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Savage 12 Benchrest 6BR

Okumacaptain

Hey guys !

In the past I’ve bought Savage actions and pre fit custom barrels and HS stocks and have done fairly well . So this time I couldn’t find a new target action or Benchrest stock so decided to buy Savage 12 Benchrest in 6BR . I’ve got a pre fit ordered , but just wondered what everybody opinion is on using the Savage 29” bull factory barrel for match’s . These are local match’s , but these guys are pretty good and most have full blown custom guns . I know the factory barrels can be copper mines and a bitch to clean , but what about accuracy wise . Anybody out there using Savage factory bull for competition?

Thx

Mark
 
All things being equal you will not beat the top custom shooters. But, I know several guys that shoot these and beat more than a fee custom shooters at most matches. If you tune it and shoot your first season with it you will learn bench manners and the value of flags on the factory barrel and putting a custom barrel on the next year you will be ahead of the game. However, for what they cost compared to what you can pick up a used bench gun for with a little patience, I think that is the smart way to go. Even if it has a barrel with a high round count it probably will be more accurate than what your use to. Shoot the first season with that barrel then get a new barrel and your on your way with a totally custom rifle.Every winner I see rifles for sell with custom actions that were originally built by a bench gunsmith go for within a 100.00 or 200.00 dollars of the factory Savage. Buy once, much cheaper.
 
JEFFPPC said:
All things being equal you will not beat the top custom shooters. But, I know several guys that shoot these and beat more than a fee custom shooters at most matches. If you tune it and shoot your first season with it you will learn bench manners and the value of flags on the factory barrel and putting a custom barrel on the next year you will be ahead of the game. However, for what they cost compared to what you can pick up a used bench gun for with a little patience, I think that is the smart way to go. Even if it has a barrel with a high round count it probably will be more accurate than what your use to. Shoot the first season with that barrel then get a new barrel and your on your way with a totally custom rifle.Every winner I see rifles for sell with custom actions that were originally built by a bench gunsmith go for within a 100.00 or 200.00 dollars of the factory Savage. Buy once, much cheaper.
Click to expand...
I understand what you’re saying and appreciate your knowledge . None of my rifles have ever been to a gunsmith and it’s a good feeling smithing your own rifle . It really feels like your own . I don’t want someone building it for me because in my mind it’s THEIR rifle . It’s like the guy that builds his own race car , there’s a lot of pride involved that you’ve done it yourself .
 
JEFFPPC said:
All things being equal you will not beat the top custom shooters. But, I know several guys that shoot these and beat more than a fee custom shooters at most matches. If you tune it and shoot your first season with it you will learn bench manners and the value of flags on the factory barrel and putting a custom barrel on the next year you will be ahead of the game. However, for what they cost compared to what you can pick up a used bench gun for with a little patience, I think that is the smart way to go. Even if it has a barrel with a high round count it probably will be more accurate than what your use to. Shoot the first season with that barrel then get a new barrel and your on your way with a totally custom rifle.Every winner I see rifles for sell with custom actions that were originally built by a bench gunsmith go for within a 100.00 or 200.00 dollars of the factory Savage. Buy once, much cheaper.
Click to expand...
Last year i actually took 1st place with a Savage I built over about 20 guys . It was a windy day and I think it was just my day . I shot the only clean . And it was with a tactical bipod off the bench when everyone else was using heavy rests . Talk about floating on a cloud .
 
I shot my first 2 seasons with a factory Savage F-class in 6br and did quite well which set the hook deep for me. I have since switched to a used custom but that rifle did very well against many high dollar customs. Here's a pic of my best target in a match at 1k with that factory Savage barrel.20180317_132732.jpg
 
Cory porter said:
That’s what I did my first year shooting. Tons of good prefit options or have a gunsmith make one for you. I shot just as good with it as I do my pandas. I also put a rifle basix trigger in mine
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I have a Criterion pre fit being delivered tomorrow , but I wanted opinions on the Savage barrel because it’s being delivered Saturday and figured it’s already together with a factory barrel , so why not shoot it . You guys made my mind up for me . I’ll shoot it this weekend and give you an update . Did you do a break in with the factory barrel ?
 
Okumacaptain said:
I have a Criterion pre fit being delivered tomorrow , but I wanted opinions on the Savage barrel because it’s being delivered Saturday and figured it’s already together with a factory barrel , so why not shoot it . You guys made my mind up for me . I’ll shoot it this weekend and give you an update . Did you do a break in with the factory barrel ?
Click to expand...

