My Savage 111 6.5 Build

Well I made the first step, I purchased a 111 with drop magazine in a 30-06. My original Idea was to build a 26 Nosler, but after looking into the Specs on a 6.5-06 I think I will go that route. With the right powder it is only 200 - 250 fps less speed with a 142 gr bullet out of the same barrel length. The advantage will be same bolt face as the 30-06 longer barrel life, less recoil and a lot less powder than the 26 Nosler.
It is a work in progress and will take quite a few months to slowly squeeze out the money for each Item, will post as changes are made.

I've been thinking of building a 6.5-06 for quite some time. I'm thinking about ordering a 111 FCNS .30-06 or .25-06 as the base. I've never owned a Savage before but I built a Remage recently and I like the swap barrel capability. I need to get in the Christmas spirit and order one!

I agree with all your reasons for the 06 over the Nosler and plus the fact that simply necking up .25-06 brass is easy. And if you need tougher brass I guess you could neck down some .30-06 Lapua brass.

Just out of curiosity which 111model did you purchase?

-LT-

It is an older model 111 in 30-06 with composite stock, side release button for clip and no AccuTrigger it will be shipped out this Friday.
Attachment 2346Attachment 2347

6.5 '06 is real intriguing to me, but I can't make myself drop the (30-)'06. It's just too darn versatile. That plus I have a ton of money invested in the '06 reloading supplies.

I am not sure what kind of shooting you plan on doing, hunting you are good, under 1500 for barrel life though.

All that powder going zoom.

One guy got about 800. Still good hunter but not target.

Yeah, I will still hunt with my Sako Finnbear 30-06 this build is for longer range shooting than my 30-06 will handle.

I read about one guy wanting a 6.5x.270, has a longer neck.

If you use the 270 cases and neck down it would give you longer necks, you could trim to what you want, but you would have to ream the chamber for the longer neck. Could be an advantage for heavier longer bullets. I am going to use 142 gr Nosler ABLR not sure the longer necks would be an advantage for me. I am just going to use 25-06 cases necked up. Some guys load a 6.5 boat tail straight into the 25-06 case with a moderate load and fire form to size. I may also just bite the bullet and buy 6.5-06 A-Square cases.

I was considering that as well but if I end up going the 6.5 route with a long action it will be 6.5x284. Brass is available, more velocity, and about the same barrel life.

Just out of curiosity, how do you get more velocity out of a 284 than a 270 case. The 270 case holds a grain more powder and 1200psi more

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Originally Posted by keeki

Just out of curiosity, how do you get more velocity out of a 284 than a 270 case. The 270 case holds a grain more powder and 1200psi more

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The case design is slightly more efficient just giving it the edge in velocity, in a commercially available piece. Now if you go to 6.5-06AI then it has the advantage again, but requires fire forming.

The availability of the brass is nice but as Keeki pointed out the 06 has greater powder capacity although its like splitting hairs. I can use the extra powder room for the slow burning powder I will use. As far as pressure goes if I am using the same barrel Mfg and same action than both are capable of the same pressure. The brass does not really make it take more pressure it's the firearm, SAAMI sets standards for the safety of the Firearms example some older 30-06 rifles cannot take the pressures that they run the 270 up to but newer built 30-06 in the same Mfg can take the same pressures that the 270 can in that firearm. The rifle won't know the difference between the pressures developed whether it's a 270 or 30-06. That's why if you reload you can get more out of the old 30-06 than the old factory ammo, new ammo has already got on board with that and has produced ammo for the 30-06 that is running more pressure for modern firearms that are chambered in higher pressure cartridges.
The other thin is I am still partial to my 30-06 and by using a 6.5-06 it's like I am not cheating on it, just giving it a boob job.
And yes I know that some Brass Mfg make there brass tougher but it usually comes at less case capacity.

Both cartridges will shoot within reason of each other, not a lot of deference.

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Originally Posted by Evlshnngns

I read about one guy wanting a 6.5x.270, has a longer neck.

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Hmmmmm:o

how much neck do you need?

I built 6.5 Sherman this year. Similar design to a 6.5-06AI. I used .270 Norma brass.

The 6.5-06 is a fine round. I have a 98 Mauser and a Colt Light Rifle in 6.5-06. Eventually the Mauser is gonna get the AI treatment. Deer and antelope fall quickly to the 6.5 bullet. I use 139/140gr hunting bullets and get 1.25 MOA from the Mauser and .5 MOA from the CLR. I usually use 25-06 brass, but just built a 25-06 so maybe I will use 270 brass from now on.
You will want an 8" twist and I highly recommend Bench Mark barrels.
I plan on a 256 Newton in the future and I want to try an X-Caliber barrel.

