Savage Model 12 Bench Rest

[sgreen3]

Hey fellas Im sure this questions has been beat to death so my apologies. My question is Im looking to get into 300-600yrd Bench Rest shooting at a local club and thought about picking up one of the Savage Mod 12 Bench Rest rifles in 6mm Norma BR to get into the sport with out breaking the bank on a full on custom rig until I get more serious into it. From all the people Ive spoke with an research Ive done this seems to be the round to go with. So would this be a good rifle for me to start with? Thanks for the help!

 

[marwitz89]

I can't say enough good things about the 6 mm br. For the 300-600 yard range, in my opinion it is probably the best there is. I also think that the savage 12 bench rest would be a great starting point without breaking the bank. Buy some quality Lapua brass, Berger 105 hybrid bullets, and "TRY" to find some Varget or RL-15 and you will be shooting great groups in no time. Be warned though, it becomes addicting really fast and you will find yourself wanting to make some expensive upgrades in no time.

 

[sgreen3]

Thanks for the reply! Yea for the money it seems like a good rifle to start off with. Luckily I do have a nice bit of Varget stashed back from loading 308 match when I was shooting it a lot . Ive trying to make self get into this type of shooting it looks so fun I just didn't want to shell out the large $ for a custom rig and end up not liking it.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Look for a used BR gun. There are some great deals out there on guns with custom actions that will allow you to hit the ground running.

If you end up not liking it, sell it and move on. You will not lose that much money when re-selling a BR gun with quality components.

 

[GSPV]

If they have IBS/NBRSA short range-type weight limits, you can't make weight with a BR model except in unlimited.

If they have long range-type weight limits, no sweat.

 

[Killshot]

OP, it's hard to get into the sport for less than the Savage 12 and the 6BR is a very easy-to-load cartridge.

Of course custom actions/stocks ARE better, but that was not what was asked.

 

[Steve3]

If I were going to build a custom 6BR right now I would use a chrome moly BAT B. That is going to cost almost as much as a 12 Benchrest. The custom route gets very expensive very quickly. And you are going to need a gunsmith. Don't even think of it if you don't have a good one you can trust with your time and money. There is a reason new shooters buy Savage. Just hope you get a good shooter right out of the box.

 

[Erik Cortina]

If you go the Savage route, buy used as well. Buy a PTA action, a stock, and order a pre-fit barrel and don't chance it with a Savage barrel. I think this would be a better route than getting a complete rifle from Savage.

 

[1holeaddict]

If you go the Savage route, buy used as well. Buy a PTA action, a stock, and order a pre-fit barrel and don't chance it with a Savage barrel. I think this would be a better route than getting a complete rifle from Savage.

I must agree with this statement in its entirety. I own a Model 12 Benchrest in 6 BR and had to send it back for a new barrel. It took 3 trips back to savage before they finally agreed that it was a bad chamber job and replaced the barrel. The new barrel needs 3 shots to warm it up and then she shoots decent (NOT GREAT BY ANY MEANS). Once i let her cool for a few minutes she will print a vertical string every time until she warms back up.

 

[Steve3]

Why don't you put a Criterion on it.

 

[Cort]

I would buy a used, short action Remington 700 with a 308 bolt face in any caliber that I could find at a decent price and then put a 6 BR barrel with a barrel nut from Jim Briggs or Pacnor and shoot it. The 700 action, in my opinion has more, and better, aftermarket parts and pieces available than a Savage does. Erik's advice on buying a used custom is also a very good solution.

I bought a Savage model 12 first and went through the process of sending it back to Savage and, then, buying a new barrel and the tools to replace the barrel. By the time I was through, I had the cost of a used custom with a sloppy bolt and a poor trigger. I parted the Savage out and started over with the Remington. I don't recommend the Savage route.

Cort

 

[Steve3]

Thanks Cort. Don't quite like to hear it but thanks.

 

[MGYSGT]

Get the Savage and be happy. If they are so terrible, how can people even compete with them. Are the high dollar actions better? Maybe, perhaps and they should be for the money spent on them. Can you compete with a Savage? Yes you can.

Tom

 

[Shynloco]

I would buy a used, short action Remington 700 with a 308 bolt face in any caliber that I could find at a decent price and then put a 6 BR barrel with a barrel nut from Jim Briggs or Pacnor and shoot it. The 700 action, in my opinion has more, and better, aftermarket parts and pieces available than a Savage does. Erik's advice on buying a used custom is also a very good solution.

