Savage Model 12 LRPV Left Port/Right Bolt - is the barrel fluted or not?

[1972]

I just got my new Savage rifle in the mail. I’m very pleased, but a bit perplexed about it’s appearance. This is the Savage Model 12 LRPV, Single Action, Left Port/Right Bolt 26” Bull Barrel, black fiberglass stock, etc, etc, etc.

I had thought this model had a fluted barrel. It is shown with a fluted barrel on Savage’s web site, but this one has a smooth barrel.

Anybody know if Savage has changed things? Did they do away with the fluted barrel? This is certainly not the end of the world, but a bit of a bummer. What’s most important is the way it shoots, but I did kind of like the looks of the fluted barrel.

 

[tome]

have 2 LRPV'S..one purchased 07 in 22-250..non-fluted..6mm br purchased in 09..fluted..i thought that new stock was fluted..the gun dealer gets his stock from a distributor..depends on the distributor's stock at time of order..by the way..they both shoot great

 

[ttfreestyle]

mine has a fluted bbl. was purchased in may of this year...

 

[SS427]

I'm pretty sure they started fluting that model in 09. I bought mine in Feb of 09 and it was an 08 model and it is not fluted. The 09 catalog shows a fluted barrel. I would say you got an 08 model.

The flutes done by Savage don't look all that great in my opinion. I could see chatter marks on all of the ones I looked at so I was not a big fan of the appearance. The draw back is how heavy the non-fluted barrel is making it muzzle heavy, as you may have noticed. The flutes are pretty shallow so not sure how much weight savings there would be anyway.

 

[Mikem]

I have several Savage barrels both in fluted and some not, as well as other makes of barrels in both, and in my opinion, Savage's flutes are just for looks, there not vary deep compared to some others, so they cant have much of an effect on weight.
But then I'm not hunting with them, just shooting off a bench, so weight is not a problem, its your friend.

 

[1972]

Thanks to all for the comments. I got Savage on the phone today and resolved the matter. It seems they made a change in the Model 12 LRPV in 2009. The older model barrels were not fluted, and the newer ones are. They told me my rifle was made in 2008. Which seems a bit odd considering I just bought it from the store. I guess it shouldn't make any difference to how it shoots but it's a little annoying to buy a "new" rifle and find out that it's not the current version of that model.

 

[pdog06]

Yep, 2009 is when they started fluting the barrels. If you bought a new one since then and it isnt fluted, then it was a leftover still in stock.

Surprised you got an 08 model from someone still.

Also in 2009 Savage started making their flutes deeper and wider than before. The older flutes were a joke, but the newer ones look much better as they are 2x as wide and deep. Still not as smooth as they should be though(chattermarks). I think on an LRPV they would look great with the flutes duracoated black(similar to the Remington Sendero flutes).

 

[Shynloco]

Personally, I'd send it back and tell them to send you a new model like they advertized, especially if they charged you the same price as a 2010 model.

 

[memilanuk]

So now the manufacturer is responsible for old inventory on dealer's shelves?

If he ordered it specifically from the factory and it came in like that, then yes, he might have a case for that. But just going to a dealer and saying 'get me one of these, please' does not necessarily guarantee you're getting the latest model from the factory. The dealer probably called a couple distributors until he found the appropriate model, and the one they had on the shelf was an older model.

He might be able to take it back to the dealer and explain that he wanted a new model, as shown in the catalog, not old inventory and they might work something out for him. But I really don't see it being *Savage's* problem...

YMMV,

Monte

 

[RonAKA]

I have now been caught up in the same dilemma with the same gun. Looked at a fluted barrel model in 22-250, and based on that ordered a 6BR. It came in yesterday, and sure enough the barrel was not fluted. I had read this thread and got some very helpful PMs from 1972, after I had placed the order, so I was prepared for the possibility this may happen. They seemed a bit embarrassed they had tried to sell me a 2008 model gun, and I had them check stock in their main warehouse. Sure enough they had a fluted one and it is now on the way.

They seem to have a strange way of numbering their guns. The serial number of the 22-250 that was fluted started in G92, while the non fluted BR6 was G95?? Obviously not sequential.

I considered keeping the non fluted, but the longer I looked at it, the more that barrel looked like a big piece of SS pipe. A 1" all the way to the muzzle barrel is a large chunk of steel, and it did not do anything at all for the looks. The finish was quite rough too. Beside the fluted barrel it just did not measure up for appearance.

I have some sympathy for the dealers in that they have to get rid of old stock. But I think they should discount it, and clear it out, and not try and pass it off as a current model.

 

[1972]

Memilanuk,

I agree with you, and I apologize if it sounded like I was trying to make out it was “Savage’s fault”. I didn’t mean that at all. I was just surprised that I got a model that was 2 years old. I had been waiting for quite some time to get it because I was told they are “much in demand and hard to find”, so I just assumed it would be a new one when it got here. It was a bit surprising to get one that old. Couldn’t help but wonder where it had been for the past couple of years if they were in such short supply.

I attach NO fault to Savage or my dealer. Obviously any manufacturer can (and often must) change things from model to model. That’s how they respond to customer input and improve things. My dealer is also faultless. He just ordered a rifle for me and that’s what he was sent from his distributor. I didn’t mean to make it sound as if I was blaming anyone.

All is well. Everyone agreed that I had ordered a “new” one so they took it back and are getting me what I want. My dealer and his distributor have been absolutely great, as has Savage.

Glad to hear if all worked out for RonAKA as well. Happy endings all around! ;D

 

[Shynloco]

Glad to read they did you right. My point was not intended to take a shot at Savage because I own three of their fine shootin weapons. My point was that whoever sold you the weapon, the retail establishment, was selling an older product that was being sold for the same price as a new one and that was being advertized as the new model. But in the end, you're getting what you paid for and that, above all, is the best news I've heard all day! CONGRATS and enjoy!

 

[Dgd6mm]

I would bet that when you paid for it you paid a 2010 price for it. Savage is good at doing the consumer right even if it is not their fault. They like repeat customers. They once replaced a bolt handle for me that was sporter type on a 12 FVSS that was supposed to be a tactical handle free of charge, and told me to keep the sporter bolt handle.

 

[RonAKA]

I got my Savage 6BR LRPV Left Port/Right Bolt a couple of days ago. It has the fluted barrel, and going from memory based on the other calibers of the same model that I saw in the store, this one seems to have the wider/deeper fluting. I am quite happy with the look and finish. The finger nail test gives a very slight drag, but machining marks are not really noticeable to the eye.

To further confuse things the serial number of this one starts with a G94. The 22-250 that I saw in the store that was fluted but flutes were narrower, started with a G92. The first 6BR they sent me started with G95, and would seem to be a more recent manufacture but was not fluted. Perhaps they have gone back to not fluting? The 2009/2010 Savage catalogue they had lying on the counter clearly shows a fluted barrel. The mystery continues...

 

[1972]

RonAKA

I tried sending you a PM but was having some problems with it. Did you get it?