The only real break-in that may be needed for any barrel is to clean it more frequently in the first 100 rounds of its like. After that, most barrels will shoot their between to somewhere between 50 and 100 rounds.
 
Okumacaptain said:
I have a Criterion pre fit being delivered tomorrow , but I wanted opinions on the Savage barrel because it’s being delivered Saturday and figured it’s already together with a factory barrel , so why not shoot it . You guys made my mind up for me . I’ll shoot it this weekend and give you an update . Did you do a break in with the factory barrel ?
Click to expand...
I put around 30.5gr of Varget under a 105 class bullet and let it rip
 
Okumacaptain said:
I understand what you’re saying and appreciate your knowledge . None of my rifles have ever been to a gunsmith and it’s a good feeling smithing your own rifle . It really feels like your own . I don’t want someone building it for me because in my mind it’s THEIR rifle . It’s like the guy that builds his own race car , there’s a lot of pride involved that you’ve done it yourself .
Click to expand...

It doesn't really count as "building your own" unless you cut the chamber, thread the tenon, and crown the barrel yourself.... ;)
 
Wild Willy said:
I put around 30.5gr of Varget under a 105 class bullet and let it rip
Click to expand...
No Varget , but Reloder 15 which is right next to Varget . I bought about 3000 80g Berger FB and have been having very good luck with them . I also have Berger 90BT and 105 VLD . But max for me is 300 yds .
 
Okumacaptain said:
Everyone has their opinion . Most guys I know that have customs pick them up at the gun shop completely built . Ok , so I’m building 80% of it . Lol . If I had the Lathe I would . I’m a 40 year machinist .
Click to expand...

If you are long time machinist then you should be doing your own machine work then teaching hacks like me the right way to do it. It takes me all day to chamber a barrel, but my heavy gun barrel shot three screamer groups this season. I also inletted the stock from a flat-top and added my own rails and rudder. It looks like crap but it tracks.

I moved in the middle of building my heavy gun, so I chambered a couple barrels and then got the stock to a place with my milling machine where I could finish it by hand in my apartment garage--which I
did.

So for this one, I really do have a lot of pride in building it. I just need to finish the stock and make it look presentable.....

F5B621A1-747C-484E-A076-C152A1886898.jpeg
3C95B44E-1872-45E1-B47B-86D4C1C19BA8.jpeg
 
INTJ said:
If you are long time machinist then you should be doing your own machine work then teaching hacks like me the right way to do it. It takes me all day to chamber a barrel, but my heavy gun barrel shot three screamer groups this season. I also inletted the stock from a flat-top and added my own rails and rudder. It looks like crap but it tracks.

I moved in the middle of building my heavy gun, so I chambered a couple barrels and then got the stock to a place with my milling machine where I could finish it by hand in my apartment garage--which I
did.

So for this one, I really do have a lot of pride in building it. I just need to finish the stock and make it look presentable.....

View attachment 1289075
View attachment 1289076
Click to expand...
Very nice . I’d love to be doing my own machining . Not looking for sympathy , but I work 12 hrs a day and I’m on my 3rd bout of cancer . So no time what so ever . I get so jealous of the retired guys that have all the time in the world . My day will come one of these days . I’m 61 and hoping I can retire at 67 . We will see !
 
Okumacaptain said:
Very nice . I’d love to be doing my own machining . Not looking for sympathy , but I work 12 hrs a day and I’m on my 3rd bout of cancer . So no time what so ever . I get so jealous of the retired guys that have all the time in the world . My day will come one of these days . I’m 61 and hoping I can retire at 67 . We will see !
Click to expand...

I too am 61. Got my lathe three years ago while working full time at a corporation, shooting competition, flying some, and playing lead trumpet in a jazz band. It was difficult to find time, and my only illness was being a grumpy azzhat........

I am now semi-retired but still as busy with work, competition, trumpet, and flying. The big difference now is I have a lot of flexibility in my schedule. I'll get my lathe out of storage in six weeks and we'll see how it goes. There will be a lot of pressure on me to work full-time by my employer, we will see what I decide.

Good luck with the cancer. Hopefully this time you'll be able to kill it for good, then you can get your lathe....... ;)
 
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