Greenie looking for advice

Yenner

Yenner

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Hey guys,

I just mailed my PAL/RPAL application earlier today, and am starting to build my rifle while I wait for the feds to do their bit.

I'm looking to get into precision shooting, and I've sort of got a semi-affordable build in mind, and was hoping for an opinion on it:

Savage 10 FLP in .308 (yeah, I'm a southpaw)
Falcon Menace 10x 42mm optics
??? rings
??? mounts (these will be determined by what I can afford)
Uncle Mike's "military rifle sling" (m1907 sling)
McMillan A-5 stock

What is this list missing (other than the boxes and boxes of ammunition I plan to send down range)?

Hopefully I'll see those of you who live in Edmonton at Genesee, and/or the next C.H.A.S. meeting.
Thanks in advance.
 
I'd skip the McMillan stock. The FLP comes with a pillar bedded synthetic stock and the McMillan A-5 stock was worth $468USD in 2006. Plus you'd have to send them the rifle and wait for it. You'll be paying more for the rifle anyway because it comes from Savage's "Law Enforcement" line so why pay very nearly the cost of the whole rifle for a stock?
A fixed 10 X scope limits you too much. You won't be able to see anything under 100 yards. Look into a 3X to 9X variable. Don't skimp on the bases and rings either. Some of the money you don't put into an expensive stock can go towards them.
You may want to look into a bipod too. I'm not a big fan of them on a rifle, but that barrel will get heavy by the end of the day. Harris or one of the other makes.
Since you've just mailed your PAL application, you have at least a month or more to decide.
 
Thanks for the advice. The bipod strikes me as a fairly obvious oversight, and I will have to pick one up.

I didn't know that I'd have to send the rifle to McMillan to put one of their stocks on it. That is quite a bit excessive as far as I'm concerned. Oh well, that'll come later I guess.

Anyone else? Any other doodads or components you'd recommend?
 
Check out some of the other Savage LE packages; they have a number of HS Precision and McMillan stock options available, and it'll save you a lot of time and money.
As for rings and mounts, go with a Warne base and TPS rings.

-Rohann
 
I have the 10 FLP too. I can live with the factory stock (Barely).
I have a TPS 0 moa base and Burris Signature Zee rings. The Burris rings can have inserts put into them to give you some more clicks of elevation if you need them.
I put a Bushnell 3200 series, 10X40 mildot scope on it.
IMNSHO, a bipod is a good idea for field shooting, not as important if all your going to do is shoot off the bench. I have the Harris 6-9" swivel bipod.

I'm happy with the package.

Craig
 
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I disagree with the scope magnification comment "A fixed 10 X scope limits you too much. You won't be able to see anything under 100 yards" I have a 4-12x 40 and always leave it at 12x now even at 25m.
 
I'm going with the fixed mag for two reasons:
1) it's one less thing for me to have to remember at the range
2) if fixed mag's good enough for the USMC, it's good enough for me.

I've really heard mixed reviews on the Savage factory stock. One of the big reasons I have an aftermarket stock on my list is because it's a fairly big item, and if I am going to get one it has to be before I go back to school in the fall.

Rings and mounts are smaller items (not by importance, but cost) and would be easier to replace during the coming semester.

But again, I'm fresh green, so everyone's input is being taken into account.
 
McMillan or HS Precision if you can afford it or if you can't stay with the factory piece.

A high quality stock may help with repeatability issues and may coax a bit better performance from the shooter with better fit/cheek weld but notice I said "may".

If you want to spend money on something that will make a difference buy bullets. Preferably thousands of bullets.
Shooting thousands of bullets will make for a better rifleman.
Spending a bit of money on reloading gear should be a high priority. A basic starter kit will suffice as it will make good accurate ammunition (for more practice).

If you can access somewhere to practice at long range then I would suggest you buy the very best scope you can afford. When a scope goes bad or tracks poorly it causes nothing but frustration.
If you are going learn at 100-200 Yards (recommended) then a lesser scope will work well enough until you can afford a Nightforce (highly recommended) or similar.

The bigger/heavier the scope the better the mounts should be. That said I have a 5.5-22X56 Nightforce mounted to a 300 Win with cheap mounts. I bought the scope to try it out when Nightforce was a new company and I wasn't sure how well the scope would work.
With the exception of changing the barrel the scope has never moved.


Bullets.....lots and lots of bullets! Buy them then shoot them!:rockOn:
 
You won't need a sling, most precision shooting is off a bi-pod or front rest. Another option for the A-5 stock would be one of Ian Robertson's stocks.
Burris Signature rings with inserts should give you enough elevation to get you out to long range 1000 yards.
I will second the suggestion about reloading. You will not be able to squeeze the most accuracy out of you rifle with the cheap stuff.
 
Airborn_69 said:
I would say TPS rings & bases is a good deal..the tactical ones of course
Click to expand...

Agreed on that, TPS makes great products and there pricing is very affordable.

http://www.################.com/scopesolutions.html
 
I was looking at TPS rings, but the TPS bases are, apparently, only available for the right hand models of the Savage.

I'm considering splitting a bulk order of Federal Premium Sierra 168 gr Match King (I think that's right) with a friend who's also getting into the sport.

The sling is for support when shooting off hand or kneeling. And maybe just a little for aesthetics.
 
168 SMK were designed for 300m ISU shooting. They will work at 600 yards and some people have luck with then out to 800. Once you get passed 800 yards they are ####e.
 
Yenner said:
I was looking at TPS rings, but the TPS bases are, apparently, only available for the right hand models of the Savage.

