Hey guys the title pretty much sums it up here. I have a savage model 12 ftr. At the moment it has the 30 inch 308 barrel it came with but I'm wanting to re barrel and restock it for something different. I don't really hunt or do any competition to speak with. So this will be just for shooting with friends at long range for bragging rights. I'm looking at the 7 saum, 7wsm, and 284 win. Obviously I'm leaning toward a 7 but could probably be swayed in a different direction at this point. So anybody ever build a savage PTA on any of these or any other interesting calibers? I'd like to hear your results, how you went about it and what types of barrels people are using.
Savage PTA build
- Thread starter its only light
- Start date
I'm curious why you selected the 7mm class?
Have you noticed what is winning most of the NBRSA long range benchrest competition? It is the 6BR, 6BRX and 6mm Dasher.
These rounds are easy to load for, have a reputation for extreme accuracy and don't beat you to death shooting them.
Have you noticed what is winning most of the NBRSA long range benchrest competition? It is the 6BR, 6BRX and 6mm Dasher.
These rounds are easy to load for, have a reputation for extreme accuracy and don't beat you to death shooting them.
I built my 6mmbr rifle based on a Savage 12F single shot target action. It's fitted with a Shilen select match barrel, 1in8 four groove ratchet rifling. RifleBasix Sav-2 trigger and a Richards microfit stock and a Ken Farrell 20 moa rail.
I carried out all the work myself and I'm very pleased with the results. The 6BR is sweet to shoot, easy to load and good up to 1000yds.
I carried out all the work myself and I'm very pleased with the results. The 6BR is sweet to shoot, easy to load and good up to 1000yds.
What is long range? At abt. 500 yrds. you starting getting to the point where BC becomes king. Out to that point the small caliber hot rods do well, and infact with the 80 gr. 22 cal. bullets you can push that a hair farther. But if your are shooting at a know range and can zero there the high BC bullet will take over even at lower velocities and longer flight time due to the fact they drift less in the wind. I am plaing with 22 and 6 mm wildcats with heavy for cal. bullets for long range coyote shoot, at least that is my excuse, and can do pretty good out to 700 or maybe 800 yrds. What ever cal you deside on, get a fast twist and shoot the heavest bullets you can get.
Not sure where you're from or exactly what kind of shooting you will end up doing, but the 6BR is going to be tough to beat. I was a little skeptical at first of a round that Lee didn't make a set of dies for 
. I now have 2 Savages in 6BR and they are lovely to reload for and to shoot. I have a 1-12 twist and a 1-8 twist and both are good for different reasons. Without wind, if you're planning on shooting varmints the 12tw wins hands down. I think that it could be argued that the slower twist will have a longer barrel life, and lighter bullets are generally cheaper. For example the 58gr Zmax are phenomenal performers to at least 400yds in my experience, and maybe farther. The 7mm bullets will certainly cost more, and the brass will cost more than the 6BR brass from Lapua generally. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. BTW the Sav-2 trigger was a surprisingly large improvement over the factory target trigger.
. I now have 2 Savages in 6BR and they are lovely to reload for and to shoot. I have a 1-12 twist and a 1-8 twist and both are good for different reasons. Without wind, if you're planning on shooting varmints the 12tw wins hands down. I think that it could be argued that the slower twist will have a longer barrel life, and lighter bullets are generally cheaper. For example the 58gr Zmax are phenomenal performers to at least 400yds in my experience, and maybe farther. The 7mm bullets will certainly cost more, and the brass will cost more than the 6BR brass from Lapua generally. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. BTW the Sav-2 trigger was a surprisingly large improvement over the factory target trigger.IOL, of the three cartridges you mentioned, only the 284 Win is a simple screw-on with a go gauge. The other two require a minimum of a bolt face change.
If you are looking for bragging rights among buddies in informal shooting beyond, say, 800 yards, the 284 Win shooting 180 Berger Hybrids would be a tough combination for your buddies to beat.
Edit: Forgot to mention that I have a Savage PTA with two barrels - 28" 9 twist 284 Win, and a 28" 8 twist 6mmXC. Both are Criterion. And both shoot 1000 yards very well.
If you are looking for bragging rights among buddies in informal shooting beyond, say, 800 yards, the 284 Win shooting 180 Berger Hybrids would be a tough combination for your buddies to beat.
Edit: Forgot to mention that I have a Savage PTA with two barrels - 28" 9 twist 284 Win, and a 28" 8 twist 6mmXC. Both are Criterion. And both shoot 1000 yards very well.
