I want to build a big bore, cheap. This will not necessarily be the rifle I take to Africa in a few years, just something to play with for a while, and kill a deer. I want to rebarrel a Savage 110, I have done 2 so far and have the tools. I have a standard 30-06 length action to work with. I turned a 270 into a 7mm mag, so I have a magnum boltface. Since cheap is a consideration, I need a cartridge comparatively cheap to reload for. I think this rules out the .395, sorry.

Here's what I'm considering.

.458 Win mag. Cheap 45-70 bullets available, plus lots intended for 458. Brownells has a barrel/headspace gage combo cheap. Brass seems hard to come by. Am I missing some source? Cheap dies.

358 Norma. I like my Whelen, and I like the 338 mag, this is like both. Cheap 338 mag brass. More expensive dies. Not much bigger than the rifles I already have. Cheap bullets.

375 Taylor. Seems silly to make one when the 375 Ruger exists.

416 Taylor. Are there any cheap 416 bullets? does 338 or 300 win brass make good Taylor brass, or do I need 458 brass?

375 Ruger. This is what I really want. I would have to have E R shaw make me a pre chambered Savage barrel, then buy gages. Does the 375 Ruger leave enough meat in the chamber of a standard small shank Savage? I want a Ruger Hawkeye African eventually, but I should have no trouble selling the Savage barrel.

Any thoughts? I want to shoot this rifle a bunch, so cheap to load is important.
Thanks

Cheap, you say? Get a .458 Win. Mag. barrel from Midway. .458 bullets are cheaper than .375 or .416; you can find cast lead and jacketed in many weights. Once you find 100 cases, you'll have all you need for farting around.

You'll want to reinforce the stock and 'glass- or steel-bed the action.

George

458 Win Mag is a good choice and can be quite versatile if you handload. No substitute for displacement. R.

Dido's on the 458 Win mag. unlimited reloading components and with light loads powder will go a long ways.

Just picked up my Ruger Hawkeye African today...and I definitely am in love LUV....even the iron sights are perfect for me...the front sight is a beauty...the whole gun balances the way the original Express Rifle should have...they finally got it right...now if Federal would just make some ammo...

The only domestic brass I see is Hornady at $1 each, from Midway. I can handle that. I presume it will last a long time with lighter loads. None at Midsouth or Grafs, who am I missing?

cheap big bore?

handirifle in 45/70 or 450 marlin...

but, if you can rebarrel a savage, 458winmag.. no other choice

jeffe

I think you should go for the 458 win mag

You can get the Winchester 510grainers for $46/box from Cheaperthandirt and then just use that brass to reload

Do you, or a good friend, cast bullets? If so, then just build what you want. Sixty cases will out last the barrel with cast, and you can get enough recoil generated that your shoulder will not be able to tell the difference between the two.
458WM is hard to beat, and cast bullets with a gas check will get a 500gr over 2100fps.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

Anyway, on the el cheapo route, why bother with gauges? Fit it using a case with some tape on the bottom. When you can feel the bolt nudging the tape, chamber is done.

And I'll second the .458 WinMag!

458 it is! Bent, I was thinking the same thing, but the gages come with the barrel I was going to buy. I can use them for other belted mags, so they are worth having.

I think a .458 or .375 Ruger would suit you fine...If you want the .375 Ruger then thats the gun for you...Do let us make up your mind for you, you'll go nuts..

For a persons first big bore bolt rifle I think the 458 Win Mag is the hands down best choice.

With full power loads there is all the recoil you need.

Also there are many different bullets avialable that are better killers of deer and pigs than the standard 500gr cape buffalo bullets.

Also you can load these bullets down a little, or a lot and tney are still great killers of deer and pigs.

Also these bullets are cheap compared to most other calibres.

Also brass is cheap and avialable.

This all means that you will shoot the gun 3 times as much.

Another vote for the 458

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I think a .458 or .375 Ruger would suit you fine...If you want the .375 Ruger then thats the gun for you...Do let us make up your mind for you, you'll go nuts..

..................Ya what he said.........essespecially the part about us driveing you nuts..

Cast bullets for the .38-55 are an excellent item for the .375 Ruger. I use them all the time in my .375H&H so grandsons have something "big" to shoot for fun. This will give you the .375 you want and cast bullets that are even cheaper than the .458s...if they are pricing on the weight.

Another vote for the .458 win mag.......for all of the above reasons.......

458 Win Mag for cheap bullets and "big bore" recoil fun.

John

The Savage stock will never stand up to the recoil of the 458 Win or 375 Ruger for that matter. It will take a lot of stock work. Have you considered that?

465H&H

I have a laminated factory stock. I was planning to add hidden crossbolts. I will add a thicker aftermarket recoil lug and epoxy bed the whole thing.

Will this still crack?

I doubt it, but you might want to relieve and bed the tang, too.

George

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:
The Savage stock will never stand up to the recoil of the 458 Win or 375 Ruger for that matter. It will take a lot of stock work. Have you considered that?

465H&H

Ah,
AB has been making 416 taylor and 458 winmag prefits for savages for YEARS...

there is ZERO reason a savage, when built just like a remington, won't handle these rounds ...


you know, just like the 425 express rifles savage made from the factory, as well as the RUMs...

that statement is pure BS ..

jeffe