Say a guy wanted to get a good barrel to do a DIY barrel swap on a Savage, where is the first place you would look? Thinking .260 heavy barrel, not some cheap POS, but a quality barrel. Not something that "might" or "might not" shoot, but something that will. I realize anyone can make a bad one, but some alot more than others. Where would you start? Rifle is probably early 90's, if that matters.

Call Jim Briggs at Northland Shooters Supply.

quote:

Contact Information for NSS:
E-mail - briggs.j-b@q.com (that is Q.com not G.com)
Phone - 763/682-4296
Fax - 763/682-6098
Mailing address:
PO Box 333
Buffalo, MN 55313

He uses Criterion, Shilen, and McGowen and will probably have what you want in stock.

You can call McGowen, Pac-Nor, and Shilen and get a pre-fit barrel but you have the normal wait times.

Devin at Sin Arms will make you a good barrel as well, he built my 6X47 Rem barrel and it is a tack driver. Here is what he lists, but I don't know what he stocks: Custom barrels, Brux, Sin Arms Match (shilen), Sin Arms, and Rock Creek

Contact Info: Sin-Arms Web Site Facebook

Savage-Barrels.com is a dealer for McGowen barrels, but I had to have the shank re-threaded on the one I bought as they didn't cut the threads deep enough. Barrel shoots though.

4D Reamers sells Savage pre-fits as well Shilen's I think. I don't know if they stock any as I've never ordered any from them just rented some headspace gages when I didn't want to purchase them.

Then you have ER Shaw you can purchase direct, from Midway, or get in on some special chambering group buys at Gun Shack. I think there latest one is a .300 AAC Blackout.

A&B barrels from Midway would probably be considered scraping the bottom but everone says they shoot decent.

Really all that matters with your rifle is if it is a small shank or large shank barrel. Unless you have a Target action or a WSM chambering you probably have a small shank.

Check out Sharp Shooter Supply (SSS) as well as Stockade Gunstocks for your other parts. If you are going to upgrade the barrel make sure you do the recoil lug at a minimum. Me I'd buy a new tactical bolt handle (stockade or SSS), bolt lift kit (stockade), and trigger to go along with the barrel. I really like the SSS Competition trigger over all others for the DIY build.

Great reference.

Good information, thanks!

Couple of questions. How do you know if your rifle is samll or large shank? This rifle is a early to mid 90's, not sure model but it came factory as a varmint model with 26" 22-250 barrel. Serial is F2106xx.

Second, how good are the McGowen barrels? I know Shilen, have a couple fo those. Pac-Nor I trust, but looked at their website and couldn't find the prefit Savage barrels, Do you just have to call or what?

it already has a Timney trigger and is in the old Savage laminate stock from the 90's. Heavy as all get out but a real solid shooting rig as a 22-250.

Go here and join for free, everything you want to know about Savage rifles is there:

http://savageshooters.com/Sava...x.php/board,7.0.html

quote:

     In 2002 Savage offered rifles in the Winchester Short Magnum (WSM) and Remington Ultra Magnum (RUM) calibers.  When these were finally in the catalog, there was a change made to the barrel shank diameter.  Standard barrel shank diameter on standard calibers are 1.055" x 20tpi.  On the new WSM, RUM, and SAUM calibers it is 1.120" x 20tpi.  The barrel nut is also bigger in internal size, but is the same outer diameter and our barrel nut wrench will still fit.  Savage also used this size of shank on the first version of the Model 10ML muzzleloader.
     However, there were a few WSM and RUM rifles made on the standard barrel shank in the first production run.  The best way to tell is to measure the barrel shank right against the nut.  The larger barrel shank will have a step down approximately 1/8" ahead of the barrel nut.  If your rifle has a serial number with a "G" prefix, it is most probable it will have the larger shank.

I quoted this from sharp shooter supply's web page. Savage shooters forum is a great place for info, but you have to be a paid member to use the classifieds. As far as McGowen barrels I would use one again and not just for a Savage build. If you look at PAC-NOR's page the Savage is listed on their "actions we thread for" page.

