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Replacement Savage action?

dieselcruiserhead

Hi there. I have a gorgeous Savage action build and I'm loving it so far. It's a Proof barrel 22" in 6.5 creedmoor. Then a XLR element (gen 2) chassis and I am shooting better with it in 40 rounds than I have with any other gun I've owned. That said the action is sloppy and crappy. I'll lube it up and I'm aware of PT&G bolts (and PTG issues) and I'd be happy upgrading the bolt. But I'm working if there is a good Savage footprint action I could I replace this action with so I don't need to get a new chassis. I know this is minimal to swap around but it sure would easier.

Thx
 
It's a 10 action .308 from 2009 or so. Accutrigfer that's been replaced by timney but still the accutrigger housing and movement. I actually like it quite a bit. Works well with grease. But when it's dusty ...

All ears, is this more of a gunsmithing deal maybe? Someone can spin up a bolt with tight tolerances? Thx
 

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What you have sounds like a typical savage. Some are looser than a three dollar hooker. If you have not already done so, strip the bolt down to the pin assembly (don't remove the spring), including taking off the bolt head. Remove all the grease. Use a minimal (as in minimal !!) amount of silver anti-seize on the outside of the cocking sleeve and cocking piece, including where the rear baffle bearing hits. Use a normal amount of silver anti-seize on the threads. Use a small amount of bronze anti-seize between the bolt head and front baffle (keep them pulled apart once the AS is in place and then spin them to align and let go).

Doing the above should result in a smoother running bolt that does not have as much of a sloppy feel; grease and oil add to the sloppy feel and collect dirt.
 
My thought would be that you have a rifle that shoots great. Nothing gets better than that. If something isn't broke don't fix it. Apparently action and rifle are a perfect match for each other.

Really, if you want an action that is as smooth as a custom gun, then that's what you will have to buy. And it may not out shoot what you already have in your hands.
 
Bighorn Origin $825.00
Trigger $275.00
Chassis $500.00

Your barrel will go on this action. Ask yourself, is all this worth it to have a smoother running action? Too some it is, too some it isn't... I have both. I didn't buy the Origin to have a smoother running action. I bought it because I wanted it mostly because it takes Savage barrels and it is considered a custom. I will always keep 4-6 Savage's in my arsenal.
 
Dgd6mm said:
Bighorn Origin $825.00
Trigger $275.00
Chassis $500.00
Click to expand...

I think he is right but you might be able to do better on the trigger and chassis on Black Friday. A Triggertech Special would probably do as well as a Timney for a lot less than $275.

You would be going from Savage to Remington compatible.

I have a similar issue. My Savage has a pretty nice bolt lift but it wants to hang up at the back of it's travel when I push the bolt forward. I'm going to have to look in it and see if I can tell what is binding up at that point. If I can cure that, it will still be kind of sloppy but slick. It does lock up solid so I think the slop won't have any effect on accuracy.

See if there is anything you can do to live with it first.
 
Nick Caprinolo said:
My thought would be that you have a rifle that shoots great. Nothing gets better than that. If something isn't broke don't fix it. Apparently action and rifle are a perfect match for each other.

Really, if you want an action that is as smooth as a custom gun, then that's what you will have to buy. And it may not out shoot what you already have in your hands.
Click to expand...
This is great advice and why I made the call to buy it in the first place. From an accuracy perspective it is all about the barrel I figured, and it does work good enough. I will try the tactical (probably factory Savage) bolt knob and that may help. Some cleaning and oil went a long way this evening after I wrote the initial post. I'm sure it will be fine. But at some point I figure I'll probably get a custom action, whether it's this gun or something else. Man this is a wonderful but expensive hobby ,
 
Dud said:
I think he is right but you might be able to do better on the trigger and chassis on Black Friday. A Triggertech Special would probably do as well as a Timney for a lot less than $275.

You would be going from Savage to Remington compatible.

I have a similar issue. My Savage has a pretty nice bolt lift but it wants to hang up at the back of it's travel when I push the bolt forward. I'm going to have to look in it and see if I can tell what is binding up at that point. If I can cure that, it will still be kind of sloppy but slick. It does lock up solid so I think the slop won't have any effect on accuracy.

See if there is anything you can do to live with it first.
Click to expand...


