I have an old Sako AV action in 300 Win Mag that I never use. I was thinking of having it rebarreled to a different caliber. I really don't know anything about this. I'd like a caliber that would minimize headaches. So I'm guessing I'd need a caliber with the same rim diameter 0.532 inches??? Also I'm guessing I would need a caliber no longer than the 300 Win Mag, 3.34 inches??

If I go with a smaller caliber, would these work? 264 Win Mag, 270 Weatherby or 257 Weatherby???

Would the Nosler calibers (26 & 28) be too fat??

For a bigger caliber would a 358 Norma Magnum be doable??

Thanks in advance for advice.

All of the cartridges you've mentioned should work with the existing .300 Win. Mag. bolt face--the various belted magnums and the newer Nosler cartridges. The magazine length of the Sako AV action is somewhere in the neighborhood of 3.40", so that cartridge OAL shouldn't be a problem with any of them either.

I rebarreled a pre-Garcia L61R in 7mm Rem Mag to 358 Norma mag. Just a barrel change is needed. I went with a factory contour barrel from Lilja, but got in 26".

quote:

Originally posted by Austin Hunter:
I rebarreled a pre-Garcia L61R in 7mm Rem Mag to 358 Norma mag. Just a barrel change is needed. I went with a factory contour barrel from Lilja, but got in 26".

Pics here: 358 Norma

Duplicated the factory stock.

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The magazine length of the Sako AV action is somewhere in the neighborhood of 3.40"

The A-V magazine is actually about 3.6". A "full length" belted magnum like a .300 or .375 H&H or any of those based on the .300 WBY will fit.

Oh, is that right? Sorry; my mistake. I measured the mag length on my 85 .270 win. at 3.40" and thought that would be also true on an AV. Were there two "long" AV actions--one for magnum cartridges?

Seems to me your on a downhill run, The 300 win will do everything and more than the mentioned rounds as to trajectory and kill as well as anything in the real world...The .338 and 358 Norma will give you more on paper, but in the field its damn hard to beat a 300 magnum of anykind..and you would probably be ahead to just sell it and buy what you want IMO...The other option is a rebore at half the cost of a rebarreo as a rule. The headaches won't go away with those larger calibers, you can load the 300 down to a 308 or 30-30 if you handload.

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Were there two "long" AV actions--one for magnum cartridges?

All magazines I've seen for both standard and magnum bolt face Sakos starting with the L61R through the L691 measure about 3.6". When the changeover to the M75 occurred I think that Sako may have cut the magazine on the standards to about 3.4". I once owned a M75 in 7mm RUM which had a magazine of about 3.75, IIRC, but that magazine was probably just made for the RUM series. However, once you get past the AV in chronology (about 1998 or so) my knowledge of the later Sakos gets pretty sketchy.

Hi Texas Blue Devil,

My opinion is the Sako AV is the best factory produced rifle of all time. My two Sako AVs will print .25" groups. I'd go mano a mano with either of my Sako AVs against any factory produced rifle and custom made rifles, too.

My advice is keep it chambered for .300 Win Mag, assuming it's the original chambering. Get range time in with it, and my money's on it becoming your favorite big game rifle.

If your Sako AV shoots like I'm sure it will, it'll be one heck of a shooter. And never, ever sell a shooter rifle.

Best of luck to you and your most excellent rifle.

All the calibers you mention recoil about as much as the 300..If you want less caliber then sell it for some really good money and buy a smaller caliber like a 257, 243, 250/3000, 7-08 or 7x57 or whatever, even a 270 or 30-06 depending on what you intend to shoot with it...

Stick with your Sako AV in .300 WM.

Late to the party, but if it were mine I'd go with the 358 Norma Mag, just because I always wanted one and it has a certain je ne sais quois the 338 doesn't have.

I like those older Sako’s too! From the early 90’s (L61’s) and older. I got pretty banged up in a vehicle crash about a year or so ago and I am still unable to shoot any of my bigger rifles. I would go with a .264 Win Mag with a 25-26” barrel and shoot 130 grain Accubonds or if it will feed a .257Weatherby with the same length barrel. For me those two choices recoil less than any of the .300 Mags.

I Have said for years that the best Medium Bore was the .358 STA. Been shooting it for years and have shot the .375 H&H extensively also. When i went to Africa I took the .416 Rem for the big stuff and will the next time. Good Shooting.