Where to get the Savage Palma in Canada
- Thread starter humptyjumped
- Start date
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The Savage Palma is a good rifle, but there are better ways of achieving the same results. There has been a certain amount of discussion in the DCRA about a class called "affordable rifle". The Marksman journal on the DCRA website has those articles. There is some discussion (as I recall) about which models are meeting the cut for accuracy. But I don't recall if the Savage Palma made the list.
Do I know who has any? No. But the Savage distributor in Canada may know and be able to answer that question. Let your fingers do the walking.
Do I know who has any? No. But the Savage distributor in Canada may know and be able to answer that question. Let your fingers do the walking.
thanks... I have looked into several options.
I do like savages, however. I just cant find the Savage Palma anywhere.
The owner of the Powderkeg in Kamloops had a Savage Palma at the range a few weeks back, and has at least one for sale in his store .
With factory Lapua ammo, this was a solid .3MOA rifle at 100M
I think it is fair to say rifle costs are only a portion of the costs associated with getting involved with TR/Palma shooting. (Sights, jacket, spotting scope, rifle attachments, gloves, plotter, bag and a shooting mat are almost all triple-digit items minimum) I personally think the Savage Palma represents a good starting point.
With factory Lapua ammo, this was a solid .3MOA rifle at 100M
I think it is fair to say rifle costs are only a portion of the costs associated with getting involved with TR/Palma shooting. (Sights, jacket, spotting scope, rifle attachments, gloves, plotter, bag and a shooting mat are almost all triple-digit items minimum) I personally think the Savage Palma represents a good starting point.
Thanks for the replies. I have a sling, mat, jacket and hand stop.
Right now I am shooting a Savage F/TR with the sling and a scope on it.
I have a couple more questions.
Do you think its worth while to get the F/TR tapped and dovetailed for Aperture sights just to get going? Is there a good gunsmith in Vancouver who can do this?
Also I have heard that there is a rear sight that will fit on a weaver style rail (I have a Farrel 20moa right now). I cant seem to find one though.
Thanks.
Right now I am shooting a Savage F/TR with the sling and a scope on it.
I have a couple more questions.
Do you think its worth while to get the F/TR tapped and dovetailed for Aperture sights just to get going? Is there a good gunsmith in Vancouver who can do this?
Also I have heard that there is a rear sight that will fit on a weaver style rail (I have a Farrel 20moa right now). I cant seem to find one though.
Thanks.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Dlask has been known to work on firearms...I think.
Dennis Sorenson, Mick McPhee are in the area.
Give Ian Robertson a chat about that rear site. I think he was dealing in Centra sites. Maybe it was RPA. There most certainly are rear sights for weaver bases or can be adapted.
Except for the stock, your F/TR IS a Palma as far as mechanicals go.
If you are looking for a great spotting scope at a decent price, give me a shout. Selling my Pentax 65ED w/zoom.
Jerry
Dennis Sorenson, Mick McPhee are in the area.
Give Ian Robertson a chat about that rear site. I think he was dealing in Centra sites. Maybe it was RPA. There most certainly are rear sights for weaver bases or can be adapted.
Except for the stock, your F/TR IS a Palma as far as mechanicals go.
If you are looking for a great spotting scope at a decent price, give me a shout. Selling my Pentax 65ED w/zoom.
Jerry
RH Threads. clockwise is up and right when you turn the knobs. Have the end of the barrel turned down to .750" dia. and buy a dovetail barrel band. Then you can go with just about any front sight, Centra, Anshutz, RPA, Tiger, or any of the ladder sights out on the market.
I made a custom front sight for a Savage Palma rifle and the barrel was 1 inch. The sight was a massive hunk of aluminum. I know Ric had the barrel turned down on the ORA target rifle to fit one of my 3/4" front sights. Is Savage now turning the end of the barrel down before they leave the factory?
It would appear so Tom as the factory rifle I saw the other day was turned down to accept a sight.
Not sure if the original enquirer has answers to all his questions and whether subsequent questions by others are answered. Just in case I offer the following
You can build a Palma style rifle out of almost any 308 with a heavy barrel, it's just that the new Savage Palma has done everything for you except fit the sights.
The Savage 12 FTR differs to the Palma only in the barrel profile, the cheekpiece and the butpad. Either can be used to shoot Palma (or 'Target Rifle' as we call it in Canada).
Rearsights: Easily fitted to either with a weaver base ($4 and up) and a suitable RH sight from RPA (Trakker), Centra or Warner. Expect $500 ish for the rearsight.
Front sights: Are traditionally 0.75" which fits the Palma. The FTR needs to be turned down to that size. There are a number of suitable sights on the market, I prefer the RPA ladder type ($200) but you can go cheaper if you have an adjustable cheekpiece (ie Savage Palma).
Both front and rear sights will need inserts or irises, try Range Sports in Kamloops. Expect to pay circa $200 for the pair.
Handstop: Most will fit the Anschutz style rail. I got a real nice one for $90 from Range Sports in Kamloops.
Epps have a Savage Palma in stock, so there are at least some north of the border. If I was starting out in Palma shooting today, it would be an easy decision to go for the Savage Palma over a custom rifle. The savings are huge. My estimate is a Savage Palma is on the range fully fitted for $3,000, a Savage 12 FTR for $2,300 (but the balance for sling shooting is not as good) or a custom rifle like an RPA or Barnard for $4,500+
Back to the start of my answer, you can do it for less with other rifles, like the Remington 700VLS or similar, but you are not getting as much as the Savage 12 Palma or FTR.
