bring a hair more, but there are still smoking deals out there. With hunting season ending/ended nearly everywhere, now's the time to buy. Many model 70s were built with long actions in smaller lighter stocks.

 

[jonbearman]

Re: Need an opinion on a lady rifle (rebarrel Savage 11/111 to 6.5x55)

Why not just get the pre-fit from criterion which is owned by kreiger and just swap barrels and get a stock. It would save you some money and shoot really well.

 

[Exercion]

Re: Need an opinion on a lady rifle (rebarrel Savage 11/111 to 6.5x55)

I'd consider finding a used Savage 110, shortening the stock, buying a prefit 6.5x55 barrel from the maker of choice and a go gauge, and screwing it on. I would be concerned about a DBM feeding the Swede rounds well (concerned because my only 6.5x55 repeaters are Mauser's built for it). One thing to consider too is that you *might* have to open the bolt face up a small amount to accommodate the larger case head of the swede.

Eric

 

[joshb]

Re: Need an opinion on a lady rifle (rebarrel Savage 11/111 to 6.5x55)

I just picked up a couple old Swede Mausers in 6.5. Get her an M38 whack the stock and scope it. Prolly run you $700, depending on the scope. Heck. They're selling some with scopes already on the m, on Gunbroker.. Neat old guns.

 

[Barlow]

Re: Need an opinion on a lady rifle (rebarrel Savage 11/111 to 6.5x55)

I'd say buy a Tikka. Barlow

 

[KAIFS]

Re: Need an opinion on a lady rifle (rebarrel Savage 11/111 to 6.5x55)

I am a Swedish Mauser collector, so there is no shortage of military actions in my possession. With that said, if I would build another custom rig on a military action - it would be on a Large Ring vs swede Small Ring, additionally there are CG-63 target rifles on Simpsons on and off that came from Swedish women FSR shooters.
Part of me is a purist as far as Military Mauser goes - I have a VERY HARD TIME getting these monkeyed with... the only one I really went ape shit on was already sporterized by Kimber of Oregon M/96 sporter (yes, one in a POS RamLine stock)... Its on a heavy side thus the reason I am looking into a lighter build this time.

200m, 20 shots - 10min(leftover loads from the R700):

 

[koger]

Re: Need an opinion on a lady rifle (rebarrel Savage 11/111 to 6.5x55)

Sent you a pm on the build, hope it helps, have done several similar.

 

[bigngreen]

Re: Need an opinion on a lady rifle (rebarrel Savage 11/111 to 6.5x55)

Find a Lady Hunter somewhere and have her hold it, I've ordered in two for women and it fit them incredible and they really love them, wacking of a stock will not give them the same fit. I was really surprised the first one I got and set it up for a gal, the gun fit her spot on and was the first comfortable rifle she's had other than her custom shot gun, after that I tried it on and there was no way I could even begin to think of shooting that rifle it was kind of eye opening just how bad and how much compromise a normal stock even cut back is for a woman. If if fits just order a prefit barrel and swap it out and rally!

 

[KAIFS]

Re: Need an opinion on a lady rifle (rebarrel Savage 11/111 to 6.5x55)

Well, got the last one of http://grabagun.com/savage-arms-11-lady-hntr-270-20-wd.html
now off to shopping for a needed for it barrel in 6.5x55, blued and ideally in 5R.

Appreciate everyone feedback on this thus far... Now we are at least working with a specific action/stock for her.

 

[KAIFS]

Re: Need an opinion on a lady rifle (rebarrel Savage 11/111 to 6.5x55)

since you guys/gals are wealth of knowledge, here is another one:

should I cut the NEW 6.5x55 barrel on a Lady Hunter to 20" (as they are talking about better balanced rifle for that specific model in review articles) or go with the originally planned 22"???

Also, what is the shank size of the barrel for this?

Thank you.

 

[maxscm]

Have you considered the Savage in 6.5 Creedmoor? ready to go.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=462996633

or

A Tikka CTR in 260, comes with a 20" barrel muzzle threaded.

Each less $$ than your budget.

 

[KAIFS]

it has to be 6.5x55.
I am not thrilled at buying a rifle just to rebarrel it and wait for 4-6mo for a desired barrel - but that is the 'game plan'

 

[howl]

Last I heard, Savage would make up a rifle as requested if it could be done from parts they normally have on hand. I wonder if you could get a 6.5 Creedmoor made up on the long action and then just have the chamber reamed out to 6.5x55 after you get it.

 

[KAIFS]

270 Lady Hunter will be delivered to my FFL on Wednesday, so I am already 'invested' into this... wish I would have known about getting Creedmoore on a LA earlier - it would have been the easiest and the cheapest, considering I actually do own the reamers for 6.5x55... oh well, live and learn

 

[KAIFS]

Well, its been a long project ...
Krieger finally had a correct 5R barrel shipped and delivered two weeks ago (7mo wait on the 5R 6.5 barrel, in case anyone is wondering).
Its chambered and finished now... That is a good part.
for hunting application it sports Bushnell 6500 2.5-16x42 with DOA-600 reticle. Bushnell rings are Burris XTR. Scope base is Farrell 0-MOA 1-piece.
Rifle barrel was kept at 20" for the balance of the LadyHunter stock. Everything seems to be fine, EXCEPT... trigger.
Accutrigger (factory) is NOT doing justice to this set-up... It appears that I will be ordering a Rifle Basix SAV-2 now for this rifle so I can get it adjusted as needed for either Hunting or Target application (for target it will have different glass on it, however, I am VERY impressed with 6500 glass and glad I opted for that vs. originally projected VX-3L for hunting application).

Will post pictures next week when trigger is replaced and she is all done .
P.S. after running all the brass options, I did NOT need to open up bolt face on it - so it will stay as is for NOW.
Hopefully my wife will be happy with her new 'toy'... Had the barrel threaded right away, I have a feeling TBAC Ultra-9 will soon be part of the Target set-up on this...