Bolt Rifle Action

[steezo757]

So I'm almost finished with my .300 Whisper/Fireball AR. I like the round so much that I'm planning on doing a .300 Whisper/Fireball bolt gun. Besides my .22lr, I have no experience with bolt action rifles.

What should I look for when searching for an action? I'm thinking on a Savage or a Remington. Since the barrel and the stock are going to be immediately replaced, I'm assuming I shouldn't start with the top of the line Variminter rifle with bull barrel, etc. Will an action of the lower priced rifles do the job? Is there any difference between the actions of the lower and higher priced rifles?

[m21black]

I had a whisper built on a CZ action but the Reminton 700 would be a nice option... Starting with a varmint model with a HS Precision stock would be real nice...

[DonT]

I have built one on a savage action and actually done barrel change outs on at least 3 or 4 others and would highly recommend the Savage rifle as a platform for the following reasons:
1. With a little care and limited tools it is realitively easy to change calibers
on the savage due to the barrel nut.
2. Tools required are relatively inexpensive (under $100 total usually).
3. Allows you to go back and forth between the new barrel and old barrel
with as little as a 1/2 hour of invested time.
4. It come, go with the accutrigger, with an excellent adjustable trigger for
most work.

I would probably go with the something like the 12bvss in a caliber I like to shoot, for me .223 or .308 and then change out the barrel to .300 whisper. If you go .223 you are good to go, with the .308 you will need an additional bolt head which is no biggy. This gives you a good quality laminiated stock that is pillar bedded for the action along with a nice trigger right out of the gate. I have built these up using the cheaper models of Savage Rifles and find that once you have had to shell out for a decent stock you are right back were you were with the 12bvss price wise. I am not sure you will find much difference in the actions themselves.

The nice thing with doing the above is that if you decide the .300 is not your thing you can reinstall the old barrel and sell the .300 barrel, or if you find you will never use the old barrel the target fluted barrels are pretty easy to sell. Finally if you find you don't like the .300 or the old caliber you can pick up a barrel in any caliber that uses the short action, change the bolt head and for a few hundred dollars have a complete rifle.

One final thought, if you are into single shots to get the most out of accuracy and action stiffness Savage has a model that will fit your needs, I am just not sure what the model number is but it is slick.

Just one old guys opinion...

DonT

[steezo757]

I've read that CZs are great rifles too.

Please let me expand on my lack of knowlegde with bolt rifles.

DonT, am I understanding you correctly? I can buy a Savage .308 rifle, use the stock and action as a host for other calibers. Of course the .300 Whisper/Fireball round, but could I also use a .223 barrel using the proper bolt face in the .308 host?

And when I want to change out barrels, simply undo the barrel nut and install another barrel? (That's what I used to do with my ARs until I went with the MGI setup ). Don't the Savage models have internal magazines? Will the .308 internal magazine need to be swapped out as well?

[m21black]

The Savage does afford you the ability to change barrels and it is as strong as all hell... but my way of thinking is you put a barrel on a rifle and set it up with mounts and a scope and you shoot it... wouldn't think of changing the barrel and my guess is that once you build a whisper on a bolt gun you won't have any notion changing barrels... if I wanted another caliber rifle I'd buy or build another rifle before changing barrels on the action. If you want to swap barrels go with a TC Contender G2 or and Encore. My G2 with a SSK Whisper barrel shoots sub moa at a 100 yards.

[DonT]

Steezo757,

To answer you questions:
DonT, am I understanding you correctly? I can buy a Savage .308 rifle, use the stock and action as a host for other calibers. Of course the .300 Whisper/Fireball round, but could I also use a .223 barrel using the proper bolt face in the .308 host?Yup that is pretty much it. You might need to add a .223 folower (about $10) and as you said the bolt head.

And when I want to change out barrels, simply undo the barrel nut and install another barrel? (That's what I used to do with my ARs until I went with the MGI setup ). Don't the Savage models have internal magazines? Will the .308 internal magazine need to be swapped out as well?It isn't quite as easy as the MGI (had one and it don't get any easier than that) but it isn't too hatefull either. I don't beleive there is any change needed to the mag well other than possibly the follower. All that I have done were .223 to .300 whisper. It is my understanding the short action is short action for all calibers with the exception of the bolt head, long action the same way.

M21black has a point but here here are some things to consider:
Get a qood quality scope with repeatability. Site the rifle barrel in before removing and witness mark it so you can bring it back to that point if you reinstall. When you install the whisper barrel count the clicks to zero it and write them down and put them with the other barrel. Now you have a way to get you very very close to zero when you change out the barrel again. If you had an MGI upper on your AR then I am sure you are accustom to doing this with your various calibers now.

In either case you are likely going to buy a complete rifle then convert it. With the savage vs. others you have the "option" to go back if you don't like the whisper, and some folks don't after they have made the change. With the savage the change could be done by you if you choose in less than an hours or so. BUT if you go remington, CZ or Winchester it is likely that you are going to have to take it to a gunsmith to have it done and around here that can take 3 weeks to 6 months depending on the smith.

There is no Right answer only a whole bunch of possibilities

DonT

[WhisperFan]

One thing to keep in mind is the extractor / brass issue.

If the bolt face in your action is a 221 Fireball, then 221 fireball brass resized to 300/221 will work 100% of the time in regards to extraction and ejecting.

If the bolt face in your action is a 223 Remington, then 223 brass resized to 300/221 will work 100% of the time in regards to extraction and ejecting.

If you build your Whisper with a 221 Fireball action and then use 223 brass, you will most likely experience extraction problems. The cure for these problems is a Sako-style extractor. Typically - using a 223 bolt face will work for both types of brass.

The reason for these occasional extraction problems is the geometry of the rim and extraction groove is slightly different with the two different cartridges.