Savage Shooters anti-spybot software is so good, I can't even register. This is the second time I have tried and given up.

quote:

Originally posted by JTPinTX:
Savage Shooters anti-spybot software is so good, I can't even register. This is the second time I have tried and given up.

Forgot about that right now they have had a problem with spammers on the site. They have pretty much shut down to non-members and that could be your problem right now. I'd keep trying or if there is a contact email you could try mailing them. If you need any help until you can get on don't be afraid to PM me.

quote:

News: Access to the forum for non-registered visitors (guests) has been disabled due to all the Russian and Chinese bots that have been phishing here lately. As such, if you are not logged in you will not see any boards.

Pretty much ALL barrel makers have pre-fit Savage barrels available that will fit your purpose...and Midway has A&B barrels, inexpensive(Less than $100). Every one of them I've used will do 1/2" or less that just need threading and chambering...

I've used ER Shaw and McGowen barrels more than any other for for my 4 switch barrel Savage receivers.

Luck

IMHO www.shilen.com is your best bet. They do a Savage varmint weight match grade chrome-moly blued in a caliber of your choice for $345. I have used their barrel as well as E R Shaw in several Savage/Stevens projects. The only down side to either of these companies is "turn around" time.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

Shilen, Pacnor, Lothar-Walther, McGowen, Douglas all make pre-fit barrels.

I've had great luck with PacNor, Shilen and Savage take offs.

JTPinTX, sorry you cannot get into SavageShooters' web site. Jim Briggs (Northland Shooters Supply) has a
Criterion .260 Varmint, 1:8 for $280. Those of us who have gotten these barrels have had good luck with them. One
might say that they are button-rifled Kriegers (made under the same roof).

He also has a Shilen (same everything) for $299.

I really like the Criterion barrel on my 7 mag. I would not hesitate to recommend it to anybody.

Looks like I amy need to call Jim. I'll see if I can get a chance to this morning.

I have a Shilen on my 7x57 Interarms and really like it alot. Have a Hart and some others I like too. I just don't think I can do a McGowan though. The old McGowen company built me a rifle back in the early 90's that never would shoot right, even after tons of work, and a chance for them to make it right. I know it is a different company now, but still, I just don't think I can make myself go there.

All the McGowen barrels I've used in the past several years have been bugholers...I can get a 32" contoured barrel up to 50 cal for $185 plus shipping from McGowen that shoots well beyond my ~1/2" or less needs, plus $11/inch up to 40"...I will be ordering a 32" 338 cal sometime in the next couple of months for my next 338 Rigby project.

I bought 2 chambered, threaded and contoured ER Shaw barrels last year because of the pricing and one was so bad I couldn't believe it, but it was replaced by one that is doing very well so far...I've had one bad Douglas and on bad Hart(can't believe that either)..."stuff" happens to the best and the odd mess up won't stop me from using Douglas, Hart, or ER Shaw barrels.

I can't afford the really pricey barrels like Lilja, Krieger, and Hart anymore, but some of the price includes things I can do myself, like barrel lapping. Even PacNors are ~100 bucks more than the McGowens. But if I were slick again...guess which ones I would use.

Even the real cheap Midway A&B barrels give excellent accuracy ONCE you lap the barrels.

In todays world of CNC equipment I think the playing field has bee leveled to a greater extent than say 30-40 years ago.

But I fully understand you point...once burned, twice shy...and it IS your choice.

Luck on your project.

Is the SHOT Show still going on? I e-mailed a couple of the guys mentioned in this thread but haven't heard anything back. Thinking maybe they are still gone or trying to play catch up after the show. I'm thinking I want to try that Criterion that Jim has if he will e-mail me back. I've already got dies/brass/bullets/powder, just need a barrel and a wrench to get started.

quote:

Originally posted by JTPinTX:
Is the SHOT Show still going on? I e-mailed a couple of the guys mentioned in this thread but haven't heard anything back. Thinking maybe they are still gone or trying to play catch up after the show. I'm thinking I want to try that Criterion that Jim has if he will e-mail me back. I've already got dies/brass/bullets/powder, just need a barrel and a wrench to get started.

