I've been playing with a Savage model 11 243 I picked up early last year and have really started to enjoy shooting it. I've had a lot of customs but they were more back in the day when Mauser actions were the common action to use. 222, 22-250, 22-250AI, 308 and 30-06 have been the norm with the smaller calibers numbering many over the years. Now I also really tend to like 788 Rem and 722's a lot as well as they just plain shoot.
I now have a 20"308 barrel and a 22" 243 barrel I set back and punched out to 243AI. The calibers I will set up for this are probably right in line with what you are thinking. 6mm ARC (needs a grendel bolt head), 22-250AI, 243AI, 308. The Ackleys are a great round if you are looking for a cartridge that rarely needs trimmed and gives you a slight gain in velocity without running up against all kinds of pressure issues and fast barrel erosion. The other great thing is the factory variation of these rounds just plain shoot in the Ackley chamber if the barrel has been headspaced properly. The other reason for modifying or going to the Ackley is something maybe was mentioned but like myself, I already have anywhere from 500 to 2000 cases for each of these calibers and many reloads to use fireforming minus the 6ARC so that is a big savings.
If I was to build a gun for competition to shoot thousands of rounds then a custom action would no doubt be the way to go. I have probably shot 800rds over the last year through my action in 243, 243AI and 308 and have done quite a bit of work to it myself. I built a cherry bench stock, installed an Elftman trigger, built an adjustable comb and about a week ago decided to tackle the bolt lift which in my eyes is the worst thing on the Savages and has caused me to get rid of a couple. The bolt is now super slick and takes less than 6lbs to lift with a round in it and uncocked, way less than before so now just have to see how it is after being fired.
This is getting a little long but it is covering a lot of what you are looking at. As soon as the weather gets a little nicer I will do a couple carbon fiber wood laminate stocks in Sporter variation and maybe run 2 model 11 actions for hunting and bench. I am including a couple pictures so you can see the different cartridges and how they compare on length as well as room in the magazine which will help you with some of your bullet choice questions. The round in the mag is a 22-250AI with a 88gr ELD Match bullet seated out to where the start of the boatail is even with the base of the neck. There is about .24" left in the mag for even longer bullets but you would need to have your barrels throated longer or have a throat reamer to do it yourself.
I hope this helps and didn't get to boring. There are so many good rounds out there with very little difference in actual performance. If you can do the work yourself a Savage can be a very cheap gun to build, but I'm no expert. I just passed up a Stevens 200 LA in 270 for $200, stupid but I'm really only into SA right now. In real money I think I have in my rifle, $300 as a 243, $125 For the trigger on sale, $75 For the 243AI Reamer with 500 fire formed cases to that reamer and a set of Redding comp dies and about $40 in cherry wood, aluminum for pillars and devcon for bedding. Deals can be had if you watch for them. I cant buy a custom action for my total cost.
I now have a 20"308 barrel and a 22" 243 barrel I set back and punched out to 243AI. The calibers I will set up for this are probably right in line with what you are thinking. 6mm ARC (needs a grendel bolt head), 22-250AI, 243AI, 308. The Ackleys are a great round if you are looking for a cartridge that rarely needs trimmed and gives you a slight gain in velocity without running up against all kinds of pressure issues and fast barrel erosion. The other great thing is the factory variation of these rounds just plain shoot in the Ackley chamber if the barrel has been headspaced properly. The other reason for modifying or going to the Ackley is something maybe was mentioned but like myself, I already have anywhere from 500 to 2000 cases for each of these calibers and many reloads to use fireforming minus the 6ARC so that is a big savings.
If I was to build a gun for competition to shoot thousands of rounds then a custom action would no doubt be the way to go. I have probably shot 800rds over the last year through my action in 243, 243AI and 308 and have done quite a bit of work to it myself. I built a cherry bench stock, installed an Elftman trigger, built an adjustable comb and about a week ago decided to tackle the bolt lift which in my eyes is the worst thing on the Savages and has caused me to get rid of a couple. The bolt is now super slick and takes less than 6lbs to lift with a round in it and uncocked, way less than before so now just have to see how it is after being fired.
This is getting a little long but it is covering a lot of what you are looking at. As soon as the weather gets a little nicer I will do a couple carbon fiber wood laminate stocks in Sporter variation and maybe run 2 model 11 actions for hunting and bench. I am including a couple pictures so you can see the different cartridges and how they compare on length as well as room in the magazine which will help you with some of your bullet choice questions. The round in the mag is a 22-250AI with a 88gr ELD Match bullet seated out to where the start of the boatail is even with the base of the neck. There is about .24" left in the mag for even longer bullets but you would need to have your barrels throated longer or have a throat reamer to do it yourself.
I hope this helps and didn't get to boring. There are so many good rounds out there with very little difference in actual performance. If you can do the work yourself a Savage can be a very cheap gun to build, but I'm no expert. I just passed up a Stevens 200 LA in 270 for $200, stupid but I'm really only into SA right now. In real money I think I have in my rifle, $300 as a 243, $125 For the trigger on sale, $75 For the 243AI Reamer with 500 fire formed cases to that reamer and a set of Redding comp dies and about $40 in cherry wood, aluminum for pillars and devcon for bedding. Deals can be had if you watch for them. I cant buy a custom action for my total cost.