At the end of the day, Target Rifle/Palma is a very challenging and satisfying form of shooting that has a technique to be learned, so I strongly suggest contacting your local Provincial Rifle Association and finding the right tutor/mentor to help along the way.... and enjoy the challenge!
You can build a Palma style rifle out of almost any 308 with a heavy barrel, it's just that the new Savage Palma has done everything for you except fit the sights.
The Savage 12 FTR differs to the Palma only in the barrel profile, the cheekpiece and the butpad. Either can be used to shoot Palma (or 'Target Rifle' as we call it in Canada).
Rearsights: Easily fitted to either with a weaver base ($4 and up) and a suitable RH sight from RPA (Trakker), Centra or Warner. Expect $500 ish for the rearsight.
Front sights: Are traditionally 0.75" which fits the Palma. The FTR needs to be turned down to that size. There are a number of suitable sights on the market, I prefer the RPA ladder type ($200) but you can go cheaper if you have an adjustable cheekpiece (ie Savage Palma).
Both front and rear sights will need inserts or irises, try Range Sports in Kamloops. Expect to pay circa $200 for the pair.
Handstop: Most will fit the Anschutz style rail. I got a real nice one for $90 from Range Sports in Kamloops.
Epps have a Savage Palma in stock, so there are at least some north of the border. If I was starting out in Palma shooting today, it would be an easy decision to go for the Savage Palma over a custom rifle. The savings are huge. My estimate is a Savage Palma is on the range fully fitted for $3,000, a Savage 12 FTR for $2,300 (but the balance for sling shooting is not as good) or a custom rifle like an RPA or Barnard for $4,500+
Back to the start of my answer, you can do it for less with other rifles, like the Remington 700VLS or similar, but you are not getting as much as the Savage 12 Palma or FTR.
At the end of the day, Target Rifle/Palma is a very challenging and satisfying form of shooting that has a technique to be learned, so I strongly suggest contacting your local Provincial Rifle Association and finding the right tutor/mentor to help along the way.... and enjoy the challenge!
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Without taking business away from Ian Robertson, Paul Reiban in the BC Interior has a home gun dealing business that specializes in target rifle bits and pieces. I know he sells new and used sights. You can contact him through the BCRA or by reviewing the on-line copies of the Marksman on the DCRA website. Ian sells stocks and actions primarily. Paul sells pieces primarily.
TR is an equipment game, and there aren't many suppliers. Whatever back sight you choose, be ready to set aside $5-600 for a good one. I have a variety of Australian 'Central' sights, but those designs are easily 40 yrs old. The British Parker Hale and AJ Parker are equally old or older designs. I've never used an RPA or Warner, but you can be sure they have met the test. One thing that the British have been doing successfully, is having adjustable front sight bases. Instead of cranking an inch or so of elevation and changing all your position muscle memory, the theory is that you change adjust the front sight and have a second set of zeros on the back sight.
TR is an equipment game, and there aren't many suppliers. Whatever back sight you choose, be ready to set aside $5-600 for a good one. I have a variety of Australian 'Central' sights, but those designs are easily 40 yrs old. The British Parker Hale and AJ Parker are equally old or older designs. I've never used an RPA or Warner, but you can be sure they have met the test. One thing that the British have been doing successfully, is having adjustable front sight bases. Instead of cranking an inch or so of elevation and changing all your position muscle memory, the theory is that you change adjust the front sight and have a second set of zeros on the back sight.
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Range Sports in Kamloops - that's Paul's business.
Hmm, buy less rifle to start out? This is where I don't recommend going cheap. A good TR rifle will last a lifetime. Buying a used one with all the bullseyes shot out isn't setting a new shooter up for success. Nor is necessarily choosing a suboptimal competitive rifle the road to winning.
Yes, a fellow from Winnipeg (Bruce ??) made the Bisley team not long ago with his Sportco. Superior skill will triumph with adequate equipment, but a poor rifle will always be unforgiving of an inexperienced shooter's foibles. Buy as good a rifle as you can and grow with it.
Follow the progression of DCRA shooters' experiences: No.4 and No.4 7.62 conversions -> P14/M'17, Carl Gustav, Mauser 98 -> Rem 700, Win 70, Savage/CIL -> Sportco -> Musgrave -> benchrest actions, Angel, Swing, Paramount, RPA -> Barnard. Service rifles to converted military rifles to civilian 'sporting' rifles -> 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation purpose-designed single shot bolt action target receivers.
Take the barrel off yourself and take it to any machine shop. Dovetails for front sight come in two sizes 13/16" and 3/4". The 3/4" being the most common. The dovetails are usually about 1 inch long so have the barrel turned to 3/4" diameter 1.250" long. Make sure they chuck the barrel short and don't use a center.
I believe you made the right decision. I own an F/TR as well but I do not believe the added cost of the Palma is warranted.
I've got to disagree w/ this. I think of a good quality rifle as a potential long term purchase. The action and stock will last a lifetime. A barrel should be thought of as a consumable- figure 5000 rounds until you have been shooting long enought ot be fighting for the top spots. A Tr rifle can be had for < $1000, and you can still be competative. It won't be a Barnard or RPA, but I picked up a Musgrave in an adjustable Mcmillan prone stock w/ a kreiger tube for $800. Even if the barrel is toast, it's a good deal, but it still shoots very well. I'm not saying deals like this are easy to find, but they aren't impossible either.
