Savage 110 re-do

[Dr. Vette]

Yesterday I picked up a Savage 110E in 30-06 for a very good price. It came with a box or so of ammo and had on it a Weaver Marksman 4x scope. The seller said it was his grandfather's and I believe it.

Currently it has a 20 or 22 inch barrel with iron sights, though the rear sight is missing the blade. I've cleaned the bore but it still has a couple of really tiny pits about 1/4" in from the end of the barrel. The action is coated in old, hard gun oil and I'll be cleaning that soon as well as cleaning the trigger. There is very light rust on the barrel and a couple of small areas on the action but no pitting.

Given that it's the 110E (i.e. Economy) the stock looks like a varnished 2x4 with a buttplate.

Currently I have a 270 Win as my next smallest caliber, 7mm Wby and 7mm Rem in my magnums and then jump up to my 340 Wby. I do own a 30-06 Rem 7400 but I just don't use it any more. I would like to keep this as a moderately lightweight rifle that I can use when walking but still want to have a fair amount of power, sort of like my 270 but larger. I'm looking at a new (or different) stock, rebluing the action and then swapping barrels.

So if it was yours...
would you go with a new prefit 30-06 barrel?
factory takeoff 30-06 since they are inexpensive and Savage barrels are reasonable quality?
or a prefit in 338-06 so that I could use it on elk?

Prefits are around $150 for an E R Shaw up to $400 for premium brands in stainless, but the $400 price doesn't fit within the guidelines of the project. If I wanted to spend that much on a rifle I would have purchased a better one. :wink: The thought of a 338-06 has always intrigued me as an elk rifle that wouldn't need a brake.

Any ideas?

Or should I just sell it? :shock:

 

[Guest]

Patrick, I think I'd just keep it as an -06. Why? It's easy, cheap, and works well for the purposes you've outlined. That seems to me to be in keeping with the idea you had when you brought this old dog home. Sure, the -06 isn't sexy, it isn't unique, and it's not a magnum, but it is perfectly situated between your 270 and 340, both in power and bore. It's a classic chambering, and it offers utility beyond compare. Everything from 110gr varmint bullets up to 220gr heavy hitters area available, and as far as elk go, I suspect a 200gr load from a -06 is all but equal to the 338-06 in what it will do to an elk at reasonable ranges (where you wouldn't take the 340). To be sure, the 338-06 is interesting, different, and has some "coolness." But, you'll spend more for dies, brass, and bullets than the -06, and you'll either have to fireform (wasting powder and lead) or buy very expensive 338-06 headstamped brass. Both of those courses go against your original intent, as I understand it.

Also, I wouldn't sell short the existing barrel. Shoot it before you do anything to the rifle. You may find it will toss three rounds into less than 1.5" and that you're happy to simply refurb it and keep it as-is for the foreseeable future. A couple of pits might make the barrel junk, and they might have no effect at all. If it's a decent shooter, then you're really into this project on the cheap! Obviously, some sort of aftermarket stock is likely in order. Maybe a nice laminate in brown or black/grey, or even the black/tan/green/grey color scheme out now. It would make for a great woods rifle for anything from deer to elk or moose. You could shoot 180gr Partitions or BTs (whichever shoots best) and never have to worry over load workup, as long as you didn't try to go coyote hunting too often with this one.

 

[DrMike]

It is likely worth making into a rifle you can carry. Because you already have a 30-06 (albeit, one you don't shoot much), I'd go for the 338-06 just 'cause it is a sweet cartridge. I can testify that they will whack elk right smartly.

 

[JD338]

I agree with WM. I would shoot it first before you make any decisions.

JD338

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I shot the donor and now six years later I'm finally getting around to statting my project. Your .270Win can do anything an -06 can do except sling heavy bullets. If that's what you want to do, a 338-06 will sling em better. It sounds like you've had interest in this cartridge, why not scratch that itch?

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have always kind of liked the idea of a .338-06. However, now I have a .338 Federal and can't justify both. Actually the .338 Federal has grown on me over the past 4-5 years that I have had it. It is accurate, short with short action and 22 inch barrel, only weighs about 7.5 pounds scoped with 1.5-5x20 Leupold VX3. Nice to have a "camp gun" or what ever you call it in a larger caliber for ???

 

[Dr. Vette]

I've had the 338-06 itch for a while, and was looking a bit for a nice (but rare) Weatherby in that cartridge. Walking through the woods up the mountain this year and then shooting the braked 340 (loud!) made me wonder about a "walking rifle" a bit more. Then this Savage 110 fell into my lap dirt cheap and I started to think....

Honestly, 30-06 or 338-06 would both work for what I'm thinking. The current barrel is just not that pretty which is why I even thought about swapping for another factory barrel at 24 inches. Yes, I could shoot it and see what it does but it's so ugly. :shock: Done right I could have a great rifle for about $450 including barrel, new stock and reblued action. Tune the trigger and bed it and then it's ready to go.

Here it is as pictured by the seller. Since then the scope is off, rear sight is off (I hate the holes left behind) and the barrelled action is out of the stock. It would be easy to put a real pad on here but I don't have a way to cut the rear of the stock straight, and new or takeoff stocks are generally cheap.

