Stevens 200 or Marlin XL7 for a project

[james]

Will a savage 110/ Stevens 200 barrel fit on a Marlin XL 7 action?  The  Marlin action is shorter but otherwise the barrel nut and bolt head appear very similar.  I haven't been able to find a site that gives the barrel shank and thread size for the Marlin. I was hoping someone has already made this determination and could enlighten me. 

[james]

Ok. I didn't get an answer so here is what I found out.  The Marlin folks said their barrel shank is 1 and 1/16" dia. and 20 tpi.   That is the same as the Savage short magnum barrels. Most other Savages are 1.05 in dia. and 20 tpi.  With my luck the length of the threads will be different or some other aggravation when I try to thread a Savage drop in barrel on it but I still haven't given up on using the Marlin action.    Anyway I can get the Marlin XL7 for the same price as the Stevens 200 and I like it better. The Marlin has an adjustable trigger, shorter (long) action,  polished metal, two peice bolt head, and Win mod 70 bases fit it. I've been wanting a modern bolt 6.5 and decided to build one.  My plan is to build a 6.5 x 55 with a 24" premium  Shilen, Douglas or McGowen barrel and make my own stock.  A steell trigger guard, barrel nut wrench, and new barrel lug will push the cost up to about $700.  I know I could buy a CZ or Tikka for less than that but this project will keep me from getting run over while playing in the street.   

[gunnut69]

Sorry I couldn't help.. The MArlin appears in nonoe of my books(too new). Perhaps someone else has newer material.

[KRP]

Factory Savage short mag barrels use the larger shank, 1.120".  The standard shank is closer to 1 1/16".  Might be useful if you haven't ordered a barrel yet.

[james]

Thanks for the help.  I found an older Savage/Stevens 110 with wood stock, Bushnell scope, and sling in a pawn shop for $275 so I guess I will use a Savage after all.  Got the non accutrigger down to 3 lb. by honing and replacing the straight trigger spring.   I made the spring from a large safey pin that was about .040 dia.    I didn't check the pull wt. before working on it but it felt to be in the 5-6lb range.  I'm trying to decide if I need to order a new barrel lug with the barrel or should I wait until I get the old one off to check its conditon.  Some sites say it may be thinner on one end but if I glass bed it the contact to the stock should be uniform.   Any thoughts/comments on this would be appreciated.

[KRP]

I would buy a new recoil lug.  Some of the older ones seem to be okay but an aftermarket one is much better.  Northland Shooting Supply has some CNC machined ones available that are supposed to be very nice.

[james]

Thanks KRP,  I ordered a 25" stainless McGowen barrel today.  I'll try to get the lug and wrench before it gets here.  (2-3 weeks estimated).  I noticed Sharp Shooters Supply had ss lugs for about $28.   My trigger guard appears to be black coated aluminum so I may buff it off so it will match the barrel.  I also found a stainless  bolt handle for $15 which would be a lot easier than buffing the existing bolt handle. . 

[KRP]

I've got an SSS lug on my big rifle and it is nice.  Where did you order your barrel from?  Northland also has great prices on McGowen and Shilen pre-fit barrels.  We built my brother a Savage with a McGowen barrel in 6BR and it is a shooter.  If you got an aluminum trigger guard you scored, a lot of the newer ones are plastic.

[james]

Got my barrel from McGowen Precision Shooters LLC in Kalispell, MT.  They have a 10% discount for first time buyers- on the first barrel.  The old Savage/Stevens I found had the metal trigger guard and a decent wood stock with pressed checkering.  So far so good.  I picked up some Weaver bases ( it came with see thru mounts)  but after looking at that loooong action I may put a one piece base on it to strengthen the receiver.

[Rangr44]

[I've been wanting a modern bolt 6.5]

Lipsey's just introduced this Summer's Limited Edition:

A Ruger stainless M-77 RSI (International/mannlicher-stocked) carbine in 6.5x55.

http://www.lipseys.com/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=RUK77RSIMKII6.5&mfg=Ruger&family=77+Centerfire+Series

[james]

That is sure a pretty rifle. As a matter of fact, it would be perfect... if it will shoot 1/2 inch groups. I just hate to spend $1000 to find out. If you buy one of those and get bored because it puts all the bullets in one hole, I'll be glad to give you your money back. I saw a target last week, a gunshop owner shot with his Ruger and it was one ragged hole. This hybrid I'm building will be ugly and may not shoot either but I'll have less money in it and I can work on it until it does without decreasing its value.  I saw a Win. featherweight 6.5 with a Tasco scope on GB thatt sold for $750 a couple of days ago.. 

[gunnut69]

I have a featherweight clasic in 6.5x55 and its a wonderful rifle.. I have killed several deer with it and missed the biggest whitetail I've ever seen alive..(my fault of course). I've also built many swedes on the M96 rifles inported a efw years ago and find they seem to shoot BETTER than the M70's I've been associated with. Of course they were heavily customized but still,,,,, One just had enought done to mount a scope(the guy didn't trust the age of the rifle). After shooting it for a simgle deer season it came back for the whole treatment. They had been using it to shoot crows off a pile of offal in a field several hundred yards distant. He said that it seemed incapable of missing.. He still has the rifle and uses it with great success.. I love the caliber and prefer the 125 Nosler Partition... but the 140 Sierra also seems to work well, although I wouldn't expect the same penetration from even it as I would the Partition..