223 Savage 12 LRPV or Build or?

[kenoh2]

I'm sure this has been often pondered and discussed but I'm looking for direction from the "been there done that" crowd.

I want a heavy barrel 223 bolt action for varmint/target use and hopefully, someday, a prairie dog hunt. I already have several in the herd that are quite sufficient for local whistlepigs and casual punching of paper. However, I want something a little closer to bench rest performance (no plans for competition).

1. New Savage 12 LRPV. I've done some reading and the general take is that they are quite good. $1200ish. Looked at one at a local shop today and was surprised. I helped the salesman cut the tape on the box and pull off the factory plastic bag. It looked dusty and had a golf ball sized chunk out of the grip area. The box was not damaged and the missing chunk was not in the bag. It had to come from Savage like that. Combined with my recent experience with a new MKII TR 22lr that had bad rifling, I'm a little hesitant to order one.

2. Build on a Savage action with a good barrel, trigger and stock similar to the LRPV. I am estimating the cost to be pretty close to the LRPV.

3. Remington 700P

4. Used Remington 700 varmint. The same shop has two used ones at just under $800. One in stainless/HS and Weaver V10. The other is blued/laminate and Burris Signature 6-24. The Weaver V10 would be sold but the Burris is pretty nice and would probably be moved to another rifle.

Options 3 and 4 would also need a trigger and likely end up being close to what I already own so I'm leaning more toward 1 or 2.

 

[GSPV]

Build on a Remington clone with a McRee pre fit.

 

[Cort]

I am biased. I have not had success from a Savage product. If you want close to bench rest quality, you need a custom action and a good barrel. You might consider a Remington 700 clone with a barrel nut, barrel, stock and trigger. It will cost close to 2k but will perform well

Cort

 

[jonbearman]

If under a half inch would work for you then there is absolutely no reason to build on either action. I have done it and ended up building how I wanted and with a little shopping around you save some money. The savage is the easiest and the Remington is now just as easy with a barrel nut which people generally scourge it because it can all be done at home. If you do a remmy get the face trued and the threads straightened if necessary. Then lightly lap the lugs on the Remington only and you are set to do what you want. Mcree came out with a kit, but only 4 calibers. Jim At Northlandshootersupply is the way to go as he will have everything you need at better than competitive prices and he is a great guy.1-763-682-4296.

 

[Tim Singleton]

If under a half inch would work for you then there is absolutely no reason to build on either action. I have done it and ended up building how I wanted and with a little shopping around you save some money. The savage is the easiest and the Remington is now just as easy with a barrel nut which people generally scourge it because it can all be done at home. If you do a remmy get the face trued and the threads straightened if necessary. Then lightly lap the lugs on the Remington only and you are set to do what you want. Mcree came out with a kit, but only 4 calibers. Jim At Northlandshootersupply is the way to go as he will have everything you need at better than competitive prices and he is a great guy.1-763-682-4296.

Great advise
I've been there done that myself. The barrels on the factory savage are junk IMO. Go with a savage or rem action and a barrel fro Jim.

 

[kenoh2]

Thanks for the replies.

A consistent 1/2" would be just fine. Not looking to break the bank on gunsmithing fees. The Savage action is appealing since I could do it myself.

For practice, I have 243 Win. Axis that I picked up on clearance that I plan to re-barrel with an ER Shaw kit.

 

[Tim Singleton]

Jim at northland has action wrenchs and everything you would need

 

[GSPV]

You can do a Remington yourself. Several places do a Remington prefit. And you end up with a good trigger.

You can also later upgrade to a clone if you want.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I am in the middle of a Savage project. I dont know why every one thinks they are the Chevy of actions. They are a pain, different bolt spacing, different firing pin sizes, flat or round ring, large or small shank, pre or post accu trigger, hard to find stocks, different bottom metal types. They suck IMO. Remington is the Chevy, every thing fits all the years, hardly no changes. At the end of it all I bet I save 100-200 bucks. I have seen used panda rifles for not much over 1k.

 

[Cort]

Jim Briggs has Remington pre-fit barrels with a nut. Buy a new lug, a barrel nut wrench and an action wrench and you can do it yourself. Later, you can upgrade the setup with lots of Remington after market parts. There have been Remington 700 actions for sale here on the site for reasonable cost.

I think it is a better direction than a similar Savage.

