What would you build?

[BLACKFINTURKEY]

I have a savage 30-06 donor rifle I want to build a new rifle off of, main purpose is to have a little more power than my short action rifles. More than likely the main use will be hunting Colorado mule deer and elk.

I’ve considered a 280ai carbon barrel. What other ideas do y’all have?

[softpoint]

I'd just see how well it shot as a .30/06...Or the same barrel could be re-chambered to .30 Gibbs. But that's just me.. Nothing wrong with a .280 Ackley, either, I have one, with a Lilja barrel.

[McClain]

A fast twist 6.5-284 Norma would be a wicked round also.

[bearintex]

Would a 30 PRC fit that action? Or one of the Noslers?

[diamond10x]

I'd leave it. If you're wanting to tinker I'd just put a barrel on it with a twist rate for whatever bullet you're wanting to shoot. A 30-06 will do anything you could ever want.

[BLACKFINTURKEY]

Originally Posted by diamond10x

I'd leave it. If you're wanting to tinker I'd just put a barrel on it with a twist rate for whatever bullet you're wanting to shoot. A 30-06 will do anything you could ever want.

Already have another 30-06 and 2 308s I’m covered on 30cals unless I go big.

[flyinstroke]

Until you said Elk my first thought was 25-06 AI pushing the 130 class bullets around 3000-3100. It would be a mule deer hammer. I have mine pushing the 131's at 3270. It hits like Thor's hammer on whitetail and pigs.

[TacticalCowboy]

35 wheelen or 9.3x62

[Slick8]

I'd say 280AI or 30-06 AI, that's about the most horse power you can get from that class of cartridge.

The 6.5x284 or straight 284 would also be good options.

We're it me, I'd go with a 280AI 26 inch 8 twist barrel. This would allow you to run any VLD up to about 180 grains and a copper solid up to the 160ish range.

[freerhunter16]

I would do a 280AI set up to run the 160 Accubonds. Should be able to get that projectile around 2900 fps out of a 26" bbl. Would be a hammer on mulies and plenty stout enough for elk.

[geezer56]

Whelen, or 338-06. Better bullet selection for 338, nostalgia and thump power to the whelen.

[T-REX]

.280ai

[BLACKFINTURKEY]

Originally Posted by freerhunter16

I would do a 280AI set up to run the 160 Accubonds. Should be able to get that projectile around 2900 fps out of a 26" bbl. Would be a hammer on mulies and plenty stout enough for elk.

I hammered a good mulie last year at 300 yards with a 22” 260 using a 130gr Accubond and it performed perfect not worried about mule deer. I know any medium cal cartridge will kill the biggest of bulls at practical distances that’s why I was leaning towards the 280ai and probably running the 150-160gr Accubond.

[Mike D]

Originally Posted by bearintex

Would a 30 PRC fit that action? Or one of the Noslers?

PRC, no.

30 Nosler yes but doesn’t allow for full potential of the cartridge.


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[muzzlebrake]

I still see some of the 7mm STW ammo on shelves from time to time.
It's a bit more than 7mm Rem Mag and should handle heavy bullets some betterer. Would probably need a good muzzlebrake.

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Kno...0%9D%20barrels.

[Txhuntr2]

I sent my Winchester Model 70 30-06 to JES reboring last year and its now a .35 Whelen. I didn't want a complete overhaul but rather to breath new life into a shot out rifle. It also gives me a "big gun" if I ever want to hunt nilgai or something like that.

[freerhunter16]

Originally Posted by muzzlebrake

I still see some of the 7mm STW ammo on shelves from time to time.
It's a bit more than 7mm Rem Mag and should handle heavy bullets some betterer. Would probably need a good muzzlebrake.

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Kno...0%9D%20barrels.

Wrong bolt face.

[freerhunter16]

Originally Posted by BLACKFINTURKEY

I hammered a good mulie last year at 300 yards with a 22” 260 using a 130gr Accubond and it performed perfect not worried about mule deer. I know any medium cal cartridge will kill the biggest of bulls at practical distances that’s why I was leaning towards the 280ai and probably running the 150-160gr Accubond.

I run the 140gr Accubond out of my .280ai. It has performed perfectly on big South TX Whitetails (250lb range) so mulies would be a non issue. I would have no hesitation using that combo for elk. But, if I were making it a dedicated out West gun for elk and mulies I would step up to the 150-160gr as well.

I think you would be happy with that decision. And the .280 is mild mannered enough to build in a lighter gun for the mountains and not beat your brakes off.

[RR 314]

I would keep the gun, if you like it, and get a new (non-Savage) action to build upon. :-).

[duckhunter175]

6.5-284!!

[muzzlebrake]

Originally Posted by freerhunter16

Wrong bolt face.

Easy fix. Change out the bolt head. Midway or Brownell's carry them for the 110

[LWD]

338-06. If not that 9.3x62. If not that .35 Whelen.

[BowCrazy]

Originally Posted by RR 314

I would keep the gun, if you like it, and get a new (non-Savage) action to build upon. :-).

What's wrong with a Savage action?

[xman59]

do some reading on a long throated 30-06,,, years ago i worked with an old gun smith that was a very big fan of it and built more than one,,,,, you keep the 30-06 cartridge with all of it abilities and simply build a little free bore into the chamber,,, pressure goes down and velocities go up with heavier bullets ,,,,the old man knew what he was talking about and was even featured on i think it was Texas rifleman magazine many years ago

[BarW]

Originally Posted by xman59

do some reading on a long throated 30-06,,, years ago i worked with an old gun smith that was a very big fan of it and built more than one,,,,, you keep the 30-06 cartridge with all of it abilities and simply build a little free bore into the chamber,,, pressure goes down and velocities go up with heavier bullets ,,,,the old man knew what he was talking about and was even featured on i think it was Texas rifleman magazine many years ago

Never heard of this, but thats intriguing.


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