Good inexpensive single shot action for heavier 30.06 loads?

[Nrut]

Stevens 200 bolt action should meet your needs at a low price...

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Someone is still making Stevens guns today?

[Four Fingers of Death]

Yep, Looks like a Savage, comes in 270 and 3006 (and a few other popular cals (I think) and I saw it advertised in a yankee gun mag for $US310. Cheaper than a new barrel.

[Four Fingers of Death]

What I'm interested in is exploring the performance envelope of the 30.06 and see what I find out when using modern powders and a modern gun. I'm interested in a single shot because of the strength, simplicity and the potential for a tiny bit more accuracy.

With this criteria in mind, I'd be happier with a bolt gun, preferably second hand with a premium barrel fitted. That gets as many variables out of the way and lets you concentrate on exploring the 3006, without having to make allowances for the gun nor have to suffer the Murphy's law that seems to manifest itself in single shots at times. Bolts are boring, bolts are easily bedded, bolts are yarda, yarda, yarda, but they are predictable when experimenting.

Take notice of our opinions (which are like bums, everyone has one) if you like, but don't hesitate to stick to your project the way you want, because in the end, you are the only one you have to satisfy. keep us posted when it is underway.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I googled the Stevens 200 and it appears it's a Savage 110 without the accutrigger, with basic blued steel, pillar bedded and with a plain jane grey composite stock. I've found it whole sale for $239.00 and since my I have a good friend with an FFL, I can get it for that price. I didn't think I could get a bolt action for that price. I'm very suprised. Thank you for suggesting it Nrut.

After learning that, I came back online thinking the exact same thing you just suggested 4fingermick. I can add a premium barrel (which I can also get at wholesale) and have a rifle capable of handling the pressures I'm thinking of.and when I'm done, I could put back on the lightweight hunting barrel and have a nice hunting rifle.

As far as not having the accutrigger, I've done enough trigger jobs I'm sure I can smooth that one up nicely and it appears to have a weight adjustment I'm betting can be set to a level I'd be happy with.

It's not a single shot, but it does appeal. Of course, so does that Russkie Ben posted. I may just have to buy both. That way, I'll have something for everything and won't have to add another caliber to reload for, as I already reload for 30.06. (grin)

4fingermick,

I'll certainly post afterwards, but it'll be a while, as I've just blown a wad on reloading equipment, because this year, the rising costs of materials is going to drive the costs of reloading equipment up quite a bit and I wanted to be "done" with most of my purchases before the new prices hit.

Thanks all,

Dave

[Scrounger]

I googled the Stevens 200 and it appears it's a Savage 110 without the accutrigger, with basic blued steel, pillar bedded and with a plain jane grey composite stock. I've found it whole sale for $239.00 and since my I have a good friend with an FFL, I can get it for that price. I didn't think I could get a bolt action for that price. I'm very suprised. Thank you for suggesting it Nrut.

After learning that, I came back online thinking the exact same thing you just suggested 4fingermick. I can add a premium barrel (which I can also get at wholesale) and have a rifle capable of handling the pressures I'm thinking of.and when I'm done, I could put back on the lightweight hunting barrel and have a nice hunting rifle.

As far as not having the accutrigger, I've done enough trigger jobs I'm sure I can smooth that one up nicely and it appears to have a weight adjustment I'm betting can be set to a level I'd be happy with.

It's not a single shot, but it does appeal. Of course, so does that Russkie Ben posted. I may just have to buy both. That way, I'll have something for everything and won't have to add another caliber to reload for, as I already reload for 30.06. (grin)

4fingermick,

I'll certainly post afterwards, but it'll be a while, as I've just blown a wad on reloading equipment, because this year, the rising costs of materials is going to drive the costs of reloading equipment up quite a bit and I wanted to be "done" with most of my purchases before the new prices hit.

Thanks all,

Dave

You almost certainly have a WalMart near you. If it is one which still sells guns, check their price, it'll be lower than anyone else will sell it. If they don't have it in stock they will order it for you. They get Savage's from a distributor names Lipsey's. They also get guns from Sports South if you want to check stock online.

[Bullshop]

We have sold a # of the Stevens 200 through our shop. Customer reports are all the same, very accurate. Got three sons here owning them and a fourth saving for one. I just cant believe the out of the box accuracy with nothing through the barrel but boolits. What an incredible value!
BIC/BS

[Four Fingers of Death]

"I'll certainly post afterwards, but it'll be a while, as I've just blown a wad "
Dave

Blowing a 'wad' is what we all seem pretty good at here

God luck with it.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Bullshop,

Thank you for that information. I think I'll be jumping on one of those.

Regards,

Dave

[wiljen]

Just wanted to say I understand what you are trying to do. I have had the same thoughts as I have a Weatherby vanguard in 30-06 and have tried to find the ceiling of the envelope. I kinda figure the 280, 270, and 25-06 all operate at higher max pressures than the 30-06 using the same case and the same rifle. I think the 30-06 can safely be raised to the same pressure levels as any of its litter mates without getting magnum-itis. Look at the Vihta powders 540/550 as interesting possibilities.

