20 Practical Bolt Gun Project - Which Savage Action, need help

[Rick300]

Be aware of the Oryx chassis, it is about like a flat top AR, needing high rings.

I agree with that. Extra high would be better

 

[DogBuster]

I may have a spare 4.41" savage target action F/S w/223 face but large shank

gotta look/see what I have

 

[TheCZKid]

I'd prefer a wood stock on this one, perhaps a Boyds, or maybe Bell and Carlson Varmint / tactical, like below.

I agree with that. Extra high would be better

 

[searcher]

Back in 2018 I purchased a used AR upper in 20 Practical with a 24" White Oak Armament stainless bull barrel, and all the dies as a package. I have been loading for it and have a decent 40 grain Vmax load which shoots maybe .375" or .5" groups if I do my part. Been working on better 32 Vmax load (currently trying to beat .5" to .6"), but wondering if a bolt gun would make for a more accurate format than my AR? Intended use is for sage rat, coyotes, and hopefully some day prairie dog hunt (bucket list).

I have built AR's, but never a bolt gun. I don't have a huge budget, so I was thinking of using a small chassis Savage action maybe that was a 223, buying the 20P barrel, and head-spacing it myself. For the stock I'd probably use a Boyds, and then glass and pillar bed it. I've done that on bolt guns, so I feel confident I can work on this new project.

It appears most folks on this site have more money than I can invest. I won't be buying a custom-shop made Remington 700 style action, and all that. I have some Savage rifles which have proven very accurate. I like that they can be built by myself. The floating bolt face works well, so I don's see the need to blueprint the action and bolt face. I figure the main cost will be a really good barrel.

Now the first question might be, which Savage action is correct for this project? I see Long Shank, Short Shank (I assume this is the one I want for 223 / 20 Practical), then large and small diameter, and center feed or stagger feed. Then there's the model 10 or 110, 11 and 12 designation. I really can't figure out this stuff, and so I'm stuck in even looking for any used guns with a correct action.

Ideally, I'd think it was great to build a 20 Practical that could take a removable magazine, like a Pmag or other, but I don't know if there is such an animal. I thought of looking for a used "donor gun" and change out the barrel, and so on, but I don't know which guns out there have the right action. From what I read, you don't want the Savage Axis as it's not good to build from.

Realistically, inside 300 yards or so, the .200" to .300" accuracy difference will still allow hits pretty regularly with any of the bullets. I'd work on load development improvement. I'd try the fast powders which, while they don't give best velocity - do most often give the best accuracy with the small pills. If you don't turn your necks - do so. Big improvement in the micro calibers like .20 and .17. Moreso than .223's and up. Don't forget about the rapid second shot follow-up advantage of the A/R. Super-fast wind hold-off ability can trump the accuracy difference of the bolt gun in a big way in real-world conditions - as I'm guessing you already know. If you haven't already tried it - try Accurate LT-32 powder and a few more of the fast ones with that 32. Maybe some H322, H4198 too, if you have any.

 

[TheCZKid]

Realistically, inside 300 yards or so, the .200" to .300" accuracy difference will still allow hits pretty regularly with any of the bullets. I'd work on load development improvement. I'd try the fast powders which, while they don't give best velocity - do most often give the best accuracy with the small pills. If you don't turn your necks - do so. Big improvement in the micro calibers like .20 and .17. Moreso than .223's and up. Don't forget about the rapid second shot follow-up advantage of the A/R. Super-fast wind hold-off ability can trump the accuracy difference of the bolt gun in a big way in real-world conditions - as I'm guessing you already know. If you haven't already tried it - try Accurate LT-32 powder and a few more of the fast ones with that 32. Maybe some H322, H4198 too, if you have any.

Thanks for the input!
And I have actually started following your (and others) recommendation for turning the necks. That's a new discipline for me... I think I have figured it out for the 20P case neck, but need more testing to verify. I'm in the middle of a move... been in the same home for 13 years, and so the move is kinda a PIA.

I'm glad to say I was able to score 5 pounds of the LT-32 from Powder Valley a couple months ago, as you have had such good success with it. I have not been able to do any load testing with this new powder yet, but when I get my new reloading bench set up, and the snow clears so I can get out to my shooting area, I'll have some fun tweaking the new load with LT-32.

My best load with 32 Vmax so far has been with N133 24.0 grains, and average group size .4" to .75". 8208 24.5 grains is okay too, and TAC 25.8 was okay.
With 40Vmax I've had best results with 8208, 25.0 grains, groups as follows:

0.38

0.23

0.43

0.33

0.27

0.53

0.45

0.36

0.50

0.53

I think I just wanted to do my first bolt gun build, built a number of AR's, and changed stocks and did bedding on actions, etc. but never an action-up build with custom barrel. Some day.

