Savage Project

Squeeze

Squeeze

New member

I have a Savage Model 16, in 204 Ruger, that only gets shot
when I go to WY antelope hunting, and a Pdog shoot happens.
That is about every three years. So, I have decided to turn
it into a switch barrel rifle, when it isn't going to WY,
then it can be a deer/varmint/target rifle. I ordered a
new bolt head, extractor parts, and ejector parts this morning,
for a .308 case head dimension. Now I need a barrel.

So the first question is, 260 Rem. or 7mm-08 Rem. Both
diameters have good VLD bullets, good hunting bullets, and
good varmint/predator bullets. I am leaning towards the 6.5mm
(260 Rem.), but I could be talked into the 7mm. I have a
Savage Striker, and a Browning BAR, in 308 Win, so that one
is not in consideration...I want something different.

Next question is, any recommendations on a barrel
manufacturer, that makes "pre-fit" Savage SS barrels,
chambered and ready to screw on? I would like this
barrel to have a heavy sporter/magnum contour, with
24"-26" in length.

I have an E.R. Shaw, 6mm Rem. SS barrel, built this way, on
another Model 16, and it has been a decent barrel. It
shoots sub-MOA, and cleans easily. But I think this one
will be a different manufacturer. So far I have found
Shilen, Pac-Nor,and McGowen, advertise Savage pre-fit
barrels. Any recommendations for these barrels, or others?

Squeeze
 
Squeeze,
Unless you find a Shilen somewhere, you are in for a nice (long) wait from Shilen. Personally, I would rank Shaw, PacNor and McGowen all into the same boat and would take any of them in a heartbeat for a hunting rifle. And since I've not messed with the 7mm ever, my vote would be on the 260 (6.5).
 
Im building a 260 in a Savage also. Mines a Striker though. 7MM or 6.5MM cant go wrong both are good shooters.

Barrel wise Mcgowen will probably be shortest wait.
 
I would suggest talking to Sharp Shooters Supply. I have not personally bought a barrel from them. But I have heard many good things from Savage/Stevens owners, who have done the same thing you are. They specialize in Savages.

http://www.sharpshootersupply.com/

I would vote for a 6.5 as well. But that's just me.
 
Contact Jim at Northland Shooter Supply......

Contact Information for NSS:
E-mail - briggs.j-b@q.com (that is Q.com not G.com)
Phone - 763/682-4296 - BEST WAY TO CONTACT ME
Fax - 763/682-6098
Mailing address:
PO Box 333
Buffalo, MN 55313

He is on SavageShooters.com

He deals with Shilen, Criterion & Mcgowen barrels. I am currently waiting on a special order Criterion barrel in 260. I called him yesterday to order an action wrench and barrel nut wrench and he said he just got a shipment of barrels in. If you can make a quick decision on a caliber, he may have one in stock and you wouldn't have to wait. He said the shipment that came in was ordered in November, just to give you an idea on wait time. He is super nice and will take the time to go over any questions you have.

A link to his section on Savage Shooters.....

http://www.savageshooters.com/forumdisplay.php?43-Northland-Shooters-Supply


PS.......my vote is for 260.

 
I have prefit savage barrels from Pacnor, Shilen, Benchmark, Lothar Walther they all shoot great and clean up easy I would think any of the barrel makers will make you a decent barrel, I would get whichever one would be quickest.

Jim at Northland has been a great guy to deal with,
 
I have barels from Shilen and Mcgowen on Savage builds, both have worked well for me.

I ordered two barrels in Dec. one from Shilen ( for a Remington) and I'm still waiting. The other from Mcgowen (for a Savage) and it has been here for about a month. But I have been waiting four months for a stock for the Savage and the stock for the Remington is here.