Your absolutely right about the cost and options. This was basically my taste for things. I have 3 Savage's in MPA Chasis's. 2 Savage's in A2 stocks with CDI bottom metal and others. My Origin is in a KRG Bravo that I'm growing fond of. My trigger is the Diamond model which came with the rifle. If I was buying a trigger I believe I would settle for the Primary, kinda middle of the road thing.
 
Dud said:
I have a similar issue. My Savage has a pretty nice bolt lift but it wants to hang up at the back of it's travel when I push the bolt forward. I'm going to have to look in it and see if I can tell what is binding up at that point. If I can cure that, it will still be kind of sloppy but slick. It does lock up solid so I think the slop won't have any effect on accuracy.

See if there is anything you can do to live with it first.
Click to expand...

Check where the cocking piece pin meets the sleeve. If that slot gets dry or dirty (you want anti-seize not grease or oil) then bad things start to happen. If you have a burr, groove, or small outward bulge then take a small diamond file to it and smooth things out. Put some silver AS on it and give it another try.
 
I wanted a specialty rifle for shooting paper but not competition. Started with a Remington 700 SA, single shot, had it trued and two bolts, .223 and .308 bolt faces. Had the bolt lug pined to the action so that I could change barrels at will. Added a Jewel trigger and a custom benchrest stock.

It is still not a benchrest action and is certainly not as smooth as my Stolle/Panda action but it is a great shooter and I am satisfied with the action.

$550 action
$200 Trigger
$350 Bartlein Barrel
$250 extra bolt I had trued.
$450 for chambering and Extra work I had the smith do.
$800 for stock. Estimate of what it might cost if paid for.

$2600 and still not finished.

Stock was a gift from another member here and I can't place a value on it. He made it from a tree he cut down over 50 years ago and is a beauty.

Took the rifle to the range and is a a shooter right from the first round. It is now back at the smith for some more custom work. Cost is unknown.

This does not include Leupold 45 power target scope which I bought here for $$700.

I did this because I like to try new things. If your off the shelf Savage shoots good groups, mine might be a little tighter, but most likely not worth the price difference. I have a fried with a .223 Savage, bought from Cabella's on sale for about $350. I have seen him shoot groups that made every one on the range jealous and he has done nothing but clean it regularly. In fact, I have never seen a Savage that would not shoot.

No matter how good my rifle is I will never recoup the cost. Even if it shot one hole groups all day long.

Now I will be adding a couple of extra barrels and more high end reloading dies.

I am naming this rifle "NICK'S FOLLY," and it is just that.

I want to give a shout out to JoshB for that fine stock. I will never be able to express my appreciation of your workmanship and generosity. A special friend I met right here on this forum.

So shoot your factory Savage and enjoy it's accuracy. It is all about those little groups and costs really don't provide that. And a big shout to my wife who never asks.
 
Several gunsmiths specialize in Savages and can make it smooth as silk. I had one done by Sharpshooter Supply that was excellent, rivaling a custom in operation; they currently have a bad rep for service. Nat Lambeth, Kevin Rahill, and others I don't recall can do a good job at lower cost than replacing it.
 
CharlieNC said:
Several gunsmiths specialize in Savages and can make it smooth as silk. I had one done by Sharpshooter Supply that was excellent, rivaling a custom in operation; they currently have a bad rep for service. Nat Lambeth, Kevin Rahill, and others I don't recall can do a good job at lower cost than replacing it.
Click to expand...
It may take more than a very good Savage gun smith to correct the alements with the new Savages with their a$$utriggers and a$$ustocks.
1. In Savages wisdom they built the a$$ustock so no aftermarket trigger on the action will fit in the a$$ustock
2. The "blade" safety only adds 18 +- oz. to the total pull wt. Not as bad but like an AR 2 stage trigger,.
3. The Action "might" smooth out after several hundred rounds.
4. Who ever designed the 6 CM chamber reamer must have worked for Weatherby on their Mk 5. After checking depths to tough the lands, NONE of the 105,107 & 108 6 MM bullets have more than .243" of full cal. bullets in the case mouth. Than Bbl. might make a fair tomatoes stake.
Come Black Friday , I'm having a "Black Friday" sale on it. and if it dosen't sell I'll be tempted to take the cutting touch to it and return it to Savage in pieces that will fit in a Med.flat rate box.
 
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