Ok fellow hiders, as if I don't have enough projects. I am thinking about trying a savage. Want a .243 for some reason. Probably to venture into the 6mm but want to start with the .243 then maybe more later. I was looking at the LRP but only concern is the say its carbon. I work in the wonderful world of metals and there's a big difference between carbon and chrome. Are they really just carbon? Also thought about the SS version of the gun with the wood laminate stock. Either way I will shoot and build loads for it and familiarize myself in 6 mm world then after I burn the barrel out go more advanced using whatever action is on it. Question is about the metal foundation of LRP and weather to go with it or the SS version, thinkits that low profile model? I already have a remmy 700 custom in .308 and a stiller actioned custom 300 rum. That's why I want to try savage now. Thanks for any help
- Thread starter Dshooter
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The problem with buying a factory Savage .243 is the barrel twist. The factory barrels have a 1 : 9.25 twist which might not be able to stabilize the heavier bullets like the 105 Bergers. The cool thing about a Savage is that you can change the barrels yourself for under $400. I bought a 10FP in .308 and I plan on getting Shilen .243 and .260 barrels for it. If you do want a factory Savage I recommend the LRP in .260 or 6.5 Creedmore.
87gr Vmaxes also have a way of making a guy love 243s iffin you can't run 105s
A local pawn show or gun show should have a Savage 110 action or similar model for under $300 in great shape. This is the way i have gone on my 204(mod 12), 6.5(mod 110) and now my 338(mod 110LA) current build. Like chemist said, pick out an action with the bolt face of your liking. Like Kevin said too, a match barrel and headspace gauges to mount the barrel yourself for about 400. Then just decide on furniture and optics of your liking and budget. And you get to build it yourself...even better!
I agree with buying a cheap used Savage. You can pick up a used one cheap then pull the barrel off and sell that so you could probably get the cost of the action and stock less than $300. Then pick up a barrel of your choice and you would have the gun you really want for less than a new LRP.
Thanks for all the input so far fellas! Some great ideas...I did already plan to do the barrel swap myself. I did just want a shooter for now just to play with and get on board with the 6mm crowd. I'm used to playing with Varget, RL 17, Retumbo, US 869, H1000. I know it won't be long before I do rebarrel whatever I buy but I would like to own at least 1 all factory shooter.....for now.
Like others said, find a donor action at a pawn shop or gun show. If you can find one with the bolt release on the side would be best, it makes finding bottom metals and stocks a little more easy.
Would I be ahead by just buying an Axis rifle or is that not the action I want? Which model would work if I just bought a rifle to part out? And I want a side bolt release, which model has that?
although I've seen some posts on here where guys made an Axis work, I would generally avoid it as a rule if you are planning to build on it.
the model that would work if you are planning to just part it out is the cheapest Stevens 200 you can find or older used savage (i.e., with a side bolt release).
the side bolt release is the model with the bolt release on the side. the various iterations of the savage action are too much to go into here, but put simply, if you see a sort of push-button lever on the right side of the action, it is a side bolt release model. the newer savages mostly (but not all) have a triggerguard/bottom bolt release. the bottom bolt release models do not have as many aftermarket options. it is confusing for sure, but will take a little research on your part to figure it all out. I'd check out the savage shooters message board.
the 9" factory savage twist on the .243 actually does pretty well with hornady 105 hpbt's and the aforementioned 87 g vmaxes. any longer projectiles will be iffy.
11 Hunter XP (NOT trophy hunter xp) is the best value option for a donor you intend to switch barrels on immediately.
Thanks for the replies again guys. I know what side release is, I was just wondering on which models. I did a lot of research last night and figured most of it out. I'm just looking for a model now, for sale cheap, that has one and hopefully a DBM. If no DBM, I did find aftermarket DBMs. Thanks again
+1 on this. It comes with the DBM. Only thing it doesn't have is the accutrigger.
Is the Dbm it comes with plastic. I know the dbm on the 116 weather warrior is metal.
Buy the action, get a target action from Jim Northland, the target accutrigger is sweet, buy a stock from stockys, buy a CBI, McGowan, or Rock prefit, put it together and call it a day. If you go with the donor make sure you get the side bolt release.
Get the least expensive Savage varmint rifle in 243...have a good smith ream to 243AI..get some really good glass and upgrade the stock....enjoy...I am...
Should be steel.
The th xp dbm is cheap plastic crap. If that one is metal it is definitely the way to go.
Savage guys??? Which savage to buy??
I may have been wrong about the Hunter XP having a steel DBM.
I handled one at Cabelas and could have sworn the one I held had the steel DBM, but I found a serial number on the interwebs and Partsfinder showed it with the cheapo Axis DBM.
So...Caveat emptor.
I may have been wrong about the Hunter XP having a steel DBM.
I handled one at Cabelas and could have sworn the one I held had the steel DBM, but I found a serial number on the interwebs and Partsfinder showed it with the cheapo Axis DBM.
So...Caveat emptor.
This!
My Model 10 Predator Hunter loves the 87gr Vmax. However, it also has no trouble stabilizing the 105 A-Max.
A lot of great ideas...I have 3 expensive custom guns and will build more. Trying to see how a budget savage build will shoot. I have a choate tactical coming, looking for a good donor action, trigger, and hopefully metal DBM but the metal is only on the more expensive models. I will buy aftermarket DBM if needed then yes one of the above barrel choices. NSS had the 8 twist Critirion in stock so probably that. Any ideas are still very much welcomed
A Stevens 200 would be the same SA with 4.4 spacing right? Found a deal on some of those...
Yes.
Sweet!! Found my donor action and trigger! And being the 4.4, found the DBM! A budget build for under 1k underway!