Thanks for the info Cowboybart, I do plan on using a 1-8 I will check into Bench Mark barrels.
Wyotana sounds like your in just the right place for a Cowboy.

For now I decided to go with a lesser vel. cartridge. I may do some of the egg shoots here in my area, they are only 200 yards so I will go with a 6.5 Creedmore for less recoil and longer barrel life. I still get a 6.5-06 down the road for hunting, but the specs on the 6.5 Creed seem to work for bench shooting. I just purchased a X-Caliber Barrel 26" small shank Savage, it has 5/8-24 threads for Brake or sound Suppressor. They had a few on ebay new, so I said what the heck.

Savage Small Shank
1:8 Twist
Stainless Steel 416r
11 Degree Target Crown
Muzzle threaded 5/8x24
Heavy Palma Contour .90 @ the Muzzle
6 Groove Rifling
It was chambered at X-Cailber and the reamer is from JGS

Let us know how the X Caliber barrel works. I have heard good things, but have no personal experience.

When it's all done and I get to try it out in the spring I will be able to give updates.
So far I got the X-Caliber Barrel
a new SS Savage Barrel Nut and Recoil Lug Setfrom ApacheGunWorks
a RIFLE BASIX INC. SAV-1 Rifle Basix Savage Trigger SAV-1 (Centerfire) adj from 14oz to 3 lbs.
I plan on getting a Boyds Laminated VT Thumbhole stock Sky Blue, for the 111 action I have with side release DBM,
I will get an adjustable LOP butt plate and use a 1" pad it will add 1 to 2" to the LOP.

Well I got in the Davidson Barrel Vice, worked great, pulled the original barrel and have installed the new X-Cal 6.5 Creed. I have the Sav-1 trigger installed, it feels pretty good, breaks clean with no creep, but not sure I am going to be happy with pull weight. May get an Sav-2 for it, it goes down a bit more. I will shoot with it a while and see how I like it.
I have 50 Nosler brass and 100 of the Hornady 143 ELDx bullets to break it in and work up loads. I think I will shoot the 140 ELDs when I can get them, they offer a bit more BC and Vel. I have Dies and have picked up some RL26 powder, I also have some H4350, Norma MRP and URP I could use. May use a light load of H4350 for break in. The RL26 is harder to find so I don't want to waste much on initial break in and sight in. I will be getting in the stock by next Tuesday and will order the Bushnell Elite Tactical ET4305 4.5-30x50 scope in a few weeks.The scope has a total of 70 moa adjustment 35 moa up from center, I will be using the Burris 30mm Signature Rings with Posi Inserts using the +.010 -.010 inserts front and rear to gain an extra 20 moa. That will get me to 1500-1600 yards, the mil dots on the reticle give another 5-6 moa on 30 power so I should have no problem reaching that distance with that scope.

Later when I get a 6.5-06 Barrel I will already have the stock and scope for it. :)

Attachment 2671Attachment 2672Attachment 2669Attachment 2670

Here is the 6.5 Creedmoor rifle I put together, I ground down, threaded and blued the original bolt handle and added a tactical knob.
Will start break in on barrel when bullets arrive.
It weighs 14.5 lbs.

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Originally Posted by bowfishn

For now I decided to go with a lesser vel. cartridge. I may do some of the egg shoots here in my area, they are only 200 yards so I will go with a 6.5 Creedmore for less recoil and longer barrel life. I still get a 6.5-06 down the road for hunting, but the specs on the 6.5 Creed seem to work for bench shooting. I just purchased a X-Caliber Barrel 26" small shank Savage, it has 5/8-24 threads for Brake or sound Suppressor. They had a few on ebay new, so I said what the heck.

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That's realy where my thought went. 6.5 Creed or Lapua does all you really want or need with the side bennies are a big plus.

I am tempted in that direction myself, I have my play chasis I could put the barrel on and off.

Still the 7.5 Swiss will be the next one. It has all the 06 stuff in common including seating ie, powders I have and bullets.

I think I can get Walther Lother to do a 30 cal barrel with a 7.5 chamber. Only mod will be the bolt face. That is so close I can open it up with the dremel. May not need a new head for the 308 and 270 companion barrels on the play chassis.

After that though, 6.5 is the next one. I may go Lapua as I really like their case quality, and packaging. You get 100 in a box vs 50 for the others, along with a nice box with ID on it.