Questions about accurizing Savage actions

[John from MN]

When I bought my target action I considered just barreling it and running it the way it came from the factory. Just to see what happened. Ultimately, I lost my nerve and decided to run it through the lathe. Overall it was pretty straight. Except for the fact that it took .005 to clean up the action face.

Still, the fact that Savage is selling these target actions separately and for a reasonable price has them a step ahead of their competitors in my book. I won't be selling my Remingtons any time soon. But, I will be using at least one more Savage action in the near future.

 

[82boy]

Going off your original post, what advantage does a Savage have over a Remington? Answer is mainly price, and the availability to buy off the shelf barrels and fit them to the action without the need of a gunsmith. Then I would say, What advantage does a Remington have over a Savage? To make a Remington a benchrest gun it needs blueprinted and straighten. So with that said why would having a savage T&T or blueprinted be any different than having a Remington Blueprinted? Both guns are assembled in factories, and are designed with loose tolerances, and both are mainly sold and designed as hunting rifles. The fact is Remington out of the box isn't perfect.

The reason why there are few gunsmiths that work on Savage mainly has to do with the aftermarket section, there is far less aftermarket parts for a Savage, than a Remington. There have been neigh sayers from the beginning that have looked down on savage since the beginning of the rifle, but I doubt majority of them have ever held or shot a Savage rifle, they are going off of reports that they have heard, and have regurgitated. A lot of the neigh sayers changed their opinions after Savage came out with the accu-trigger, and sales skyrocketed, also making more aftermarket company's getting on the band waggon, and producing savage parts. To put it this way Most people did not even look at the savage until the last 10 or so years. How many years has people be messing with Remington's? This is mainly because they had a large aftermarket support. To add many gunsmiths don't truly understand the Savage platform, and they try what works on a Remington, and don't look outside the box that Savage is a complete different design. People can chime in "Well how many IBS/NBRSA, short range competitions has Savage won?" Well I then say "As of lately, how many factory built Remington's (Not closes.) have won these competitions? I truly believe that is savage would have had the aftermart support that Remington does, that you would have seen them shooting side by side with the old Remington's in day of old.

 

[ba_50]

Norcalmikie,

I'd be interested in that comparison when you get it back. A dime size group is about 1/2MOA. Trying to get it down to 1/4 MOA is tough but doable..

The F-class rifle is ready to go and for a good price, but putting the same together would be better and I could choose my own barrel size. A RH SS isn't my first choice though.

My Human Host,

I think I would have shot it first for comparison before and after. How does it shoot? I am wondering how much better a Pred 10 would be with the action faced now.

One drawback is still the accu-stock. It didn't do much better then its successor when switched out.

Some Savages are more expensive then Remingtons now.

Plenty of options anyhow.

 

[John from MN]

ba50,

The rifle (22-243) shoots like crazy. You're going to run the risk of a dud no matter which brand or model you buy. The good news is that the vast majority of factory rifles shoot more than well enough to accomplish the task they were designed to do. I had considered leaving the action alone as an experiment. The money I had invested in the project made me think twice.

I mean you no offense, but it seems your overthinking things a bit. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[ba_50]

The more questions I ask the more I learn, or at least a little more. I'm unemployed so I have too much time to think! Considering what things cost now, it might be worth it. For example, I didn't know the Savage actions needed that much work on them.

 

[mattri]

I don't think that they do need that much work. Just because you can work on them doesn't mean that you have to. My action hasn't been touched and the rifle is absolutely a 1/4 MOA shooter day in, day out.

 

[John from MN]

ba 50,

If you have hopes of 1/4 inch groups you're going to need a good stiff stock. If you decide to buy a whole gun I would urge you to pick a model that does not have a stock made of recycled soda bottles. All of the gun companies are guilty of using them on certain models. Also, if you are considering using it on the occasional coyote, you might want to keep the weight reasonable. The precision varminters may or may not be too heavy for you to lug around. Only you can decide.

I went through my action because I own the equipment to do it. Basically a half day's work for me at no extra cost.

 

[johned]

All 4 of my Savage rifles will shoot a 5 shot group that I can cover with a dime on a regular basis.
I just sent one of my actions in to get the T&T treatment so I'll know first hand what if any difference there will be. Real interested to see how it works. It'll still be a Savage. 8)

I hope you give us a detailed report on the T&T. Please do that.

Thanks,

John

 

[favload]

I have owned a Savage Target action since they came out the first year and re-barreled 3 times. My father ownes two (one trued etc.) and has done the same. We also own various BAT actions and Rem's. End result is that with everything else being equal factory stocks and barrerls they all out shoot most any Rem. factory out there. They out shoot most any custom Rem. out there with custom barrels and stocks. They will be beat by BAT actions in custom stocks, triggers and bedding jobs some of the time depending on the shooters skill level. When i staretd posting here years ago on Savage Target actions few would even respond, now folks are jumping on the band wagon. Yes, now I'm a BAT snob myself but I also know better. In short, at 300 yds a custom BAT gun will group .25 MOA better most of the time. However, that will cost you tweice as much money at least. In the wind, it's up to the shooter. I now like my BAT because of feel and looks, not B/C it was ever that much more accurate.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Well said, favload.