110 308 conversion

[Richard1959]

I am looking to convert an early 60’s 110 in 308 to 30-06. I have a take off barrel and don’t like the 308 bull barrel that has been installed on the action. Is there anything that would prevent me from making the conversion. I will be using a factory original stock from the early 60’s instead of the aftermarket stock currently on the gun. Thanks for your input.

 

[CFJunkie]

Early Savages, I believe, had long actions, suited for .30-06, and adapted for short action bullets, like the 308. That would make the conversion possible. If you have a short action 110, I would think the answer would be no.

My first reaction would have been the .308 is a short action and the .30-06 was a long action, but then I remembered that early Savages were long actions, probably because most everyone shot long actions in the 50's. They adapted the long actions to feed short action rounds like the .308.
I am not sure when they started to create 110s in short actions so you need to determine if the action is long action.

 

[6Dasher4win]

It was somewhere in the 80's that Savage came out with short actions. The model # on the receiver will tell you.
3 digits like 110 is long action.
Shorter 2 digit numbers like 10 is short action.

 

[SevenFan]

CFJunkie is correct presuming the rifle was manufactured prior to 1966.

 

[Richard1959]

It is a pre 66 not able to date it since the original barrel has been replaced. It is a 5 digit serial number that falls in range of the ones I have from 64 to 66 and has the old style magazine ejector.

 

[mattri]

Will an 06 case fit in the mag?

 

[KMW1954]

Have to agree with you CFJunkie, the early 110, 3-digit models were long action, the 2-digit models were short action, Now they are all 3 digit again for both.

 

[sharpshooter]

If it's a pre 1966 in .308, it would be on a 110 short action...gen 1. The action screw spacing should be 4.522. It should have a short magazine box (.308,243).

 

[Richard1959]

After getting my hands on it, it is a long action pre 66 receiver with the distance between the action screws being 5.062” that was converted to 308. The after market stock and the 308 bull barrel are going to get replaced with an original in almost new condition stock and a correct 30-06 barrel for the early style bolt head.

 

[CFJunkie]

Sounds like you would like to keep to the rifle's original history.
A new barrel should do that.

I'm not sure if a .30-06 will shoot as accurately as a .308 because the historical .30-06 bullet choices aren't as broad and, historically, most are probably hunting bullets or military issue, at least in my experience. Most of the traditional bullet choices probably will be heavier also.
But from a historical perspective, they will be true to the .30-06 heritage.

If you just want to use any 30 cal. bullets, there is no reason why the panoply of new, high BC bullets created for the .308s and newer variations wouldn't be worth a try. You may find that the powder choices might tend to slightly slower powders.
My .308s prefer H4895, IMR3064, Varget, N140, N540, and Reloader 15.
My 30-06s prefer IMR4350, H4350 for heavier bullets and some of the lighter bullets performed well with Varget and R-15.

You may have to experiment a bit to find out what bullet weights and seating depths the replacement barrel prefers, but it should be a fun process.

Good luck with the change and good shooting.

 

[Richard1959]

The bull barrel is way too heavy to practically carry. It’s the heaviest 308 barrel I have come across. No marking on it at all not even the caliber. Guessing it is a custom made barrel since it had a custom Fajen stock made the fit the bull barrel and I just happen to have the 30-06 barrel and stock that are in great shape. So I decided it was a good time to use them.

 

[kelbro]

Sounds like it was set up as a target rifle.

 

[TsavoCreek]

The pre-1966s are definitely different animals. I have a 1959 that I was thinking of going to a magnum caliber, either 7mm or 300 Win. I have the correct bolt head and snap-on extractor but the bolt won't close easily. Also the throat (if that is what it is called) where the cartridge cases pass down through to sit in the magazine box won't accept .532 diameter cases (too narrow).

 

[Richard1959]

Do you have a magnum magazine box and follower to swap out?

 

[TsavoCreek]

I don't. I believe I have a magazine box available to me. Unfortunately it appears my action won't handle magnum diameter shell casings anyway unless I open it up (.050 or so to allow the .532 diameter cases). Do you have the mag box and follower?

I think my snap-on extractor may be a little out-of-round causing the bolt closing issue too.

 

[Richard1959]

I have a magnum flat floor plate and I believe numrich has the magnum magazine box in stock. Not sure if I have a magnum follower or not. I will have to look.

 

[Richard1959]

Well I have it finished and yes it is as original as it can be. Now I need to figure out what scope to put on it.

 

[6Dasher4win]

Pics or it didn't happen

 

[Richard1959]

Here are two pictures

 

[KMW1954]

Well I have it finished and yes it is as original as it can be. Now I need to figure out what scope to put on it.

Would love to see it!

 

[Paddyd]

Sounds like you would like to keep to the rifle's original history.
A new barrel should do that.

I'm not sure if a .30-06 will shoot as accurately as a .308 because the historical .30-06 bullet choices aren't as broad and, historically, most are probably hunting bullets or military issue, at least in my experience. Most of the traditional bullet choices probably will be heavier also.
But from a historical perspective, they will be true to the .30-06 heritage.

If you just want to use any 30 cal. bullets, there is no reason why the panoply of new, high BC bullets created for the .308s and newer variations wouldn't be worth a try. You may find that the powder choices might tend to slightly slower powders.
My .308s prefer H4895, IMR3064, Varget, N140, N540, and Reloader 15.
My 30-06s prefer IMR4350, H4350 for heavier bullets and some of the lighter bullets performed well with Varget and R-15.

You may have to experiment a bit to find out what bullet weights and seating depths the replacement barrel prefers, but it should be a fun process.

Good luck with the change and good shooting.

You can load more different bullets in a 30/06 than you can in a 308. If it's going to be a hunting rifle, the 06 is better. If only for target work and loop will be shot a lot, Id go 308W mainly because powder wise, the 06 uses quite a bit more.

 

[SevenFan]

After getting my hands on it, it is a long action pre 66 receiver with the distance between the action screws being 5.062” that was converted to 308. The after market stock and the 308 bull barrel are going to get replaced with an original in almost new condition stock and a correct 30-06 barrel for the early style bolt head.

Taking it back to its roots, I like that.

 

[mattri]

An old 4x Leupold would be right at home.

 

[CFJunkie]

I think it came our great.
It looks sensational.

 

[SevenFan]

An old 4x Leupold would be right at home.

A K-series Weaver would too.

 

[Richard1959]

I went with a weaver K4-60B Redfield sr mounts and rings. The Leupold was a little bit short. May change it to a K6-60B because it has a longer tube.

 

[bulabula]

And its a lefty... Be still my heart. Beautiful rifle.

 

[kelbro]

Looks great. I had one that shot very well.

I always heard ' You can shoot 308 loads in a 30-06 but you can't shoot 30-06 loads in a 308'

 

[ONE-TEN]

Anyone remember this? Hopefully it gets stickied/pinned.




All Long Actions = 5.062" (1958 to present, staggered and center-feed magazines)
1st. Gen Short Actions = 4.522" (1959 to 1987, staggered feed magazine)
2nd Gen Short Actions = 4.275" (1998 to 2007, staggered feed magazine)
3rd Gen Short Actions = 4.400" (2005 and up, center-feed magazine, not in photo)
3rd Gen Palma/Dual-Port = 3.440" (2009 and up, single-shot only)