 

[AWS]

I have and AR in 20P that I won, swapped out the upper for a 223 as losing brass that I have to make is a pain. I built a 20P on a Savage action with a Rifle Basics Trigger and medium weight Excaliber Barrel. Great little rifle but got a little heavy for packing on my back. So, I have another in the works, Rem 700 action, Timney trigger and light weight Criterion Barrel, Rem LVSF stock (very light).

40gr NBT leaves the pelts looking nice.

 

[Big Mc]

Back in 2018 I purchased a used AR upper in 20 Practical with a 24" White Oak Armament stainless bull barrel, and all the dies as a package. I have been loading for it and have a decent 40 grain Vmax load which shoots maybe .375" or .5" groups if I do my part. Been working on better 32 Vmax load (currently trying to beat .5" to .6"), but wondering if a bolt gun would make for a more accurate format than my AR? Intended use is for sage rat, coyotes, and hopefully some day prairie dog hunt (bucket list).

I have built AR's, but never a bolt gun. I don't have a huge budget, so I was thinking of using a small chassis Savage action maybe that was a 223, buying the 20P barrel, and head-spacing it myself. For the stock I'd probably use a Boyds, and then glass and pillar bed it. I've done that on bolt guns, so I feel confident I can work on this new project.

It appears most folks on this site have more money than I can invest. I won't be buying a custom-shop made Remington 700 style action, and all that. I have some Savage rifles which have proven very accurate. I like that they can be built by myself. The floating bolt face works well, so I don's see the need to blueprint the action and bolt face. I figure the main cost will be a really good barrel.

Now the first question might be, which Savage action is correct for this project? I see Long Shank, Short Shank (I assume this is the one I want for 223 / 20 Practical), then large and small diameter, and center feed or stagger feed. Then there's the model 10 or 110, 11 and 12 designation. I really can't figure out this stuff, and so I'm stuck in even looking for any used guns with a correct action.

Ideally, I'd think it was great to build a 20 Practical that could take a removable magazine, like a Pmag or other, but I don't know if there is such an animal. I thought of looking for a used "donor gun" and change out the barrel, and so on, but I don't know which guns out there have the right action. From what I read, you don't want the Savage Axis as it's not good to build from.

Savage Model 10 LS Just my two cents Tommy Mc Large Shank { Ls }

 

[TheCZKid]

Savage Model 10 LS Just my two cents Tommy Mc

I just did a search, what's the LS part? I didn't find good Google results, thanks.

 

[Big Mc]

I just did a search, what's the LS part? I didn't find good Google results, thanks.

Large Shank. Tommy Mc

 

[bobcat93]

Back in 2018 I purchased a used AR upper in 20 Practical with a 24" White Oak Armament stainless bull barrel, and all the dies as a package. I have been loading for it and have a decent 40 grain Vmax load which shoots maybe .375" or .5" groups if I do my part. Been working on better 32 Vmax load (currently trying to beat .5" to .6"), but wondering if a bolt gun would make for a more accurate format than my AR? Intended use is for sage rat, coyotes, and hopefully some day prairie dog hunt (bucket list).

I have built AR's, but never a bolt gun. I don't have a huge budget, so I was thinking of using a small chassis Savage action maybe that was a 223, buying the 20P barrel, and head-spacing it myself. For the stock I'd probably use a Boyds, and then glass and pillar bed it. I've done that on bolt guns, so I feel confident I can work on this new project.

It appears most folks on this site have more money than I can invest. I won't be buying a custom-shop made Remington 700 style action, and all that. I have some Savage rifles which have proven very accurate. I like that they can be built by myself. The floating bolt face works well, so I don's see the need to blueprint the action and bolt face. I figure the main cost will be a really good barrel.

Now the first question might be, which Savage action is correct for this project? I see Long Shank, Short Shank (I assume this is the one I want for 223 / 20 Practical), then large and small diameter, and center feed or stagger feed. Then there's the model 10 or 110, 11 and 12 designation. I really can't figure out this stuff, and so I'm stuck in even looking for any used guns with a correct action.

Ideally, I'd think it was great to build a 20 Practical that could take a removable magazine, like a Pmag or other, but I don't know if there is such an animal. I thought of looking for a used "donor gun" and change out the barrel, and so on, but I don't know which guns out there have the right action. From what I read, you don't want the Savage Axis as it's not good to build from.

I opened up my gas hole one size larger, and install an adjustable gas block..it should help barrel harmonics and tighten up your group a pinch...also reduce pressure on your bolt carrier, and buffer system..
Just an opinion I thought of...
Aslo..I would suggest an older savage model 12 for your build..