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A good friend who through sheer guts and hard work is just now crawling out of a financial hole is getting married. His dream is to find a left-handed Savage bolt-action rifle that he can eventually rebarrel to 6.5x284. I would REALLY like to get him that rifle for a wedding present.

Stock condition is unimportant - we will sand, stain, refinish or paint any existing stock and then glass bed it.

Barrel condition is unimportant - it will be tossed once he can afford to buy a new barrel (although it would be nice if it were serviceable enough for some deer/elk hunting in the meantime).

Metal condition is unimportant - we will remove rust and cold-blue or duracoat the metal.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT is that the LEFT-HANDED action length is appropriate for rebarreling to 6.5x284, and that the initial cost is LOW, LOW, LOW. It's not that I am cheap (well, yeah, some people would say I know how to pinch a penny), it's mainly that I'm retired and spare 20 dollar bills aren't exactly raining down from the sky right now.

So if you have one or know someone who has one, and want to help me make a grown man cry (in a good way!), I will do all I can to take a sow's ear and turn it into one man's dream.

czeck -

Would like to help buy DON'T own any left h rifles.

All mine are for left 'brained' people!


However I salute you for your desire to help a friend. I hope it works out for you and your bud!!

Buy a Savage Axis and upgrade later?

CZ, Haunt all of the local pawn shops. Muddy

Is 6.5x284 one of those that "will fit" in a short action but really "belongs" in a long action? I'm betting the answer is yes.

Pawn shops! Great idea - I'll start looking on Monday.

WHO KNOWS: do I need a long action or short action?

for the 6.5 x 284, I think the end user would be happier with the long action if they are handloading...

I am pretty sure the 6.5 x 284 put out by Savage is on a long action.....

if not, I am sure someone will be along shortly to correct that statement..

Long action for optimum results.

Yeah, answered my own question: max COL is 3.228. My short action is no help Czech.

Seriously, isn't it considered good manners to buy wedding presents for the couple?

A Mauser 98 action is considered LA and is perfect for any 284 based cartridge, imo. It's 3006 length.

The Rem 700 LA is also long enuff for the 375 HH which is way longer than needed.

I think ?? the Ruger 77 is nearly the same length as a 98 so that might give you another option.

I can tell you that the Rem 700 SA is TOOO short. Not that it will NOT work but is not optimum.

Thanks anyway!

There's a turd in the punch bowl!!!!

jwall - Yes, there are many long actions that would suffice for a 6.5x284. He wants to save money by replacing the barrel himself. The barrel nut on the Savage simplifies that considerably.

"Seriously, isn't it considered good manners to buy wedding presents for the couple?"

- He gets the rifle, she gets the elk steaks!

2 IFs:

1 IF you can't find a Savage, there are options.

2 IF you can find an appropriate 6.5 rifle it's NOT expensive to
...have the chamber reamed (sp).

Thanks for the responses. Anyone else have a line on an old Savage left-hand bolt rifle?

I have a bunch, but they are going nowhere as long as I live. My son has permission to sell them after I die if there are no left handed grandkids. My advice is to buy a left hand Savage Axis. Academy has a few left at $279.99, but there are no Academy stores near you. A used Savage 110 used to run $200 to $275, but they have gone up lately. Plus I haven't seen any in left hand rifles in the used racks in years. A gun shop can order a left hand Axis for around $300 plus tax and registration.

Some guys are building target rifles on the Axis because of the stiffer receiver than the 110. Boyds stocks are about $100 and triggers are about that too. Match barrels go from $300. Folks call it turning a sow's ear into a silk purse, but they shoot really well. I bought mine while I was working at Academy and it cost me $254 OTD. I wanted a long action to swap barrels on.

Get a LH 06 length action and go 6.5 - 06 later. Much easier build less fuss, and similar performance.