Savage F/TR?

[TrxR]

I have been looking for an older target rifle for my first F/TR rifle and haven't found anything but a Savage F/TR in 308 came up and was wondering what you guys thought of them. What are the pros and cons? I was thinking of using the factory barrel for the first year as I learn my reloading and shooting skills then step up to a better barrel. Would I be disappointed in this rifle in any way?

Thanks

 

[snowpro440]

No problem with the learning with a starter gun but if your gonna compete might as well go full custom an compete on the same level as everyone else, Why hold youself back, just jump in with both feet because sooner or later you'll wish you had custom gun and on the same level as everyone else then you will pay for it twice. I did the same thing , bought a factory ftr then rebarrelled . Now I wish I would have gone full custom.

 

[NateHaler]

I have been looking for an older target rifle for my first F/TR rifle and haven't found anything but a Savage F/TR in 308 came up and was wondering what you guys thought of them.

This rifle has been widely discussed, and used in competition, including by at least one member of this forum (Milanuk). Use the search function, and start reading. Google it too.

You could do far worse. And I, for one, believe very strongly in walking before you run, unless you have very deep pockets.

As to the notion that a "full custom" rifle will enable you to do better, there's definitely no guarantee of that; simply a guarantee that you will spend more. I have had more than one factory rifle that my custom rifles cannot outshoot. In F/TR, reading the conditions is the key. If you have 1/2 MOA rifle, whether factory or custom, the difference between winning and not is YOU. 8)

 

[Barlow]

I think Bohio is dead right. Barlow

 

[jsthntn247]

I wished I had done just what you are considering doing. My co work has one and it shoots the 155's at 3100. Easily 1/4 to 1/2 minute rifle in the right hands with the right load.

 

[campman08]

I did exactly what you are thinking - bought a savage FT/R to get in the game and learn how to develop loads and read the wind. Sometimes it's hard to resist the latest and the greatest but my mentor - an f classer on the US Team - kept telling me, for the first year, to save $$ and shoot sierras (vs. the bergers since a lot of guys shoot those in this rig) and learn to read the wind. Six months into it with his help and Milanuk's great article about torque tuning the savage factory stock, my rig can shoot under 1/3 moa at 200yds with the sierra 175s! Good enough for me to shoot 1st in marksman class for the last two 1K matches I shot.
Hard to resist buying a custom rig, but hard to justify until you learn read the wind.
Good luck and good shooting !

 

[XTR]

The current F-TR National Champion shoots a rifle build on a Savage target action with the Accutrigger. Not a stock rifle but not a $1500 custom action either. By the time you shoot out the first barrel you'll be about ready to move up to a better one (barrel), but other than changing the barrel and dropping in a Widden V block I'm not sure what you can do that will really improve it. If you like the stock there is really nothing to change, if you want a different stock, that's personal.

Starting out, the last thing you need to sink funds into is a high dollar action that won't make two points difference in your score.

 

[savageshooter86]

I am wanting a new rifle for FTR. I am considering a Savage target action. Buying a Savage factory stock and a semi custom barrel(Jim Briggs@NSS). Will put me right at same retail price as a stock Savage 12 target variant. Been reading that stock savage barrels are hit or miss with how they well shoot. This way I would
have a semi custom rifle that should shoot better than me while I learn to read conditions

Thinking about getting the Savage 12 F class stock and getting it modified to track better. But the FTR version should be fine to learn with

 

[6BRinNZ]

Learning to read the wind is a life long journey...I don't let it influence my rifle choice...

I went full custom; as my gunsmith said - a quality barrel with a quality smith job will work everytime...

The one thing I will say is what you like today won't be what you like tomorrow...from that point it can be worth spending less initially, using what you have and figuring out what you like or dislike.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Andrew, think about this. Savage Target Action, Criterion, Shilen, or McGowen pre-fit, have it throated a little more for the bullets of your choice. Ray Bowmen stock, don't look back. I started building one lastyear on a singleshot model 12, Criterion barrel, BVSS stock. It shoot's realgood. I need the Low Boy to complete my build.

 

[savageshooter86]

I know everyone will jump on me for this, but for $995 the stock should be finished ready to bed the action and go shoot. I went back and forth on the idea of that stock for over a week and just can't make me self think that $995 on just a stock is worth it. BUT I know it is a great stock

 

[NateHaler]

I went full custom; as my gunsmith said - a quality barrel with a quality smith job will work everytime...

I don't disagree with this, even though you cannot know how any rifle will perform until it is thoroughly tested, and chances should be (but aren't always) better that a custom-built rifle will be good enough.

