I picked up a barely used Savage 116 30-06 a while back for pretty cheap. Had plans to build it into a 6.5-06 for bench shooting. It was a bottom-bolt release and the magazine is the "new" Axis-style with the mag release as part of the magazine and the cheap plastic stock and plastic trigger guard. Trigger is the Accu-trigger.

Well, I finally got it done and got to the range today.

Build Specs:
Action - Savage 116
Barrel - X-Caliber pre-fit that I got for 45% off for their Trump birthday special. 8-twist, 5R rifling. Six straight flutes. Savage Varmint profile, finished at 24" and threaded 5/8"-24.
Bolt Handle: Glades Armory tactical
Barrel Nut and Recoil Lug: Patriot Valley Arms
Stock: HS Precision PST-129
Base - EGW 20MOA
Rings: SWFA SS-Tac 30mm Low
Scope: SWFA SS 3-15X42
Other mods: New trigger spring from The Gun Shack (trigger pull is right at 1.75# now), converted the magazine to the older style with the release on the bottom metal and the magazine to the all metal type. Stainless steel trigger guard from The Gun Shack. New bottom metal from Numrich, which I painted with Aluminum Krylon 2-in-1.








The PROS - This thing will shoot. I loaded up some basic ammo (50.5 grains of Rx-19 with a Hornady 120 grain A-Max bullet) just to get the scope sighted in. I shot three 3-shot groups to zero the scope and then shot this 5-shot group. This is with just a bipod and rear bag.





They talk about "a group you could cover with a dime." Well???



Another pro is that the stock fits me pretty well. It positions the gun well when using the bipod. It also works with the Bottom Bolt release without any modifications (there is a gap where the top bolt release would be, but it isn't very noticable).
Final pro is that while I really don't like the blade type trigger safeties, the trigger on this one is pretty solid with the new trigger spring.

Cons:
- The primary extraction is not optimal as it is very near the end of the bolt throw. I am going to try a new bolt, but I might have to modify the bolt shroud to improve the primary extraction.
- The throat on the barrel seems pretty short. The book COAL for the 120 A-Max load is listed at 3.250". I had to seat them at 3.205" in order to chamber them. I have the drill bit and tap to make a modified case to use with my Hornady bullet seater tool and bullet comparator, so I will be able to confirm. It may have been the cases I was using that were contributing (PPU 270 brass sized down and trimmed).
- The threaded for the suppressor / muzzle brake are a bit long. Longer than any of my other guns, so if I use my direct thread suppressors on my other guns, I have to clean the threads really well to get it to fully seat on this barrel.
- The bottom bolt release. Whoever at Savage thought this was a good idea needs to be kicked in the nuts, repeatedly.

Overall, the Cons don't outweigh the Pros at this point as long as it keeps shooting this well. We shall see.

Very nice! I’ve been thinking about that caliber for a while

Good looking gun. Congrats. Any plans to step up to a heavier bullet? Those 156 Berger's might be pretty salty.

Had the opportunity to shoot a 6.5-06 and it’s one sweet round

How did the 270 brass do? When I built my 338-06 I found it was a slightly different dimension tthan the 30-06. I don’t remember if it was length or shoulder but something was different.

Very nice by the way.

Very cool, I like the barrel nut better than the standard one and the ease of the hex design.... now is you could get the action with matching features or at least 2 flat sides to use a wrench or standard vise on.

Good looking and shooting build.

The 6.5-06 is a great round. I seriously thought about converting my 270 Win to this.

The easiest way to make 6.5-06 brass is to neck up 25-06. The 270 Win case is .046" longer than the 25-06. You can use 270 brass, but you have to trim it to size for 6.5-06. I currently use Hornady 25-06 brass necked up with a mandrel to form my 6.5-06. It works great.

Yeah, I have some 143 grain ELD-X loaded up now to test out. The only reason I went with the 120s was that is what I had on hand left over from my 6.5 TCU and Grendel. I couldn't wait until the heavier bullets arrived.

It is doing OK for getting the scope dialed in and the barrel settled in. As Chad pointed out the .270 brass has to be trimmed pretty good.

I have some Nosler 25-06 brass on the way to neck up and use when I start getting serious with this build.

I shudder to think about throat erosion with those 120's, and what a waste to push those tiny pills with that much horsepower at your disposal. Glad to hear you'll be slinging the heavies soon. A 6.5mm pill going that fast is going to be pretty damned salty! Nice job!

Nice rifle !
I put one together several years ago using an old Savage 110 flat back action. I used a McGowen 26" barrel with a Shilen 5.5 contour,and mounted it in a Boyd's LH Thumbhole stock that I finished. Since I also shoot a 25-06,I necked down & trimmed a bunch of 270 brass for mine using Redding bushing & trim dies.





I mainly use this rifle for hunting and shoot the discontinued Sierra Pro Hunter 160 gr bullet. I only have a couple hundred of these bullets left,but they shoot really well out of this barrel.