Switching Calibers

SwedeSteve · 01-12-2008, 01:27 PM

You have a Savage 300 Win Mag. You can buy a Shilen Barrel completely ready to screw onto it and change the caliber. You own 6.5x55, 7MM Mag, 7.62x39, 308, 7.62x54, and the aforementioned 300 Mag. You are looking to add another caliber which is somewhat disimilar to the ones you own. Given the LA/Magazine constraint, what would you go for? Some suggestions(Shilen carries all of these):
6.5x300
240 Wby Mag
280 Rem
30-06?
35 Whelen?
8mm Mag
9.3x74

lefty o · 01-12-2008, 03:09 PM

with what you already own, i would probably lean towards a 35whelen.

bored2bhere · 01-12-2008, 03:50 PM

240 wby

samuel · 01-12-2008, 03:55 PM

With a Savage bolt and belted mag,you have to change bolt heads to go to a .30-06 cartridge. sam.

utahvarminter · 01-12-2008, 06:57 PM

30-06

SwedeSteve · 01-12-2008, 09:57 PM

Sam- Hence the question mark on it and 35 Whelen. I was pretty sure about 30 Govt, but unsure of the 35!

Mooseman684 · 01-12-2008, 10:07 PM

I believe the .35 Whelen, 30/06 and 280 all use the same bolt head...
Rich

SwedeSteve · 01-12-2008, 10:09 PM

Darnit, I was worried 'bout that!
So any others than what I listed?

Mooseman684 · 01-12-2008, 10:13 PM

I would stay with .300 mag...

toolman · 01-12-2008, 10:28 PM

How 'bout a .257 Weatherby?

nathangdad · 01-13-2008, 04:04 AM

For what you listed I feel you have no reason to choose any of the alternative calibers. If you shoot in a more wooded area or an area with shorter distances and scrub brush the .35 Whelen is your best alternative based on what you listed. I would advise studying reloading manuals for the 300 Win Mag and the cartridges you mentioned as the 300 Win Mag
may surprise you when you make the comparisons.

ArkansasHunter · 01-13-2008, 06:01 AM

My vote is the 35 Whelen those 35 caliber bullets get the job done better than anyother caliber bullets. BUT reloading this cartridge brings out it's best potenial over factory ammo.
So that may be a reason to opt for another caliber if you don't reload.
IMHO...A.H

samuel · 01-13-2008, 06:55 AM

I tried to look all of the changes up to change cartridges on a Savage but my confuser(Billys name for it)doesnt want to work right.Anyway I do know that the two problem areas,the bolt and the magazine can be changed with dropin parts so you could have a long action belted magnum .531 bolt face, and by changing bolt heads go to a .30-06 .473 bolt face.You can also go to a short action belted mag. or .308 cartridge by changing bolt heads and magazines for the short action.In other words you could nave one action set up to use barrels in belted magnum,.30-06,.308,.22-250,.260rem. and such.I believe the same stock works also but savage has a bad habit of slipping in some minor change that might require some fitting.I was going to see what Midway had byt got shot down.Somebody(that would be anybody)that is better than me could get info there.Also there is a lot listed at Numrich but not much available.But it does give possibilitys and names of parts.If I were going to set up a switch barrel Savage firearm I would call Savage and work with them.I would also contact or research others as usually the price is better at after market outlets than mfg,s.What I do know is,if you have the right model Savage,you can change for long or short action and mag.or .30-06 bolt face.I also believe they can be changed for the .222 family cartridges but I never looked into that and cant say for sure.I have swapped the others around tho. sam.

SwedeSteve · 01-13-2008, 01:16 PM

Thanks for the great input guys!

lefty o · 01-13-2008, 01:33 PM

the 35 whelen is a blown out 30-06. no sweat, you should be able to easily change the bolt head on that savage. magazine box will most likely feed and function fine as is.

Mooseman684 · 01-13-2008, 01:53 PM

Some other technical info here....
Sharp Shooter Supply - The Savage Specialists

I'm wondering if you change calibers from a non-belted magnum that the cartridges wont stay in the magazine when you open the bolt, due to the smaller diameter of the cases on 06 / .35 Whelen, etc. Just a thought...
Rich

samuel · 01-13-2008, 02:04 PM

I,m pretty sure you can get the mag.to fit the cartridge for the models we worked on. sam.

lefty o · 01-13-2008, 02:23 PM

sharp shooters supply is the place to field questions, and buy parts for savage rifles.

SwedeSteve · 01-13-2008, 03:00 PM

Thanks Lefty!

lefty o · 01-13-2008, 03:23 PM

moosemans post reminded me. there is also Savage Shooters where you can get info.

