savage 111 25-06

npd

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Jun 25, 2007
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My question is I would like to get a savage 111 long range hunter but it doesn't come in a 30-06. I know the 30-06 is not the first choice for long range hunting, but I live in upstate New York and 500 yrds would be a long ways out. I was just wondering that since the 25-06 is a necked down 30-06 how hard would it be to convert it to a 30-06. If it can, what would I have to do to convert it. Thank You for your time Chris


Just in case someone is wondering why a 30-06. I just feel you can't go wrong with a 30-06!
 
That would be a very easy conversion. All you need to do is get a 30-06 barrel, a set of go/no go guages, a barrel nut wrench, and a barrel vice. Loosen the barrel nut, remove the 25-06 barrel, install and headspace the 30-06 barrel with the guages, and re tighten the barrel nut. I would recommend upgrading your recoil lug while you have the barrel off.

If its something you not comfortable doing I'm sure you could find a gunsmith that would do it without costing you a fortune.

Chris
 
You got some really great advice...I would just add that there are several custom rifle barrel makers that produce prethreaded and chambered barrels for Savage rifles. Two off them off the top of my head are Shilen and McGowen.

Good Luck...The fun part of the Savage system is the ability to switch barrels relatively easily.

Wayne
 
I agree with the other replies, but would add one thing that you may or may not have considered...

30-06 is tried and true.

But, 25-06 is a pretty good cartridge in its own right. You might want to shoot it first as a benchmark just in case you ever think about putting it back on.

Hornady, Winchester, and Federal all make some pretty good ammo and I think the 115 Berger VLD is tough to beat if you handload.

Best of luck!
 
I have a Savage 110FP in 25-06. That rifle may very well be the most accurate one I own, and it cost me the least. I happened to purchase it early this fall when looking for a smaller caliber rifle I might use on coyotes, antelope or deer. When sighting it in I shot a cloverleaf 3 shot group at 200 yards using Federal Fusion ammo, and my son took a nice doe with it shortly thereafter.

If you're "only" going hunting in NY for deer, consider trying the 25-06 before going through the expense of the barrel swap. In the right conditions the 25-06 with a 120gr Nosler Parition is used for elk, so deer should not be a problem.
 
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Also, I beleive the 111 LRH comes with a muzzle brake. So, the 7mm Mag with a brake should easily shoot with less recoil than a 30-06.

Again, 30-06 is a great cartridge. I own one as well and love it.
 
So, the 7mm Mag with a brake should easily shoot with less recoil than a 30-06.
I should've noted that the 7mm Rem Mag has a different bolt face than the '06. So, it's not a simple rebarrel as you would get with the 25-06.

Heck.... buy one of each!
 
Thanks

Now that deer season is over (muzzle loader ended yesterday) I have 11 months to get the gun and play with it. I thought about shooting it as a 25-06 to see how it shoots. I will buy the 30-06 barrel and have two guns, either way I win. Thanks again Chris
 
I understand the affinity to the 30-06...I wish they made it in that caliber too. Did you consider the .308? It's so close to 30-06 ballistics that you'd be hard pressed to notice any difference. Especially with new Hornady Superformance loads. I've used the .308 Superformance in my SPS tactical with great results.

That being said, I just picked up my 111 LRH in 7mm Mag after a 2 1/2 month wait! Good luck with whatever you decide to do--the .308s, 25-06s, and 6.5x284s have been pretty available, but the mangle-ums haven't been readily available.
 
I have a near 20 year old FP110 in .25-06, generic trigger job, lightened to about 2#, smoothed. Best repeatable group is about a third of an inch center to center at 100 yards, with 120gr Partitions and VV N140 or something like that- whatever fills the cartridge without powder compression, at max OAL. 3300fps at 10 yards, way more than i'll ever be able to do in the field, but when i can settle down and i know the distance, wow. Granted, i've let more than half my shots walk away, but good shot makes up for that bitter taste. Pretty bohemian, i guess, $400 rifle, $400 smithing, $600 scope, $500 range finder and an $100 o-ring press & dies. :)

Seems the key to consistent accuracy is getting the case nearly full with powder- choose a slower burning version for more volume- whatever you use. fill to 100% case volume for your seating depth (takes time to compute- but worth it) - 10 year old loads the same as yesterday's.

I originally got the .25-06 thinking if i shot it out, i could have it rebored to 6mm, .270, etc... hah! never shoot it enough. buddy got me into the quarter bore with his .257 roberts, great gun, great round. the .25-06 is too heavy for the power to work as a true field gun, but if you see a target, and it is less than 400 yds, odds are you'll get it.

love the -06 case- i can find and size brass anywhere, 120gr has always done the job for me, and 60gr flat points come out well over 4000 fps- still less than 1 moa at 100 yds, and basically vaporize anything they hit- a little overkill, but close to an 'everything' round as i have- .25-06, if ever i need more, it will be close up with a .729 bore. So to speak. :-/

j
 
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