Where are you getting $50 barrels from? That's a steal.

now you see my reasoning ?
just serch the net for
take off barrels

okie2, my son wants to do the same thing with his XS7. he wants to change it from a 308 to a 260. do you have any problems when you change out the barrels.

none what so ever.
Just make sure the head space is set right on the new barrel.
look on the different gun web sites for new or used take off barrels
you can find them as low as $40.00 some times.
you can use Savage barrels too.
Do you reload?

Thanks for the info. Yes, I do reload. I primarily reload for my 338-06 and 280 but I have found a factory load that my 280 likes so I don't load for it to much anymore.

Tell me what weight bullets you are shooting
338-06---?
280---?
I will send you an accurate load for both of them.

I normally load the 338-06 with 210 Nosler Partitions but have had good results with four different 200gr bullets.

My 280 seems to favor 140gr Nosler BT's, it also shoots the 139gr Hornady Spire Points pretty accurately.

according to Nosler's new book the best powder for the 338-06 is
210 grain bullet AA3100 58.0 grains 2412 fps
the 280 is
140 grain bullet RL19 53.0 grains 2902 fps
I have found that if I load 1 grain up or down it makes it more accurate for me.

If it were me I would load the 338-06 with
180 gr bullet and N150 55.0 GR 2834 FPS
this is 400 fps faster than the 210 grain

To do that requires some modifications to the bolt face. These talk about how you have to modify the bolt face.
http://savageshooters.com/SavageForu...?topic=29350.0

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubb...Number=1298108

the only thing needed to do if you have a problem with head space is cut .020 off the breach end of barrel.
no need to do anything to the bolt.