wquiles
Well-Known Member
Going to the range and shooting my new 300BKB pistol has open my eyes to how nice a light firearm can be. Specially when at the same time I had my Savage M10 308 bolt gun. You can really tell the weight difference!
1) Savage 308 bolt gun:
Ian is already helping me on a replacement for the 308 bolt gun - I am slowly building a 308 semi-auto like his (PSA Gen 2 parts), so that is the first rifle I need/want to change/sell/rebore/etc.. I know folks like JES can rebore rifles, and I know Midway sells $150-ish replacement barrels for the Savage rifles, but I am not sure which way to go.
That rifle, weights right at 9 pounds even, without the scope, and 11 pounds even with the scope & mount. The Aluminum chassis is actually light, but the bull/heavy barrel makes the whole rifle "hefty", specially when something like the Ruger American Ranch in 450 Bushmaster is about 6.5lb and the Ruger Scout 450 Bushmaster is about 7.5lb.
I love the idea of something with the same bolt face, like a 358 Rem as an alternative, which should be a good project for JES. I am after "lighter the better", so if rebored I would first cut to 16.5", rethread for suppressor, and then sent out. Would I need to change/do anything with the 308 sled (pictured for single shots) or the AICS 308 mags that I have to shoot the 358 Rem?
Another potential would be the 450 Bushmaster, but I honestly don't know much more work that is compared to the 358 Rem. I got molds on hand for both the 358 and the 450, so good there.
2) The second rifle is actually even older - a Mauser. I don't even know the type. I had a gunsmith do all of the work: I just bought a Mauser at a gun show, and he did all of the work, including the 1-7 or 1-8, 22-250 bull barrel 20+ years ago. It has a really nice Timney trigger, so really nice there. Drill and tapped for scope mount, blued, and even has a fitted muzzle brake. I regret the caliber barrel now since it is just too heavy and no longer interested in "long range" shooting as I do most of my shooting at 50-100 yards, and I am having too much fun with the 30caliber and up, so not interested at the moment on a .22 call anything. The mauser is 9.6lb as shown in the pictures, and extremely front/barrel heavy for obvious reasons.
I understand that due to the "long" action I have different challenges in feeding and extracting cases compared to the Savage short action, but again, I would love something with a short 16.5" barrel (I am not after max speeds/velocities obviously), in the 35cal and up range.
I am providing lots of pictures so that you can tell me "what" is it that I have here:
3) The 3rd rifle is the oldest, and I think my very first rifle: An AR-15 Rifle, DPMS upper with a heavy 16" stainless barrel, beautiful fluting, 1-8, cryo treated (bought fully assembled with bcg, etc.), JP adjustable gas block, short handguard, combined with a standard mil spec lower that I built myself 20+ years ago. I have not fired that rifle in at "least" 15+ years, and now with the 300BLK pistol, I simply have no use for it since the 300BLK is smaller, shorter, lighter, and a lot of fun to shoot
I have no idea what to do with this one, so l would say lets concentrate on the two above for now
So: suggestions, ideas, conversations to consider?
Or would selling at a gun show "as is" and using the funds to buy something new like the Ruger American or (better yet) the Ruger Scout rifle?
Thanks in advance,
Will
1) Savage 308 bolt gun:
Ian is already helping me on a replacement for the 308 bolt gun - I am slowly building a 308 semi-auto like his (PSA Gen 2 parts), so that is the first rifle I need/want to change/sell/rebore/etc.. I know folks like JES can rebore rifles, and I know Midway sells $150-ish replacement barrels for the Savage rifles, but I am not sure which way to go.
That rifle, weights right at 9 pounds even, without the scope, and 11 pounds even with the scope & mount. The Aluminum chassis is actually light, but the bull/heavy barrel makes the whole rifle "hefty", specially when something like the Ruger American Ranch in 450 Bushmaster is about 6.5lb and the Ruger Scout 450 Bushmaster is about 7.5lb.
I love the idea of something with the same bolt face, like a 358 Rem as an alternative, which should be a good project for JES. I am after "lighter the better", so if rebored I would first cut to 16.5", rethread for suppressor, and then sent out. Would I need to change/do anything with the 308 sled (pictured for single shots) or the AICS 308 mags that I have to shoot the 358 Rem?
Another potential would be the 450 Bushmaster, but I honestly don't know much more work that is compared to the 358 Rem. I got molds on hand for both the 358 and the 450, so good there.
2) The second rifle is actually even older - a Mauser. I don't even know the type. I had a gunsmith do all of the work: I just bought a Mauser at a gun show, and he did all of the work, including the 1-7 or 1-8, 22-250 bull barrel 20+ years ago. It has a really nice Timney trigger, so really nice there. Drill and tapped for scope mount, blued, and even has a fitted muzzle brake. I regret the caliber barrel now since it is just too heavy and no longer interested in "long range" shooting as I do most of my shooting at 50-100 yards, and I am having too much fun with the 30caliber and up, so not interested at the moment on a .22 call anything. The mauser is 9.6lb as shown in the pictures, and extremely front/barrel heavy for obvious reasons.
I understand that due to the "long" action I have different challenges in feeding and extracting cases compared to the Savage short action, but again, I would love something with a short 16.5" barrel (I am not after max speeds/velocities obviously), in the 35cal and up range.
I am providing lots of pictures so that you can tell me "what" is it that I have here:
3) The 3rd rifle is the oldest, and I think my very first rifle: An AR-15 Rifle, DPMS upper with a heavy 16" stainless barrel, beautiful fluting, 1-8, cryo treated (bought fully assembled with bcg, etc.), JP adjustable gas block, short handguard, combined with a standard mil spec lower that I built myself 20+ years ago. I have not fired that rifle in at "least" 15+ years, and now with the 300BLK pistol, I simply have no use for it since the 300BLK is smaller, shorter, lighter, and a lot of fun to shoot
I have no idea what to do with this one, so l would say lets concentrate on the two above for now
So: suggestions, ideas, conversations to consider?
Or would selling at a gun show "as is" and using the funds to buy something new like the Ruger American or (better yet) the Ruger Scout rifle?
Thanks in advance,
Will
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