rechambered Savage .260 Rem to 6.5x57 Ack Imp

[1000yardstare]

Have a nice Savage 11 Trophy Hunter originally in .260 Rem. First time with this cartridge. No complaints. Accurate with the same 8 twist barrel as my Tikka 6.5x55 Swede. Similar ballistics but the Tikka is throated for the long 140 and 160 grain 6.5 bullets. The Savage has a slightly shorter throat typical of the .308 family of cartridges.

Have used .22-250, .243, 6AI, .25-06 and the two factory 6.5s on coyote here in south Ontario. All perform well. The 95 gr 6.5 VMax is particularly devastating. It is the heaviest varmint bullet I use. Like throwing a hand grenade at 3030 fps. Was wondering one day about the effect of increased velocity on the performance of the 95 grainer. Could it be even more explosive? Also faster means a flatter trajectory like the 6AI and .25-06. But also shorter barrel life. Everything is a trade-off.

Have my own PT&G 6.5x57 Ack Imp reamer for F Class barrels. Decided to take the Savage .260 and reamer to my `smith. Been using this shop since 1967 when I had a .22 Hornet re-chambered to K-Hornet. Crucial in a re-chamber that the longitudinal axis of the new reamer is totally coincidental with the axis of the factory chamber. Original owner has moved on to greater glory but his successors are just as skilled.

Got the rifle back in 4 weeks - warp speed for gunsmithing. Original quote was $125 but actually charged $85. That put a smile on my face. I use the COW method for fireforming the virgin .257 Roberts cases. Don`t use up expensive bullets and the attendant extra wear on the barrel. Seat primers peripheral to my main needs. Have even used Large Pistol primers. Use whatever fast burning powder I have on hand. Usually 17 gr Red Dot but this time 15 gr Bullseye. Funnel the powder into the case, top up with COW to the neck and jam a wad of paper towel in the neck.

I have a stub gun for fireforming. Cut 2 feet off a shot-out F Class barrel that was on a Rem 700 action. Screwed the 1 foot stub into an old Rem 722 action against the GO gauge. Can quickly go through a batch of .257 cases with this method. Still need ear muffs. The fast powder gives a sharp CRACK when fired.

Formed one case in the basement for the digitals below. Will form the rest at my club tomorrow. Will also load up five 120 gr Speers to check the zero of the scope which will fireform these cases. For F Class I have never loaded bullets lighter than 139 gr. Once cases are formed will develop loads for lighter bullets and report back on same.
;

 

[DHuffman]

Nice!!! I'm really beginning to appreciate the features of a "cheap" Savage, DIY re barrels, swappable bolt heads, generous magazine and loading/ejection ports, etc.

I've got my eye on a used, target scoped .270 with a bipod and sling for $400 I think I'm going to pickup and re barrel to a 7mm caliber. Either 7mm 08 or a straight .284 leaning heavily towards the .284

I just got done re barreling a .243 to a .223 and built a .308 from a barreled action, both shoot 1 hole groups with my reloads for less than half of new or used off the shelf rifles.

 

[1000yardstare]

Thanks to those forum members who sent PMs wondering when they could visit me in jail for cutting the barrel on my stub gun for fireforming. Actually as I was about to use a hacksaw the thought did occur to me that I may be creating an illegal firearm and never did cut the barrel. The wording in my post was in anticipation of making the cut. So the Mounties will not be kicking down my front door. I will be using the full length shot-out barrel for COW fireforming.

Don`t know if anyone noticed but the 130 gr Sierra bullet shown in the digitals is actually a hollow point, not soft point. No big deal. Has no effect on the dialogue in the post.

Going to my club today to do the bulk of the fireforming. Will be windy and wet, unusually warm for this time of year. The 300 meter firing point is enclosed so should not be a problem.

Bill

 

[AckleymanII]

Merry Christmas Bill, glad the Mounties will not be kicking in your door! Saves hacksaw blades also!

Great post, keep us apprised as to your progress, as your thinking outside the box, it transforms some of us. While your savage may be Obama trash to some, others may seize the day...what a novel idea! A Savage being accurate...how can it be?

 

[2506]

I don't know about what it will do to a coyote but a 100 gr Sierra HP at 3200 fps from my sported out 96 Mauser in 6.5x55 Swede is something to behold when it hits a ground hog. RED MIST and scattered pieces. That long 29 inch barrel and 44.1 grs IMR 4064 is accurate and is supposed to be under 51000 PSI which is safe in the small ring Mausers.

 

[mikegaiz]

Have you thought about going with a 6.5/55 or a 7/57 straight. no fire forming and load work up headaches. Good brass available. Both are very accurate.