After All The Savage Bashing...I Buy One

[Phil3]

After all the recent Savage bashing, I went out and ordered one. And even I agree they are not attractive, I am not a fan of the blade in the trigger, and they do have heavy bolt lift. And I need a barrel vise, barrel nut wrench, and headspace gauges. So why get one? For me... (not everyone else).

1) Right bolt/left port. Should work well for bench use from my understanding.
2) Solid bottom receiver. Closed top. Small left port. Might make it more rigid, but if a single shot, no benefit to having a mag opening.
3) .062" firing pin. I understand this is a plus.
4) Easily changed out bolt handle. And half the cost of modifying handles.
5) Large 1.125" x 20 tpi barrel tenon.
6) No wait or cost for gunsmith to fit and install barrel. Barrels generally readily available. Can easily switch calibers.
7) Adequate aftermarket support of parts and knowledge base.
8 Inexpensive.
9) Not very costly for some simple modifications.

I handled the $525 action and it obviously can't measure up to a $1000+ action, but neither can a Stiller, etc. be sold for $525. For my needs, distance to target, non-competitor status, performance requirements, etc., the Savage made sense. I also ordered a Howa action, to satisfy another set of requirements. I very well may "graduate" from these actions, but for now, and perhaps much longer, they should provide good fun and education.

Phil

 

[Smalltruck]

Phil I love the Howa actions for what they are. They aren't a BAT or a Stiller. They also aren't $1200 and up. This spring I will be looking for another Howa long action to build a 7MM

 

[pdog2062]

Also hard to beat the Savage action for the price and accuracy potential.All you need is a basic understanding of guns and you can make it into anything you want and have money left over to buy powder and bullets,haha.The actions are not as pretty as some but the trophies are just as shiny.Good luck with your build.

 

[NateHaler]

Congrats on your growing family, Phil. And although there's much to be said for pride-of-ownership, I think there's more to be said for what the gear will do -- unless you're the type who wants to have stuff and think about using it, instead of actually using it. ;D I have a friend like that, with a '68 GT 500 convertible, and a 2008 GT 500 coupe. He doesn't drive either one, but that doesn't matter; he likes knowing they're in the garage.

At the Sac Valley 'tactical' match quite a few years ago, a guy showed up with easily $6k worth of gear. All the best stuff. He had trouble hitting the nearest target at 200y, but did score some there. He missed all his remaining shots, i.e 33 of 36 were misses. That could not have been fun for him, even if his hottie girlfriend was there to console him on the long ride home.

If your gear will do what you want, then that's all that really matters, if you want to use it. My first rifle was a Marlin Glenfield Model 60 with crummy 4x scope and the whole works was $39.00 at Kmart in 1973 or so. Can it shoot with my Anschutz rifles? No. Does it look as good? No. But we all have to start someplace, so get in the game, which is what you've done. 8)

 

[GSPV]

It'll be a great start. It's versatile and you can move it if you want to upgrade. Just stick with a cartridge and twist that is also in the sweet spot.

 

[338 Mollett]

When that o'l girl is shootin pinwheels you won't care what she looks like

 

[SShooterZ]

Phil I love the Howa actions for what they are. They aren't a BAT or a Stiller. They also aren't $1200 and up. This spring I will be looking for another Howa long action to build a 7MM

I concur. Great for the money!

 

[savagedasher]

The standard 1.250 barrel that most custom actions use will not give you enough diameter for a good shoulder. Merry Xmas Larry
Ask Santa for a cameo gun case

 

[Nomad47]

Congrats on the Savage purchase, Phil. Did you order the 308 bolt face of the 223?

 

[Phil3]

Thank you all, for your support.

The Savage is slated to be a 6mmBR, wearing a cut-rifled barrel (Krieger, Bartlein, etc.), or possibly Criterion (button rifled), bedded in quality stock (undecided). Not many stocks for the Target action.

The Howa is destined to be a 6.5x47 Lapua. It may be a bit of an underdog to the 260 Remington and 6.5 Creedmoor, but I like the case design, the small primer, and it rather reminds of the 6mmBR, which I have a soft spot for. And maybe I just like the underdog. It too will use a cut-rifled barrel, and probably a Manners or McMillan stock. I really like the Howa action and design and have high hopes for it.

I have high quality reloading tools and components, as well as shooting bench hardware, but it is me, the "software", that will be the limiting factor. It is the one thing I can't improve through purchase or reading. Like other fine skills, learning from others and trigger time is what I must do. I have an AR-15 that I built which is quite accurate, and now I have a 223 Howa bolt gun I built, both able to teach me a lot, without big expense.

