Savage Model 12fv

[Ralph Littlefield]

I just got a Savage Model 12fv from Cabelas, and am wondering what I should reasonably expect from it. It is a low priced, heavy barreled varmint rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor.

I have no goals other than to try out the 6.5 Creedmoor caliber, and to enjoy casual target shooting out to 300 yds.

Any opinion/experience of what this stock rifle should be capable of in terms of accuracy? I will be shooting reloads, but input on both reloads and factory ammo will be appreciated.

 

[jpx2rk]

Can't speak on the 6.5CM but the FV12 is an accurate rifle right out of the box. I've got 3, all shoot sub MOA at 100y with handloads. 300yds should not be any issue, will depend on how good of a shooter you are as to what the target will look like.

 

[Handi204]

My experience with the 12 FV in 6.5 Creedmoor is that they are great shooting.

 

[Rsadams]

Should be a decent shooter for a out of the box gun... I have the 10t-sr in .308 and did do a barrel break in.. I have been happy with it...

 

[stacy]

IT WILL SHOOT RITE OUT OF THE BOX ARE YOU GOING TO HANDLOAD FOR IT ?

 

[Texas10]

Try the Hornaday BLACK, 140 gr. It shoots unbelievably well in the 6.5 CM 12FV.

Once you have about 100 rounds down the barrel and it's shooting up to speed, torque tune the rear action screw like this for ultimate accuracy.https://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/savage-action-screw-torque-tuning/

Recheck your torque often as the 12FV has a tendency to loosen up action screws. Seen it many times at the range fix'n other shooters rifles that quit shooting as well as they did when new. Changing to a better stock that's pillar bedded or full bedded will help too.

In my experience, you'll have a difficult time handloading something that shoots better out of a stock 12FV than the Hornaday factory load. Not saying you shouldn't try, just that it's that good.

 

[Damon555]

My brother owns that exact rifle......It'll shoot if you can

 

[centershot]

What is Cabela's charging for the rifle now? I think I purchased mine, on sale, for under $250. The action and trigger are worth that. I re barreled mine with pre fits and a Boyd's stock.

 

[dthomas]

Mine was easy to get shooting better than 1/2 moa.

 

[Texas10]

They're on sale now at Cabelas/Bass Pro for $369. Not sure if there are any rebates active at this time. Alway a good idea to use gift cards bought at a discount when ordering.

 

[Ralph Littlefield]

What is Cabela's charging for the rifle now? I think I purchased mine, on sale, for under $250. The action and trigger are worth that. I re barreled mine with pre fits and a Boyd's stock.

Std price is $419, sometimes they drop to $319. and they did have a $75 rebate.

 

[std7mag]

All the plastic stocked Savage rifles, save from an old 110FP, have pillars in them from the factory.

If it shoots anything like my wife's 110FP, you'll get bored quick at 100 yards. Lol

 

[Hohn]

I have a pair of them. Haven't shot the .223 much, but my first throw together 50gr V-max loads were bugholes with 8208 and AR comp. Very pleased. Unfortunately, that 9 twist is very limiting for any kind of match use. I tried 75 ELDs in it with no luck-- 2"+ from it. I suspect it's just too close to marginal stability (round holes, but not precise). Eventually I'll load up some 73ELDs and 69SMKs I think it can handle. Just haven't prioritized that work yet with my scarce range time.

The 6.5 was pretty rough out of the box. Tooling marks in the chamber (left marks on the brass). Extraction problems. Rough bolt. It felt like it was made with all the parts left over from making "real" model 12s that Savage is free to charge full price for.

First loads into it were mild handloads-- 36.5gr of RL15 I had on hand under a 140 ELD. Half moa right off the hop. Factory 147gr ELD-M match loads from Hornady were ~ 2" pretty consistently. The gun did NOT like them.

I've made the rifle into a project gun. Dropped in a GRS Berserk with the Accurate-mag bottom metal. Lapped the bolt a bit with mag wheel polish to try and smooth it out. The big improvement in action smoothness came from the new GRS stock and A-M bottom metal. I suspect the bolt was dragging on the factory blind mag and that was a major component of the stubborn action.

Laid into a keg of RL16 so I've shot it a bit with RL16 and 140s. Preliminary development shows a lot of promise-- have to try to make it go bigger than 1". Saw pressure about 43.6gr, with an apparently node around 41.5. I'm still very early in the RL16 development. I have a 50rd development string loaded up that I haven't shot yet (140 ELDs under RL16).