260 or 7mm08 ,neither is a bad choice
 
biggen0_8 said:
I would suggest talking to Sharp Shooters Supply. I have not personally bought a barrel from them. But I have heard many good things from Savage/Stevens owners, who have done the same thing you are. They specialize in Savages.

http://www.sharpshootersupply.com/

I would vote for a 6.5 as well. But that's just me. [/quote

If you go to Sharp Shooter Supply be prepared to be lied to. Don't take my word for it, do some research.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: pyscodog
biggen0_8 said:
I would suggest talking to Sharp Shooters Supply. I have not personally bought a barrel from them. But I have heard many good things from Savage/Stevens owners, who have done the same thing you are. They specialize in Savages.

http://www.sharpshootersupply.com/

I would vote for a 6.5 as well. But that's just me. [/quote

If you go to Sharp Shooter Supply be prepared to be lied to. Don't take my word for it, do some research.

Didn't know that, thanks for the heads up.
Click to expand...
 
I ordered a mcgowan barrel from gunshack,good people to deal with,just 2 days off from projected time of arrival and $50 dollars less than straight from mcgowan
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodog
If you go to Sharp Shooter Supply be prepared to be lied to. Don't take my word for it, do some research.

Dog,

I do take your word for it, but I have already talked to them
a number of years ago on another project. My BS meter we pegged,
so no business was done.

Thanks for taking the time to care about passing this on.

Squeeze
 
I have a Savage barrel on order with Pac-Nor right now through a group buy on the SCC. Everything I have read tells me they make great barrels, but I can't attest to anything yet as I don't have it in hand.

I'm going to look to Northland for a Criterion 6MM if they'll offer it. If not, will go back to Pac-Nor.
 
Any of the barrels u listed would be a good choice. As for caliber I would go with a 6x47 lapua. If you are looking a shooting varmints and deer and antelope I would go with something 6mm there is a huge selection of bullets 55gr-115gr. I have one with a PAC Nor super match in 9 twist and mine will shoot 100 gr bullets all the way down to 55 gr my deer load is 95gr ballistic tips that are pushing almost 3200fps at the muzzle 3192 is my average. And for coyote hunting I use 69 gr Bergers and they are moving along at 3630fps. It really is an amazing round super easy to make also.
 
Those Criterion barrels are good. I have one on my Savage target rifle. I got it from Northland (Jim what's his name). The cost was about $100 less than a Krieger blank and it was ready to shoot.
 
I just put a .260 together and I used a Criterion from NSS. It is shooting really well. During my ladder test three of the higher end loads made .5" group at 200 yards. The very first load I tried (minimum load of H4350 shot 1/2 MOA at 100 right out of the gate.



I had it cut down to 23" hoping to save weight but its still almost 12 lbs. scoped. I wanted to go 7-08 but Jim had a .260 Match SS in stock and I had it in my hands in less then 3 days. I'm glad I went .260, I love the rifle.

First group with 43.5 grains of H4350 seated to book suggested length (Hornady).
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: devildoggAny of the barrels u listed would be a good choice. As for caliber I would go with a 6x47 lapua. If you are looking a shooting varmints and deer and antelope I would go with something 6mm there is a huge selection of bullets 55gr-115gr. I have one with a PAC Nor super match in 9 twist and mine will shoot 100 gr bullets all the way down to 55 gr my deer load is 95gr ballistic tips that are pushing almost 3200fps at the muzzle 3192 is my average. And for coyote hunting I use 69 gr Bergers and they are moving along at 3630fps. It really is an amazing round super easy to make also.

I already have a 6mm Rem, and a 6mm WOA. Definitely not
looking at 6mm at the moment. If I was, I'd be looking hard
at 6mm Dasher. Thanks for the reply, though. And my 6mm Rem
(ER Shaw barrel) is launching 80 gr. Barnes TTSXs in the
middle 3400s, with no signs of pressure. Fills my needs for a
fast flat 6mm, for antelope. Looks like a 260 Rem. is the
choice, now to find a barrel.

Squeeze
 
Barrel purchased! Jim at Northland Shooters Supply had a
barrel!. He had a Shilen SS Match 260 Rem. barrel 24" heavy
sporter contour 1:8 twist, in stock. This IS exactly the
barrel specs I would have ordered! Jim is a great resource for
Savage rifle work. He told me a few details I didn't know, and
sold me a part, I didn't know I needed. He also talked me into
a few upgrades.
grin.gif
And it looks like all the parts will
be here next week...Now I need to get some dies, brass, and
bullets!

Thanks to all that replied. Great discussion.

Squeeze
 
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