Savage F/TR or model 12 Palma for F/tr class

[diego-ted]

Here is my two cents. I read about the Savage team winning many huge events with stock FT/R rifles off the shelf. I talked to members of the team and it is true (some) of them did use stock rifles off the assembly line. So off I went and picked one up and figured I would start placing in the events I entered. Well after initial load development I came up with a load that shot ½ MOA at 100 yards. It shot Very well at 1000 yards 80% of the time. Many seasoned veterans on this site told me they had similar problems with Savage rifles until they bedded them.

So I sent the rifle off to Larry Racine who deals mostly, strictly with the Savage FT/R and Palma rifles. After a quick bore scoping he said the barrel was a typical Savage barrel, full of chatter and machine marks? He said a hand diamond lapping and new crown would work wonders for the barrel. I told him to go ahead and do that but to also cut me a new 30” Kriger heavy palma. He pillar bedded the rifle, trued and squared the action and did a little trigger work. The work cost me about $800 bucks plus the cost of the new Kriger tube. So now I has about $2300 in the setup with two barrels that I could switch out from match to match.

When I got the rifle back I shot the old load in the reworked Savage barrel and used it for 300 yard matches and if shot well 98% of the time. I also developed a load for the new Kriger tube and shot this out to 1000 yards in many matches. This rifle also shot well 99% of the time. However, every now and then I would get an unexpected flyer that cost me a point here and there. Now I am not sure if the flyer was me or the rifle but by this time my confidence was compromised?

So now I have a GAP rifle that I am sure is good to go! I know if there is a problem it is me and not the rifle. There is no price you can pay for peace of mind! I learned a lot with the Savage and more than likely the flyer is my loss of concentration. So for a fellow starting out who shoots pretty good the Savage is a good tool, to go out and learn the sport. As all the guys who are worth listening on here have said “one’s ability to call wind outweighs almost all other factors in long range shooting!”
Now if you are already a skilled shooter and wind caller, then my suggestion is not to cheap out! Buy a proven quality product, so you have no doubts about the rifle and work on wind reading skills. This rifle is going to cost you a pretty penny, but buy one cry once, really has it’s place in this sport.

Diego

 

[anaconda]

My buddy just bought savage 12 palma. He dropped it off for me to bed and work up load. Buds gun shop was the cheapest place to get it at around $1500. Don't think it's a bad value it offers adjustable stock-target accutrigger. I did scope the barrel and it's not in the same league as my benchmark barrel but how it shoots is more important I guess and for the price I feel that should be expected. I think DMORAN gave the best advice start with cheaper heavy barrel rifle to get your tip wet then once you got a feel for things you will have a better idea of what you really want. I do know my rifles are far different then when I started off and what I thought I wanted back then is way different today. Ive also waisted allot of money due to lack of knowledge at the time so listen to guys like DMORAN he won't steer you wrong I will say I've found savage rifles to be very accurate. I feel in this industry you defiantly get what you pay for through and through. I am not expert so not looking to offend anyone and if it ends up shooting very accurate then I will say it's a good value

 

[Tempest]

Just some thoughts. We started with a out of box 12 Benchrest in .308 for FTR. Had a 1-12 twist barrel. Actually measured 12.25. Shot Lapua 155's great at 600 yards. Shot 185 Jugg's pretty decent as well for 600 and 1,000.

A barrel and trigger change was a marked improvement.

 

[SkipW]

You can buy the F T/R model and purchase the hardware from Steve McGee. Then have a gunsmith install the hardware for you.

I had Steve install it for me. His website says he isnt taking any orders.

http://www.mcgeestocks.com/

Just what hardware do you think you need? And also I see people talking about the stock. I call bs on both. The barrel is already free floated. Maybe you might want to glass bed the stock but that is all you would need. I have, and have seen others beat people with 6-8000 dollar rigs with these rifles. If you can’t do well with this rifle it’s probably not the fault of the rifle.

 

[SkipW]

Also you can buy this rifle under $1000.00,

 

[normmatzen]

I am very prejudiced , and I shoot two long range BR guns that I also use for the odd F-Class match
That are built on Savage actions (PTA).
I got interested in Savage through hunting with my late Father-in-Law who had a Model 110 he bought when they first came out. I has the original bolt with all kinds of doo-dads on the bolt face. He loved to shoot pie plates with dots in the center against the other guys with Winchester, Remington, Weatherby, Browning etc. He always beat them!
So, I started with a short PTA action, single shot. Got a used BVSS stock and plugged the magazine well, plugged and re-drilled the action
screw holes and piller beded it and skim bedded it. Put a Shilen 243 WIN pre-fit on it and started shooting long range BR.
I shot for a while, then bought a SSS BR stock and fitted that and wore out the barrel (in the process won a bunch of ribbons). Bought a 6BRX reamer and a new Bartlain barrel and off I went.
I even got used to the Accutrigger and still think more folks would use them if they worked with it and got used to it. I finally got a SSS Evolution trigger and timing and truing and still shoot that gun. I had a RifleBasix on my Father -in-Law's old Savage and put that on my 284 WIN BR gun and left it on that.
Many folks here at Sacramento shoot or have shot Savage guns and do Very well. Some have gone on to "real" guns like with BAT actions and the rest but ultimately don't shoot any better.

I think that a Savage BR rifle is a great starter gun for BR, F-Class or Palma. A beginner can learn how to shoot (still the most important ingredient!), then re-place the by now trashed barrel with a premium barrel and maybe even time and true the action by a GOOD gunsmith.
Now , with a decent scope you have a proper BR gun.






law

 

[50bmg1979]

Good info but this thread is 4 years old. I hope he has upgraded from his savage by now. Lol

 

[kzin]

Just what hardware do you think you need? And also I see people talking about the stock. I call bs on both. The barrel is already free floated. Maybe you might want to glass bed the stock but that is all you would need. I have, and have seen others beat people with 6-8000 dollar rigs with these rifles. If you can’t do well with this rifle it’s probably not the fault of the rifle.

What he meant, 4 years ago, was the adjustable stock parts that mainly differentiate the Palma from the FTR.
Clearly not necessary for ftr but if maybe a help for some.

My unmodified Savage FTR 223 seems supernaturally accurate.
Only rifle I've shot where I often get BETTER results than I call.

 

[SkipW]

What he meant, 4 years ago, was the adjustable stock parts that mainly differentiate the Palma from the FTR.
Clearly not necessary for ftr but if maybe a help for some.

My unmodified Savage FTR 223 seems supernaturally accurate.
Only rifle I've shot where I often get BETTER results than I call.

I’ve got one in 308 and have no complaints. I can tell you this, it shoots better than that m24 I use to use. All joking aside they are great rifles for the price.