Savage rifle help or advise needed

[dan2116]

I am doing research for a young shooter on Savage 223 caliber rifle. The use would be primarily for ground squirrel ( squeakers we call in our part of the country) shooting. The price range he can afford is in the lower priced Savage models and likes the thumbhole 11BTH and was looking at the model 25 as well. I noticed that the 25 has a different style action ( looks sort of like the old Rem 788 type from the outside ) than the 11 or 12. Any experience with one vs. the other.The 11BTH has a lighter barrel than a 12 and was wanting to know of heat issues from shooting multiple shots in succession (not rapid fire). Any other advise would be greatly appreciated. Also can you order a slower twist rate in the Savage rifles than the 1-9 they list.Thank you. Dan

 

[MrMajestic]

If he can wait, hang on until the Savage Model 40's debut in .17 Hornady Hornet! Certainly will be more wind sensitive than the .22 heavyweights but with the reduced powder charge better suited to repetitious shooting. As an owner of a .17 Ackley Hornet(similar but a reloading proposition only) in a 20" Contender rifle all I can say is the fun factor and reduced signature is hard to beat! It is an overachiever in every sense of the word! Also from what I have heard the forty will have the barrel nut like the 10/110 series.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I would strongly recommend a model 11 or 12 type action (that also includes the Stevens long actions and the 111, 112, etc.). They make an excellent starter rifle and they allow the rifle to grow with the shooter. In the case of the youngster you are talking about, the rifle could serve as a ground squirrel rifle, then with a reletively inexpensive barrel swap (used take-off barrels are available in lots of calibers) the rifle could be converted to just about any caliber the action is long enough to handle so it could be his deer rifle or match rifle (if he gets the bug).

For example, to switch from 223 to 308 win requires a new bolt head (about $25), a headspace gauge (another $25), and a barrel (I saw one used for $150 recently). Both could be installed in less than an hour by anyone with experience swapping Savage barrels. For that matter, he could have both calibers and switch back and forth as he sees fit (once he is old enough and disciplined).

I have a match rifle based on an off-the-shelf 111 (long) action. I have a touch of money into it with a custom stock and premium barrel, but it will perform with rifles three to four times its price. I can't recommend Savages enough from the standpoint of being able to become anything you might need in the future.

I do not have any personal experience shooting the Savage factory barrels though. I have friends that get outstanding results, but I've just never shot one myself.

Hope this helps,
Keith

 

[dan2116]

Thank you guys. That is what I was looking for.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Squeakers out to 400+yards with a .223 Savage/Stevens? No Problem! Ammo is cheap. 8)

 

[BigDMT]

Look on www.gunbroker.com for a used one. Might find a good deal. 223 Rem is definitely the way to go for plinking and varmint hunting if he plans on using factory ammo. Actually, it's the cheapest caliber for making ammo if reloading as well.

I have a couple custom Savage rifles. One is a 20 VarTarg built on a Savage 10 short action and is a 5 shot 1/4 MOA rifle. Extremely accurate.
I bought the rifle as a used 22-250 with a whippy thin #2 contour barrel originally. My plan was to build the VarTarg immediately. Only bought the rilfe as a 22-250 because it was the best deal I could find at the time on a Savage short action for my 20 VarTarg project.
But to sell the factory barrel that I wouldn't need anymore, I wanted to see how it shot with some hand loads. I like to post some targets with a barrel if it shoots good. Helps it sell quicker.
I grabbed 4 rounds of my Father's 22-250 handloads using 50gr Speer TNT's powered by Accurate 2230. Shot 1 round to foul the barrel real quick, then fired my 3 shot group in rapid succession. I didn't expect it to shoot very well with the barrel being so thin and being from the factory. The dang thing shot under 1/3 MOA at 100 yards! First load I tried! So I thought, "ok...lets try some factory ammo to see what it will do for someone who is not a hand loader." Shot 3 rounds of Remington 55gr PSP factory ammo. It shot 3 shots just outside 1/2 MOA!!!
Almost didn't want to sell it after that. But reluctantly I forced myself to sell because I knew I wanted that little VarTarg more, and this barrel sale would help pay for it.

So don't let that thin Savage barrel fool you. They'll shoot darn good in many cases if a person is willing to do some testing.

Here's the pics I posted with the barrel when I sold it. The fella who purchased the barrel from me has a real accurate 22-250 right now : )

 

[serial # 001]

Dan2116,

I suggest going with the .223. A few years ago I bought a Savage and had a trigger job done. After working up a load with Nosler 55 grain Ballistic Tips I gave it a try at 200 yards. The ten shot group measured .800". It's hard to fire a fluke 10 shot group. The rifle was fantastic on squeeks clear out past 300 yards. The little bugars are only 2 1/4" across so you have to have an accurate rifle to connect out past 300 yards.

The scope was a Weaver 6-24X40. I used 24X to work up the load and 20X for helpoing out the farmers.

 

[deerhunter28]

I just bought a Savage Predator Hunter in 223 before Christmas.
It is a shooter for sure and fun to shoot.
I would suggest not to buy the package just purchase bare gun and put whatever scope you prefer on it.
Mine likes the bullets on lands and varget powder.
55 grain V Max seems to be the best so far with 26.9 grains varget.
1/4" Groups at 100 yards

 

[tiny68]

With a Savage you can always mix and match to build the combination you want. This is the 223 I am building on a long action Savage for my 9 yr old. I swapped the bolthead, got a new take-off 223 Stevens barrel for $65, and used NRA youth stock for $50. I also has an SSS trigger. I am taking the barrel to get it cut down to 18" for a little better balance. We shoot everything as a single shot with a follower.

Can't go wrong with the 223. I built one for my older son, but his is now a 308W.

Luck, Tim

 

[A_Gamehog]

I currently have 4 Savages. The 1-9 .223 is capable of great accuracy with 34 grain dogtowns to the 75 grain Match bullets, but the 55-60's are the best bet for squeaks and windy days. The best part is a new savage barrel from a vendor is just 150-200$. I personally like shooting "fluted" barrels when shooting squirrels, "squeaks" as sometime the shooting is non-stop all day. Think of it like a Motorcycle cylinder head, it disapates the heat faster than a std. round barrel. This means less time waiting for the barrel to cool down. I like fluted barrels for this reason , not the benefit of less weight. So get a regular barrel rifle to start with, shoot it out, and replace it with a good fluted heavy barrel.