Okay, so I've decided I can't live without a short action Savage in 7mm-08 for deer hunting. I also am dying to do my first barrel swap with a Savage rifle...

What I have now is a model 10 that started out as a "Scout" in 7.62x39. Rare rifle I know, and I love it, but it's what I have for a donor.

I also have a new take-off 7mm-08 barrel from an Axis in the mail.

But since the 7.62x39 uses a different bolt head, baffle and magazine, and because I still want a bolt-action 7.62x39, here's what I'm thinking...

Pull the 7.62x39 barrel off the model 10. Pull the 7.62x39 bolt head off the bolt.

Buy a Savage Axis in .308 or 6.5 CM on clearance from Cabelas.

Put the 7.62x39 barrel on the Axis.

Swap the .308/6.5 CM head from the Axis with the 7.62x39 head from the model 10

In theory, I should end up with a 7.62x39 Axis, and the 7mm-08 model 10. The only part I haven't worked out in my head is the baffle that keeps the model 10 bolt from reaching all the way back in the receiver.

I was about to spend $150 or so for a full out .308/7mm-08 bolt, but for $75 more I can get the parts I need from the Axis and reassemble the 7.62x39 in the Axis configuration and still have two working rifles.

Thoughts? Am I crazy?

If I'd really been thinking ahead, I would have bought a 7mm-08 Axis and used the barrel off it for my model 10, but the idea didn't occur to me until I had already bought the barrel. So I could get the .308 or 6.5 CM and have a third barrel option if I wanted it.