Savage replacement stock and barrel question

N

newguy07

New member
As mentioned in another thread I am not happy with the recoil on my savage .308 model 16 trophy hunter xp.

One option that people recommended in the other thread was to replace the stock. How does this help recoil? Are there any specific stocks you recommend when the purpose is decreasing recoil?

Someone also mentioned that I could just replace my 22 inch light weight barrel with a heavier barrel. How difficult is this to do? Where do I buy the longer/heavier barrel?

Thanks
 
I don't know what pad is on the Trophy Hunter, but a good recoil pad really helps. Either Limbsaver or Pachmayr, they're both great.

How does changing the stock help? A heavier stock will give the rifle added momentum. You remember the old adage; for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction? That's recoil. If the stock is heavier, it soaks up more recoil. Also, a straighter stock helps in pushing the recoil straight back, so you don't have as much rise during recoil. Ideally, the rifle should recoil straight back into your shoulder.

Position helps, as does gripping the rifle firmly. If the rifle is held loosely, it has an opportunity to smack you rather than push you.

Changing the barrel to a heavier profile is also another way to increase the weight of the rifle. On a Savage it's fairly easy if you're comfortable with basic gunsmithing and have the proper tools. Barrel vise, spanner wrench, headspace gages and etc. Of course, then you'd have to change the stock to accommodate the heavier barrel.
 
Don't know about you but visuals help me.

This is my .308

Remington700Custom308RightSide1.jpg


It's heavy and it has a brake. I can shoot it all day. I let a fellow shoot it last week. He said, "it kicks, how much does it weigh". I said I believe "around 23 or 25 pounds (have never weighed it). He said his Savage 300 Winmag weighs 28 Lbs. (full aluminum stock) and doesn't kick as much. It also has a brake. I didn't get to shoot his so I don't know, but what I do know is that I could shoot my .308 until the barrel melted and never get tired of shooting it.

That's a Bell and Carson Stock it's in. I just put a different Bell and Carson on my 30-06 and I believe I'm going to leave the brake off of it because I shot it last week in the new stock with and without the brake and didn't feel that much difference. I love the stock.


Remington30-06BellampCarsonA_zps6270f641.jpg


The 06 has been in three different stocks. Stocks make a big difference. This stock weights .3 Lbs. more than the one I took it out of (2.4 Lbs if I remember correctly) however it feels lighter when carrying it and it shoots and feels much better than the original and the laminated thumb-hole I had it in. .
 
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Real recoil is figured with a math equation involving

The weight of the bullet.
The weight of the powder charge
The velocity of the bullet
The weight of the rifle

Changing to a heavier stock or barrel will reduce recoil because it makes the gun heavier

Changing to a lighter weight bullet, or modifying loads with slower bullet speeds or lighter bullets will also reduce recoil.

Felt recoil is much different. To me, your combination would have virtually no recoil at all. But obviously it is a concern for you. Sometimes a stocks shape will not fit a persons body shape well and recol will "feel" worse than it actually is. Changing to a stock that fits you better might help.

Most newer rifles come with some amazingly good high tech recoil pads that do a great job of making a 30-06 feel like a 243. If you don't have one of these modern pads on your rifle already that is the 1st thing I'd do.

If that is not enough, you should probably consider trading for somthing like a 243 that has less recoil. If you start down the path of changing out parts you will easily end up with about 2- 3X more money in your rifle than it is worth. And still may not have what you need.
 
I think the above responses sum it up pretty well.

Adding mass (weight) will reduce the felt recoil (it's physics). Common ways to do that are to get a heavier stock (maybe laminate?), changing to a heavier barrel, or I have seen we here some people have files the hollow stock with something heavy like plumbers putty with BBs in it (not the way I'd go, but very cheap).

Changing the stock may help by changing the direction of the force, but I don't know whether you want it to sit higher or lower. Maybe someone else can help with hat answer.

Adding a compensator will also reduce the felt recoil.

Another option you can consider is to change to a lower recoil cartridge such as a .243. This can be done when you change the barrel or (obviously) if you sell the gun and replace it.

I'm sorry you don't like the 16 in .308. It is a rifle that has always interested me.
 
Put a brake on it. I am addicted to brakes. I am about to put one on my .243 Win. Started with a .338 Lapua and worked down. Wonderful invention a brake is.
 
"it kicks, how much does it weigh". I said I believe "around 23 or 25 pounds
Click to expand...

IT KICKS :confused: What like a new born . :)

I just shot my new FCP-K . It wieghts about 10 or 11lbs and has a brake . It was a joy to shoot . My Ruger American IMO kicks like a mule compaired to the new Savage . At 23lbs I would think you don't even feel yours recoil . I'm thinking about filling in my stock with some bondo and BBs mixed in . Should add about 1-1/2 to 2 lbs to the rifle .
 
Metal god said:
IT KICKS:confused: What like a new born .:)
Click to expand...


I don't know. You'd have to ask the guy at the range. ;)

Metal god said:
I just shot my new FCP-K . It wieghts about 10 or 11lbs and has a brake . It was a joy to shoot . My Ruger American IMO kicks like a mule compaired to the new Savage . At 23lbs I would think you don't even feel yours recoil . I'm thinking about filling in my stock with some bondo and BBs mixed in . Should add about 1-1/2 to 2 lbs to the rifle .
Click to expand...

The recoil can be felt, but as I said, I could shoot it until the barrel melted. It recoils more than my 6.5 Lb. CZ .223 but not by much. I was surprised, and a bit perplexed when the guy said it kicked since he was shooting a tricked out 300 Win. Mag. Even at 28 Lbs. it has to have more recoil than my 308. :confused:

Last Thursday, had an 18 year old young lady shooting it and grinning. She shot one and said "I hit right where I was aiming." :D She shot again and said, "I can't believe it, I missed the whole target." I looked through the scope and told her," you didn't miss you put it in the same hole." She was a happy camper. :D
 
plenty of barrelmakers out there...Shilen, ER Shaw, Lilja
replacing the barrel on a Savage action is not as hard as others but still should be performed by a competent gunsmith. You have to have a Savage spanner wrench and headspace gauges ( I know...don't correct me, a good 'smith can headspace the barrel off a dummy cartridge).

Anyway, having a brake installed runs about $175. Getting a new barrel installed will cost just about as much as the original rifle depending on the barrel manufacturer.
 
To demonstrate the thing about keeping the stock firmly on your shoulder, try this simple illustration:

Have a buddy place his fist firmly up against your shoulder - and give a good, hard punch from that position. ( It will only amount to a shove. )

Now, have him hold his fist several inches away from your shoulder, and punch again, just as hard.

And thus endeth the lesson.
 
My Model 16FLHSS started out as a hunting rifle but the barrel was rough and it fouled up fast. It's still a .308 Winchester but the Lothar-Walther barrel and McMillan stock really tamed the recoil. It's too heavy for hunting though.

Before

Savage16FLHSSUnmodified.jpg


After

Sav16FLHSS308Win.jpg
 
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