I also have a box of 147s I haven't loaded yet. I want to see if I can get them to shoot like the 140s, not wanted to judge the projectile based on the factory load my rifle hated.

Extraction is improving, bolt is getting better. I have to keep in mind I paid $320 for the rifle, and you can't even buy a basic model 12 action from NSS for that.

I suspect it's related to the low cost and the Cabela's price point. SOMETHING is different about these compared to other model 12s or even any other 4.4" short action top release. And that makes they a lot more hit and miss on the refinement.

My .223 version on the other hand is butter. Go figure.

 

[coldboreshot]

I just got a Savage Model 12fv from Cabelas, and am wondering what I should reasonably expect from it. It is a low priced, heavy barreled varmint rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor.

I have no goals other than to try out the 6.5 Creedmoor caliber, and to enjoy casual target shooting out to 300 yds.

Any opinion/experience of what this stock rifle should be capable of in terms of accuracy? I will be shooting reloads, but input on both reloads and factory ammo will be appreciated.

Can't speak for the Creedmoor but I got my step daughter a lefhander in 223. Only thing added was a SharpShooterSupply single shot follower tray to avoid the blind box loading. Off the bench, she shoots a handload I developed for it, sub-HALF moa @100 yards. Shedoes 300 yard well too. The rifles are pretty good.

 

[JarheadAZ]

Some years back at Williamsport during their window of availability as an F Class 1000yd venue; I would bring a 12FV 308 so our Newbs could have something decent to cut their teeth on.

Using 175SMK and 42.2gr of IMR-4064, it was sufficiently accurate and dependable that they could count on it to demonstrate to themselves that F Class was an enjoyable experience.

IMHO, the 6.5 Creed chambering would simply be the icing on the cake.

Greg Langelius

 

[WEL]

42 gr ish H4350 210m Hornady brass 140 eldm. 1/2 moa all day long. Paid 200 bucks for mine after rebate and getting cabelas card. Also shot the Hornady cheap 129 gr american whitetail factory well.3 shots in one ragged hole. 140 gr Hornady black was 3/4”.

 

[spudgun]

I bought a used 6.5 CM 2 yrs ago. After some tuning I was shooting 3-4" groups at 600 yds with my reloads. I then decided that I would dress it up some. Its the grey one. The red stocked is now my new 6mm Creed. Built it from a cheap Savage Axis in 308. It also will give me 3" groups at 600 yds. I have suggested 4 guys that I shoot with to buy the Savage 12 F/V and no one has complained about it. For the money you wont go wrong.

 

[Hoot]

I bought a used 6.5 CM 2 yrs ago. After some tuning I was shooting 3-4" groups at 600 yds with my reloads. I then decided that I would dress it up some. Its the grey one. The red stocked is now my new 6mm Creed. Built it from a cheap Savage Axis in 308. It also will give me 3" groups at 600 yds. I have suggested 4 guys that I shoot with to buy the Savage 12 F/V and no one has complained about it. For the money you wont go wrong.

I have a 12 FV staggered feed, internal box from about 10 years back. Its in a Varmint Thumbhole stock. Great feel ergonomically but hard to shoot from a front rest and rear bag on a bench. Is the stock in your picture one of those Boyds with the adjustable LOP and Comb? Looks nice. I wish they offered it with an aluminum block for an additional price like Stocky's.

Hoot

 

[spudgun]

I have a 12 FV staggered feed, internal box from about 10 years back. Its in a Varmint Thumbhole stock. Great feel ergonomically but hard to shoot from a front rest and rear bag on a bench. Is the stock in your picture one of those Boyds with the adjustable LOP and Comb? Looks nice. I wish they offered it with an aluminum block for an additional price like Stocky's.

Hoot

Yeah, Boyds really didn't take lead on these stocks. If they came with piller blocks they would have really been better.

The first stock I bought the nylon pillers started to crush. Boyd's would not do anything to help me out with this. Customer service is the worst in the industry.

I installed metal pillers and bedded both stocks. They are flawless now with those issues.

For the price and adjustability of the stocks I figured I was money ahead over other stocks offered.

 

[WEL]

Mine shoots lights out. H4350 and 140 eld.