I bought a Savage model 12 first and went through the process of sending it back to Savage and, then, buying a new barrel and the tools to replace the barrel. By the time I was through, I had the cost of a used custom with a sloppy bolt and a poor trigger. I parted the Savage out and started over with the Remington. I don't recommend the Savage route.

Cort

Guys,
Cort apparently had a bad experience with a Savage Model 12 and it does happen. I, on the other hand, have had and still have a great time with my Model 12 Benchrest Savage (and am haviung my second barrel put on as we speak.. It is, IMHO, the best bet for an "across the counter" Benchrest Rifle available period! It, I believe, was made as an entry level; Benchrest rifle for people who have no clue or little experience in what they are getting into. And Benchrest shooting IS NOT for everyone. Just ask the FTR guys who think most Benchrest guys have lost their flippin minds. And I certainly appreciate the comments and efforts of those advocating the purchase of a used rifle or building one from the bottom up using a Remington 700 action. I've been down both those roads and like I said, have the Savage Model 12 Benchrest,(bought new 4 yrs ago) and then had a custom Benchrest rifle built from the bottom up and even that really doesn't compare all that much to the more serious competitors on a shooting line. In fact, I could have bought three Savage Model 12's for what I paid to have my custom rig built. But again IMHO, you may THINK you can compete AND WIN with a Savage Model 12 in competition, that my friend AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN no matter how wishful thinking you might have. Oh you can compete, but if you wanna win, you need three thing...a competition quality rifle, a talent and knowledge for shooting that well exceeds the average shooter and a fair sized wallet because this ain't a poor man's sport. So if you want to try Benchrest shooting out just to find out if you'll like it, then buy the Savage. On the other hand, if you want to learn and shoot with the intention to FULLY DIVE IN, find a decent Gunsmith (and there are many around though it might take a few month before you get your rig because the good ones are tied up and working hard to produce an accurate piece of work) and have him build you the rifle of your choice because that's why they are EXPERTS at what they do. Just consider all you options and figure out your "end game", unless of course, the money tree is growing in your backyard.

Alex

Sorry for the long winded dissertation.

 

[Hoier]

I used to big on starting with a Savage when I got into the game with one. But then I got a custom and I wouldn't recommend getting a Savage to start with. I built my first custom about 2/3s of the way through my first season. I would suggest going with a used custom. With my Savage I probably had about 2k in it.

And regardless of what anybody says a Savage doesn't even sniff a custom. There is no comparison between the smoothness of a custom and the clunky ness of a Savage.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Get the Savage and be happy. If they are so terrible, how can people even compete with them. Are the high dollar actions better? Maybe, perhaps and they should be for the money spent on them. Can you compete with a Savage? Yes you can.

Tom

I could drive with my feet but that doesn't make it a good idea! Sorry, could not resist! ;D

 

[WyleWD]

Look for a used BR gun. There are some great deals out there on guns with custom actions that will allow you to hit the ground running.

If you end up not liking it, sell it and move on. You will not lose that much money when re-selling a BR gun with quality components.

Agree with this post of Erik's.

Based on the last 3 years' data that I have looked at where both Factory (which includes Salvage M12 6br) and Custom shoot the exact same target and same distances, it shows that on the average the custom rifles out score the factory rifles by an average of 7.6 points. The eye opener in the data is that rarely would the highest scoring factory rifle finish in the top 4 or 5 if it competed in the custom class.

Also interesting is that if you follow a given shooter through out a season of matches, his custom scores are more consistent than his factory rifle scores. ???

So my advice would be to go the custom route and give yourself the best chance to see just how competitive you can be. It is real easy for some shooters to get all geared up, get trounced a few times, then lose interest in the sport. JMHO, but competitive shooting has both an equipment side AND a mentality side. WD

 

[fdshuster]

Agree with WD comments, and I believe the big factor between factory versus custom classes is the quality of the barrels. A mass produced factory barrel will never compete with a custom, hand-lapped.

Put a custom barrel on those factory rifles, ( now in the custom class) and they would be competitive.

 

[fdshuster]

Donovan: I also agree, in part, but on several of my Remington 700 SA's (older models) I did nothing but have a premium barrel installed, and they easily hold under 1/2 moa. Would not be competitive in a short range group match, but are in local varmint for score. Of course, installing an after-market barrel puts them in the custom class, so a moot point anyway.

Guess a lot depends on the quality of the rifle, as it left the factory. Sometimes they do get it right.

 

[savageshooter86]

DO NOT chance it with factory Savage barrel!!!!!! Been there done that and will never shoot factory barrel again. Ever. Waste of $$$ and not worth risk of getting a junk one like I did