Help me pick a cartridge I don't want, to go in a gun I don't like.

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LoonWulf

LoonWulf

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So with the installation of a Timney trigger on my 6.5-284, and having just ordered the parts to complete the 6.5CM twins build I'm doing with a friend I'm out of rifle projects.

That just isn't right.

Anyway, I have another friend with a Savage Axis in .308 that he's been trying to get rid of. So I'm thinking I'll do him a favor, and buy it from him sometime this upcoming year.
As I've said before I have little love for both the savage Axis, AND the .308.....

So that brings me to a thought I've had a few times in the last year or so.

Can I build something I like from components I have little interest in?

I've got plenty of hunting guns, so I'm considering building this as a shortish, 20-22" barrel (my "long" range guns all wear 26" barrels) heavy rifle.

The two cartridges I'm considered are the .308, and .270. Im also considering doing a.fast twist .270, but that's a more expensive barrel than I was thinking to use.

I've loaded, and shot both the .308, and .270, I still have dies for both, but have no interest in either.
SO I.figgured id leave it to the Forum to help me decide what to chose.

My parts list is still up in the air also, and suggestions there are welcome as well.

Axis receiver (I'll need to replace the mag to go to the .270)

Aftermarket trigger, or I'll clean up the stock one if I can.

Aftermarket bolt handle, cause savages new handles are awful.

ErShaw, or other lower cost prefit. Tho if I go fast twist .270 I'll need to buy a more expensive barrel (just means longer wait to save up).

Boyd's @1 stock, or other of some sort.

Probably install a pic rail if my buddy dosent already have one. rings and scope tbd later.

I might try cutting down the stock .308 barrel for a while just to see what a 16.5" .308s like also.
 
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Just say no to the snooze-oh-eight, the world already has more than enough of them. A fast twist .270 on the other hand.... That's an interesting project. What will an 8 twist .270 do with 165gr Matrix, or 170gr Berger EOL bullets over one of the newer powders like RL26? I don't know, but I'd be interested in reading about it.
 
Oh man that’s a soup sandwich you’re getting into! I say chop the barrel at 16 1/2” and pack every recess of the stock with lead shot. Next time an unwanted brother in law (or co-worker) wants to invite himself on a hunt and doesn’t own a rifle...take him on a climb!

Better still, trade into some good glass, scope or binos and it’s a win win.
 
Chop it to 16.5" and load up some 245 grn lead cast loads for it. Just cheap fun right there, and camo it out. Shoot coconuts in the back yard with it. Or rebarrel in 358 win or 375 raptor. You already have some 375 bullets so it's sharing components...
 
Thank you guys for the other cartridge suggestions (and nearly all of them are on the list of stuff I want to try).

Sorry, my orginal post was a little unclear. I'm picking between the .308 and .270
The reason being is that I've got this irrational dislike for both. I also feel that I should give them a fair shake, and I've never owned a rifle in either cartridge.
 
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Make a Mannlicher. Cal original 6.5x54MS and sling some 160gr cruise missiles. Go with the butterknife bolt, 16 1/2" barrel and a full stock from Richards Microfit. Spare no expense on the fancy wood, bolt jeweling, and some oak leaves on the handle.

Edit. Too early in the morning, I missed the above post. Do the .308. Its still a very respectable performer in it's proper applications. You're making a short rifle, so you won't get great performance with the .270, it needs velocity to do it's dirty work. From a short tube, your .308 will perform at .300 Sav levels, so 150-165 grain soft points or ballistic tips will be hell on any critter you should wish to ventilate.
 
Varminterror said:
My thoughts - pick your colloquialism to follow:

Lipstick on a pig.
Polishing a turd.
Trying to make a silk purse from a sow’s ear.
Papering over cracks.
Yuck.
Click to expand...

I agree but if you must do it:
Buy a .270 WSM barrel with a 1:9 twist and shoot the Berger 170 grain .277 caliber bullets. And since it’s a LA you should be able to seat the bullets out far enough where they don’t intrude on powder space. I’m serious though, I absolutely wouldn’t mess with an Axis if doing a project like that.
 
Keep it in 308,

Try the original barrel just for fun, but if you get a new barrel get a super heavy 18-22” barrel in a 1-10” twist and stretch the legs of that slow old round, let the wind show you things that you already knew
 
A cartridge you don't want in a rifle you don't like. Why put yourself through that? What did you do that you need to punish yourself that way? I can't give any advise except to start with a great action, choose a cartridge that you will use and appreciate shooting/hunting with. Top it off with a great stock and very decent scope. You owe it to yourself to not build a piece of unneeded, unwanted, piece of gold turd. Trash that project and get something you will be proud to own and take to the range!!!

End of sermon. Do whatever floats your boat!
 
Why not drop power level a bit and have a lot more fun. Valkyrie in a bolt rifle. Or go wild and build a modern savage based destroyer carbine.

Or a heavy hitter. What’s a .308 blown straight called?
 
IDK which way to try and influence you but I will say I have been really thinking of a fast twist .277 just because. The 160gr-180gr pills with low BC and great SD would put meat on the table and then some and also brings the "old man" into this century with some long heavy target bullets. It just so happens I'm on the verge of taking this leap and considering not many have tried it makes it all the more interesting to me.

Good luck with your decision and if you do go with the fast twist .270 I'll look forward to hearing about your journey.
 
Well, not sure of what will top this off, but here goes.

Go 308. They make cheap steel case ammo for it... And I don't like steel case 308.

Top it off with the cheapest Barska scope you can find and take it to the range.
 
I think the idea to be quite funny.
And in that, a good enough reason to do it :)
Why not?
If everything in life was based on practicality............my how boring would that be!
 
We'd all be driving Chevy station wagons, shooting .30-06 bolt rifles.......oh wait a minute, can buy beef cheaper with less hassle........no need for a rifle then...........being all practical and such.

Personally, having something kinda out of the ordinary adds spice to life.

My last 3 deer rifles..........

Remington 760 in .35 rem
Ruger #1 RSI .243 win
And a Gen 1 TC Contender carbine Super 16 in .35 rem

Lots of guys at work are shooting entry level plastic fantastic bargain rifles.
Goody for them.

Taking one of those and making it something else, is a worthy endeavor IMHO.......if just to be different.

Have fun with it!
 
cdb1 said:
I absolutely wouldn’t mess with an Axis if doing a project like that.
Click to expand...

I thought of a few more this morning:

Throwing good money after bad.
Money pit.
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Losing proposition.
Cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Perfect storm (of stuff you don’t really like).

You already have a bias against the rounds you are considering AND the platform in which you’re considering them - odds are, you’re not going to LOVE the outcome. You’ll likely see merit in the cartridges, at which point you’ll wish you had it in a more appropriate platform. So maybe you resell this thing, which selling any custom is a money losing proposition anyway, but a custom Axis is very much so. Or maybe you enjoy the Axis enough to say, “eh, I’ll stop poo-pooing these when new shooters ask about them, ‘cuz maybe they’re ok for the price point.” But YOUR Axis is a very expensive Axis, in a milquetoast round you just don’t love.

What are the odds of you being COMPLETELY WRONG about both a rifle and a cartridge, such the combination of two bads turns into a good?

Nothing really wrong with an Axis, nothing really wrong with a 308 or 270, but if you gave me a 308win Axis and $800 cash for a barrel and stock, I’d sell the Axis and put the kaboodle towards something else.
 
Its a Savage, change bolt face easy, get a bbl easy, not much to "restore" if you don't like your new creation.
Proly could just sell it off, for somebody else to mod if you don't like what it became.
 
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