Building my first long range setup.. Savage 116

S

Sacadelic

Private
Minuteman
Dec 2, 2011
11
0
45
Madison, WI
#1
Hey folks, been lurking a while and thought I would ask a quick question and get some feedback about what I am planning to build for my first long range setup. Just a heads up, this is going to be that "new guy" post.

Well here it is.... I have a stock Savage 116 30-06 that I have decided to break down and re-barrel to .308. Just going to throw out the thing that I am planning on geting and jsut looking for some insight. i am not looking to spend a million buck either. I am building it without the better half knowing, so it needs to be low key. This rifle will be used for hunting in the open as well as in a hunting blind, and also bench shooting. I was in the service and got dinged up in a helo crash and have a big fusion in my neck and back that gives me limited movement. It also left me paralyzed and in a chair. Would love to shoot from the prone, but it just isnt going to happen. As much as i would like to shoot for 1000yds, my goal right now it about 500-600yds. So here we go...

For the stock I decided to go with Choate adjustable tactical. I cant conform to a stock as well as I would like, so I am getting a stock that I can tune to me. I dont want to break the bank either, so I thought this was my best option. I plan on getting a bi-pod of some sort. Any suggestions would be welcome.

For the action, like I said, this is a Savage 116, so it is a long action, staggered feed. In my research, I found a barrel on MidwayUSA that I think might fit the bill for now. It is an ER Shaw 20" 1:10 with a threaded end. Dont really need the threaded end, but i will put a muzzle brake on it to help with recoil, and maybe someday in the future, maybe a suppressor.

As for the trigger, going to stick with the stock one for right now. The guy that is helping me build this is an armorer for the federal prison system and we are going to see what we can get out of it before getting a new one.

Well, that is about it, so please let me know what you think. Thanks in advance for the input.

Sac
 
#3
Re: Build my first long range setup.. Savage 116

Welcome!

I have one of the ER Shaw barrels.. I was surprised how well it performs for the price. I don't think it will make it as long as a high-end barrel but so far it's pretty consistent. No comments on the stock but a fully adjustable makes getting a good/consistent setup easier. I'd suggest getting a good recoil pad along with a nice brake. Limbsaver makes some really nice "grid to fits" that really soak up recoil (just don't let them sit in hot sun for too long). As mentioned above, make sure to bed the action too. Good luck!
 
#4
Re: Build my first long range setup.. Savage 116

Thanks for the info thus far. I am going to have to look into how to bed an action. I see that there are a few videos on YouTube on how to do it. Are there any that you guys recommend? Links would be great. Hawk, I thought about a recoil pad, but was gonna see how the stock one is first. I have heard good things about Limbsaver recoil pads. Again, any recommendations? As for glass, I have no idea what I am going to do for that. Am gonna have to do some research in the optics forum. DOnt want to break the bank for that either, but would LOVE to get a Nightforce. In time... Fmsniper, thanks for the info on the trigger, I will be sure to ask him about that. He said that he has done some work on them before, but I will check to be sure. He is a pretty knowledgeable guy when it come to stuff like this.
 
#5
Re: Building my first long range setup.. Savage 116

Well, thought I would put up a small update. This last weekend I got a hold of a barrel wrench from a buddy. Took the action and wrapped it with a piece of lead. Sounds crazy, but it was sheet lead and it worked great. Put it in the vice, threw the wrench on and gave it a few taps with the hammer and the old barrel broke free. Went a lot easier than I thought it was gonna be. Spun it off and we were in business. Spun the new barrel on to see what it would look like. All I have to say is this is gonna be badass.

Still waiting on my stock. It is currently backordered from eabco.com. Kind of a bummer but it was on sale and I got it for $400. I guess I will just have to wait. Also did a little trigger work and managed to get the stock trigger down to 3.25 lbs. Gonna see how it works before replacing it with a new one. I have found a brake that I am going to put on it, not the Cooley that I listed before. I am not going to go with a Shrewd. I found it on Brownells for about $60. This way I dont have to mess with getting the other one timed.

Well, it isnt much to look at, but it is progress. Here is a pic.

1231111339.jpg


Hopefully soon I will have the stock and we can set this thing in place. I will update the progress.
 
#6
Re: Building my first long range setup.. Savage 116

If you're looking for a stock and don't want to break the bank, take a look at the B&C dramaxx:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1103130...tical-synthetic

It seems a lot of savage users like the stock. Since you're not looking to spend much I thought i might give you some cost effective upgrades, I use a UTG tac-op 2:

http://www.amazon.com/UTG-Tactical-Metal...7444&sr=8-8

Might get some flak on this site for that bipod, but it works great and hasn't failed me in the years I've been using it on my 300WSM. If you plan on shooting targets, the stock trigger isn't going to cut it, you might not want to consider it but a new trigger would be a great upgrade, here's one I've seen a lot of guys use:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/254387/...1-to-3-lb-black


Buying all these parts puts you at about $250-300 spent (not including the barrel) and will be a decent set up for punching paper, put some good glass on it and you'll have a pretty sweet rifle.
Thats
 
#7
Re: Building my first long range setup.. Savage 116

Thanks for the info. I am thinking that I will get a Harris bi-pod eventually. And the stock, I am good with the adjustable one. Like I mentioned in my first post, my neck is fused and have very limited movement. I want the adjust-ability to help with that. But thanks for the info. And I think that I will eventually replace the trigger, and I had looked at that one, but was just gonna work with this for right now. Gotta start somewhere and it isnt that hard to replace a trigger. Thanks again..
 
#8
Re: Building my first long range setup.. Savage 116

No problem, not sure how much better the choate stock is going to be for you since one of the biggest complaints for it is its ergonomics, might be uncomfortable for you even with the adjustability, you can always go the custom route and order a stockade stock, though it WILL break the bank to get adjustable features like adjustable butt-plate and cheek piece.
 
#9
Re: Building my first long range setup.. Savage 116

Hey! I think it would look kool if you were to put a blued recoil lug on it. I have seen the reverse,blue action, ss lug, blue nut and ss barrel. I think the blue lug would dress it up. Try it you might like it. BILL
 
#10
Re: Building my first long range setup.. Savage 116

Go with a stockade stock. Much better than the dramaxx. The stockade has a full length aluminum block, the dramaxx doesn't.

Good luck,
Merritt
 
#11
Re: Building my first long range setup.. Savage 116

Thanks gents.. I will have to see if I can find a blued recoil lug. I think that it might look good as well. As for the stock, I dont need a ton of adjustment from a regular stock, just need little tweeks. I currently shoot a TC Encore Prohunter and it is pretty good, but I think that I may be ok with the adjustment on this one. I guess I will find out.
 
#15
Re: Building my first long range setup.. Savage 116

I would also go with the Duramaxx stock. It is great off handed and lighter than the Choate. Since your not shooting prone I believe it would fit you better. Bed it with some devcon and you will be good to go. I got the same set up as you but in a 7 mag and I have shot sub 3" groups at 750 yards, plenty enough good for deer hunting.
 
#16
Re: Building my first long range setup.. Savage 116

WEll, update time.. Got the stock in. That is about it. I also ordered a brake from Brownells. Went with a non directional brake to avoid machining cost. I know I am being cheap, this is a first run. Curious to see what happens with all this. The next one I will not go so cheap. But just havin fun and want to see what this can do. Anyway.... Brake and go no-go gauges will be here next week. Will be time to slap this thing together and start to think about glass and mounts. Here is a current pic..

jpeg95reencoded95212977.jpg
 
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