358 win Savage

[bearcove]

Want to put a 358 win barrel on a 7-08 savage bolt gun.

Would like a better barrel than the low end. Want a cast/PP friendly hunting gun. I like accurate, but this is a hunting gun and price is a factor. An extra $100-$150 for a good barrel is OK. 1 in 14 twist.

What would you pick?

Input on action choice is good too. I like them all. the savage is just sooooo easy.

Thanks in advance, Rod

PS. 7-08 is to have switch barrel option, its my other favorite.

[Ben]

Here is you a nice barrel for your Savage. They are out of stock right now, but hopefully they will be getting more soon ? ?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/343533/e-r-shaw-barrel-kit-savage-110-series-small-shank-358-winchester-factory-magnum-contour-1-in-14-twist-24-stainless-steel

[bearcove]

Yeah, I hear they don't get many and they are on backorder long term.

[Ben]

You would think that if that many people want them that the vendor would would want to step up production ? ?

Ben

[Artful]

Ben, most shops run in batch process - so if you have orders for 10k 308 and 8k of 270 and 500 of 358 - it will get squeezed in after the other larger batches are taken care of.

[GabbyM]

You can order those barrels direct from ershawbarrels dot com. Wont’ be the barrel kit but you can get the wrenches separate from your vendor of choice.

Chrome molly barrel in the white is $170.
I get them that way then simply cold blue with Brownells Oxpho Blue. About three applications. Not a durable finish but keep them oiled down with ATF mixed 50/50 with odorless K1 and they stay looking like factory finish. Small bore high velocity barrels will wear out from the inside anyway. For a hard corps hunting rifle destined for lots of travel time I’d probably chose stainless steel then paint it with a very very thin coat. Since I don’t like shinny barrels.

E R Shaw barrels don’t come with a super high bore polish in them. Also they’ve not been proof fired. A process I’ve long thought was in place to smear out the lack of polish on factory rifle bores. Only had a couple of there barrels but those polished up nice before firing with a few dozen strokes of JB Bore Paste with a tight patch.

Use a good bore guide and quality cleaning rod like Deweys or other one piece. You may get sticker shock but fact is most high end barrels are ruined after a few trips to the range from jackhammer cleaning technique. Standard price barrel well cared for will shoot better than a $450 barrel after it’s beat up.

[JesterGrin_1]

I will tell you that the E.R.Shaw is a Factory Magnum Contour which means it is not light. And they come 24" long. I had mine cut down from the 24" to 20" as I felt for handling that would be my best bet and still get good use from the .358 Winchester cartridge.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v453/SHAKERATTLEROLL/stevens3582.jpg

I have not had the darn time to work some loads in it myself but the builder did throw some rounds down the tube to check his work and came up with this with the Sierra 225Gr and 3031.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v453/SHAKERATTLEROLL/Stevens358Target.jpg

I do plan to try out some BRP 360-220 FP/GC and I know sacrilege lol some Hornady 200 Gr FTX.

Soon I plan to pick on Ben about that 2400 and the 360-220. :)

Here is the Build http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=115528&highlight=Build

[JesterGrin_1]

Sorry I guess my post was a bit much lol. :)

[Artful]

I think the post was just fine - seems to shoot pretty well.

[JesterGrin_1]

I think the post was just fine - seems to shoot pretty well.

Thank You Artful. Just attempting to help.

[bearcove]

Sorry I guess my post was a bit much lol. :)

Not at all, I am thinking of one like that with walnut stock. 22inch barrel.

[JesterGrin_1]

Not at all, I am thinking of one like that with walnut stock. 22inch barrel.

Great. As far as the stock goes it all depends on where you will purchase it from. The one on my Rifle as pictured is from BOYD'S http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/Thumbhole-Replacement-Stocks-Savage-Stevens-s/36.htm It is a FT Thumb Hole. I like the Thumb Hole stocks but also due to the fact that the contour of this barrel is so large it would not fit into the barrel channel of the other designs. Or to say with the other designs of stocks after you cut the barrel channel for the barrel to fit there would not be much if anything left lol. Another plus is that the FT Thumb Hole stock is very light.

Ask anything you like and I will do my best to answer.

In this thread http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=115528&highlight=Build there is a bunch of information on it.

[bearcove]

I cut a walnut tree that was about 4ft in dia. It was in a house yard on a old farm. House long gone. The limbs were 2ft dia, the big crotches I cut into slabs about 6 to8 Inches thick. I probably have enough for 20 stocks. Just need to sharpen my whittling tools.

[JesterGrin_1]

There are a few members here that do that. And I for one have to say My Hat is off to anyone to take on such a task.

[John Taylor]

If I were doing it my fist choice would be a Green Mountain barrel, probably because I am a dealer for them and have the shop to do the rest of the machine work. http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/barrelblanksround/27-round-button-rifled-barel-blanks/358--27-x-120-button-rifled-barrel-blank-114
Second choice would be McGowen, they can do all the fitting and contour for you. http://www.mcgowenbarrel.com/. You can get a Savage barrel ready to install and blued for $270
Both companies make very good barrels. I had a problem years ago with a Shaw barrel. They made it good by replacing the barrel but I was out quite a bit of time. I'm not saying their barrels are bad, I just got burned once. Most barrel companies make a very good product now days. Paying more money for a high end barrel does not mean your barrel will shoot any better than a less expensive barrel.

