Savage Target Action

Bart B.,

You are completely correct that a flat bottom receiver is easier to bed to resist torquing because it will automatically have mechanically locked interfaces.

But, if a system is mechanically locked, then the shape of the receiver doesn't matter in resisting the approximate 2 ft/lbs of torque from a bullet twisting on the barrel.

If the system is not mechanically locked, then it can twist. The torque effect on the barreled action doesn't care the shape of the action, only how much resistance there is to the torquing moment.

From a force transfer standpoint, it makes sense that even the old cheap tupperware Savage stocks were known to shoot tight as they had pillar bedded action screws, providing much more surface area to transfer force from the twisting motion to the injected plastic stock. With a newer Accustock the pillars are just built into the aluminum bedding block.

If you go for a tube gun design and epoxy bed the entire action in the tube, then a round receiver is absolutely superior at resisting the torquing moment as there is massively more contact with the stock.

Jimro
 
Sorry Allen its right bolt, dual port. Savage part # 18637. $555.00. Just to dispel the notion that they can't be found.

Bart, I'm not infatuated with expensive scopes, and I truly do respect what you have accomplished with irons (Shipmate) but, having quite a few good $400.00 scopes myself, they aren't going to get the job done for me.

I also have a couple of Nightforce NXS scopes, and I really like them, so that is what I am going to use. I have looked at a Vortex Razor that one of my dealer friends wants to sell me, and I like it as well. He just has not made the deal sweet enough yet. Would like to have a little more magnification though. I like to be able to clearly see what I'm shooting at. Also, the illuminated reticle is a must for what I intend to use it for.

Going on up from there, US Optics and Schmidt Bender are just a touch too much in the cash department.

Bart, I like Model 70s also, and have a couple of them as well as Remingtons Rugers, Howas, Brownings, and a Weatherby. This is just one of those things that I want to tinker with.

I used to be into off-shore sport fishing, so this really is a lot cheaper, and the wife tolerates it much better than buying boats, outriggers, downriggers, engines, associated electronics etc. The scope will cost just a touch more than two trips fishing.

So, the plan is... Savage action, Shilen Select Match barrel, thinking 26" varmint contour with a brake, HS Precision Stock, Badger base and Badger rings, and of course the aforementioned Nightforce NXS, probably 8X32X56. Its not an infatuation thing, I just like good stuff.

I have a .308 setup as above, but .308 just aint hauling the freight for me.

The 7WSM slightly out performs the 7mm Remington Mag in some instances, and the high BC 160-162 grain bullets are just what the doctors ordered for what I am going to use it for.

Not wanting to do the recoil of a big 30 cal magnum launching 200+ grain bullets to get it done. And I also don't want to deal with the belted case. Not hating, just my preference.

In reference to not putting the best equipment under the high dollar scope, I can't find anything wrong with the Savage I have now, it shoots .5 at 200.

So, having clarified all of this, I was just asking if anyone here has built such a thing. I do have an email in to PTG, and I am patiently waiting to hear back from them. I if I cant do it that way, I will just buy a used or new 12, 16, 112, or 116 since they cost about the same as a Target Action. Its just really not that big of a deal.

Thanks everyone for the replies, just mulling over the best approach.

The mulling started with Borden, Pierce, and Stiller. As you might imagine, that turns into good bit more cash, gunsmithing and waiting. Also, still waiting to hear from my friend at FN. If I can get a Model 70 stainless action, then that may still be a possibility as well.
 
Just to dispel the notion that they can't be found.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm going to make a phone call today...you would think a Savage dealer would know this. I'm happy with the resulting build that I did with the SS Varmint action- but would have preferred the Target. He should have referred me to Buds instead of telling me they could not be had...

And I'm in your camp on the DIY barrel changes. While those that need less than 1/4 minute rifles might need the services of a smith to chamber and headspace their barrels, a Savage with a match barrel will deliver results as good as I can shoot them. They make a switch-barrel and nut for the 700, and I have a short action begging to try it.
 
