Questions From a Noob

[stsraz]

Greetings all,
I've been stalking around the forums on the Hide for a while now and want to start off by thanking everyone here for being so open with all of their experience.

After about two years working behind the gun counter at a store here in Colorado, and about seven before that being mainly a pistol guy, I decided to get into the world of precision shooting.

Being new to it and not having a huge budget, I decided to follow in the footsteps of more than a few others on the forums and base my build off of a Stevens Model 200 chambered in .308.
I finally picked up the rifle today from work where I had it transferred and can't wait to get it out as is and put some rounds down range.

After all of this word vomit I guess I can get to the point of this post and ask my questions.

In keeping with the theme of "rifle on a budget" I've decided to go with the $270 Tactical Choate stock. I would assume that before I order the stock, I should probably know what contour barrel I'm going with so I can order accordingly. Here's where I start running into problems. I have no idea what I'm looking for in a barrel. Does anyone have a good resources to recommend for me to read so I can make an informed decision on what kind of barrel I should upgrade to? I know that I want to go with a heavy barrel, but when it comes to brand, twist, contour, and length, I have no idea how to read and optimize these criteria.

The last thing is my trigger. I've been combing threads looking for any information on what things would make one trigger better than another. I think I've narrowed it down to either a Rifle Basix SAV2 or a Timney but much like barrel makers, it seems like most people have good things to say about both of them and not much bad.

Again, sorry for the long post and if I've missed any of this information anywhere else I apologize. Any help is much appreciated.

 

[Topstrap]

Re: Questions From a Noob

We went with 28" 1:8 twist full bull Shilen Select Match from Northland. He usually has a nice assortment of calibers and barrels to chose from. The Choate stocks usually have a big barrel channel so that would go in with no problem. It might be long and heavy but our matches are either prone or off an old bench and we're not lugging the gun around a 4 mile tactical match so it works out well. Heavy enough to see our hits (or misses) which is pretty important when you doubt the spotter.

You didn't mention what type of matches or the distances you'll be shooting but a 260 is really hard to beat even out past 1000 yards. Relatively inexpensive to shoot and very accurate. Not sure what trigger since our Savages have the accutrigger and we're more than happy with them.

Good luck, keep us informed on the build process.

Topstrap

 

[fastex500]

Re: Questions From a Noob

From one savage shooter to another, congrats!

I have been running a 10FP in factory config, dropped into a Choate tactical and loved it. Recently I have been shopping barrels, upgraded the trigger, etc... here is my $.02

#1 upgrade, stock. As you said, the Choate is a good choice as well as the B&C. Any barrel including a bull profile will work in these stocks, so no worries.

#2 trigger. I put the Sharp Shooters Supply trigger in and it was a VAST improvement over my stock pre-accutrigger unit. I have also heard a ton of great reviews on the Basix

#3 barrel. I assuming you are trying to stay in budget, so take a look at the Shaw's on Midway and use the coupon codes here on the Hide. I'm partial to the 24" for velocity, and a 1-10 twist to run the heavier bullets so they carry better at distance. But I know the 20" 1-10 Shaw threaded barrel is a great deal for the money. ( http://www.midwayusa.com/find?&sortby=1&itemsperpage=20&newcategorydimensionid=3309 )

#4 optics. Assuming you have a good 1 piece 20moa base (I can recommend the EGW), put money in glass. It can always follow your guns when you upgrade to change. There are too many options to get into for optics, but tons of good reading here. Also, try to go look thru some at your local range or shop.

All of that said, be careful doing all this upgrading. I love my Savage, have no problems, and it shoots better than I can most days.... but I also know I will probably take a loss when I go to sell it because it is a Savage. Adding a stock and barrel is going to push you into the $600 range just on upgrades (thats not considering tools or a brake). Add that to the cost of the gun and then add bottom metal and you are going to have $1500 is a Stevens before you know it.