Regardless, the most important ingredient is the shooter. I clearly remember a match about ten years where a newcomer showed up with his extremely expensive gear (probably $6k worth, which was even more impressive a figure back then), and he also had an impressively good-looking spectator with him. Maybe she gave him buck fever... ;D

He finished dead last in the match. Far and away the worst shooting of anybody, despite having gear that probably cost twice as much as anybody else there (and five times as much as the rig I was driving that day). He didn't know the basics of longish range shooting (200y - 1,000y).

That gear would have served another shooter far better. What the OP needs to decide is what gear will serve him the best at this stage. As our Kiwi friend also mentions, the OP (like most of us) will probably decide that what's needed after gaining proficiency is quite a bit different than what may have originally been contemplated. The main thing is to get in the game and try.

 

[TrxR]

I am on the lookout now for a F/TR but I also have a line on a Musgrave target rifle that I am waiting on.

Thanks

 

[Dgd6mm]

TrxR, there is a Savage F/TR in the WTS adds that just got listed today.

Andrew, the LVP stock is the same contour as the FTR stock, just no vents in the forearm and no cheek piece. I bought both the BVSS and the LVP off here when building. Could not make my mind up, still haven't shot the VLP stock yet, but will.

 

[SAVAGE22-243A.I.]

My buddy has all custom rifles that start at $2500.00 without scope base mounts and end up at $8700.00. Five rifles all together. Well he got out his Neska Bay action with a Shilen barrel in 22-250 AI and I could smoke him on shooting groups and PD's at any range. I was using a 1996 Savage Mod 12 with Douglas barrel all set up by SSS Fred Moore...........He shot my gun and asked how much did it cost and I said $1052.00 which included the original cost of rifle, then add Pentax lightseeker, Ken Farrell base, Burris rings and end up with $1678.00 total. He is using Zess Conquest Varmint $1090.00 scope, $2500.00 rifle, $425.00 in base and rings. Ends up barrel was bad.
Most of the time its now the cost, its the quality and the know how. The only bad Savage barrel I found so far after 25 guns is a 7mm mag hunting rifle barrel. Savage gave me new barrel.

 

[chevytruck_83]

I would go with the savage. you can always make it a 6mm br or similar play gun if down the road you decide to go with a full custom. though I thoroughly believe the ftr will prove to be more accurate then you till you get a lot of practice under your belt.

 

[Fairchaser]

I shoot a Savage 10 in .308 and compete locally at 600 MRP. I spun on a 30” criterion FTR barrel and a better buttstock. It’s a chassis gun. I developed a good load using Berger 200.20x and I have only the basic reloading equipment. But, I’ve worked on my skills for two years and just made HM. I’ve often beaten guys with custom rigs and won a couple matches too. The Savage can get it done but if you want to clean targets every so often, it’s probably gonna take going the next step. That’s probably a custom gun and high end reloading equipment. Btw, I love it when the wind blows because it’s more about skill behind the rifle.

 

[Downeast]

I shoot a Savage Benchrest model that I had rebarreled to a caliber that I wanted and it shoots better than me. I know because I have let my friends shoot it and their groups are far tighter than mine. I'm sure it has nothing to do with them being 30 years younger than me and in top shape. I shoot to have fun and I like shooting against myself. I finally checked out the F Class matches and wasn't really impressed. With a heat index of 100 plus degrees out there and not a cooler of cold beer in sight I figured the whole scenario was kind of silly, if not a bit stupid. So, I now go behind the house on nice days, shoot my rifle, sip on a few cold one's and tell a few lies. A man has got to know his limitations.

So, it depends on your long term goals. My ultimate goal is to have fun and enjoy myself. Custom rifles are very nice and if you are going to compete against others it's nice to have the bling out there to impress the "boys n their toys" but a Savage in the right hands will give them a run for their money everytime.

Anybody wanna cole' beer?

 

[Medic505]

I shoot a Savage 10 in .308 and compete locally at 600 MRP. I spun on a 30” criterion FTR barrel and a better buttstock. It’s a chassis gun. I developed a good load using Berger 200.20x and I have only the basic reloading equipment. But, I’ve worked on my skills for two years and just made HM. I’ve often beaten guys with custom rigs and won a couple matches too. The Savage can get it done but if you want to clean targets every so often, it’s probably gonna take going the next step. That’s probably a custom gun and high end reloading equipment. Btw, I love it when the wind blows because it’s more about skill behind the rifle.

You should get an award for reviving a 8 year old thread.