8mm/06

Hey there knowledgable gunsmith types!!!

I have long tossed aroung the idea of swapping out my 110 30/06 barrel to 35 whelen or 338-o6 but recently have a chance at swapping a 7 x 57 barrel and am considering it if ....

1. The bolt face doesn't have to be altered, and ...
2. The magazine doesn't have to be altered, and ...
3. The feed tray/ramp doesn't have to be altered.

I think I'm safe in this 30/06 to 7 x 57 swap but am not sure. Anybody know for sure if there will have to be alterations to any of the other components?

streetglideok

Why decrease ballistics when you could chamber it in 280 remington. 30-06 case with a 7mm(.284) caliber bullet.

skb2706

With only marginal gunsmith knowledge this is what I believe.

No change in the boltface.

Since the 30-06 is a full length long action round and the 7x57 is somewhere between a short action round and a long action round there may be some mods required, possibly a mag box filler.

The profile of a 7mm case is different than an -06 case and thus would have some minor changes in mag box config to get it to feed.

If given the choices I agree with going to a .280 Rem. but if that is your only choice I wouldn't do it.

There may be a good reason why a 7x57 barrel is available.

8mm/06

Thanks for both replies.
I have always known about the inherent qualities of the .284 caliber. It has great sectional density in both the 7 x 57 and th 280. And the 280 is clearly a bit better if you're looking for distance and poke, no argument.
But i have owned a 7 X 57 along with my 30/06 and many other rounds both above and below. I'm very aware of the 280's virtues, in fact a 280 barrel is also available, and being considered. But I'm pretty secure that the 280 conversion is a slam dunk.
My preference is for the 7 x 57. It gets the job done with only a little lost in the poke department but with a pretty big advantage in the gentleness category. I have a love affair with the 7 x 57 round. If, however I have to mess around too much with the 110 to get it to play nice with the 7 x 57 I will seriously consider the 280.

Any other observations from others are welcomed.

skb2706

Now one other possiblity is going to a 7-08 which has the same gentle virtues as the x57 with more common features in required mods for a Savage 110.
Same bolt face
standard common spaer for mag box
standard common spacer for bolt

I have a long action 22-250 with these same parts...no big deal to change them out either.

Big Z

I was looking at the measurements in my loading manual and the bases on the 30-06 and 7x57 are nearly identical. But I wouldn't know anything about what makes a difference in using the same bolt.

8mm/06

While I also know of the 7mm/08 virtues, I'm trying to minimize the alterations I would have to make, and am trying to determine if there are zero or few modifications necessary for the x57.

If i was going to go to the 7mm/08 I wouldn't try to do that swap in my long action 110.

Thanks for all input