Bighorn vs. Savage target action

[Delfuego]

OP is looking to build a varmint rifle primarily. Prairie dogs in Colorado have learned to fear Bighorns for many years. One of mine has around 20k rounds on it and still shoots itty-bitty groups on paper. Never an issue will firing pin fall

 

[Clancy]

Coyote rifles... as they should be, 22 Lapua scoped with a V6, and it’s twin in 22-250, which now also wears a V6. There’s a third one in 22 Dasher owned by Westx91, but I don’t have the photo.

Edit: I actually think both of these are the Lapua, but there are two of them I promise....

 

[270WinDude]

Whatever trigger is on the Savage 12bench rest is a pretty good trigger. I'm not a qualified reviewer by any means but compared to every stock rifle trigger I've used that one is like butter.

 

[normmatzen]

I have hunted with an old Savage 110 and replaced the Savage pre-accutrigger with a RifleBasics SAV-2. Great combo.
I also shoot long Range Bench Rest with two Savage PTA's. I shot both with the original red blade Accutrigger and found no fault with them.
I put the SAV-2 on my 7mm BR gun on a lark and set it to ~6oz and it works just fine. not enough ambition or reason to put the accutrigger back on.
My 6mm BR gun has been timed and trued and a SSS Evolution trigger installed. This is a good trigger but not available any more. If it ever fails, I will have no qualms putting the Accutrigger back on.

 

[flatlander]

I built a 6 Dasher on a Savage Target action several years ago, the first time I'd tried the target version of their AccuTrigger. Didn't much care for that trigger, though the rifle shot OK. Sold it to a friend who occasionally brings it out to shoot BR VS with us, and he does OK with it.

Personally, I'd go with the Bighorn - but I'm not going to claim to have an un-biased opinion. There are five tactical comp rifles built on Bighorn actions in the safe right behind me as I type this. Have built several good-shooting comp rifles for customers on these actions as well, and from the feedback I've received, don't think they'll be selling any of those rifles in this lifetime. Just received a LH Origin action for a customer's build last week - looking forward to getting it barreled & bedded into the Manners T3 stock he had me order for it.

 

[Delfuego]

Personally, I'd go with the Bighorn - but I'm not going to claim to have an un-biased opinion.

That's cause your from CO

from the feedback I've received, don't think they'll be selling any of those rifles in this lifetime.

Only Bighorn I ever sold got replaced by another Bighorn...

 

[CTK]

I own one Bighorn action. I knew prior to purchasing that it was not a super tight tolerance benchrest action. I view this as a plus for hunting. I have had several custom rifles and actions. The Bighorn based rifle is the most accurate that I have owned.

If I were building a bench rifle, I would probably go with a Borden.

The slickest action that I have cycled is a Curtis. Don’t know anything about them but this one was super smooth and required minimal effort to close or open the bolt.

 

[ranger3]

I have 5 Savage LRPV''s. My 6br, 243, and 22 250 all shoot in the .1''s if I do my part. I love the target trigger and have 2 LRP'''s as well. My stock Savage shoots in the
3's all the way out to 1k. So does it get better, certainly but at additionally greater cost. I recently scored a 1k match with one shooter using a Savage long range stock rifle in a 20-30 mph crosswind. His shots were very level and his only errors were misjudged the wind.

 

[chet]

I have not worked with an action yet that would give top accuracy at .175" firing pin fall. Reliability yes, optimal accuracy no. Will you see it in a hunting or tactical rifle? Maybe not. But the action makers that build actions for BR/F-class and are involved in accuracy testing are going to heavier pins, springs, and more firing pin fall. Its open and close cycle is probably as good as it gets, but there have been sacrifices to achieve that.

HI Alex

talking about firing pin fall, i am redoing an action, what is an ideal firing fall dimension, i am redoing a savage action

chet

 

[Alex Wheeler]

HI Alex

talking about firing pin fall, i am redoing an action, what is an ideal firing fall dimension, i am redoing a savage action

chet

Chet,
I cant help you as I do not play with those actions. The whole design comes into the picture. A perfectly guided, drag free firing pin will get away with less fall and spring than one that is dragging. Having not played with Savage ignition, I do not know how much drag is on the pin, if it can be corrected, and how much pin fall is needed. I can tell you too more wont hurt you, less will.

 

[Shooter13]

Well Mr. Alex Wheeler you have my interest, I'm thinking of building a bench gun, not sure of what caliber yet but what action would you recommend? I haven't been in the shooting game in years (started back a year or more ago) and due to work haven't pursued a build but winter is coming and my work will slow some. Thanks for any input you would have and sorry about hi-jacking this thread and thank you for any advice in advance.