OK TobNPR, let me clarify. You can get the actions, but compared to what the finished rifles cost, the actions are extremely over priced. I bought the whole rifle for not much more than I could get the action and trigger. I got a good stock and a new barrel to go on my varmint rifle that was shot out for not much more than the action by itsself would have cost me.
 
gman, I have a few $2k scopes myself. I can honestly say that they do not shoot any better in bench rest than my Wever T series scopes. Actually, I do not think they shoot as good. For a hunting or Sniper scope, the $2k scopes earn their keep, but for bench rest, they are in my opinion a waste of money.
Why do I have them? My friend works for the company and he hooked me up with $2K+ scopes for less than $700 each. They are worth $700, but in my humble opinion, all three of them put together are barely worth what one is supposed to cost.
 
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Not going to shoot bench rest. Long range pig shooting machine is the interest. Did not want to open that can of worms, because I know how some people fell about it, and I respect that they feel that way. Considering the huge amount of damage that they can cause to an expensive cotton crop for example, not to mention corn or soybeans, I call it varmint hunting. Just bigger varmints.

Yes we trap them too, but dialing them up and sending them a long distance call is a lot more fun.

You are exactly correct in that hunting in low light or in the dark, the high dollar scopes with fine illuminated reticles that allow for ranging the target do earn their keep in a big way. I have done it with less expensive scopes, there really is just no comparison in my opinion, at least in my ability to clearly see the pigs.

I fact, as far as the glass itself is concerned, the clearest scope that I have is a Bushnell Elite 4200 6X24X40 that I have on a .25-06. I think it was about $450 some years ago. When the light is good. In low light conditions it's not so good. As you said, that is where the $2000 plus scopes really shine.

I even have a couple of Bushnell Banner Dusk/Dawn scopes that I think were about $150 or so. I think they are a great value, and work well for deer hunting when you have the rifle zeroed using a point blank range zero, and understand what the range is where you are going to be more than the target radius below the line of sight. Not to mention being able to accurately estimate the range to the target with a duplex reticle for example. Kentucky windage then comes into play, and we all know how well that works.

Shooting at a porker at any further that 300 yards in most cases with them just don't cut it. That is where the combination of precision reticle, good glass, and precision turret mechanics really start to separate the $400.00 scope, and the $1500+ scopes. Wire reticles vs glass etched reticles also (to me) make a significant difference.

I just think building a "BellSouth" rifle on the target action would be kind of slick. But then I sometimes think maybe building the 7WSM on a long action might be better.

Then I could step up to a 7rum or 7STW (dreaded belt) if I wanted to do that, and load longer bullets in the 7WSM

That definitely won't fit in the target action. I'm watching a 116 ($350). The problem with long action Savages is that it seems finding a good stock that works with the plethora of screw spacing and magazine combinations out there. Manners makes them, but again, might get into my scope budget, as they are kind of pricey too.

Another option that considered (comes with a good stock) was the 110 FCP HS precision in 300 mag ($1000.00) Not really what I want due to the 24" barrel, and the fact that long 30 cal projectiles that will reliably fragment at that range,
208 Amax for example (I know...not a hunting bullet didn't want to open that can either) involve more recoil than I like. That in turn limits my ability to practice. I don't shoot them as well as a result.

My experience has been that bullets smaller than 7mm are not fast killers on larger pigs at longish range. 7mm 162 Amax and 30 cal 178-208 Amax bullets are often instant DRT kills on pigs as big as 350 lbs. at 800+ yards.

I'm confident that I can get the accuracy that I need with the Savage action, whichever one I decide to use, for less money, and more flexibility with the ability to easily switch barrels. That leaves more budget for an excellent stock, and an excellent scope, which is more important to me for what I intend to use it for.

I seems that there may be some sort of compromise on which SAVAGE action I use, but there wont be any on the barrel, scope, base, rings or stock.

Not interested in a laminate stock either, I have a couple. I have become spoiled on the hand laid fiberglass/aramid/ Kevlar stuff. I suppose just as I have become spoiled on really good scopes from using them.
 
From what I have seen, the 6.5x284 Norma is a hammer for long range hunting. Savage factory builds the Bench rest and the F class in that chambering.
I agree that hogs are pests that cause huge dollar loss. They got 21 acres of my Millet and 4 acres of my Milo in one night. They did not eat much of it, but they stomped it down flat as a pancake. Most hog hunters around here gut shoot them to keep from having to drag them off. (I wont comment as to whether or not I do that.):rolleyes:
 
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