Factory savage .223

[200yarder]

Hi, I am pretty new here and I would like to buy a factory rifle for some local stock class competitions. So far I have narrowed myself to the Savage 11f, 11g and the Remington 700. The R700 is a little pricey for me so I am leaning towards the savages. my real question is wood or synthetic? At my local shop the price difference is only ten dollars, so my decision will be based on you guys:wave:. I will be shooting bench and bi-pod prone.

 

[200yarder]

If I posted in the wrong forum I'm sorry, I'm new

 

[Thorbird]

The savage synthetic stocks tend to have a lot of flex to them in the forearm area. They don't lend themselves well to shooting off a rest. I would go with the wood and bed it if I had to choose between those to. Don't know if that is allowed in your factory class shoots? Their laminate stocks, especially the VLP models are excellent. If you go to savageshooters.com, you can post on the forum there and get lots of responses and suggestions. They are great shooting guns.

 

[billmo]

Welcome aboard man. I think more important than wood or synthetic, I would think about whether the barrel was free floated or not. Personally, I like the laminate wood over regular but if I were looking at your perspective of shooting, I think I would try to get a synthetic floated stock and make sure it was bedded properly. I hope this helps. Bill

 

[chillippr]

In most factory classes, that I am aware of, you are allowed to rebed the action. You need to find out if under your organization's rules you can also stiffen a synthetic stock as part of the rebedding. If not, I would go with the wood stock which will work well on the bench without modification. BTDT

 

[200yarder]

Well both the 11F and 11G have free floating barrels, and the same action, trigger, etc. so is the issue or weight the deciding factor here?

 

[200yarder]

I was talking to the gunsmith at the shop an he said that wooden stocks will absorb moisture and warp over time, is this true?

 

[Sin_arms]

if you want a free floated barrel go with a wood stock, the plastics will flex enough off a rest to touch the barrel and they look like crap. also home come your going with a model 11? if you can get a varmint barrel. My stock 223 model 11 will shoot 1/2" groups but my recambered 20tac barrel will shot .25" groups and thats a varmint barrel.

 

[billmo]

I was talking to the gunsmith at the shop an he said that wooden stocks will absorb moisture and warp over time, is this true?

200yarder I was refering to an aftermarket stock such as H & S precision in my earlier post concerning stocks and not the regular synthetic stocks from the factory. Bill

 

[chillippr]

I was under the impression this was to be a factory class BR rifle and not a rifle that would be going from the Amazon rain forest to the desert southwest and back. A PROPERLY sealed, PILLAR BEDDED wood stock with a free floated barrel MAY have some very slight point of impact change when going from match to match in the continental US, but you get to sight in at each match and actually on each target.

 

[200yarder]

no need for the sarcasm, I completely know where you're coming from. But, in upstate new york where the weather can vary from 80* and 70% humidity to 50* and 30% in a few days, Id like to know the tolerances. Thank you all for the input. I have decided the go with the 11G.

Thanks again!

-Lou-

 

[Thorbird]

Hey Lou, Make sure that you free the tang area at the back of the action where it touches the stock. This is were the thumb safety is. You should make sure that it does not touch the stock or it will shift your impact. Just enough so you can at least pass a dollar bill through it with out touching the stock.

Where are you in Upstate NY? I am near Oneonta and Cooperstown.

 

[cliffe]

could you use the 12fv, heavy barrel?? cliffe

 

[Sin_arms]

Im from south dakota so I know weather changing from 110 in the summer with 85% humidity and -40 in the winter with 5% humidity and I havent had a problem with wood stocks warping. Might have trouble with rust if you dont oil it down but id say go with the wood.

 

[200yarder]

Monroe, not quite upstate but ya know, everybody thinks NYC is the only place in NY. I wonder if the treads are the same for the 12 barrel...Whats the twist on that anyway?

 

[BigJim]

200yarder

I have one savage in each - 270 in synthetic and 243 in wood. Both are excellent shooters It is hard to decide, buy what you will be happier with. It is a personal preference but for $10 I would go with the wood, it won't be french walnut but might let you feel better about the rifle. I keep thinking of changing the 270 to a wood stock and then I keep thinking about what I bought the rifle for,hunting) and I do not want one that looks so good I wouldn't take it into the woods to get knocked around and scratched up. The synthetic will hold up better for hard use and does not look that bad. You may want to wait till they come out with their,Savage) synthetic "AccuStock" hopefully soon I want one in 223 as soon as they are available. I love the AccuTrigger and would not buy another without it.

Good luck on your choice just buy the one you will be happier with they are both good guns.

Jim