[MBTcustom]

I tried out the cheap Adams and Bennett barrel blanks from MidwayUSA on my first build, and I was so impressed with the accuracy and straitness that I have bought three more of them. I havn't gotten a loser yet. For $100 I cant go wrong. It gives me the feel of the rifle in the fully built configuration. If it shoots, great! If not, then I can set it aside for future builds, or use it to dial in the balance/contour that I am after and then buy a shilen and make it the same way. I know you said you dont want a cheap barrel, but that's my 2 cents worth.
Seems to me that if you spent $250 on a barrel that cannot be returned, and another $100 getting it blued, and another $150 getting it chambered, headspaced and mounted correctly, you are pretty likely to just learn to love it, rather than complain about the little things that bug you about it.
With the cheaper barrels, you can mount it up and hunt with it for a season, shoot it during the next summer and make changes that you want made to the contour, length etc., hunt with it for another season, and then if you feel its perfect, have the better quality barrel made identical to the original. Its not very cheap or quick, but its perfect.
To sum up: use the cheaper barrel as a working mockup and you might just love it.

[JesterGrin_1]

Goodsteel I do not know where you would get a Shaw barrel now for $100.00? I know that Midway only has them as a kit now with a Stainless Barrel for $200.00 but most of the time they are out of them. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/343533/e-r-shaw-barrel-kit-savage-110-series-small-shank-358-winchester-factory-magnum-contour-1-in-14-twist-24-stainless-steel

But When they did have Shaw barrels I purchased 2 blued one's in .358 Win and another for the 35 Whelen.

[MBTcustom]

I wasn't talking about a Shaw barrel. I was talking about an Adams and Bennett barrel blank. Although, it is rumored that they are Shaw seconds.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/537134/adams-and-bennett-barrel-blank-358-caliber-centerfire-f44-contour-1-in-14-twist-26-chrome-moly-in-the-white

[Houndog]

I used an Adams & Bennett barrell on a cheap parts gun I built with my Grandson as a trainer and have no complaints with it! We built the rifle on an old Remington 700, used a stock trigger, a plastic stock off a wally world special I robbed the action from and chambered it in 6BR It has not been bedded, only relieved in the barrell channel for the A&B contour barrell. The thing shoots 1/2-3/4 groups at 100 with ease! I would not use an Adams & Bennett barrell on a high end build, but for a beater or a "what if rifle I wouldn't hesitate, in fact I'm thinking making this rifle a switch barrell with the second chambering being either a 35BR or a 358 Winchester for a cast boolet toy.

[MBTcustom]

:goodpost:
That's exactly what my experience has been, and where the A&B shines. You expect to have a "what if/maybe it'll work for try'ses" rifle, and you end up with a tack driver. I have been pleasantly surprised quite a few times with these barrels!

[bearcove]

Green Mountain 27'' 385 barrel blank $96

[Artful]

Green Mountain 27'' 385 barrel blank $96

I think you mean .358, NOT 385

http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/barrelblanksround/27-round-button-rifled-barel-blanks/358--27-x-120-button-rifled-barrel-blank-114

[nanuk]

I sure wish we could get deals like that up here

35cal barrels are near nonexistant.... as are 35cal rifles. 358Winnys... I think only ruger has one now, and they are hard to find, and very expensive

[JesterGrin_1]

Nanuk sorry to say the Ruger went Bye Bye as well. You might get luck and find a New Old Stock one.

[bearcove]

I think you mean .358, NOT 385

http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/barrelblanksround/27-round-button-rifled-barel-blanks/358--27-x-120-button-rifled-barrel-blank-114

Yeah. I am not a good at typing and worse on a phone.

[JesterGrin_1]

Well I have never seen a Bear use a Phone very well lol. :)

[Artful]

Darn phone's are tough to use with decent sized man hands - can't imagine using paws

[JesterGrin_1]

I think I still have a couple Original Bell Rotary Phones laying about :)

[MtGun44]

I put a A&B 7x57 bbl from Midway on a Savage 110 - shoots really well and I swap it back and
forth periodically as the fancy hits me. Good barrel, real nice accuracy, super easy to
fit up.

Bill

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

I wonder why the Midway ad says it is not a switchbarrel. All Savage barrels are switchbarrel, that's why they have a barrel nut system.

Rich
Sua Sponte

[bearcove]

Me too.

[JesterGrin_1]

Okay this is how it was explained to me lol.

A switch barrel Rifle means that one can change out barrels without setting the head space as it is Pre Set.

I think this can be done if one uses the nut to set the head space and then spot weld the Nut in place so that one can simply unscrew the barrel and screw another one on set up like this.

[Artful]

I think this can be done if one uses the nut to set the head space and then spot weld the Nut in place so that one can simply unscrew the barrel and screw another one on set up like this.

But then you couldn't adjust the head space for wear.