01-12-2008, 01:27 PM	#1
SwedeSteve Grumpy Old Fart Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 9,071 Trader Rating: (0)	Switching Calibers You have a Savage 300 Win Mag. You can buy a Shilen Barrel completely ready to screw onto it and change the caliber. You own 6.5x55, 7MM Mag, 7.62x39, 308, 7.62x54, and the aforementioned 300 Mag. You are looking to add another caliber which is somewhat disimilar to the ones you own. Given the LA/Magazine constraint, what would you go for? Some suggestions(Shilen carries all of these): 6.5x300 240 Wby Mag 280 Rem 30-06? 35 Whelen? 8mm Mag 9.3x74 __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

01-12-2008, 03:50 PM	#3
bored2bhere Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: mississippi Posts: 396 Trader Rating: (0)	240 wby __________________ "Only the dead have seen the end of war"-Apolos

01-12-2008, 06:57 PM	#5
utahvarminter Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 485 Trader Rating: (0)	30-06 __________________ My Photo Album

01-12-2008, 09:57 PM	#6
SwedeSteve Grumpy Old Fart Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 9,071 Trader Rating: (0)	Sam- Hence the question mark on it and 35 Whelen. I was pretty sure about 30 Govt, but unsure of the 35! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

01-12-2008, 10:07 PM	#7
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,245 Trader Rating: (0)	I believe the .35 Whelen, 30/06 and 280 all use the same bolt head... Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

01-12-2008, 03:09 PM	#2
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,690 Trader Rating: (0)	with what you already own, i would probably lean towards a 35whelen.

01-12-2008, 03:55 PM	#4
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,050 Trader Rating: (0)	With a Savage bolt and belted mag,you have to change bolt heads to go to a .30-06 cartridge. sam.

01-12-2008, 10:09 PM	#8
SwedeSteve Grumpy Old Fart Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 9,071 Trader Rating: (0)	Darnit, I was worried 'bout that! So any others than what I listed? __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

01-12-2008, 10:13 PM	#9
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,245 Trader Rating: (0)	I would stay with .300 mag... __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

01-12-2008, 10:28 PM	#10
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,354 Trader Rating: (0)	How 'bout a .257 Weatherby? __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

01-13-2008, 04:04 AM	#11
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,246 Trader Rating: (0)	A thought . . . For what you listed I feel you have no reason to choose any of the alternative calibers. If you shoot in a more wooded area or an area with shorter distances and scrub brush the .35 Whelen is your best alternative based on what you listed. I would advise studying reloading manuals for the 300 Win Mag and the cartridges you mentioned as the 300 Win Mag may surprise you when you make the comparisons.

01-13-2008, 06:01 AM	#12
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,504 Trader Rating: (0)	My vote is the 35 Whelen those 35 caliber bullets get the job done better than anyother caliber bullets. BUT reloading this cartridge brings out it's best potenial over factory ammo. So that may be a reason to opt for another caliber if you don't reload. IMHO...A.H

01-13-2008, 06:55 AM	#13
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,050 Trader Rating: (0)	I tried to look all of the changes up to change cartridges on a Savage but my confuser(Billys name for it)doesnt want to work right.Anyway I do know that the two problem areas,the bolt and the magazine can be changed with dropin parts so you could have a long action belted magnum .531 bolt face, and by changing bolt heads go to a .30-06 .473 bolt face.You can also go to a short action belted mag. or .308 cartridge by changing bolt heads and magazines for the short action.In other words you could nave one action set up to use barrels in belted magnum,.30-06,.308,.22-250,.260rem. and such.I believe the same stock works also but savage has a bad habit of slipping in some minor change that might require some fitting.I was going to see what Midway had byt got shot down.Somebody(that would be anybody)that is better than me could get info there.Also there is a lot listed at Numrich but not much available.But it does give possibilitys and names of parts.If I were going to set up a switch barrel Savage firearm I would call Savage and work with them.I would also contact or research others as usually the price is better at after market outlets than mfg,s.What I do know is,if you have the right model Savage,you can change for long or short action and mag.or .30-06 bolt face.I also believe they can be changed for the .222 family cartridges but I never looked into that and cant say for sure.I have swapped the others around tho. sam.

01-13-2008, 01:16 PM	#14
SwedeSteve Grumpy Old Fart Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 9,071 Trader Rating: (0)	Thanks for the great input guys! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

01-13-2008, 01:33 PM	#15
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,690 Trader Rating: (0)	the 35 whelen is a blown out 30-06. no sweat, you should be able to easily change the bolt head on that savage. magazine box will most likely feed and function fine as is.

01-13-2008, 01:53 PM	#16
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,245 Trader Rating: (0)	Some other technical info here.... Sharp Shooter Supply - The Savage Specialists I'm wondering if you change calibers from a non-belted magnum that the cartridges wont stay in the magazine when you open the bolt, due to the smaller diameter of the cases on 06 / .35 Whelen, etc. Just a thought... Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

01-13-2008, 02:04 PM	#17
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,050 Trader Rating: (0)	I,m pretty sure you can get the mag.to fit the cartridge for the models we worked on. sam.

01-13-2008, 02:23 PM	#18
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,690 Trader Rating: (0)	sharp shooters supply is the place to field questions, and buy parts for savage rifles.

01-13-2008, 03:00 PM	#19
SwedeSteve Grumpy Old Fart Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 9,071 Trader Rating: (0)	Thanks Lefty! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

01-13-2008, 03:23 PM	#20
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,690 Trader Rating: (0)	moosemans post reminded me. there is also Savage Shooters where you can get info. Last edited by lefty o; 01-13-2008 at 03:26 PM.