Gm54-120

IIRC the very early work by Henry and Bill Ball were Mauser actions. This was long before Savage came into the picture. They were mini Mark X.

super_hunt54

He emailed me back. Said that single shot short action 700 would be my best option with the RemAge barrel. As far as pinning the lug, since this will be a dedicated ML I really don't see the advantage to pinning one since I won't be spinning the barrel off and on with replacements. I am assuming (I know, stupid to assume) that if I go that route, it will be pretty much the same as spinning a barrel on to a Savage correct? Just set it with a GO gauge and torque to 40 and give myself around .003 leway?

Gm54-120

There is no "go gauge" for this application. Jeff can fill you in on the details but from my understanding its simple. IIRC you need to remove the ejector from the bolt too.

super_hunt54

LOL...Yeah I kinda already figured the ejector removal. Them modules are a little to pricey to be throwing a mile out never to be found in the grass again Now to try to track down a decent stock with the ram rod hole already in place for the field rod. I don't like those collapsible rods one bit. You need a quick reload and you are 100% scwued. I'm hoping Boyds has this one with the rod hole and retainer already in place.

Gm54-120

Boyds offers 700ML stocks but im not sure if they offer them already cut for the ram rod. The new Rem Ultimate ML stock is already cut and they pop up for sale occasionally.

I think Brownwells and Numrich still sell the 700ML ram rod retainer spring hardware. The ferrule from a new Rem Ult. ML might fit your new barrel too. Another thing with Boyds is they have no bedding pillars and its a wise investment.

super_hunt54

Boyds emailed back saying that stock is pre drilled but it was a very short message and didn't include info on the retainer. I don't think rigging up a retainer spring would be anything difficult would it? Probably a little dremmel work inletting.

I got ahold of my buddy with the 700 single shot short action. Bolt face is .470 for .308 case head size and he will trade me straight up for my long action 700 and one of my K98's. Never even had a barrel spun onto it so that's not as bad a deal as it sounds. Though I am still cringing a little!

Now to have a little longer and more detailed chat with Boyds and a couple other places to see about a stock without magazine inlet with this being a single shot. No need spending money for bottom metal needlessly. I'll epoxy bed the action and float the barrel. That should be plenty. If not I can always install pillars. It's not really hard to do.

super_hunt54

Welp, all should be here in the next week or so. Went with the 700 single shot shorty and the RemAge barrel setup. That stock I pictured from Boyds earlier is indeed drilled and rigging up a retainer for it will be a breeze according to a buddy of mine. He did tell me to leave my dremel in the damn case and use my chisels. He said "no one will see it but you and I've seen your work with both...use the damn chisels"...Guess he means my dremel work sucks huh? Going to make my own rod guide to put on the barrel once I get everything spun on and dialed in. Just don't know yet which way I will go with it. Wrap around or solder it on. Probably wrap around with some sort of epoxy that I can heat off if I need to. Did go ahead and go with 1:20 twist. I figure a well placed 300-350gr bullet with a MV of 2800fps will do the job I am looking for well enough out to 300 yards. I think I will go with a Nikon Monarch 3, 2.5-10x42 or I MIGHT go with a new Leupy if I can talk myself into it

BarnesAddict

I hope you have better luck than I have with either of them.

Gm54-120

1-20 is fine. A 1-18 probably is too but the 1-20 has been proven over and over again its a good twist for this application.

A 300gr at 2800fps is pretty close to max without going to one of the slower powders. Most use H4198 and it works well. You might be able to get a little more speed with something like 3031. Pushing a 350gr that fast though will require some very cautious load work.

SML traces for bullets over 325gr are pretty much non existent.

Gm54-120

After looking over the barrel OD specs and some traces i would stick to around 2500-2600fps MV with upto a 325gr bullet. That load is still completely adequate with good bullet selection.

If you go faster you will be into the 50+Kpsi range and/or having to use huge amounts of much slower powders. Even 3031 requires way more powder than 4198 to get the same speed......and i mean WAY more, like over 90gr of it.

That RemAge barrel is nice but its still not quite 1.1" OD. That is why i suggested a plain Rem barrel that would be around 1.2" OD for highend loads.