Hard to get return e-mail from Jim. You need to give him a call on the telly. Good guy to deal with. I have a couple of barrels that I bought from Mid-way that are really good.

Well, just got off the phone with Jim, gonna have a Criterion barrel, wrench, and lug on the way.

Thanks for all the help guys, I appreciate it!

quote:

Originally posted by JTPinTX:
Well, just got off the phone with Jim, gonna have a Criterion barrel, wrench, and lug on the way.

Thanks for all the help guys, I appreciate it!

I'm sure you'll have a shooter before too long.

Technically the rifle isn't mine. However...

Dad and I are making a long term swap. We each had something the other needed. I have plenty of light sporters, and he had plenty of heavy barreled rigs. I swapped him a Interarms 7x57 with a Shilen barrel and B&C fiberglass stock for his heavy barreled 110 in the laminate stock wtih a Timney trigger. We can go back anytime either of us want to. He knows I am swapping the barrel, in fact says he has though about the exact same thing before. Anyways, the swap will save him buying a 7-08 sporter (what he was looking at), and get me into a heavy bbl 260 for $500-$600 less than rebuilding my 40XBKS. Win/win. That might not work for everyone, but Dad and I are very close, there won't be any problems.

I picked up my dies and brass last night, I already have tons of powder/primers. Bullets is all I need there. Started tearing down the rifle earlier this week, taking forever to get all the old tape residue off of it. It was his old coyote calling rifle, and he had it camoed pretty serious. It's cleaning up real good though. I have had the barrel nut soaking in Kroil for several days now, hopefully that will help if a gorilla screwed that barrel on.

I am building this project as a long range doe culling rifle. Bullets I am thinking about are the 120 NBT, 130 Accubond, or the 123 Scenar. I really don't see me shooting past 500-600. Most shots will be in the 250-400 range. I know for most this is really medium range and not long, but for me it is long, especially playing out here in the Texas Panhandle wind.

I am really looking forward to getting started on this project.

I've got a couple of ER Shaw barrels in 260...they are the same barrels as Adams and Bennett from Midway..

I have some in other calibers also..

but all of them are hole shooters..super accurate..

I know they have raised their prices as of Jan 1...but both of the 260 barrels I have, were $150 apiece...

downside of a lot of these barrel places now, is business is good enough for them, that they quote a 4 to 6 month wait...

I ordered two barrels from ER Shaw last Jan and didn't get them until late August. Both were varminters I wanted to use for summer hunting...that didn't happen. I think the next barrel will be a cylinder and I will contour it myself if I decide to...that should cut many weeks off the wait. Besides it will be a 34", 338 or 375 Rigby and a little extra weight might help keep it on the bench.

Luck

Jim had the Criterion on the shelf. I sent him a money order on Tuesday, so I am hoping about 3 weeks to go back and forth. Being able to get something off the shelf without waiting months was pretty high on my list.

In the meantime I have quite a bit to do getting ready with brass, bedding and so forth. I am building my action holding blocks today. This weekend I am going to pull my Leupold 6.5x20 with target turrets off my 40X and get it ready to put on, I want to be able to dial corrections in.

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
I've got a couple of ER Shaw barrels in 260...they are the same barrels as Adams and Bennett from Midway..

I have some in other calibers also..

but all of them are hole shooters..super accurate..

I know they have raised their prices as of Jan 1...but both of the 260 barrels I have, were $150 apiece...

downside of a lot of these barrel places now, is business is good enough for them, that they quote a 4 to 6 month wait...

addendum: How did it shoot? hows this for a group after about 20 rounds down the barrel?

50 yds:



or

100 yds:



no complaints on my end..

Awesome groups John, I can only hope mine shoots that good.

Got delivery confirmation on my money order yesterday, that was alot quicker than I expected. Hopefully I will have barrel next week.

Where is a good place to get a "Go" guage?

This isn't going to be a switch barrel gun so all I really need is to set it once and be done. If anyone had a 243/260/7-08/308 guage they wouldn't mind to loan me for a few days it would come back home quick and in the same condition I recieved it. Any offers?

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
addendum: How did it shoot? hows this for a group after about 20 rounds down the barrel?

