Switch Barrel Caliber Choices

[harro]

G'day

I have a project in mind that would involve using a Savage short action rifle.I want to have a switch barrel rifle that will be used for hunting up to small deer ,and also some varmint type shooting as well as fun target shooting.
The larger caliber will be either .260 or 308, but the smaller caliber is where I need help.
What I really want is something about the size of a .223 but with a .308 sized bolt head.
Is there such a thing, and could it be made to feed from an altered detachable magizine that Savage uses.If it can't be made to feed then single loading is an option ,but I really want to have a repeater if possible.Bullet weight and speed are not super important to me I just want a caliber on the smaller side of the centerfire world in .22 caliber if possible ( because of the avalibility of bullets etc).
Am I dreaming or do any of you guys have advice ,or maybe someone has already done this and can tell be about all of the problems they had.

thankyou for your time

harro

 

[drybean]

22br

 

[fdshuster]

22BR is a great cartridge, have a Shilen barreled on a Rem. 700 SA, but it is strictly single-shot use only. Recently tried to re-install the spring loaded ejector, after cutting 3 coils from the spring, and extraction was plagued with problems, including the cases getting beat up. Took the ejector out (again) and it works perfectly, as a single-shot. Will not feed from the magazine, but chambers smoothly using a Davidson follower. If you do not want to change bolt heads, easy to do from 308 to 223, back to 308, then how about a 22-250? Just load them down a little to 223 ballistics.

 

[MarkS]

harro,

If it does not have to be a 22 cal then a 6 BR.

Mark Schronce

 

[fdshuster]

Mark: yes, I'm thinking 22BR would be a good choice except for the feed problems, and I believe those same problems may apply with the 6BR if insisting (?) on magazine feed. As for me, I have no problem with single-load, so it's not an issue, and in that case, the "6" would be my first choice also. Not only the feeding problems, but the extraction/ejection also. I have a Savage mdl 12 chambered in 6BR and it will not eject the empty fired case. It will fall off from the bolt face, and must be picked off of the follower, again, for me, not a problem.

 

[jonbearman]

Just buy a seperate bolt like I did and change the bolt and barrel.Easy as pie and cheap.

 

[tenring]

6BR and 30 BR barrels. Dunno about feeding. Talk to your smith.

 

[Klayton83]

i would go with the 22-250 loaded with a 55 smk and i rl 15 for the powder. this is what i used in my stevens 22-250 before it was transformed into a sick 6mmbr.

 

[placek59]

I like the 22BR but if you want it to feed good, I would go with a 22-250 or even a 220 swift.

 

[jdfletch]

What kind of barrel life do you want? Most of the .308 base to .22 cal neck cartridges are going to burn up barrels pretty fast (22-250, 220 Swift, etc.). For deer at somewhat close ranges (< 500 yards), varmints and target shooting, it's hard to beat the 6mmBR. Easy to load, great barrel life, no cartridge forming and components aren't overly expensive. You'll get over 3000 rounds out of a 6mmBR barrel and it will do all that you asked.

Doug

 

[Kenny474]

What about a 22Dasher? Little bit longer than the 22BR and should feed a bit better. If not, than a 22-250 would be good as well.

But changing bolt heads is super easy and very cheap as well. Less than $50 for another bolt head is probably cheaper and easier than some of the other options.

 

[Kenny474]

The .243 and .308 have the same bolt face, which is the same as the 6BR as well, so they would be a good starting point.

The .243, .260, 7mm-08, 338 federal, and 358 win. are all based on the .308 case and all have the same bolt head, as do many other non-magnum rounds as well.

 

[Scott Harris]

G'day

...
What I really want is something about the size of a .223 but with a .308 sized bolt head.
Is there such a thing, and could it be made to feed from an altered detachable magizine that Savage uses.If it can't be made to feed then single loading is an option ,but I really want to have a repeater if possible....
Am I dreaming or do any of you guys have advice ,or maybe someone has already done this and can tell be about all of the problems they had.

You're not dreaming....it's called 243WIN...and you don't have to do a thing to the magazine.