I'm considering splitting a bulk order of Federal Premium Sierra 168 gr Match King (I think that's right) with a friend who's also getting into the sport.
Click to expand...

My 10 FLP has a TPS base.

Did you check with ### to see if he has any ?

You should think about reloading too, match ammo is not cheap.

Craig
 
TPS, Badger and Near are top of the line in scope rails and rings. And they reflect that price. The Burris are a sold set of rings and should fit the bill until your ready to upgrade. (You can keep them or sell them Burris Zee rings are popular.)

The stock is an option you can change later on, and I follow Maynard’s suggestion buy a stock from Ian Robertson.

Seeing that you just sent off your PAL you may be new to the shooting sport. In general and like most of us you want to go and practice (allot) feeding your gun federal will be a costly proposition, with the money you saved on the stock go and buy the Federal along with a case of military ammo. Shoot the military ammo to become familiar with the gun, its trigger the recoil and your first bit of fun with the DAM WIND. Save the federal for matches and selected practice days.

Put the rest of your money into a good scope. Attend some matches and check what other competitors are using Leupold, B&L and Nightforce. Make sure the falcon scope will do what you want it to.

Most of all have fun
Trevor
 
The advice regarding the ammo is a good one, I also have access to a Winchester .22 rifle my Dad used to use on the U of Waterloo marksmanship team, and I plan to put some time in on that rifle to build my basic skills. And .22 is cheap.

My big problem for getting out to see what the experienced local shooters think, is that the only days of the week I have off to shoot are monday and tuesday. I'm not sure how many people will be at the range, especially the long shooters, on those days.

Thanks again everyone for the tips!
 
Consider the 223 in a fast twist HB. The 308 flies the same and recoil/cost is at least double. Start reloading. The ammo will shoot way better and you get much more shooting for the dollars spent. With 75gr Amax, you have no issue going beyond 1000m.

I am putting more rds through my 223 then all my other rifles combined!

If going to the cost and recoil of the 308, there are many much better options. Although a factory cal will be limited.

The factory plastic stock is fine. Bed it, open up that channel ALOT, you can reinforce it by using arrow shafts in the forend or glue on wood on the outside. A wide forend will make riding bags much easier and more accurate.

You can easily customize the factory stock to mimic an A5 for $30. Your modified stock will perform exactly like the A5, actually better because you will fit it to your body not the other way around.

For bases and rings, I use the good old Weaver on many rifles with no problems. I also use the Farrel MOA bases (one and two piece) excellent products and well priced. For rings, none better then the Burris w/ inserts.

Spend the money on optics. Bushnell Elite 4200 and Nikon Monarchs are superb products. Well priced and have reliable/repeatable turrents. You need to see to hit and you need to trust your adjustments. The new Nikon Buckmaster side focus are excellent scopes too for not much money. If budget is really tight, the Elite 3200 10X is the best of its type in the market.

Trigger time is everything to learn how to shoot. Think thousands of rds on the 22 at ranges out to 150yds. That will teach you lots about doping and drop. The 223 allows you to double your shooting pleasure. Once you can hit everything you want when you want, you will also get a much better idea of what your next rifle should be. Spin on the barrel and swap the bolt head - good to go.

Jerry
 
:agree: This is excellent advise.



mysticplayer said:
You can easily customize the factory stock to mimic an A5 for $30. Your modified stock will perform exactly like the A5, actually better because you will fit it to your body not the other way around.
Jerry
Click to expand...


OK Jerry! This hurts my feelings! :D :D
I am upgrading 3 rifles to A-5's and you are telling me I should only spend 150 Bucks??

Beauty is only skin deep, but Ugly is to the bone...I don't care how good it shoots! :D
 
If you go to savageshooters.com, there are many projects where they have modded the stocks as I have described. Believe me, they look spectacular. Texture is an easy thing to add with bedding compound and a popsicle stick. With the wood sheeting, you have rigidity AND a proper fit. You can add in a a limbsaver and shape accordingly WITH the right length of pull/comb height.

Spending $500 for something is not the issue (I gladly spend that for quality pipes and much more for optics). The issue is that it is not set up for you (unless you are really lucky). Most will add the adjustable comb and buttplate for another $300 to $400. They have to or else that stock is uncomfortable to shoot and thus far from accurate/essentially useless.

Since beauty is only as deep as the gel coat, you will not feel any loss of bling (use the same type of paint). A modified plastic stock will function equal to any A5 and you can add any cosmetic features from any other stock to enhance/customize yours.

You will spend less the $150 because so much in the initial $30/40 can be used on the other 2 stocks. I am thinking $20 for plywood, $10 for epoxy, $18 for bedding compound, $10 for bed liner/base coat, $5-10 for sandpaper, whatever camo or exterior finish as you see fit. Three stocks for under $100.

Now you have an additional $1400 to 2600 for optics, reloading components, trips to shoots, taking the better half out so she will be so impressed she will let you play somemore.

You money, your call. I am making sawdust. Besides with so many A'whatevers out there, no longer custom but common. My stocks are one of a kind....That's custom!!!!

Jerry
 
Thanks again to everyone who's given me input on this, I can't wait to get out there!

The more I think about modifying the stock to my own needs, the more I like it. I'm taking industrial design at the U of A, and there's something about forging my own function/form relationship that fundamentally appeals to me.

I'll save the money I would have dropped on an aftermarket stock, and buy ammo. My plan as it stands now is to shoot until I'm making one ragged hole with 5 rounds at 100m, then move further and further out.
 
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