Hey Kodiakarcher, .30-06, that sounds interesting. What do you shoot in it? Have a .308 barrel that my gunsmith isn't too keen on fitting due to chamber pressures.... its a heavy barrel and I would love to have sucha rifle but don't really want to 'hack' my last pristine mil. rifle. I know that the M96 has better safety features than most modern bolt actions and is only second to the 98. And did you blueprint the action, i have heard thatv this will help w/accuracy and full powr loads..... uneven pressure on the rear of the locking lugs.