50 yds:



or

100 yds:



no complaints on my end..

Nice shooting and good to hear. I picked up a Shaw .250 Savage barrel from Midway awhile back. When I get some time I'll put the rifle together.

quote:

Originally posted by JTPinTX:
Where is a good place to get a "Go" guage?

This isn't going to be a switch barrel gun so all I really need is to set it once and be done. If anyone had a 243/260/7-08/308 guage they wouldn't mind to loan me for a few days it would come back home quick and in the same condition I recieved it. Any offers?

I'll loan you my set of gages if you promise to mail them back to me when you are done. Just send me a PM.

Absolutely promise. PM inbound.

Okay, barrel swap is complete! Made a homebuilt set of oak blocks to hold the action, it took a little grunt to get the nut moving but not too bad. Swap went easy as pie, a really simple job. I used headspace guages to set it, and then checked it with my new brass. The new brass fit perfect, with just a slight touch of crush. Really happy with how it all fit just right.

I'll try and get some pics up tomorrow, and if the weather will cooperate maybe I can shoot some groups later this week. I have some 130 Accubonds, some Berger 130 Hunting VLD Match, and some Sierra 140 Gamekings to try. First choice on powder is going to be H4350.

I'll try and get gages back in the mail tomorrow.

Gages are in the mail, on the way home.

Got the first test rounds loaded up with 130 Berger hunting VLD, and h4350, just waiting on some decent weather to shoot.

Here is a pic of the finished rebuild, I know, no pics or it didn't happen.

Nice looking rifle!

A range report following in the near future?

I'll try John. Future for sure, near, well I wouldn't take bets on.

I've been dying to start working with it, but the weather has been real iffy. Got 5" of snow yesterday and sun is out today, so it is a swamp everywhere. I'm sure the wind will start blowing again tomorrow, and another front is supposed to hit Wednesday. I have test rounds loaded, just have to get where I can shoot them.

Well, I bucked the odds last night and shot some, even though I was running out of light and really pushing the envelope. The first 3 shots of my ladder went into .585 @ 200, then I rushed and pulled one out about an inch. Fifth one was kinda back in, but starting to move up and to the left. Got into the scatter node then, with a definite trend up and left.

By the time I got up to where I suspect the high node is I was flat out of light, and the nut behind the trigger got loose. Found out what I needed to know though, all charges were safe, and I think this barrel is going to shoot real well. I can load up some test groups now to start tuning it in.

Loaded and shot a couple groups real quick at lunch today, not bad for less than 20 rounds down the barrel. One was 1.65" and the other 1.58", both shot at 200 yards. Right around 3/4 MOA, barrel was still dirty from last night.

Looking like I may have a some verticle, so maybe not on the node yet (think I need to go a bit higher) or maybe have to tweak the bedding/screws some. This barrel is acting like it really wants to shoot though, just gonna have to get it tweaked in.

Update for you John.

I don't have much time for extended shooting sessions, but am lucky enouogh to be able to shoot here at work, so I kinda hunt and peck at it.

I shot a couple groups at lunch today, and think I am starting to get up into the place where this load is going to be happy. Load was 44.5 of H4350 pushing a Berger 130 VLD, stuck into the lands .007. Velocity right at 2900. Group was .825 for 3 shots at 200 yards with a 10 mph breeze. Barrel is starting to clean real nice and easy too.

So, this is a 260 in a Shaw barrel?
Peter.

quote:

Good Savage

Practicing oxymoron s I see....

No Peter, mine is a Criterion barrel. Johns may be a Shaw though, I don't remember.

I have some new test loads up for today if it doesn't rain me out. Swapped to the BR2 primer, and am now into brass shot in this chamber and resized on a Redding bushing die, so hoping my consistency picks up. It seems to be getting better every time I shoot it.

yeah MINE is a Shaw barrel...

I've swopped out a fair number of savage barrels for Shaw barrels. If you are looking for MOA it's kinda a crap shoot. Some will and some won't. They all have taken a lot of time to clean. If you are after hunting accuracy that would be in the eye of the beholder and at what distance. roger