Barrel Swapping Savage 10 from .308 to .223 help?

[deedzman]

Has anyone done this before?

Been doing some research about it and already have a few parts ordered to do it.

As far as I know, I just need a new boltface to accommodate the smaller caliber and the new barrel itself as well as a go/no go gauge.

Anyone have experience with this can chime in on tips/help such as whatever else I may need to purchase or know?

Thanks!

[danito]

The model 10 is a short action so the cartridge length going from 308 to 223 should not be an issue with the action. So its really simple, barrel , bolt face and gauges should get you going. You will also need an action wrench or barrel wrench and barrel clamp to get the barrel off. I did a similar swap however I used long action and went 30/06 pencil barrel to 308 heavy profile, then opted for a CDI button metal. In the end I did have to apply some heat to the barrel nut to break the threads loose. It was a fun project , good luck

[hoozaru]

I have done it the other way around 223 to 308, got most parts from gunshack, got barrel from E A Brown. Removing the old barrel nut was a b*&#!, had to use barrel wrench + hammer method. I installed the barrel with only the go gauge. Put go gauge in the chamber while slowly screwing in the new barrel. After barrel nut is tightened again, check headspace with a no-go gauge.
You are ordering a .223 sized BOLT BAFFLE, right? Probably wanna replace the cheap factory barrel nut with a precision one.

[2shotjoe]

Easy and fast once it's all set up.

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[2shotjoe]

Get a ptg bolt, the 308 bolt was drop in for me.

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[Savion]

Check your firing pin protrusion after you replaced the bolt head. adjust as needed.

[Sandro]

Magazine?
Out of curiosity, why do you do it?
Savages are not that expensive, and both calibers are very useful.
You are going to pay the same or almost the same amount of money and still have 1 rifle.
Why not to buy 308 and have two great rifles?

I'm sure you have your reasons and i'm curios what they are.

[deedzman]

The model 10 is a short action so the cartridge length going from 308 to 223 should not be an issue with the action. So its really simple, barrel , bolt face and gauges should get you going. You will also need an action wrench or barrel wrench and barrel clamp to get the barrel off. I did a similar swap however I used long action and went 30/06 pencil barrel to 308 heavy profile, then opted for a CDI button metal. In the end I did have to apply some heat to the barrel nut to break the threads loose. It was a fun project , good luck

I also just read I may need an action wrench...did you have a smooth barrel nut or notched? Will try with heat thanks! Is a new bolt baffle also needed as mentioned below?

I have done it the other way around 223 to 308, got most parts from gunshack, got barrel from E A Brown. Removing the old barrel nut was a b*&#!, had to use barrel wrench + hammer method. I installed the barrel with only the go gauge. Put go gauge in the chamber while slowly screwing in the new barrel. After barrel nut is tightened again, check headspace with a no-go gauge.
You are ordering a .223 sized BOLT BAFFLE, right? Probably wanna replace the cheap factory barrel nut with a precision one.

I also got my barrel from EA Brown Co! But it is an ER Shaw barrel.

Did you use an action wrench or a barrel vise? It seems like I am going to need one or the other unless you know any other method to hold the action in place while wrenching off the nut?

Do I need a new size bolt baffle? Haven't read that anywhere thought It was just the bolt face? I am purchasing a notched barrel nut to make installs easier in the future

Get a ptg bolt, the 308 bolt was drop in for me.

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considered this but it would make it a lot more expensive for me

Check your firing pin protrusion after you replaced the bolt head. adjust as needed.

Thanks for the tip! will definitely do that

Magazine?
Out of curiosity, why do you do it?
Savages are not that expensive, and both calibers are very useful.
You are going to pay the same or almost the same amount of money and still have 1 rifle.
Why not to buy 308 and have two great rifles?

I'm sure you have your reasons and i'm curios what they are.

Well I purchased an aftermarket stock and am trying to build a quality rifle on a budget and figured this is the best way to go. With the switch barrel set up I am able to shoot both 223 or 308 now, without having to buy a whole other set up and dump more into parts. The complete switch barrel set up seems like it is going to run me 250-300 after the tools which seems more budget friendly than buying another rifle...atleast a savage 10 or higher? I could pick up an axis for that much

If its as easy as people say it is, then I think its' a smart choice but thats me?

[danito]

Magazine?
Out of curiosity, why do you do it?
Savages are not that expensive, and both calibers are very useful.
You are going to pay the same or almost the same amount of money and still have 1 rifle.
Why not to buy 308 and have two great rifles?

I'm sure you have your reasons and i'm curios what they are.

I didn't shoot the 30.06 that much and I wanted a scout rifle build so I went with a 308 barrel using the long action. The button metal was added because it was a neccessary scout feature. In the end I took it further and bed the action and floated the barrel before inletting the stock for the button metal. It just took on a life of its own. In the end the barrel profile I used turned out to be too heavy and practical for a scout rifle. I did pick up a 10 round and 5 round magazine for bench shooting and a single shoot retainer for single shot action.

It's a way better rifle than I could have purchased outright at the time and I customized it so it makes it personally satisfying for me as DIY project.

CDI precision makes the button metal I used.

I just started a new scout build using an axis 223 action

[hoozaru]

I also got my barrel from EA Brown Co! But it is an ER Shaw barrel.

Did you use an action wrench or a barrel vise? It seems like I am going to need one or the other unless you know any other method to hold the action in place while wrenching off the nut?

Do I need a new size bolt baffle? Haven't read that anywhere thought It was just the bolt face? I am purchasing a notched barrel nut to make installs easier in the future

I used action wrench in a bench vise to hold the receiver, and a barrel nut wrench.

Do you have a baffle like this one?

[deedzman]

I used action wrench in a bench vise to hold the receiver, and a barrel nut wrench.

Do you have a baffle like this one?

The wheeler action wrench? Was hoping didn't need to purchase one of those, they aren't cheap!

On my bolt it looks like I already have a baffle behind the 308 bolt face... Would that need to be swapped as well?

[LynnJr]

You shouldn't have to swap the baffle and there is a flat spring in between the boltface and the baffle as well.

[LRShooter]

I've done a couple of swaps. They're pretty easy to do. Just hit up youtube and watch a couple of videos.

Depending on what barrel, the tools, headspace gauges, and bolt face and parts for it, you may be into enough with just this stuff to justify purchasing a new rifle. Of course that would mean another optic.

[Army]

Sharp Shooter Supply is your friend!

www.sharpshootersupply.com