Poor man's project rifle: Savage axis or Savage 110 action

[Legionnaire]

Agree with @tallpaul. I've had two love affairs with T/C Encores over the years and ended up in the same place: I'd rather have a dedicated firearm in each cartridge than switch barrels. YMMV.

 

[wiscoaster]

Since this has expanded quite a bit bigger than just savage rifles, what do you guys think is the best action for nutted barrels in something like an MDT LSS chassis?.

I did a bunch of research on this topic and my answer was Tikka and Bergara. In the end I went with Howa - my third choice - mostly for availability and price point.

Do Mossbergs have a Remington 700 action form factor? I don't recall any of the main chassis makers specifically mentioning the Patriot as an available chassis drop-in option. But do your own research, don't depend on my memory.

 

[rbernie]

Since this has expanded quite a bit bigger than just savage rifles, what do you guys think is the best action for nutted barrels in something like an MDT LSS chassis

I'm still in the Savage 10/110 camp, due to its locking bolt and ambi safety. Oh, and get the XL version of the MDT LSS if it's available - you will really want the extra 3" of forearm length.

liked the multi use barrel change systems but shortly realized that swapping barrels/calibers etc were limited and took time for change over and resighting etc.

I still like the notion, not because I use the same receiver for multi barrels/chamberings in a given season but because I value the ability to pursue things of interest without having to buy a whole new rifle every time I wanna try something. For example, I converted a 30-06 donor rifle to 25-06 with nothing more than a barrel change, and a 270 to 257 Weatherby Mag with a bolthead and barrel swap (altho in fairness, my current 257 Weatherby was built on a 7mm RemMag)

 

[BigBL87]

I still like the notion, not because I use the same receiver for multi barrels/chamberings in a given season but because I value the ability to pursue things of interest without having to buy a whole new rifle every time I wanna try something. For example, I converted a 30-06 donor rifle to 25-06 with nothing more than a barrel change, and a 270 to 257 Weatherby Mag with a bolthead and barrel swap (altho in fairness, my current 257 Weatherby was build on a 7mm RemMag)

Same here. I'm not planning on buying barrels to swap out on the regular for my Savage 10, but part of my thought process was if 6.5 Creedmoor really takes off and becomes ubiquitous/cheaper than 308, it'll take minimal work/cost to simply change calibers as opposed to buying a whole new rifle if I don't want to.

 

[mshootnit]

I do love my Weatherby Vanguard, though I haven't gotten a chance to find out its real accuracy since I had to replaced the scope mounts. Probably the smoothest action I've ever used though.

Yes. Very smooth action.

 

[tallpaul]

Yes. Very smooth action.

I got a .308 last year and it is very smooth and the trigger is great for out of the box as is! I should have grabbed the .243 they had also...

 

[LoonWulf]

My Vanguard was a little rough and balky untill i did some polishing.
The Howa lightening tho was fantastic....im really not sorry i did the trade for my sbh with that gun, but i want another one......

Anyway...... For a swap barrel rifle AI mags and EZ swap (nut) barrel really take alot of the work out of it. If you dont make rhe nut real tight its about the same amount of work as changing a contender barrel with a 2 screw forend.
Course as @Varminterror pointed out before. If you use SHOULDERED barrels the initial install is harder, but then subsequent swaps are easier.
Theres no seperate nut or gauge to mess with...screw out, screw in.

Sight alignment would probably have to be reset, but even that should be pretty close if all the machine work and parts are straight and true ro begin with.

 

[LoonWulf]

Same here. I'm not planning on buying barrels to swap out on the regular for my Savage 10, but part of my thought process was if 6.5 Creedmoor really takes off and becomes ubiquitous/cheaper than 308, it'll take minimal work/cost to simply change calibers as opposed to buying a whole new rifle if I don't want to.

