Any experience with this rifle?

[Shooter@Scope]

I am looking for first rifle to buy at low cost, this gun savage stevens .308 winchester looks good for me. linky
Along with the scope, I'm looking at this Vortex 6-24x50 scope with multi-coated lens. linky
I'm planning to shoot with this at 400 to 600 yards group, probably 1000 yards in the future with upgrades. What do you think?

 

[Jthoss0837]

Re: Any experience with this rifle?

invest in optics
If you plan to just shoot at water jugs at 100 yards then this will do
Otherwise id say go the Rem 700 style route and get some decent glass

 

[Shooter@Scope]

Re: Any experience with this rifle?

My budget is limited, I want to get bang for the buck in optics. What do you suggest?

 

[Volatile]

Re: Any experience with this rifle?

You can get a Rem 700 SPS Varmint in the $500 range pretty easily on GunBroker or other auction sites.

 

[Snakum]

Re: Any experience with this rifle?

There are probably thousands of guys shooting Stevens .308s that have been incrementally upgraded. The good thing about Savage/Stevens is that any of them are more likely to shoot well right off the shelf, while 700 SPSs are hit or miss last few years.

Run searches here and on THR and Savage Shooters and you'll find all the info you need to make it an excellent long range shooter ... one step at a time. If you buy a 700 for a few hundred more you are still going to have to upgrade the same parts and pieces, and you're going to pay more to have it done because you can't change the barrel and headspace it yourself without training and a decent workshop. Swapping out barrels on a Savage/Stevens is a no-brainer.

 

[Shooter@Scope]

Re: Any experience with this rifle?

Supposedly if I brought 700, what people usually upgrade the parts?
700 can shoot well past 1000 yards to 1300 yards, is that true? Compared to .308 savage?
Thanks for the feedbacks!

 

[doc76251]

Re: Any experience with this rifle?

Pound for pound I find the Savage rifles to be the most cost effective AND accurate platform on the out of the box factory market. The options available are rapidly growing for upgrades and the ability to buy pre-threaded / chambered barrels of excellent quality makes it a tinkerer's dream. The Accu Trigger is also nothing to be sneezed at once you get used to the "trigger w/i the trigger" (which by the way is the same argument the nay sayers of Glock used when it came out).

The cartridge will determine your capability at long distance as the rifle is simply the launching platform.

Cheers,

Doc

 

[Shooter@Scope]

Re: Any experience with this rifle?

That is what I thought about savage, I fell in love with these guns as seeing other people that are greatly satisfied with it. Prices are very considerably good for accuracy out of the box.

What cartridge is best for 400 to 600 range and 1000 or above?

Is EDGE from savage effective as well? What common parts I should upgrade to make it all around effective at accuracy and cost?

 

[Snakum]

Re: Any experience with this rifle?

If you're going to upgrade don't mess with the Edge. No aftermarket support for it yet. Stevens/Savage 10/10 actions have a ton of stuff. Edge is totally different.

 

[Dirty D]

Re: Any experience with this rifle?

Lots of aftermarket parts support for your Savage/Stevens at www.sharpshootersupply.com

 

[fdkay]

Re: Any experience with this rifle?

Your choice of a scope is fine, if there is a QC issue, Vortex will make it right.
The link you provided to buds was for a rifle/scope combo. Forgoe the extra few dollars and get one without the scope.
The scopeless rifles are frequently found at large sporting goods outlets for 200 bucks, which would allow you buy a good base (EGW) and some decent rings (burris XTR's or the like).

If you are handy with tools, you can buy the tools to do the barrel swap yourself, eventually buying a match grade varmint weight barrel. You will be able to upgrade the stock to a B&C or even a Choate (a tremendous improvement over the factory stock), add a SSS trigger and you are set.
FWIW, once I no longer have all the irons in the fire that I do now, I intend on using a stevens long action for a build.

 

[TresMon]

Re: Any experience with this rifle?


Yeah,
Get a Stevens or Savage. I personally have never dealt with one that was not a 3/4 moa rifle out of the box, most better.

 

[GorbashUK]

Re: Any experience with this rifle?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shooter@Scope</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Supposedly if I brought 700, what people usually upgrade the parts?
700 can shoot well past 1000 yards to 1300 yards, is that true? Compared to .308 savage?
Thanks for the feedbacks! </div></div>

the caliber will hold you back more than the gun past 1000 yards. Even the most die hard 308 shooter will have to admit that past 1000 the 308 is in trouble.

 

[Shooter@Scope]

Re: Any experience with this rifle?

That vortex scope would be sufficient to my budget for now, I will upgrade to better scope in future. I am sold on stevens 200 .308, Choate U. Varminter or B & C Tac Medalist stock looks great to me.

You guys would pick Sharpshooters trigger after Basix SAV- 1 or Timney Trigger?

 

[Shooter@Scope]

Re: Any experience with this rifle?

Can you suggest which is best grain for those ranges I was speaking of? 400 to 600 and 1000 yards.
Any opinion on bullets of hornady, sierra, etc? Which is most effective for the low cost? I will have my own reloading set up as well.
Should I go with marlin express or winchester brass? Which will last more longer on reloads? I am not going with federal.