How old of a Stevens? They came in 4.275" & 4.4" spacing ... Both having a side bolt release.
It's a brand new one...I'll check it before I buy it for sure but I'm pretty sure these were 4.4. I researched it and they are basically a model 10?
If it's new, it will be 4.4" unless they're sitting on old inventory ... Which I doubt would be the case considering how long the 4.4" has been out.
Well this is my first post but i believe you would be suprised if you pick up a Savage Axis in .243. I bought my son one, and we hand loaded for it using winchester brass, federal gold match primers, and H4895 powder and got excellent accuracy out of the box. Sub moa on both Vmax and 100 grain Hornady bullets. I only paid 285 dollars for a combo with a cheap scope.
thats good powder for the 243.
Savage doesn't look to "looks" as much as machining and accuracy. They tend to cater towards internal perfection.
Savage doesn't look to "looks" as much as machining and accuracy. They tend to cater towards internal perfection.
First off, welcome to the hide! A lot of great shooters, reloaders, and gun enthusiasts alike on here. You will learn something new on here everyday if you bounce through some threads. I am surprised that someone would be able to make an Axis shoot. Great job.
{thats good powder for the 243.
Savage doesn't look to "looks" as much as machining and accuracy. They tend to cater towards internal perfection. }
The secret is in the floating bolt head and barrel nut system....allows barrel makers to standardize threading and chambering therefore buying a chambered barrel at barrel blank prices. Also no need for truing an action that has a floating bolt head
Don't go anywere LRP ,10BA, 110BA, These are the repeater actions you want, the others will be the true style Savage action short or long with the side bolt release, not the new Axis made some where not good ATD.
I needed a deer rifle for my land, and not about to take my precision rifle out there. Bought Savage Axis out the door for $300, someone gave me a free tasco buckmaster scope, I did the aluminum rod and epoxy bedding to the stock and also polished the trigger down to 3.5lbs.
This is at 100 yards today.
This is at 100 yards today.
Are you guys bedding your actions to your stock? I'm still very confused on how many choices their are for stock inlets!
I just reinforced the factory stock with aluminum rods and epoxy. I just drilled half way into the stock and used JB quick to set the rods in place, then filled with Devcon epoxy.
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Say I wanted a Boyd prairedog hunter stock (decent stock?), which savage would I buy that would work? I would prefer a lightweight DBM that doesn't stick out, it's going to be a lightweight 204 ruger.
Boyds: PRAIRIE HUNTER SAVAGE 16 TOP BOLT RELEASE DBM SHORT ACTION FACTORY BARREL CHANNEL NUTMEG LAMINATE FINISHED Prairie Hunter
Guns ? Guns For Sale ? Grabagun.com Online Gun Store
Boyds: PRAIRIE HUNTER SAVAGE 16 TOP BOLT RELEASE DBM SHORT ACTION FACTORY BARREL CHANNEL NUTMEG LAMINATE FINISHED Prairie Hunter
Guns ? Guns For Sale ? Grabagun.com Online Gun Store
They make the boyd's stock for the axis I think they just have a 3 week wait period. Honestly though with the little work I did to the trigger and the factory stock I am amazed what the axis can do, I was going to get a boyd's but I am just sticking with the factory.
Savage 11THXP Package 223REM 22 inch BL SYN Online Gun Store
This looks good! Does it have top bolt release?
This looks good! Does it have top bolt release?
Not sure, but you get the accu trigger, free scope etc... nice little package ready to go.
Yupp, I wanted to put a Crtierion barrel, and a Boyd stock on it. Varmint beware!
Nope. The Trophy Hunters all have that idiotic bottom bolt-release.
11 Hunter XP is the top bolt release option; its also cheaper but does not come with Accutrigger.
Really I think that one comes with the accutriger? So with a 223 bolt face I can shoot 204 ruger, and need a new bolt face for 260?
11 Trophy Hunter XP has DBM, bottom bolt release and Accutrigger.
11 Hunter XP has DBM, top bolt release and no Accutrigger (think of this as the new Stevens 200)
Yes, the 223 bolt face works with all .378 cartridges (204, 300 AAC, 6x45, etc) and a 260 would require a .473 bolt head (308, 243, 6BR, 6.5 Creedmoor, etc).
So you want a .473 boltface, Short action, detachable magazine, and you want to play musical barrels?
Savage model 14, 308 = $500 or less on sale.
Replace:
Bolt handle w/ factory fat knob (Bigger knob = more accurate) Suggest cement block or boat anchor.
Factory wood stock w/ Tactical stock (Bubblegum pink = more accurate) Trailerhouse framerail or Billet aluminum engineblock.
Factory barrel w/ caliber of your choice (Shoulder dislocating recoil = more accurate) Minimum 30" long w/ muzzle brake from Sherman tank.
Scope of your choice w/ Tactical reticle (More complex reticle = more accurate) If Einstein can understand what every function of your reticle does, you need something more complicated.
"The true art of Sarcasm is in never being obvious."
Whichever one you get, go to sharp shooter supply and get the enhanced extractor / ejector to go with it.
I have the Mod 12 chambered in 204. Burned the barrel out within a year or so(I shoot A LOT!). Trust me, plenty of dead sage rats in ID. Mounted a select match Shilen, and never looked back. love it!
Mounted a select match Shilen, and never looked back. love it!Why, please? My Model 10 chambers fine, shoots fine, and ejects fine. So why enhance what already works great?
Then don't get one, out of the 4 savages I ghave each one had ejection/extraction issues i.e. case dropping off bolt on the way out of the chamber and not ejecting.. Guess you got lucky.
