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

[clintwhite]

I am interested in the Savage F/tr .308 and the Palma rifle in .308. Does anyone have good words of advice since I am a novice to the sport of competition shooting? Pros and Cons about these two?

Thanks for the help

Clint.

 

[savageshooter86]

Palma has the hardware which makes it more expensive. It also has a 13 twist barrel. Which limits you to the somewhat 155-175s possibly. They should have the same action and action screw spacing. The Palma has a smaller chamber too. Believe it is chambered in the 95 Palma reamer(for the 155s)

With the 12 twist of the FTR you should be able to shoot up to the 190 SMK/185 BErger LRBT bullets

 

[dmoran]

My opinion is, they cost a lot of money for a rifle that still needs a lot of work and expense to be competitive with..
Some will say they make a good starting rifle. I disagree and think they cost way to much for what they actually are.

My 2-cents
Donovan

 

[savageshooter86]

You know I know Donovan It is a crap shoot if you get a good our bad barrel.


But some can't afford $2500+ rifles as their first. Especially of completely new to the sport and reloading. Donovan didn't say you had to spend that I was just doing quick math in my head if you went pretty much full custom. Semi custom and you are talking probably $1900 minimum

 

[dmoran]

Actually Andrew, in my opinion a new guy wanting to check it out is better off buying a heavy barreled Varmint rifle ($500 to $700) and a bipod and go have fun and get there feet wet.

If they are more seriously interested in competition, then I suggest 1) buying a used built rifle. 2) start from scratch and build one.

I said nothing about starting with a +$2500 rifle....
Donovan

 

[Erud]

Are you interested in shooting Palma or F-TR? Or both?

 

[clintwhite]

looking for a great platform to start with for a season or two and throw some upgrades to it as i get better and more knowledgeable (bedding etc.)

My main focus is on F/tr but I like the adjustable buttstock on the palma rifle (i know there are aftermarket stocks to add to the f/tr rifle but I didnt know which would be the best road.

clint

 

[NoahbodyImportant]

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/

 

[308 f/tr]

You can be very competitive with a stock f/tr model right out of the box. That being said the stock needs an upgrade and apparently some people can't get their barrels to shoot. Mine had no problem shooting, right out of the box it was 1/2 moa or better from the start. The throat is pretty short so 155-175's are gtg in the rifle, I had to play with seating depth and powders to shoot 185's and still did not get the velocity I wanted. Good luck with your choice

 

[RStewart]

I owned and shot a Savage FTR in .308. With the 1:12 barrel it shot the Berger 155.5 FB's best maintaining 3071 fps with IMR 8208 XBR powder. I did not have to do anything to it and I shot it until I had a custom rifle built that was mag fed so I could shoot one rifle in both FTR and Field Precision Rifle.

 

[ftrrookie]

I bought RStewarts 308 F/TR from him and while I've switched to SMK 155gr Palmas and Varget it's still a .5 MOA rifle out of the the box. I also have one chambered in 223 that I shoot 80gr Berger VLDs out of. It's just as accurate as the 308. If I bedded the actions on them I'm sure I could get them down even smaller.

There is a couple of things I would like to see changed. First I wish the stock had a flat bottom so it would ride the bag straight back. Second, I don't like the Accu-triggers. While the target model that comes on the F/TR is a lot better than the regular one I still don't like them so I upgraded to Rifle Basix triggers on both of them.

 

[Laurie]

Without getting into the love / hate Savage and what's value for money issues..... (You guys in the US should speak of this with prices at $1,300 if you shop around. These rifles cost around twice as much here in the UK at the current USD to GBP exchange rate!) ..... I'd only point out that the Palma version of the PTA action has a different screw spacing from all other Savage 'Precision' models. At least all of those we saw here until a year or so back had.

If this still applies, it means that all the specialist F-Class target and chassis stocks inletted for the normal PTA are no good for a later upgrade if you want to restock.

 

[Nicked It]

I started shooting F-Class last year and went with the Savage 12FTR .308. I feel it is a good platform to get started with. By the end of last year I received my NRA Expert classification, and that was with Federal and Hornady factory ammo. This year I will get into hand loads and by the next year a new custom barrel.

 

[mysticplayer]

I am a huge fan and user of Savage actions.

With any factory Savage FTR, you have no control over barrel, bedding, trigger so you can spend the money but may not get a shooter. Also, the stock IS not ideal so you will want to swap that out later.

At the end you may only keep the receiver (without the target accutrigger) so why pay for all the extra factory bits now?

Personally, I would get a Savage or Stevens repeater and tape/glue in a single shot follower. Install a rifle basix 2 trigger, Shilen Select prefit match barrel, bed into a Choate tactical stock, different bolt knob or handle. Bolt timing to make it all work smooth and easy.

Cost will be similar to the FTR you are wanting to get

Performance will be competitive with most every rig you see beside you regardless of the costs. And there is no accuracy benefit to a single shot Savage receiver.... NONE.

For those that have the new goofy bolt pattern on their PTAs, consider drilling and tapping the receiver for a 4.4" action bolt spacing. yes, there will now be 4 bolt holes but you only ever need to use the furthest 2.

Now ALL aftermarket stocks are usable.

Simple....

Jerry

 

[noload]

I bought a Savage LRPV mod 12 chambered in 6br (single shooter)about 5 yrs ago. With a HS stock the Sav barrel it came with shot way better than I could at the time. I chose the LRPV because of the aluminum core thru the HS stock and the alum. vee block action bed works very well. Later I rebarrled it 4 or 5 times and stayed with the original stock with some pretty easy mods to make it a Open F Classer. I don't know if the Palma and F/tr stocks come bedded. Thats something to consider. I also am very comfortable with the Accu trigger. I liked the mod 12 Target action well enough to buy another one. I am very glad I started out with a Savage mod 12, In my opinion it will shoot with any action out there. (I have expensive actions also.) You just gotta put some time in the sport to be competitive...actually alot of time...Warning this may be addictive.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Clint, check Savageshooter86's .308 Savage he just put up for sale.

 

[MGYSGT]

I bought the Savage Mod 12 Benchrest in 6mmBR. It now wears a .223 barrel. I wish I had bought the Palma version for the stock. Had to put a Karsten on it. Mine weighs 17 lbs with the bipod attached. Kind of chunky but shoots well.

Tom

 

[randysplett]

I just bought a savage ftr and will be in my first match next weekend. From all the information i have gather it will be a very good gun! I am excited to have it, and compete. Those savage guns have won a lot of medals and titles. I have been talking with John weil who is a world class shooting, and He shoots the same rifle as I will be shooting, He says the rifles that team savage use are not cherry picked, and you know as well as me not every gun shoots, and if it doesnt the company is more than happy to help.

 

[savageshooter86]

I am still not sure I believe that 100%. Have read and personally seen what the FTR can do. Either it will or WON'T shoot. Luck of the draw on the barrel you happen to get

 

[Killshot]

And odds are the guys on TeamSavage aren't shooting factory-issue barrels.