Wiljen

[Scrounger]

I think a lot of us agree with that thought. Perhaps SAAMI set the .30-06 pressure lower in deference to the early 1903s or maybe even because of the Garand. But as you well know, the relevant dimension, area of cartridge base or rim, is the same for the .270 and 25-06 as the .30-06 and .280, so there is no valid reason it cannot withstand the same chamber pressure. The only negative I can suggest is that most of us have no means of measuring chamber pressure, so exceeding documented loads involves some risk. But since every gun/barrel/bullet/lot of powder/primer is different, we're always at least partially in the dark.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Wiljen and Scrounger,

You guys expressed it much better than I did. That's exactly what I want to do. My plan is to buy an affordable, quality, modern steel rifle with a good reputation (Such as the Savage/Stevens line.) and work up loads and see where it takes me. I expect to ask a few questions, identify a good powder to "get there" with and as the lots begin to get fairly warm, to use a test fixture with the capabilitthis is much like I didy of firing the rifle without anyone being near. This test setup is along the same line of thought (Though different application.) as when I was working in research and development designing power supplies back in the mid nineties.

Regards,

Dave

Dave

[lovedogs]

Another thing you may want to consider... if you really want to explore the capabilities and push the envelope you may want to rethink and go with a bolt action. You really can't do this as well with most single-shots. Even the Ruger #1 doesn't lock up as solid as a good bolt gun and most singles don't shoot as well as a properly set up bolt. That's why most match shooters use bolt guns. I know this is your pet idea but to me it doesn't make sense. You can't explore the things you want to using the equipment you're talking about doing it with. To do the exploration right you'll need a good, well-set-up bolt rifle with a 28 inch barrel... basically, a 1,000 yd. bolt gun. I hope you have deep pockets.

[lovedogs]

Just a quick amendment to the previous post.... I have a friend who, about a year ago, had this same idea. He loved his old .30-06 rifles and wanted to explore their potential. I advised that he was in for an expensive undertaking. Well, he thought he could cobble up something that'd work.

First, he unscrewed an old bbl. off a Rem. 700 and got an unbranded bbl. from Numrich on it. He glassed it and did all his other "cobbles" to it. After wasting quite a bit of time and a few hundred dollars he deemed that project a flop.

Next, he took apart a real nice, accurate '03-A3 Sporter. It was a good old hunting rifle that shot 1" groups regular as clock work. A buddy who had a barrel of old take-off .30-06 bbls. gave him seven bbls. to work with. He screwed them on one after the other until one headspaced close and the bolt fit. Long story made short, it shot into 1 1/2 inches. Another flop.

Well, then he figured maybe the .30-06 wasn't capable to shoot that well. Are you kidding me? The '06 used to hold all the records! Anyway, he traded something for a "Guaranteed" accurate Weatherby in .300 Winchester. I kept telling him he wasn't going to find the full accuracy potential of either the '06 or the big Win. with any sporter or military rifle. Sure, he could keep cramming in more and more powder until he got max velocities, but the accuracy isn't gonna be there. If it was that easy all those match shooters wouldn't be spending all those big bucks building up those long-range rifles. To explore the velocity and accuracy potential in the .30-06 you must have a bolt action with match-grade components. Or, easier yet, just read some of the writings by those who have already done that. It's cheaper and there's no shortage of info on the '06.

By the way, the friend traded the Weatherby off because "it wasn't accurate enough". Duh! He traded for one of those new Taurus Lightning rifles in .45 Colt and is now trying to make a magnum out of that. Heaven help us!

[Phil]

Years ago I built up a 1968 type Winchester M70 for a long range rifle when "match rifle" was specified. I used a 28" air gauged Douglas #7 barrel, glass pillar bedded, blah, blah, blah. I also trued the receiver and bolt. I fit the bolt nose to clear the barrel face by .002" I want them this tight in case anything goes wrong. I built the rifle to shoot 190 grain Sierra Match King bullets and throated the barrel to allow the bullet base to be in the neck, giving me just that bit more powder capacity.

It worked fine, the rifle would shoot in the .6 MOA range just fine. I don't know if I have any of the old load data for that rifle but it seems to me that I could get within 200 FPS of what I was getting with my 30-338. Not bad for a cartridge developed in 1906. As I recall barrel life was far superior to the magnum also.

In doing your project, I would highly advise having a barrel fit by someone who knows what they are doing, and having it breeched TIGHTLY. I have seen lots of actions taken apart that would have survived had they been breeched tightly.

Cheers,

Phil

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Phil,

You pretty much exactly described what I planned oin doing. I was looking at either the Krieger or Douglas barrels and I can get the Douglas for a good bit less money. You post makes that decision a no brainer.

Regards,

Dave

[Newtire]

Hey Dave,
Here's one..Not .30-06 but would be fun1 Sorry, couldn't resist.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Newtire,

That's okay, my brother was a swabbie too. He had problems with impulse control as well.

Grin,

Dave

[bruce drake]

Here's another photo of the USS Piedmont.

Grand WWII Veteran scrapped by the Turks after they bought her from us in 87.

A former Marine who recognizes pride of service.

Bruce