Good stuff. I am from central mn. I basically shoot for fun at paper around 700 yards and we have a spot for next year that we will be able to reach 1000 and beyond now. I am aware of the bolt face swap and that wouldn't bother me. Oh we usually shoot at paper for groups but once or twice a year we go to my home state of SD prairie dog hunting. I usually lean towards the heavies, ( I need all the help I can get with those prairie winds). The 284 with the 180s has been on my mind a lot but I also didn't want to rule the others out just yet. I do reload and time is not real easy to come by for me so the only concern I had was that little extra step of necking up the 6.5x284 brass would get to me. I know it's real minor and almost shouldn't be a consideration but the other 2 cartridges are right there with the 284 as far as ballistics go. As for why I am leaning toward the 7's. the wind performance trumps the 6's pretty easily. And mainly for some reason I want one. The 6br has crossed my mind believe me it's body of work can't really be ignored, but at the same time any well built rifle should be capabable of that kind of accuracy with a good shooter behind it. I also like to be a little different and make my guns a little unique.
I bought my Criterion 284 Win barrel from Jim Briggs at Northland Shooters Supply. IIRC, he asked if I wanted it chambered for the heavy bullets which I did. 180 Berger Hybrids seated .020" off the lands. I shoot the cheap Winchester brass and the necks have not been touched. I culled 50 out of 200 and rotate the remaining 150. The only thing I do besides the minimum/normal brass prep is anneal after every firing.
Thanks a bunch guys lots of help. I'm liking the sound of the Winchester brass with the no turn chamber. Criterion barrels seem to have a pretty good rep around here. Is this hands down my pick or is there something else I gotta have? Also I'm sure many of you read that other thread here about the salt bath nitriding. If you haven't you should! Anyone know what that costs? I've seen a couple pics and it seems that would save me time with coating my barrel a different color if that's the way I decide to go but it sounds like the benefits go way beyond looks. It makes sense to me also. I'm a machinist and make dies and molds and obviously we heat treat our high stress/high wear parts to ridiculously hard 50+ rc and its amazing how long a chunk of supe hard steel hitting a softer piece of steal will hold up. There are guys talking about keeping accuracy for up to 11,000 rounds and beyond. Is this something I should consider? Maybe if the price is right!
Was going to mention that I think I've decided on a mcmillian adj. A3-5 stock for my new 284. I'm just tying to decide what color to order. Wish they would just make black and save me the trouble. Just too many choices that I don't want to regret. Im trying to do it exactly how I want the 1st time this time so I don't finish and want to start over. . . . Again. LOL
Was going to mention that I think I've decided on a mcmillian adj. A3-5 stock for my new 284. I'm just tying to decide what color to order. Wish they would just make black and save me the trouble. Just too many choices that I don't want to regret. Im trying to do it exactly how I want the 1st time this time so I don't finish and want to start over. . . . Again. LOL
Light,
I didn't mention that I, too, have a long range BR gun based on a LPRB PTA, a Sharpshooters Dog Leg Stock and a 6 mo old Bartlein barrel in 6BRX.
I started with a 243 WIN and the BRX has raised me from a competitor to one who takes home ribbons at club matches.
I know the common belief is that the reduces wind drift is reason to go to the high power 7mm rounds. I have a different theory, the difference in windage with respect to my 3050fps 105 gr Berger Hybrids is not that great. And, more to the point, all bullets have wind drift. It is up to the shooter to know how the wind effects his gun and shoot accordingly. The 6BR family is easy to tune loads with and load consistent rounds.. AND, the recoil is nearly nill. I'll stick to the 6BRX, thank you.
I didn't mention that I, too, have a long range BR gun based on a LPRB PTA, a Sharpshooters Dog Leg Stock and a 6 mo old Bartlein barrel in 6BRX.
I started with a 243 WIN and the BRX has raised me from a competitor to one who takes home ribbons at club matches.
I know the common belief is that the reduces wind drift is reason to go to the high power 7mm rounds. I have a different theory, the difference in windage with respect to my 3050fps 105 gr Berger Hybrids is not that great. And, more to the point, all bullets have wind drift. It is up to the shooter to know how the wind effects his gun and shoot accordingly. The 6BR family is easy to tune loads with and load consistent rounds.. AND, the recoil is nearly nill. I'll stick to the 6BRX, thank you.
This may sound uneducated but what exactly is a 6brx? I assume its a 6br based cartridge. I've heard of it before but never really payed much attention to it. Your numbers and reasoning have peaked my interest.
6BRX is 6BR with the shoulder blown foward .1 inch retaining the 30 degree shoulder. 6Dasher is the same with a 40 degree shoulder. The difference in case capacity between the 2 is small but you end up with a little more neck with the dasher. I hope this helps.
http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/6mmbrimproved/
You should find it no suprise that everyone on the 6br forum reccomends 6br, But it is a fantastic round and super easy to tune. Remember as a rule, the more overbore the cartridge, the more finicky it is.
http://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/overbore-cartridges-defined-by-formula/
http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/6mmbrimproved/
You should find it no suprise that everyone on the 6br forum reccomends 6br, But it is a fantastic round and super easy to tune. Remember as a rule, the more overbore the cartridge, the more finicky it is.
http://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/overbore-cartridges-defined-by-formula/
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