How much barrel weight is too much for Savage?

[Keith Glasscock]

I have been working with a Savage long action repeater for the last year. I've been having great success in (mid range) F-class with it. Initially, I had planned to build a custom rifle in 2012 to replace it, but money is a bit tight for that right now, and I'm thinking of getting a second barrel to extend the life of this rifle (at least its life in my safe).

My current barrel is a straight taper 26" that reduces from thread diameter (about 1") to .840" at the muzzle and weighs about 4.9#. I know this one won't last forever (especially as much as I shoot it) and I'm already starting to plan for the next barrel. I would really like to stretch out to 30" with a medium or heavy Palma taper. Does anyone have experience running that much barrel weight and length on a Savage hunting action? Is the action stiff enough?

Thanks,
Keith

 

[WSMBUCK]

I am running a 30 inch with 2 inch break added on top of that and mine is 1 inch at threads on a 112 BVSS Custom and haven't had and trouble to date

 

[nhm16]

I have a Savage varmint action (centerfeed, 4.40" screw center, short action repeater) that has a 30" barrel that has no taper (1.055" from breach to muzzle) hung off of it. No problems.

 

[alf]

You could bed 3 or 4 inches under the shank to help support it.

I've yet to see a disadvantage in doing so.......

 

[Steve Blair]

You could bed 3 or 4 inches under the shank to help support it.

I've yet to see a disadvantage in doing so.......

The disadvantage is the mismatch when you change barrels. Bedding forward of the lug can never be a precise fit to a new barrel unless it is redone. In contrast, I have yet to see the advantage of bedding under the barrel. I have a 34" barrel on a Borden action with no problems and no bedding forward of the lug's rear face.

 

[alf]

You could bed 3 or 4 inches under the shank to help support it.

I've yet to see a disadvantage in doing so.......

The disadvantage is the mismatch when you change barrels. Bedding forward of the lug can never be a precise fit to a new barrel unless it is redone. In contrast, I have yet to see the advantage of bedding under the barrel. I have a 34" barrel on a Borden action with no problems and no bedding forward of the lug's rear face.

True...but... we'll worry about the next barrel down the line later, at which time I'd re-bed under the shank.

I did just that when I had my first 1K gun built. Tom Merideth suggested to bed under the shank of the 31" for more support, and I agreed. The next barrel, I ground out the bedding and floated it. Although I'm hanging them on an 8 1/2" Bat.......not a savage.......

 

[Steve Blair]

I did just that when I had my first 1K gun built. Tom Merideth suggested to bed under the shank of the 31" for more support, and I agreed. The next barrel, I ground out the bedding and floated it. Although I'm hanging them on an 8 1/2" Bat.......not a savage.......

Savages are an even worse example. Are you going to install the barrel directly, bed the barrel nut or create a gap to accommodate the nut? I have two Savage 12F rifles with full diameter 30" barrels, using nuts, and they have no problems. A Savage is also more likely to have the barrel changed than most actions.

Mechanically, the notion of providing additional barrel support by bedding close to the attachment point is poorly conceived. The closer to a cantilevered beam attachment point, the less benefit any support means will provide. If someone wants to bed forward of the lug, fine. There is just little reason for doing it.

 

[Rustystud]

I do 32" Heavy Palma barrels on Savage target actionns with and without the barrel nut all the time. completely free floated with the lug and action bedded. With 1/2 inch diameter contoured aluminum pillars.
Nat Lambeth