Savage 12 target rifles

[Horse96]

Are the Savage 12 target rifles really this good? I have not met a gunsmith that says savages cannot shoot, but I still haven't met one that says they can be competitive. By that last sentence I mean most gunsmiths will say go with a remington 700 action; savages cannot be squared up like a remington 700. So here I sit with a principal-agent problem (gunsmiths are more knowledgeable on this stuff, but also do stand to gain by swaying one way and not the other), and not enough funds to go out and try both and see which I like. So I am canvassing you, the internet user, to post real life data.

Situation: shooting .308 at 1,000 yards for score; but be able to take the said firearm hunting. Being a little more on the tactical side would be a nice bonus. By tactical is meant being able to carry it, shoot it, maybe drop it, pick it up, and shoot it and etc. Handloads are a must. One more variable to check is also adding an match barrel. Is the additional cost worth it? And if so, does a match barrel mated with a savage action produce? Or would the money be better spent on a remmy 700?

That is all for now

http://www.savagearms.com/news/article/?id=3ij567qnL

 

[paperslayer]

Savages can be very good rifles and the Team Savage, sooting their FTR guns does very well internationally using bone stock guns - so they say, I think if they weren't, wikileaks would have said something by now

The disadvantage to the savage action design is the floating bolt head - means needing larger firing pin hole. Also, it means the lugs make equal contact but in doing so, any flaw in terms of perfect perpendicular alignment is conveyed in the bolt face alignment, It is admittedly small, but in a gane where you need absolute consistency, adding up the variables means it is one more factor to try and account for if shooting long range.

Remember that a one-size-fits-all gun and scope means you will cut corners on something.

Perfect long range target shooter:

Long heavy barrel (28-32")
tight tolerance action
light trigger
stock designed for the postiion you will be using (hunting rifle stocks make piss poor prone stocks)
High magnification scope, very high quality, and possibly a tapered base depending on the cartridge beiing used.
proper long distance target type scope reticle
no magazine if competitive shooting (although they may be used empty)
designed for heavy bipod or front rest shooting.
cartridge and twist rate optimized for high BC bullets.

Hunting rifle:
Light over-all weight
Thinner shorter barrel (weight, and they generally don't get shot enough in one sitting to overheat)
magazine
light weight waterproof/fog proof low power and no-focus needed scope
Duplex or similar reticle is common
Long light weight folding bipod or shooting sticks
needs to be something designed for shoulder fire and quick aim, ideally slightly front heavy.
proper type of cartridge and twist for type of game

Tactical:
shorter barrel, needs to be heavy to tolerate longer strings of fire
"tactical" stock which can also be a very good prone stock
high capacity magazine such as an AI mag
use of a cartridge type that feeds well from a magazine (308 is the "standard")
scope that can be used for range finding (Mil Dot)
shorter folding good quality bipod (Harris, versapod etc)

so pick which one you think is the best of all worlds. Personally, I would buy a $350 stevens or something cheap, similar for hunting and put an economical 3-9X bushnell on it, and sepend you real bucks on a gun that can do long range or tactical shooting,

 

[KDX]

Two different rifles would definitely be a good plan with more money being put into the target/tactical model. Savages are generally very good shooters out of the box and not many people regularly shoot at game from long distances.

 

[SND]

I have a plain model 12 LRP .260rem on the way that might make it here this month, or this year, I look forward to seeing what it'll be able to do. Since I have a full machine shop at my disposition I will be documenting everything from shooting it stock to all the various modifications I plan to do to it, likely including a barrel change.
This rifle spec wise seems to fit a bit between precision, and yet possible to take it hunting at just 26" barrel and reasonable weight and 5 round mag, and its all black and HS stock so I guess to some that's tactical enough.
Another choice for me was the VLP-DBM, but opted for the LRP since it has the target action/trigger and wanted to see how it's gonna be.

 

[savage.3006]

Had an FTR 308 loved it

 

[foxbat]

Savage Target models perform very well for what they are....factory rifles.
If competing, at the very least, one would spin on an aftermarket barrel and bed the action. You can be competitive, at a club level, with that set up.
As far as one unit doing all three tasks asked of it...target, hunting, 'tactical'...it just ain't gonna' happen.
As noted by paperslayer, the conflicting requirements make finding a 'jack of all trades' unlikely.

 

[Mystic Precision]

While at the US Nationals, I noticed several shooters using Factory Savage target rifles including those from Team Savage. Several Team Aussie shooters shot them too. I shoot a Shilen barreled Savage and would have done respectably if not for some equipment issues due in part to a new range and unfortunately, bullets not making it to target.

Then there are the thousands (yes, I actually mean thousands) that have added a quality match barrel prefit and had spectacular results.

There are alot of things the Savage receiver does very well. The design avoids many of the issues plaguing all other solid front locking bolt actions. Avoiding the problems also means less revenue fixing them.

As for wearing many hats, the modular nature and simple DIY approach allows any competent user to set up their Savage to do anything a bolt rifle is suitable for in a few minutes.

To the OP, adding a quality match barrel either in a standard shoulder headspace or a prefit can get you performance in the 2's and 3's range - as in 1" groups at 300m. This level of performance matches pretty much what all other custom rifles in the LR and F class game can provide. I have had barrels that shot in the 0's and 1's at SR so you may assemble a hummer on occasion.

At 1000m and yds, my competition rigs can hit the V bull if I do my part. Papered groups showed sub 1/2 min results with my last open rig at 1000m.

Despite massive attempts to do better, the limiting factor in LR shooter is not the gear but the skill of the shooter.

Jerry

Mechanically, a Savage is going to give you competitive performance in the LR game. Until you need to shoot sub 1/4 min as in SR BR, here the design can be more problematic.

 

[Horse96]

thanks for the reply's guys! I don't mind carrying the extra weight of a thicker stock and heavy barrel. I have hunted with my 14lb target rifle. It does feel nice when I carry the lighter hunting rifle, but I shoot the target rifle so much more that I am much more proficient with it. So, target rifle is my main focus. However, that said, I would rather not have my rifle weigh the max of 21lbs or whatever f-class is. 15 lbs is the max that I'd prefer to carry.

Anyway, I think I'll try rebarreling my savage. maybe I'll build and blueprint a 300wm in a remington 700 and see how the two compare. I just kinda feel like if the gun doesn't shoot, I'd have wasted a nice Krieger barrel.