Precision Rifle Building - Help Me To Understand A Few Things

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AndrewNS

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Ok, so I have decided that I want to build a custom precision rifle and there are a few things that I'm not too sure about.

I want to work with a Savage action so that I can have an AccuTrigger (I know some don't like them, but I do) and I'm not really sure what I will need. I want to originally build it in .243, but have the option to re-barrel it to other calibers such as .260 or .308.

What I don't know is, will one action work for all of these calibers? Basically, are the cartridge backs all the same size? I know that the .260 is a necked down .308, so that should be fine, but what about the .243? In researching the actions online I can only seem to find 2 different types, .223 Bolt Head, and Standard Caliber Bolt Head. Are all other cartridges the same size bolt head other than the .223?

I'm planning to get the Shilen pre-fit barrels so that I can basically change the caliber of the gun on a whim to whatever I feel like shooting that week. Is that possible? (I know I'll have to get the proper tools to do so)

Is there anything else that I need to know about building a rifle, or is it really as simple as taking a barrel, action and stock and putting them all together?

This is something that I'm planning to start this summer, so it's not happening tomorrow or anything.

Thanks guys!
 
If you look in your reloading manual you will see cartridge drawings for every cartridge in the book. These drawings show all the dimensions and measurements, from here you can determine case head size and you will have your answer.

But to answer your question directly, yes the 308, 260 and 243 are all the same case head size. In fact the 308 is the parent cartridge that the 260 and 243 were based off.

However, the 308 and 30-06 are also the same case head size but the 30-06 will not work in a short action as the cartridge over all length is too long to fit in the 308 length action.
 
I pulled this off another site. It should help answer some of your questions.

Have you given any thought to which bullet you'd like to use? Will this build be a target or hunting rifle? Single shot or repeater? If it's a repeater and you are planning to use the nice long slippery target bullets then it's likely you won't be able to reach the lands with the bullets as you will be limited by magazine length. Typically, but not always, bullets shoot best near, touching, or into the lands. It's a very fine line but if it is important to you, you might want to consider how your barrel is chambered.



Bolt face diameters cheat sheet
Short actions with a bolt face .Dia of .384 +/-
17 Remington
204 Ruger
222 Remington
223 Remington


Short actions with a bolt face .Dia of .470 +/-
225 Winchester
22/250 Remington
6mm Norma BR
243 Winchester
250 Savage
260 Remington
6.5/284 Norma
7/08 Remington
284 Winchester
300 Savage
308 Winchester
338 Federal
35 Remington
358 Winchester


Short actions with a bolt face .Dia of .540+/-
223 WSSM
243 WSSM
25 WSSM
7mm Remington saum
7mm WSM
300 Remington saum,
300 WSM
325 WSM
350 Remington Mag.


Long actions with a bolt face .DIA of .470 +/-
220 Swift
6mm Remington
240 Weatherby Mag
257 Roberts
25-06 Remington
6.5x55 Swedish
270 Winchester
7x57 Mauser
7x64 Brenneke
280 Remington
30/06 Springfield
8mm Mauser
338/06 A Square
35 Whelen


Long actions with a bolt face .Dia of .540 +/-257 Weatherby
264 Win Mag
270 weatherby Mag
7mm Remington Mag
7mm Weatherby Mag
7 STW
7mm Remington Ultra Mag
300 H & H
300 Winchester Mag
300 Weatherby Mag
300 RUM
303 Brit
8mm Remington Mag
338 Winchester Mag
340 Weatherby Mag
338 RUM
375 H & H
375 Weatherby
375 RUM
416 Remington Mag
458 Winchester Mag
458 Lott


Long actions with a bolt face .Dia of .585 +/-
30/378 Weatherby
338 Lapua
338/378 Weatherby
378 Weatherby mag
416 Rigby
416 Weatherby Mag
460 Weatherby Mag
470 Nitro Express
 
Andrew I hear you on the trigger and action, but once you try a real match grade trigger like a CG 2 stage your heart might change on this. Guessing from your other posts your jumping into the precision game pretty good and are trying to get as accurate as you can so if your going to do a custom build you might want to get away from the mass produced action and get something with tighter tolerances like a barnard action or any other match quality action. I would decide on ONE caliber and build the rifle based on that, I don't think you will accomplish what your trying to do by switching barrels back and forth, to many variables might come into play not to mention head spacing every time you change out the barrel and this will impede your accuracy. What types of actions and stocks have you looked at for this build besides the savage if any ? It is pretty easy to build a rifle right here in NS once you make the decisions on the components you want to use, stock, action, barrel, scope, gun smith, and supplier.
 
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Thanks for all the replies guys, you have all provided some great info.

I think I might take savage.3006's advice and just build the one caliber (.243) to be able to keep things constant as I will want this to be my long range precision rifle and the less screwing around with it after it's put together the better to keep things consistant. I guess that means that I'll have to build 3 rifles as opposed to 1... Darn... :p

I haven't looked at any other actions but the Savage, but if I can find an action and trigger that I like the feel of better than the Savage with the Accutrigger, I'll go with the better one. I'll have to research match grade actions to see what's available.

I have spoken to Mystic Precision, but only about a barrel for my current Savage, not about this build as I am not ready to start it yet. I'm just trying to get an idea of what components I will want to use so that I can figure out how many pairs of new shoes I'll have to buy my wife to be able to do it... :D
 
Look at dolphins web site and Barnard's some great stocks, Peter at Hirsch Precision can set you up real nice with lots of different actions, stocks and barrels. If you are ever heading to the MVRRC let me know I will bring rifle and you can try the trigger on it.
 
Just as a thought, but maybe a 260 would give you a little more bang for your buck as far as bullet selection goes, the 6.5 world is exploding and only better and better products will emerge from this. They are (on average) getting higher BC's than both the 30 cal and the 6mm, not that BC is the be all end all for accuracy, but they do tend to buck wind better. I would like to clearly state that I love the .243, and there are many fantastic bullet selections for it, but the 6.5 koolaid may be a good one to sample. Either way you go, enjoy!
 
The question I haven't seen asked or answered is what is the intent for this rifle? Banging steel for fun, or competing? If you plan on competing, in what disciplines? How competitive do you want to be? Answering these questions will likely lead you to a caliber choice, which will lead you to a bullet choice, and subsequently to a barrel (twist, length, contour) choice. It will also help put some constraints around other components like the action (single or mag fed) and trigger.
 
FTRRookie said:
The question I haven't seen asked or answered is what is the intent for this rifle? Banging steel for fun, or competing? If you plan on competing, in what disciplines? How competitive do you want to be? Answering these questions will likely lead you to a caliber choice, which will lead you to a bullet choice, and subsequently to a barrel (twist, length, contour) choice. It will also help put some constraints around other components like the action (single or mag fed) and trigger.
Click to expand...

This rifle will be a dedicated paper puncher, not a hunting rifle.

I always strive for accuracy when I shoot, but I don't see my self getting into more than friendly competition at the range.
 
A great feature of a Savage is that even if you want to use a caliber with a different bolt face, you can buy that seperate, without getting the complete bolt. Smart move considering the 260 Remington. Thats what my next build will be.
 
If it's just for punching paper I'd be tempted to build a .223 with a 7 or 8 twist and call it done. Great barrel life, easy to get components, some decent heavy bullets for LR shooting, and relatively inexpensive to reload for all while being gentle enough to shoot all day. Plus you'll learn a hell of a lot more about reading the wind with a 223 than you will with any of the 6.5s or 7s.
 
If you want a paper puncher a 6mm br is hard to beat imo and there is a great selection of bullets in 6mm , it's also cheap to load for with excellent barrel life.
 
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