Cort

 

[Tim Singleton]

I am in the middle of a Savage project. I dont know why every one thinks they are the Chevy of actions. They are a pain, different bolt spacing, different firing pin sizes, flat or round ring, large or small shank, pre or post accu trigger, hard to find stocks, different bottom metal types. They suck IMO. Remington is the Chevy, every thing fits all the years, hardly no changes. At the end of it all I bet I save 100-200 bucks. I have seen used panda rifles for not much over 1k.

All very good points. With the Remington prefits now available there's really not a good reason to go savage. I've been on a mission getting rid of my savage stuff accumulated over the years.

I will say getting the factory barrels off a Remington action is not an easy thing in my experience. The savage will come a part easier. Be careful with the remington or you could ruin it
. It would be well worth a few dollars to find a smith who has the right equipment

 

[Cort]

I just checked my safe. I have a low round count CBI barrel in .223 with Remington thread and a barrel nut. The twist is 1 in 9. It is a heavy varmint contour. I should have a ground lug somewhere. PM me if you are interested in it.

Cort.

 

[Jet]

I am in zfastmalibu's camp on this. If you want close to BR performance the Savage is not the way to go (Don't flame me, I own a few and have learned their strengths and weaknesses)

Get a donor 700 action and have it trued, get a quality barrel and have it cut to the specs you want, throw a Jewell trigger on it and bed it in a sturdy composite stock. It will cost you a few more dollars but over the long haul you will be glad you went that route.

Good Shooting.

Rich

 

[kenoh2]

I have to admit that I am a long time Remington fan and it's really not too hard to convince me to go that route over the Savage. Actually, the only savage center fire bolt action I have ever owned is the 243 Axis. I have always thought them to be more of a low budget brand but after reading the praises of the LRPV it seemed a no-brainer since it had everything I wanted in one package. Certainly not top of the line but hopefully better than average. Worst case, I buy a better barrel for a few hundred and sell the old one.

More research into the Remington with a barrel nut is in order since I am not familiar with it. I don't have an eligible donor right now but it could be just a gunshow away. What's a rough estimate of the cost to change one over, or do you just remove the barrel and install a new one with a nut? I already have a barrel vice and action wrench for either option.

 

[Steve3]

If you have a good gunsmith available I would ask him how much he would want to put a 700 based rifle together for you.

700 action trued
Krieger
H-S Precision
Jewel

That's what I would do since it is my guess you have a little spare time.

 

[Shynloco]

If you have a good gunsmith available I would ask him how much he would want to put a 700 based rifle together for you.

700 action trued
Krieger
H-S Precision
Jewel

I strongly support what Jet and Steve 3 have written. I've gone both ways in the past and have found without question, the Rem 700 route gives you more variable possibilities (my experiences show Savage rifle restrict parts you can use) in terms of parts, BUT, because of the variable possibilities, you can end up spending more money, unless you have a good source for viable part availability. BUT, the end result in terms of accuracy (at least for me) I wouldn't hesitate to go the Rem 700 route again. Now if I had a rich uncle pass on and leave me a load of money, I'd be going after a finer action than either the Rem or Savage affords, say like a BAT.

 

[tome]

" It's easy " do a Remington. it's easy once the old barrel is off. I've had more trouble taking Remington barrels off , than I ever did with savage. every savage I've done wound up in a HS or SSS stock, so stocks weren't a problem. triggers were SSS or the target accui trigger. Barrels, take your pick. results, 3 shot better than expected, one a is still a work in progress. still trying different loads/bullets. the Remington took more work to get to the same place as the savages.

 

[Quinc]

Friend I shoot with has a Savage 12 LRPV in 6.5 Creedmoor and it performs exceptionally well with factory ammo out to 1k.

 

[MrMajestic]

http://www.theshooterscorner.com/

Browse the list and see if any suit you.

 

[rramsey]

Good Afternoon, I will throw my 2 cents worth in too.......I have own a Savage Model 12 LRVP in 223 Remington with a 9" twist barrel and a left load and a right eject action. I have owned a multitude of Remington 700 Varmint rifles in several different calibers. I had a couple of friends from the Sandusky area convince me that I couldn't live with out it. I bought it in December of 2009 and have enjoyed shooting it ever since. In 2011 I had Fred Moreno at Sharpshooter Supply square the action and barrel up and did some trigger work on it. As I have it set up now it weighs in at 15 lbs sitting on the bench looking down range. My only negative thought on the rifle is the finish on the H-S stock with flat black paint. I have had the stock Hydro Dipped with a conventional grey/black carbon fiber look. Richard