Savage 12 Palma rifle

[kentcroy]

I've always wanted a good Palma rifle, even had a Krieger Palma barrel put no an old action years ago, only to find out it was chambered off center, ruins brass after first firing. Oh well.
Does anyone own and shoot A Savage 12 Palma, is it any good, and is it worth $1600 ?
Thanks in advance, Kent

 

[RHux]

I purchased one from Cabelas , three years ago. I shoot it in F T/R and it works very well. I put a Criterion 11 twist on this year to shoot 185 Bergers. The stock is made by Masterclass. If you like Savages you will like it.

 

[Warren Dean]

Excellent rifles. My Model 12 Palma twins are both 1/4 moa rifles out to 600 so far with 185 Juggernauts. They are bone stock except for the throat in the F-T/R barrel being lengthened some for the 185s. I use mine in F-T/R.

You can add good glass/sights and be competitive on a world class level with the 12 Palma, or any other Savage competition series rifle for that matter. You can get one for quite a bit less than a full-on custom rifle and without the 9 month plus wait.

You really have to see one to appreciate the fit and finish of the Savage rifles. Come to the Savage booth at the SHOT show and check one out.

Oh....and don't listen to the anti-Savage "experts" and their silly "beginner rifle" snobbery....... the proof is in the world championships and national championships...which Savage rifles have a rather large number of.

 

[6fatrat]

This is good solid advise, looking forward to you joining the ranks of L R Prone shooters.
Steve Bair

 

[savageshooter86]

for about the same price. Get a savage stock on a forum used(save some money) and then order action that matches the action screw spacing(Jim @ NSS) and then order a prefit barrel from CBI/Shilen/McGowen). Add a good optic and get some Berger 185s/175s and go shoot small groups. I personally would not trust quality of Savage barrels. Ask me how I know :-[ :-[

Pricing this out(did it on my last build) would spend a few more $$ for this "semi-custom" set up over factory Savage but you will save in the long run with time and components. Just my opinion from personal experience that was costly and wasted a lot of my time

 

[Dos XX]

Call Larry Racine at LPR Gunsmithing. He will take a Savage and make it all it can be. He might even have them in stock. He can diamond lap a factory barrel or put a Kreiger / Brux on it. It'll shoot. Worth a phone conversation.

Have you shot an accutrigger? I don't have a problem with mine, but some people hate them.

http://www.lprgunsmith.com/index.asp

 

[jonbearman]

Make sure you shop around to get the best price online if possible. If you are not ready to build one which is what I do buy the gun as is and learn the game and you can always rebarrel or whatever later. Join savageshooters forum and there are a lot of guys who can help you along.

 

[kentcroy]

I thank you all for your input, as usual, I am very grateful for your sharing of knowledge and wisdom. I asked this same question on another forum, and the feedback was very similar.
When I was forced to stop shooting awhile back I was a NRA Mid range High Master, due in part to the very high class of my fellow competitors at the Port Malabar Rifle and Pistol Club. I've seen these guys clean targets with high X counts, in variable winds, shooting iron sight Palma rifles with 155 class bullets. Impressed the hell out of me.
This I fall I hope to start back shooting XTC service rifle, and if that all goes to plan, I'll want to shoot mid range again. I built a great long range rifle, but have chosen to keep it in reserve for windy days for now. I feel the need to learn wind reading to a much higher degree, as I have often been caught by a switch. So, as I was looking at the Savage 12 Palma on the website, with that long shiney barrel and adjustable stock, $1550 price tag, that I could even put on a six month lay-away plan, it was a serious conciderition.
I think in the end I will be happier with a precision action, a good cut rifled long Palma barrel, a good two stage trigger, and a fully adjustable tube stock. It's gonna take a whole lotta lunch money to make it fly, but after I spent 3k to build exactly what I wanted last time, I'm sure I won't have any regrets this time either.
Thanks again, Kent

 

[Dgd6mm]

Kent, piece one together, you'll be better off in the longrun. The Model 12 Palma is a good shooter, but the advice you've been given is sound. I believe Kenny Adams started at Malabar shooting a Savage and was shooting winning scores before he moved on too complete customs and Open Class.

 

[kentcroy]

Thanks Don
Kent