I bought a cheap .243 savage and did just that a while ago, total cost was 250 for the gun 45 for an axis take off barrel. Sold the gun pretty quick, but it shoot .75 or less with all the ammo i had left over from my last, last, creedmoor.

 

[adcoch1]

I'm still in the Savage 10/110 camp, due to its locking bolt and ambi safety. Oh, and get the XL version of the MDT LSS if it's available - you will really want the extra 3" of forearm length.

I still like the notion, not because I use the same receiver for multi barrels/chamberings in a given season but because I value the ability to pursue things of interest without having to buy a whole new rifle every time I wanna try something. For example, I converted a 30-06 donor rifle to 25-06 with nothing more than a barrel change, and a 270 to 257 Weatherby Mag with a bolthead and barrel swap (altho in fairness, my current 257 Weatherby was build on a 7mm RemMag)

My thoughts exactly about barrel change out.

And thanks for the tip on the mdt chassis forearm length.

I think the Savage may still outshine the Remington for me based on the interchangeable bolt head. I could just buy another bolt for different heads, but even doing that the Savage is cheaper from what I can find. Plus I can build exactly what I'm looking for.

 

[LoonWulf]

My thoughts exactly about barrel change out.

And thanks for the tip on the mdt chassis forearm length.

I think the Savage may still outshine the Remington for me based on the interchangeable bolt head. I could just buy another bolt for different heads, but even doing that the Savage is cheaper from what I can find. Plus I can build exactly what I'm looking for.

Savage heads are about 30 bucks, Rem 700 bolts are 150+......so yeah cheaper to savage. Tho the 783s use a replaceable head also i guess

 

[adcoch1]

The bolt head thing is kind of a big deal too, I want to neck up a 223 case a la 300hamr but full length (30 apache?) But most of the other cartridges this gun would use are normal short action cartridges. If its a savage though, I could start with a 6.5 grendel, shoot it for a bit and then rechamber for 264 winmag with an easy bolt head replacement. Not positive all the directions this one might go, but if I am going to buy a chassis to put an action in I want all the flexibility I can find...

 

[LoonWulf]

The bolt head thing is kind of a big deal too, I want to neck up a 223 case a la 300hamr but full length (30 apache?) But most of the other cartridges this gun would use are normal short action cartridges. If its a savage though, I could start with a 6.5 grendel, shoot it for a bit and then rechamber for 264 winmag with an easy bolt head replacement. Not positive all the directions this one might go, but if I am going to buy a chassis to put an action in I want all the flexibility I can find...

...ya know....If you run shouldered barrels (or once set, pinned nuts) with wrench flats somewhere in front of the chassis' forend, you could swap everything without ever taking the gun out of the chassis......

 

[adcoch1]

...ya know....If you run shouldered barrels (or once set, pinned nuts) with wrench flats somewhere in front of the chassis' forend, you could swap everything without ever taking the gun out of the chassis......

I like your thinking. Thread the muzzle extra long and use a nut as the base for the brake or barrel treatment. Pin or set screw it and use it to remove barrel. Maybe set screw the receiver too.

 

[tallpaul]

having mentioned the swapbarrel thing not being worth it to me... I just got an black friday orx chassis for my 29.00 savage 223 hb which can use any short action chambering that can use the pattern mag... I plan on using the .223 for now but if I wear it out I can do as the O.P and others have said and change it up a bit not as fancy as some but cheap enough ..

 

[MachIVshooter]

The 7mm-08 patriot I mentioned earlier came in and has been integrally suppressed



I haven't done any accuracy work with it yet, but if it shoots as well as it's .300 WM brother here, that's plenty satisfactory.

And yes, it's quiet. 18" ported barrel and 10.5" core inside the 25.5" suppressor tube. Noise level is on par with a premium rimfire can on a good semi auto pistol host or a number of air rifles.

Thanks, that info would be useful!

1-1/16 20 TPI barrel threads on the Patriot (1.062-20)

The Savage small shank barrels (non RUM/WSM) are supposed to be the same.