30-378 build Savage LA help

[junkout]

Despite the OAL of the 30-378 Weatherby case and it being too long for a Savage action is there any other reason the cartridge will NOT work and feed in a basic Savage long action?
Thinking of building a wildcat that will use this case (300 12 Egg magnum) I know brass is expensive and all the other drawbacks to building a super hot 30cal but I have the itch and I want to say I tried it. Besides I bought the reamer and now I have to build one.
I would appreciate any help from the seasoned Savage guru's

[Hotolds442]

If you were to find a Savage chambered in the Ultra Mag rounds, you will be able to run out to 3.790 COAL with AI bottom metal. You'll get 3.6 with the factory mag box.. That should be enough for your wildcat.

[shoalwater]

Rim diameter is not a good idea on a Savage action unless it's a Lspua Action.

[bootsmcguire]

The other thought in my mind is that the 30-378 is rated to 66,000PSI and the 338 Lapua is rated around 64,000PSI (going off of the listed max pressures for the listed max loads in my loading manual). When you couple that kind of pressure with a .579" to .588" base diameter of those cartridges I think you are going to have issues with the standard Savage action or even a RUM action. I think to make it work without risk of major lug setback or failure you would want to use an actual Savage 338L action.

[bootsmcguire]

I see shoalwater beat me to it. :second:

[Hotolds442]

You can order a RUM rifle from the Savage custom shop, they still build them. It won't be on a Lapua action, but a large shank long action. Hodgdon shows loads for the 300 RUM going all the way up to 63,900PSI. If Savage didn't feel it was safe to do so, I seriously doubt they'd sell you a rifle in the RUM chambering. Going an extra 2000psi in the 30/378? You might just be treading on thin ice there.....

[junkout]

Thanks for all the input. I was wanting to go with the Savage because of the ease of barrel changing. Guess the project just got more expensive. Can you buy just a LP action?

[Hotolds442]

Call Fred at SSS and talk to him, there is nobody with more insight to the Savage action, if it can be done, he's done it.

[junkout]

Will do. It looks like Savage doesn't offer the lapua action alone.

[bootsmcguire]

You could always look into doing a nut system on a different action, similar to the "Rem-age" style setup offered by NSS for using a barrel nut on a Remmy action.

[junkout]

I'm going to check into that. Just wanted to keep it simple if I could.

[yobuck]

ive owned 30x378s for about 30 years. Long before they were a factory offering. Velocities of 3500 fps w/ 200 gr bullets and barrels over 30" are possible.
For good long range performance meaning 1200 and beyond, id reccomend bypassing the 30 caliber and go with a large 338. Otherwise stick with the 300
ultramag. The velocities arent that much apart with shorter barrels.

[junkout]

I plan on using a 30" tube. I've done some checking and it looks like the only logical/$practical action will be a cz550 or a Remington 798.
Looks like my Egg reamer will have to set on the shelf for awhile until I can locate a donor action that can handle the pressure and OAL of the 30-378

[geargrinder]

You can order a RUM rifle from the Savage custom shop, they still build them. It won't be on a Lapua action, but a large shank long action. Hodgdon shows loads for the 300 RUM going all the way up to 63,900PSI. If Savage didn't feel it was safe to do so, I seriously doubt they'd sell you a rifle in the RUM chambering. Going an extra 2000psi in the 30/378? You might just be treading on thin ice there.....

It's also tied to the rim diameter. Those pressures are rated in psi( pounds per square inch). The Lapua/Big Weatherby sized bolt face is generating much more force on the lugs.

You can also get a long action large shank without going custom shop. Any of the 375 Rugers are LA large shank, but they still aren't a Lapua action.