How common is my rifle?

[bottlerocket]

After really sitting and looking at my rifle, it seems to be a bit of an oddball. Its a Savage 111 in .308. It has the original barrel stamped Savage 111 .308 so it was originally a long action, the stock is for a long action but the mag well is obviously for a 308. Just kinda strange that they would have a cartridge that can take advantage of a short action bolt and throw it in a long action rifle. Was this common practice in the pre-AT models? I really don't know of any advantages of having a long action over a short unless I planned on having various calibers, but even still I'd have to change the bottom metal as well as the barrel.

[cgeorgemo]

It will have a screw spacing of about 4.5" right?
Intermediate series sometimes called a "J" series.
From what I've read they were made for almost 30 years from the late 50's to the late 80's so not rare.

[bottlerocket]

Nope its a 5.1" center to center on the action screws

[jonbearman]

It was very common as I have a .223 built by savage in a long action. You definitely have a long action with those approximate measurements.

[bottlerocket]

Thats so strange. Any idea the reason behind it or how they would even market this thing to people wanting a 308 or 223? Just seems pointless, and doesn't look like it would be straight forward to convert to a long action caliber.

[Blue Avenger]

at 5" you made it even older. at that time there was 1 action for everything.

[cgeorgemo]

Ok then it is either pre-1959, or a custom build.
How about a picture of the bolt? I'd like to see if it has the newer style bolt head or the older one.

[bottlerocket]

Bolt head

[stangfish]

Well i'll be....

[sharpshooter]

Everything made from 1988 to 1997 was on a long action. Short action calibers used a short box and a corresponding machine cut for such. By using a long action for all calibers, the stocks would remain the same.

[bottlerocket]

Well i'll be....

???