Savage FT/R Insight

[DaveMarine1]

Maybe it is just me but whenever you heard about the Savage FT/R it was always with a 155gr bullet. It seems as though you never heard and (atleast I) still dont hear much about anything else being shot through it. Perhaps the 185's? Is it throated for the smaller 155's? I have a friend who is considering a good entry level rifle since he doesnt have a action to spare. I was just wondering how it can handle other grain bullets.

 

[jonbearman]

I normally run 168 gr match and it does fine.I am trying 175smk's very soon.

 

[Fairchaser]

I shoot the Berger hybrids 200.20x out my Savage using the criterion F/TR barrel and Palma brass. The stock barrels don’t have enough freebore for the longer bullets. But the 168 smk’s shoot well too out of the standard barrels. I also tried the 175 smk’s but gave up after awhile trying to get them to shoot.

 

[Nowhere Man]

I shot the SMK 168's out of mine.

 

[wbm]

It is a 1-12 Twist so I don't know how it would handle other bullets. Personally I would just copy what these guys did.

Savage F-TR Team — World-Beaters on a Budget « Daily Bulletin

It seems hard to believe you can compete and win at the highest levels of long-range shooting competition with a stock factory rifle, but that’s exactly what Team USA did at the recent F-Class World Championships in Bisley, England. The U.S.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

 

[XTR]

Nine yr old thread here you dug up.

That said, as far as I know Savage hasn't updated the rifle in a long time.

 

[Ned Ludd]

View attachment 1266575

Nine yr old thread here you dug up.

That said, as far as I know Savage hasn't updated the rifle in a long time.

Savage may not have updated the rifle, but nine years is plenty of time for a re-barrel.

 

[D-4297]

That model generally comes from the factory with either a 1-11 / 1-12 twist barrel , and I think they ( Savage ) was trying to create a niche market for a entry-level Sling shooters rifle . My shooting Bud got one with a 1-11 twist barrel and went through all the frustrations of trying to learn to shoot F-class Mid Range while attempting to load 185's in a "too short" chamber for that bullet . After some conversations ; I advised he shoot the barrel out , using the 155's , while working on brass prep , load development and wind reading skills . Some 3,000 rounds later ; he put a Criterion 1-10 twist on , that was chambered to take up to 200.20x , Bolt lift kit from Forum member "Grimstod" , and Timney Trigger mod . And weighted the stock to get closer to weight limits . The rifle is now much improved over the factory version . Can be very competitive in the right hands , and worth the time and effort we spent getting it "up to speed" . For a reasonable price-tag .

 

[mattt]

Ben there done that years ago. Just buy a reamer made for 185 and 200 like the 2013 f/tr reamer and put a new barrel on without barrel nut and shoot. Lift kit also important.