Gunsmithing Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

[squirrelsnpr]

I am wondering if I could use on of my existing Savage actions (I have a short and long, both pre accu-trigger) as a basis for a precision rifle build. I love my Savage actions(so dont get offended by my title of this thread), and they are already paid for, but would love to have a gun built with all the best parts(wouldn't we all?).

So here is my question: would I be able to obtain the same kind of accuracy from either of my Savage actions as I would from a custom action. I would plan on truing up the actions I have. I was hoping to do some of this myself, but am also looking into a "professional" job. If you have had your Savage trued, who did it, how much did it cost and are you happy with the results.

My real dilema here is: Are the custom actions worth the money? I am not competing, but would like to. I was planning on making one of the actions into a .284 for long range shooting. I have seen resonable priced new custom actions, such as the Lawton 7500 and was wondering if I should go that route.

If someone could turn me onto a good gunsmith for this project I would appreciate it.

 

[lanwickum]

Re: Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

I had one savage and it was POS. Soured my taste but have seen lots that shoot excellent. Don't see why a good smith couldn't make it shoot excellent. Since it is paid for you should be saving money using your action if that is a priority.

 

[paraman1]

Re: Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

Buy a Lothar Walther Barrel prefit barrel and a decent stock and you should have a fine shooter . Banshee SWS here on the site used to sell the barrels . I don't know if the old Savage Shooters website is still up and running but lots of good info and used parts were found on that site when I was into building my own Savages .

Here are some pics of the one I built on a Stevens action which is basically what you have .

Here is a breakdown of what the parts cost me 2 years ago .

Rifle-259.05
Seekins Scope Base-85.00
SSS competition trigger-87.25
Lothar Walther prefit barrel in .308-282.50
Recoil Lug from Stockade-32.00
HS Precision Take Off Stock-225.00
Wheeler Engineering Barrel Wrench-41.79

I sold the factory barrel and stock so in the end it cost me roughly 900 bucks to build .

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

I had 3 Savages, and they all shot lights out. I'm with Michael N, a LW prefit, a good recoil lug and a properly bedded stock (float the tang) should give you excellent results.
Look into truing the action, as many are of the opinion that only the threads and receiver face benefit, because of the floating bolt head design.

I just today noticed a nice picture of one of our members in the latest American Rifleman magazine, attached to the article "Winning the F Class World Championships.....with factory Savages" (p25,11/09).

 

[paraman1]

Re: Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

If you look on Savages website you can see a picture of one of those winning F-Class shooters on the home page as well .

 

[squirrelsnpr]

Re: Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

Thanks for the info guys.

Michael what kind of groups are you getting? Did you true up your action? Did you install the barrel and stock yourself?

Has anyone attempted to true their own action on a Savage? If so what tools did you use?

 

[paraman1]

Re: Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

To be honest Mitch I don't remember much about the rifle other than it shot less than MOA . I trued the face of the action and the barrel nut but beyond that its pretty much pointless due to the floating bolt head design . I installed the barrel and stock as well which might cost you a few extra bucks for bedding compound and a set of headspace gauges .

That particular rifle was built in 2007 and sold shortly after hence my fuzzy memories .

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

I don't think you can make it a SILK purse. But I have seen several Savages that shot very well. As to what they did or had done to them I have no idea.

 

[oldgrayone]

Re: Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

For the price and out of the box performance a Savage is a very good choice. I think the lack of aftermarket goodies is what holds a lot of people back. The barrel nut design has a lot going for it. A barrel change is about 10 minutes away if you have the basic tools and a head space gauge. I have been looking to build a light carry repeater in 6BR and after looking at the wait times for a action the Savage is starting to look pretty good to me.

 

[paraman1]

Re: Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

I guess there just aren't very many of us that remember when building a Savage was En Vogue here on the Hide . There were a lot of really nice rifles built by their owners posted here on the site not all that many years ago .

If the Savage Shooters website is still up its probably a better resource than the Hide can be .

 

[JJones75]

Re: Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

Have it trued and timed , the barrel installed like that on a Remington and it will likely shoot better than most guys can drive it.

I've seen several varmint guns built on Savages that would shoot 1/4 MOA out to 400yds

 

[Luvman]

Re: Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JJones75</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Have it trued and timed , the barrel installed like that on a Remington and it will likely shoot better than most guys can drive it.</div></div>

That's what I'm planning to do with mine when the barrel goes south. My factory barrel shoots too good to mess with.

 

[rero360]

Re: Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

heres my savage.

Hart barrel
McM A5 stock
BO rings and base
USO SN-3 TPAL 5-25
Harris bipod with podclaws
replaced the plastic trigger guard with a metal one and bedded the action myself.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

Maybe this will serve your purposes.

I think that as a factory action goes, Savage's current product is better than the rest, for reasons that support both good accuracy and good economy.

Now if I could just figure out a way to transfer the Accu-Stock feature to work in an aftermarket stock...

Greg

 

[packratt]

Re: Can I turn a sows ear into a Purse?

The Savageshooters website is still up and running. There are also some people on the longrangehunting forum shooting them at long distance.