[FergusonTO35]

This thread is music to my ears as I've been thinking of finding a beater Savage and getting some barrels for it. There is a very worn but functional .30'06 at a pawn shop right now that would make a dandy .35 Whelen...:idea:

[JesterGrin_1]

But then you couldn't adjust the head space for wear.

Right lol. But a Switch Barrel is something that can be done quick and pre set.

But I guess like everything else it depends on how one looks at it lol. But I would think that if the throat would have that much wear then the barrel should be cut enough to enable one to use a chamber reamer to bring it back to life.

But honestly with a .358 how many rounds would one have to put through it before one would have to even think of doing that. :)

[John 242]

I'll be building a custom Mauser on a 98 action and I'm nearly convinced a Adams & Bennett barrel blank in .358 would be the bee's knees. I'm sucking up every word here.

[MBTcustom]

I'll be building a custom Mauser on a 98 action and I'm nearly convinced a Adams & Bennett barrel blank in .358 would be the bee's knees. I'm sucking up every word here.

Then here's some eye candy for you.
Here is a Japanese Arisaka that I got last year for $125. I bought an A&B blank and reamed it for 358 winchester. A bunch of cussing, and careful use of files, and I got it to feed pretty well.
I made the scope rail from billet. It is attached to the reciever via two 8-40 scope screws, but I planned on dove tailing the forward support at a later date, so I just glued it in place to get me into the woods (I bought the rifle two weeks before hunting season just because I wanted the challenge of building and hunting in a short period of time.)
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l481/goodsteel/Photo12280832.jpg
The trigger was atrociouse at nearly 14 pounds, but the rifle still shot pretty well, especially with the RCBS 35-200-FN
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l481/goodsteel/Photo12291342.jpg
Sick aint it? Yeah that is a 20 shot group at 50 yards with a 15 pound trigger.

I cut down a deer with it too, and that cemented this cartridge in my mind forever as the ultimate sub-45 caliber cartridge.
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l481/goodsteel/Photo12281234.jpg
Just look at that exit wound!

A month ago, I profiled the barrel to a lighter contour and pulled another pound or so off the weight.

This weekend, I got finished up with a few projects for customers, and had a little extra time, so I did a trigger job on it and cut the trigger pull down to a cool 5.5Lb.
While I was at it, I turned the bolt knob down, and rewelded the safety knob (it had cracked around the center post.) and got it tuned up much better for actual use.
I also doved the rail support into the barrel.
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l481/goodsteel/IMG_3555.jpg
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l481/goodsteel/IMG_3556.jpg
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l481/goodsteel/IMG_3557.jpg
I know its just a junky war rifle, but I am totally enamoured with this piece. I think its the balsa wood stock that makes it so light. Its short enough to be a youth rifle, (hence the mid-mounted pistol scope) but it is so easy to carry through the woods.
Its also fun as heck to smith on because I'm not going to scream and throw a file through the wall if I slip or something. I can just relax and monster garrage it to my hearts content. The fact that it shoots really well is a nice bonus. I think I can throw 20 shots through a Copenhagen can sized group at 100 yards with this setup, it might be even better with the new trigger.

Yeah, I could have spent lots of money on a kreiger barrel, but seriously where's the fun in that?
These A&B barrels are perfect for a project like this.
I have a sweet Sako AV action set back that I am going to build like brick outhouse, but honestly, I don't know if it will get as much use as this custom beater.

[Artful]

Nice Jap ya got there - I like a gun you don't have to baby much. What twist rate is that barrel and what does the throat look like on your reamer?

[MBTcustom]

Its a 1-14 twist, and the throat is a strait taper. I would call it a medium throated rifle, not too short for longer boolits but not too long for short boolits. Like I said, the RCBS 35-200-FN is ideal for this rig.
I'm going to need this rifle soon, so I went ahead and cold blued it with 44/40 (gosh I love that stuff! "for what it is")
Anyway, I think next I'm going to replace the stock, and then strip and polish it, and SRB the whole thing. I was thinking about doing that now, but its not looking like there is going to be time before season.

[Elkins45]

I wonder why the Midway ad says it is not a switchbarrel. All Savage barrels are switchbarrel, that's why they have a barrel nut system.

Rich
Sua Sponte


My guess is that they don't want a bunch of people thinking they can convert their guns to one of those "assassin rifles" we see on TV where you can just unscrew the barrel and put it in your special sniper briefcase. Imagine the disappointed phone calls to the returns department.

[Elkins45]

But then you couldn't adjust the head space for wear.

Couldn't you just unscrew the barrel and face a few thousandths off of the welded on barrel nut? But how much cast boolet shooting would you have to do before that became a problem? I don't think I have access to that much lead.

One of these days I'm going to learn how to thread on my old metal lathe so I can buy barrel blanks rather than having to wait for prechambered barrels to be in stock.

[JesterGrin_1]

My guess is that they don't want a bunch of people thinking they can convert their guns to one of those "assassin rifles" we see on TV where you can just unscrew the barrel and put it in your special sniper briefcase. Imagine the disappointed phone calls to the returns department.

Have you seen the New Thompson Center Dimension?http://www.tcarms.com You can do just that in a Factory Rifle.

[pdawg_shooter]

Cant go wrong with a Douglas.