Palmetto Savage
01-14-2013, 11:09 PM
Okay, so I got into this Savage thing a few years ago, by dumb luck. A gentleman had a rifle he needed to sell and so I bought a 7mm Rem Mag so that I would have a deer rifle. Turned out what I bought was a Model 112 BVSS, stainless action and barrel with a beautiful laminate stock with the large palm swell. The only minor issue is that I'm a left-eye dominate person and thus shoot left-handed, so the bolt is on the inside of my shooting stance instead of the outside. In the course of researching this rifle I found this forum and I was infected with that 'Barrel Nut' disease.
So now here I sit and I've added a couple of rifles with the bolts on the correct side (Left-Handed) a semi-custom Model 16 in .300 WSM and a bone stock Model 11 GL in .308. Unfortunately, I've developed a medical condition that left me looking for lower-recoiling options to enjoy shooting again. This condition, combined with living in South Carolina, has convinced me I really don't need the two rifles in magnum calibers. So I've decided that I want change my caliber selections to .308, .243, & .223. I think this spread will provide a wide range of hunting options and moderate recoil across all three rifles. This should more than adequately cover my hunting options here in the area which span bobcat, coyote, hog and deer.
I've been researching my conversion options and thought I had this all figured out and was ready to trade my 112 BVSS for a .223 since it would be ridiculous to attempt to convert it to a .223. But today the light came on when I ran across a thread that talked about being able to build a .308 on the Savage Long Action. So having said all this, here is what I'm thinking:
Model 16 - .300WSM, Large Shank, CRF - Convert to .308
Install recently acquired .308 Large Shank, heavy sporter barrel
Will need a new bolt face and maybe a new firing pin if I'm reading the research threads properly. Saw where Savage used a smaller diameter firing pin for the magnum calibers.
Will need a new blind magazine and follower
This will be going into a Stockade Hunting Sporter Stock, with Timney trigger
Model 11 GL - .308, Small Shank - Convert to .223
Find and install a heavy barrel .223
Need a new bolt face
Need a new blind magazine and follower
Decide on a new left-hand stock for this build
Model 112 BVSS - 7mm Rem Mag, Small Shank - Convert to .243
Okay, here is where I need a sanity check
Install the Varmint Profile .243 barrel (fluted)
Buy a long action .473 bolt face
New blind magazine and follower for the shorter rounds in the long action
I really like the BVSS so this helps me by converting it to the much softer recoiling .243 which will probably be completely absorbed by that heavy stock.
I am considering ordering the Ground Recoil Lugs to install with the new barrels as well.
I figure I can help pay for this compulsive caliber change by selling the BVSS 7MM Rem Mag barrel and the almost brand new sporter weight .308 barrel from the Model 11 GL. I will hold onto the .300 WSM barrel and bolt head components on the crazy chance that I somehow get to go Elk hunting in the future.
I plan to document this Triple Play to share my experience with others to try to give back to the fount of knowledge that is Savage Shooters.
So am I missing anything here? I'm assuming that since a .308 build will work in a long action, that a .243 should work as well. Did I overlook some logic that someone more experienced with these projects can point out before I get started? Thanks for any and all input.
So now here I sit and I've added a couple of rifles with the bolts on the correct side (Left-Handed) a semi-custom Model 16 in .300 WSM and a bone stock Model 11 GL in .308. Unfortunately, I've developed a medical condition that left me looking for lower-recoiling options to enjoy shooting again. This condition, combined with living in South Carolina, has convinced me I really don't need the two rifles in magnum calibers. So I've decided that I want change my caliber selections to .308, .243, & .223. I think this spread will provide a wide range of hunting options and moderate recoil across all three rifles. This should more than adequately cover my hunting options here in the area which span bobcat, coyote, hog and deer.
I've been researching my conversion options and thought I had this all figured out and was ready to trade my 112 BVSS for a .223 since it would be ridiculous to attempt to convert it to a .223. But today the light came on when I ran across a thread that talked about being able to build a .308 on the Savage Long Action. So having said all this, here is what I'm thinking:
Model 16 - .300WSM, Large Shank, CRF - Convert to .308
Install recently acquired .308 Large Shank, heavy sporter barrel
Will need a new bolt face and maybe a new firing pin if I'm reading the research threads properly. Saw where Savage used a smaller diameter firing pin for the magnum calibers.
Will need a new blind magazine and follower
This will be going into a Stockade Hunting Sporter Stock, with Timney trigger
Model 11 GL - .308, Small Shank - Convert to .223
Find and install a heavy barrel .223
Need a new bolt face
Need a new blind magazine and follower
Decide on a new left-hand stock for this build
Model 112 BVSS - 7mm Rem Mag, Small Shank - Convert to .243
Okay, here is where I need a sanity check
Install the Varmint Profile .243 barrel (fluted)
Buy a long action .473 bolt face
New blind magazine and follower for the shorter rounds in the long action
I really like the BVSS so this helps me by converting it to the much softer recoiling .243 which will probably be completely absorbed by that heavy stock.
I am considering ordering the Ground Recoil Lugs to install with the new barrels as well.
I figure I can help pay for this compulsive caliber change by selling the BVSS 7MM Rem Mag barrel and the almost brand new sporter weight .308 barrel from the Model 11 GL. I will hold onto the .300 WSM barrel and bolt head components on the crazy chance that I somehow get to go Elk hunting in the future.
I plan to document this Triple Play to share my experience with others to try to give back to the fount of knowledge that is Savage Shooters.
So am I missing anything here? I'm assuming that since a .308 build will work in a long action, that a .243 should work as well. Did I overlook some logic that someone more experienced with these projects can point out before I get started? Thanks for any and all input.