 

[Guest]

Patrick, that's a Williams rear sight. Just order a replacement blade and you'll be all set. You could put that thing together with open sights and some sort of QR scope, and have the best of both worlds...

 

[Dr. Vette]

Yes, I know, their name is on the side of the sight. 8)

They are about 2 hours away, but in a direction I never drive.

I see they have a ghost rear insert available and a Firesight blade. That could be interesting.
Ordered a Pachmayr Decelerator prefit last night as they were on special for $9.95. If it fits the stock then I might have a cheap stock to keep.

 

[FOTIS]

Unless you have something exciting in mind keep it as an '06. That is what I would do.

 

[Mortis]

Yes, I know, their name is on the side of the sight. 8)

They are about 2 hours away, but in a direction I never drive.

I see they have a ghost rear insert available and a Firesight blade. That could be interesting.
Ordered a Pachmayr Decelerator prefit last night as they were on special for $9.95. If it fits the stock then I might have a cheap stock to keep.

I put a Williams Firesight w/Ghost ring on my Marlin 336 in 35 Remington..... amazing how quickly it aquires the target and tracks.

Just my $.03 cents if ya considering going that direction.

 

[barthowes]

personally I think you under pricing everything. I just got a savage 110 barrel in and it was $200 +S/H for the kit from midway, same as brownells. Otherwise it is $260 from the manufacturer and another $20 for the nut wrench +S/H, another $30 for the headspace gauges + S/H. Plus you need a barrel or action vise which ranges from $60-$100. A good new stock is $200. now i don't even have an idea about blueing prices. So all in your looking at closer to $600 i would bet. Now with that said,far cheaper than a custom gun, so I would rebarrel it to 338-06. just wanted to give you a little advice as I just got all my parts in for my savage rebarrel.

 

[Guest]

Patrick, I figured you saw their name. Just reminding you they are still around and can help you. I've gotten on the "open sights" bandwagon a bit lately. I've been having fun with my little 350RemMag Rem673 with open sights, and I figure everyone should have one or two without glass...

As for the 338-06 itch, here's a great (though not cheap) way to scratch it:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =321090378

I'm leaving now, as the scent of the spider monkey appears to be drifting in...

 

[Dr. Vette]

personally I think you under pricing everything. I just got a savage 110 barrel in and it was $200 +S/H for the kit from midway, same as brownells. Otherwise it is $260 from the manufacturer and another $20 for the nut wrench +S/H, another $30 for the headspace gauges + S/H. Plus you need a barrel or action vise which ranges from $60-$100. A good new stock is $200. now i don't even have an idea about blueing prices. So all in your looking at closer to $600 i would bet. Now with that said,far cheaper than a custom gun, so I would rebarrel it to 338-06. just wanted to give you a little advice as I just got all my parts in for my savage rebarrel.

Stocks from Numrich are $50 to $100, or $115 delivered form Boyds (though I detest their pads).
Barrel kit with wrench and headspace gauges is $160 my price at Brownells.
Vice is on my bench with home made oak insert - $0
Rebluing is around $100 as the local professional is a patient at our office. :grin:

You gotta shop around. :wink:

Actually, I may see about rebluing the barrelled action as-is. He did it for my partner's Rem 700 a few months back and it looks great. I'll see how it looks after cleaning it in the ultrasonic cleaner.

FYI, the $35 C&R license will get you discounts at Grafs, Brownells, and nominally one at Midway. I've saved hundreds at Grafs alone.

 

[Oldtrader3]

C&R License is a good thing to have. I need to start working on getting one. I do not buy and sell many guns but always seem to have some project going and certainly could use the discount for those.

 

[jmad_81]

Don't shoot it! Order whatever barrel you want and screw it on. I built my 280 AI doing the same thing. Bought a 110 30-06 for $275, put a stailness, fluted #4 Pac Nor on it, and have never been happier!

This was the first bull I took with it, before it had the McMillan on it. Shot it with a 160 AB @ 420 yards. One shot.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=20384
My wife likes it as well!

 

[Dr. Vette]

Yep.

You can look online to find the "request forms" link, and they will send them to you free.
$35 fee, several weeks, and it arrives in the mail.

You then inquire with your favorite vendors regarding discounts and away you go.
FYI MidwayUSA is the only one that doesn't really give much of a discount. Often the 10% off coupons they send out give you a better deal. If so, I then log in as "guest" and use the coupon. :wink:

 

[Dr. Vette]

Don't shoot it! Order whatever barrel you want and screw it on. I built my 280 AI doing the same thing. Bought a 110 30-06 for $275, put a stainless, fluted #4 Pac Nor on it, and have never been happier!

My wife likes it as well!

You're afraid that I'll like it too much if I shoot it? :shock:

Given my other rifles, my 7mm Wby is already very similar to your 280AI. I'm getting tempted to restock that one with a McMillan anyway.

 

[jmad_81]

I wasn't meaning to swade you towards a 280 AI, just using my project as an example of how buch better it will turn out than what it is now. I think a 338-06 AI would be a very effective round for a build.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Either a 338-06AI I just built one on a Pac-Nor tube so I know they have the reamer or maybe a 35 Whelen then drop it in a Micky or if you go to stockysstocks.com they have some pretty nice laminates to drop it in.