Nomad47: I purchased the 308 bolt face so I can use the 6mmBR cartridge.
GSPV: I know the cartridges I want, but undecided on twist for the 6mmBR. 1:8 is safe, but 1:12 is probably fine for my short distances from feedback I got here.
BOhio: I do have to do more shooting and make use of the stuff. Harder since some ranges have a waiting line for an open bench.


Thank you again.

Phil

 

[savagedasher]

The 8 t will shoot the 85g fine. Marry Xmas Larry

 

[jonbearman]

Congrats phil,you finally found a fair deal and that is what counts.I hope some day that you will be able to retire and get out of california like I want to leave new york. The pta action is a step above and you deserve the chance to build on such a decent reciever.Like you I want to step up to a bat ,but I will be happy with my savages and my remmy bench guns and my one full custom which is a kelbly panda.I simply love all firearms and savage will always be with me as I really like the ability to do all my own work and save a ton of money.

 

[d.id]

Ugly? ....................I think I have decided rifles must be like motorcycles, some folks appreciate splashy paint or chrome cover that hides the mechanic mechanisms of the machine and some just admire the machine itself.
I have remingtons, winchesters, tikkas and savages and think the savage which shows the engine more so than any of the others is the more attractive of the lot.

While I concede the heavy bolt lift of the savage, I prefer it over-all over the others none the less. Tiika could surpass them if barrels where easier to change (like savage) or had more chambering options and there triggers were not as likely to freeze up in wet idaho winters.

I consider my self lucky for that perspective every-time I read an anti savage thread. All my savages shoot very Very well and maybe it is just that they are so ugly as to be cute...... couldn't say for sure but I love em and admire there capabilities.

 

[NateHaler]

Phil, choose the 1:8" twist barrel for sure. WAY more versatile, and it will shoot the lighter bullets just fine.

 

[Phil3]

Congrats phil,you finally found a fair deal and that is what counts.I hope some day that you will be able to retire and get out of california like I want to leave new york. The pta action is a step above and you deserve the chance to build on such a decent reciever.Like you I want to step up to a bat ,but I will be happy with my savages and my remmy bench guns and my one full custom which is a kelbly panda.I simply love all firearms and savage will always be with me as I really like the ability to do all my own work and save a ton of money.

Thanks Jon. I am pretty excited about getting these things. Not in my hands yet, but ordered. And I have to wait ten days from when my FFL submitted my information to lay my hands on the actions. But, am hoping to get them just before Christmas. Wife and I were just talking this morning about getting out of California. This guy hit it right on the head for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CDFxeB7Y-s He has lots of other videos that align well with me.

The Savage does offer a very valuable benefit (to me) in that I can do my own work, and I really like that. It is unique in some ways, and I like some variety. I may get a Remington some day since I don't have one of those. I like mechanical things, so nosing around in this stuff is fun. I just noticed for instance the Howa has three gas ports in the bolt that direct down into the mag well, a nice feature I guess if high pressure gas escapes the case and needs some place to go. Not sure what other actions have that. I operated a BAT or some other high end action once, and they ARE nice! I expect to have one some day, but right now, I am still a freshman and learning.

Thanks for your support, it is very welcome and encouraging.

Phil

 

[Phil3]

Phil, choose the 1:8" twist barrel for sure. WAY more versatile, and it will shoot the lighter bullets just fine.

Am considering that, but wondered about freebore. Seems like it would not be possible to have proper freebore in one barrel for both 68 grain and 107 grain bullets. Especially if you wanted to touch the lands. I admit, I am not well informed here, but will need to know this better once I order a barrel.

Phil

 

[Hoier]

My freebore is a .108 I shoot 108 and 105h Bergers and never shoot lighter bullets in it. But I do love it for those two bullets.

 

[normmatzen]

I started out with a PTA, Shilen pre-fit target barrel and a used BVSS stock. Now I am at the point where my gunsmith chambers my barrels and head-spaces them to the action and I use good SSS tracker and dog tracker stocks along with N-F scopes.
Why do I stay with Savage actions? First I'm stubborn and second, I haven't found scientific (I'm an engineer) proof the Savage PTA isn't good enough!

I can now shoot it well enough to get a lot of club match ribbons and in 2014 I hope to finish top 10 in the NBRSA 600yd and 1000 yd bench rest nationals. And, other better shooters have bested my scores using my rifle.

So, until I can out-shoot my old Savage, I am a happy camper.

 

[waterfwlr]

That's just it. I think a properly set up PTA with a good barrel, will outshoot most people.

 

[Phil]

Glad to see you were able to snatch up some goodies before the deadline.....


How did your meeting go the other day?????

Phil.