Input on .358 build

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jsquig

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OK So I'll post this in the right forum....

So... My father's 65th birthday is next year and I am starting to build up a rifle for him. He always harps on the .358 win and how even though it isn't the most powerful and there's tons of other stuff that can do the same job, he just loves it. I hear about the virtues of the .358 at least once a month.

He can't bring himself to buy one as he has a 7mm-08 and .308 so can't rationalize the purchase.

So... I am planning a build that I'll surprise him with. It'll start life as a Savage or 700, and end up with a shorter barrel, mannlicher stock with some AAA claro or black walnut, trigger upgrade of some type, nice scope, his signature laser engraved on the bolt, etc etc.

Anyways, any suggestions for barrel length for a .358 ? I was thinking probably 20" The stock I'll be using will allow lengths up to 22" but this might be a little long to be handy.
 
jsquig said:
OK So I'll post this in the right forum....

So... My father's 65th birthday is next year and I am starting to build up a rifle for him. He always harps on the .358 win and how even though it isn't the most powerful and there's tons of other stuff that can do the same job, he just loves it. I hear about the virtues of the .358 at least once a month.

He can't bring himself to buy one as he has a 7mm-08 and .308 so can't rationalize the purchase.

So... I am planning a build that I'll surprise him with. It'll start life as a Savage or 700, and end up with a shorter barrel, mannlicher stock with some AAA claro or black walnut, trigger upgrade of some type, nice scope, his signature laser engraved on the bolt, etc etc.

Anyways, any suggestions for barrel length for a .358 ? I was thinking probably 20" The stock I'll be using will allow lengths up to 22" but this might be a little long to be handy.
Click to expand...

I personally would go with a Savage because of the ease of barrel install
and aftermarket triggers & stocks for these. You could start with a Stevens
200 then toss the stock, get a nice walnut or laminate from Boyd's and
new bottom metal direct from Savage. Source a 20" tube from someone like
North Shore Barrels and a good trigger from Brownells and your on your way
to a neat rifle. No problem with a 20" tube in .358.
Search around and see what pops up.
:cheers:
 
I'd go with a 700 action. If you are willing to spend the time and money on a beautiful stock, why ugly-ize it with a Savage action? The beauty of Savage bolt rifles is in their functional nature, not their aesthetics.
I like 22" barrels and have only ever seen a couple Mannlichers with barrels that long. Done right, it can still look graceful, but I agree it will not be as quick and handy as the 20", which will get most of what the .358 has to offer out of it.
Sounds like a great gift for your Dad.
 
I'd do it the quick and easy way and buy a new Model 70 Featherweight and get it rebarreled with a CM 22 inch tube.
It's a very good classic styled rifle with a good action and a decent factory stock. I'd put a front sight on it if for nothing else but looks...and add a detachable peep to fit the rear scope base. Of course it would have to wear quick detachable mounts....holding a 1.5-4.5X Leupold.

If Winchester were to make a run of 358 Fwts they might sell a few,..just a hunch;)
 
Thanks for the input. I am leaning towards the savage/stevens, and was planning on doing most of what was mentioned above. Either way, it will be a new barrel from north shore most likely, a richards microfit stock (that's why he's not going to get it this year by any stretch), a rifle basix, put some time in to checkering (yes i've done it before, i know what i'm getting in to here) the stock, a nice end cap of some type or other, and remove the "stevens" from the bolt and have it laser'd to his signature. At the same time basically all of the above things could be done with a 700 just as easily (barrell is a little more work, but its not impossible).
 
If you're planning a mannlicher in AAA Claro I really hope you dont go the savage/stevens route. They might be functional, but classy they are not. The cost of barrel fitting will be nothing in the long run. Oh by the way barrel nut and mannlicher dont belong in the same sentence.

Of course this is only my opinion.
 
Now that I think about it, just watch gunbroker and get prophet river to import a model 7 mannlicher in 358. They arent claro, but are still pretty nice - no building needed. There is a 350RM on there right now.
images
 
I have been thinking of a similar project.

Action: Remington Model 7 or 700
Ruger M77

Barrel: Shillen #4 contour 18.5" or one of the Canadian Rifle barrel makers.

Stock: Boyd Laminate or Bell & Carlson

I would have the trigger worked over by the gunsmith. All metal finished in Armor Coat
 
RE the richards microfit stock part...

I ordered one on January 12, 2012 and it arrived to me about 10 minutes ago... not bad for what I was told an 8 week time frame from date of order. I was expecting 6 months to be honest so I'm actually pleased it arrived this early
 
There's a husky fullstock Mauser in the ee that would be more classy than a savage or a rem. Even with a new barrel and bluing, you'd still be under $2000.
 
Get a Model Seven CDL in .350RM, or .308 and rebarrel to .358. Add a NECG banded front, aperture rear, 18.5" and you'll have a snappy little combo. I love Mannlicher stocks, but on a working gun there's no reason for them.
 
Answering your question - 20 inches will work fine and look better with a full wood stock.

Savage or 700? And it is a gift to him? 700 all the way! Nothing clunkier nor more ugly than the Savage. If my only choice was a Savage I'd be using a bow and arrow.
 
I was thinking of building a gun for my dad. He loves the 308. I decided when the time come to order a cooper rifle for him. I love stevens and savage but the cooper is a much classier gun. I can see the logic in why you would want to build one though
 
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