Now, you can also get a HS precision or Choate stock used, and find a 10FP heavy factory barrel and probably get out for around $300......

Or you can get a custom turned Brux or Bartlein... a Surefire brake, have the actio trued, get DBM and custom inletting and have $2500 in the gun. It's all based on how much you want to spend.

Hope I'm not confusing more than helping.... maybe I'll sum it up this way. Choate stock (IMHO) is a good deal for the $$ and will tighten up groups more than any other upgrade from the factory tupperware stock. A good 1-10 twist heavy contour barrel between 20-24" will do even more. A trigger will make you a better shooter.

And by all means, have fun with it. I enjoy the smithing as much as the shooting some days. And PM me anytime if I can help.

 

[stsraz]

Re: Questions From a Noob

Thanks for the advice! It's nice to have some confirmation on what I've been reading. I'll definitely post pics as my project progresses.

Topstrap, I don't have any plans on getting into match shooting anytime soon, just shooting for the joy of shooting. Once I get some experience with both rifle shooting and reloading I'll probably try my hand at it. Since I'm still a rank amateur I know I figure I'll start easy-ish at about 200 yards but I'd like to get to the point where I can push the 308 to it's limits. Hopefully by then I'll be in a better position to drop the money on a rifle that I'll have some of the skills to take advantage of it. I have to admit that I was tempted by the 260 cartridge, but chose to go with a 308 just for the sheer amount of reloading information available everywhere and figured that'd be a good cartridge to learn with.

Fastex, thanks! I have a Mark II as my 22 plinker and was pretty happy to learn that I could stay with the brand as my starter project. Looking at all of the options available I can see how it would be easy to go overboard on this build which is something I'm trying to avoid. That being said though, I don't really have plans to sell this rifle, it being my first and all. I'd just like to get it to the point where it'll shoot better than I can make it (which I can guarantee it does right now, pre-mods lol)and help me develop my skills as a shooter. I'll upgrade later on down the road, but I'm pretty sure I'll keep this one kicking around the ol' gun safe.

I notice that you mentioned getting the action trued. I've read that this is a necessity for a 700, but have seen back and forth talk about doing this on Savages. Will this significantly affect my rifle's performance?

 

[fastex500]

Re: Questions From a Noob

Action truing on Savages is not as critical because of the floating bolt head design. I wouldn't even worry about it until after the stock, barrel, trigger, etc... Truing is one of those "last ten-thousanths" of precision on Savages. Talk to Amy over at Sharp Shooter Supply and she can explain more.

But, most of all...... just shoot the thing! Get to the range and learn how to hold a group prone, kneeling, standing offhand, standing supported, form the bench, side prone, with a bag, without a bag, off a ruck, off a bipod.... practice, practice. Once you are consistently pushing the accuracy of the rifle, upgrade and start again. It's an expensive sport.... but there's few like it.

 

[BenY 2013]

Re: Questions From a Noob

Fastex has some very good advice right there! I bought a Stevens 200 in .308 and she is just about finished!

Stevens 200 action
E.R. Shaw 24in 1/10 twist barrel
Choate Tactical stock
Savage DBM
Weaver 20 MOA rail
TPS TSR low rings
Vortex Viper HS 5-15x44

I love everything about the gun! Shoots great yes it is a little heavy but I don't mind! If I could do it all again I think I would prefer to go with the 20in barrel mentioned above over the 24in. Only so it'd be lighter and easier handling. Velocity isn't that big of a deal unless you plan on hunting with the rifle at longer distances. If you're just shooting a 20in would be fine I think. I've seen an 18in .308 make it to 1000yds so no big deal. As far as the two triggers you mentioned I think I've heard people like the Rifle Basix over the Timney...why? I have no idea, I still have the factory trigger in my gun adjusted to 3lbs. I do plan on getting a Basix one day though. These are the coolest projects around as far as I am concerned! Good luck and PM me if you have any questions and I'll see if I can help!