i am looking at buying a used savage 110 .243 for a varmint rifle as a base to build a target/ varmint rifle. it is a base model wood stock pencil barrel. my question is will this be a good starter rifle to build off of or is it not of good enough quality to waste my time on? my end goal is to get the action trued add a new barrel and stock and glass bed it so as to eventually make an accurate Target/Varmint rifle. my skill level is novice to average in the accuracy and fundamentals side of things. i have a 22LR and savage .17HMR that i am using as trainers right now to practice fundamentals with so i don't need a custom top of the line rig cause my ability isn't there yet but i want a descent rifle i can pick up cheap and use it to practice like crazy and then gradually upgrade it.
Savage 110 .243 ?
- Thread starter FamilyMan
- Start date
Re: Savage 110 .243 ?
Yes, a Savage 110 is a fine basis for a build and you can do the vast majority of the work yourself as time & funds allow, including the barrel swap.
Only real downside to a long-action Savage 110 is there are fewer stock choices in the low-mid range aftermarket...ie. no Bell & Carlson Tactical Medalist.
Yes, a Savage 110 is a fine basis for a build and you can do the vast majority of the work yourself as time & funds allow, including the barrel swap.
Only real downside to a long-action Savage 110 is there are fewer stock choices in the low-mid range aftermarket...ie. no Bell & Carlson Tactical Medalist.
Re: Savage 110 .243 ?
If you wanna go the Savage route and not deal with the long action.
Pick up a Stevens 200 short action. They can be had cheap. strip it down sell the sporter barrel, and start your build.
If you wanna go the Savage route and not deal with the long action.
Pick up a Stevens 200 short action. They can be had cheap. strip it down sell the sporter barrel, and start your build.
Re: Savage 110 .243 ?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FamilyMan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just found out it is 10 yrs old with out the Accutrigger. still think it is a good Idea? </div></div>
Depends on the price of the rifle. I personally like the Accutrigger, but for about $85 shipped you can get a Rifle Basix SAV-1 from Shooter's Discount.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FamilyMan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just found out it is 10 yrs old with out the Accutrigger. still think it is a good Idea? </div></div>
Depends on the price of the rifle. I personally like the Accutrigger, but for about $85 shipped you can get a Rifle Basix SAV-1 from Shooter's Discount.
Re: Savage 110 .243 ?
If its $400 or less, I'd buy it, anything more and it would just be better to spring for an accutrigger model imo.
If its $400 or less, I'd buy it, anything more and it would just be better to spring for an accutrigger model imo.
Re: Savage 110 .243 ?
I'm also looking for a used .243 right now for the increasing number of coyotes around here. Last night there were two packs - one across the road from me and one in the field next to me - singing me to sleep. Sounded like six or seven voices in each pack.
I'm thinking that a Marlin XS or Stephens 200, with a rebarrel to a med heavy contour would be the ticket. The Stevens/Savage would likely need trigger work, but it's not too hard to work on the old Savage triggers.
I'm also looking for a used .243 right now for the increasing number of coyotes around here. Last night there were two packs - one across the road from me and one in the field next to me - singing me to sleep. Sounded like six or seven voices in each pack.
I'm thinking that a Marlin XS or Stephens 200, with a rebarrel to a med heavy contour would be the ticket. The Stevens/Savage would likely need trigger work, but it's not too hard to work on the old Savage triggers.
Re: Savage 110 .243 ?
If its $300 to $400 buy it and start shooting. You dont need to time or true a savage action. Get an aftermarket trigger, I have both the Rifle Basix and Timney they are both good triggers but the Timney is a littel better as far as how it is built. Piller bed the action and get some good glass and you have a solid sub MOA rifle as long as the barrel is in decent shape.
Also B&C do have a medilist stock avallible for long actions but its not the Varmit/Tatical style, its more of a sporter but piller bedding the existing stock will achive get you the the same results as restocking the action.
If its $300 to $400 buy it and start shooting. You dont need to time or true a savage action. Get an aftermarket trigger, I have both the Rifle Basix and Timney they are both good triggers but the Timney is a littel better as far as how it is built. Piller bed the action and get some good glass and you have a solid sub MOA rifle as long as the barrel is in decent shape.
Also B&C do have a medilist stock avallible for long actions but its not the Varmit/Tatical style, its more of a sporter but piller bedding the existing stock will achive get you the the same results as restocking the action.
Re: Savage 110 .243 ?
It only cost $300 and i am planning on putting my Bushnell 6500 tactical mil-dot on it so i think the glass will be sufficient for my skill level. my only other question is if it is not very accurate, say one of the lemons floating out there can you increase the accuracy by just swapping the barrel and bedding the action or does it require a lot more work and money than that. thanks for all your feedback
It only cost $300 and i am planning on putting my Bushnell 6500 tactical mil-dot on it so i think the glass will be sufficient for my skill level. my only other question is if it is not very accurate, say one of the lemons floating out there can you increase the accuracy by just swapping the barrel and bedding the action or does it require a lot more work and money than that. thanks for all your feedback
Re: Savage 110 .243 ?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FamilyMan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It only cost $300 and i am planning on putting my Bushnell 6500 tactical mil-dot on it so i think the glass will be sufficient for my skill level. my only other question is if it is not very accurate, say one of the lemons floating out there can you increase the accuracy by just swapping the barrel and bedding the action or does it require a lot more work and money than that. thanks for all your feedback
</div></div>
If its not a shooter, you can install a new barrel yourself in about 15 minutes with a shop vise, notched hardwood blocks, a barrel nut wrench, dead blow hammer, go-gage, and a piece of scotch tape.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FamilyMan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It only cost $300 and i am planning on putting my Bushnell 6500 tactical mil-dot on it so i think the glass will be sufficient for my skill level. my only other question is if it is not very accurate, say one of the lemons floating out there can you increase the accuracy by just swapping the barrel and bedding the action or does it require a lot more work and money than that. thanks for all your feedback
</div></div>
If its not a shooter, you can install a new barrel yourself in about 15 minutes with a shop vise, notched hardwood blocks, a barrel nut wrench, dead blow hammer, go-gage, and a piece of scotch tape.
Re: Savage 110 .243 ?
Before swapping the barrel on it I'd try floating the barrel channel, bedding the action, and stiffening the forearm with bar stock. Myself and another guy did this to a Marlin XS and he shot a 6" group with it at 600 with 168gr FGMM (I never shot it that well). Granted, it was only three shots with a long cool-down time between each (it turned into a shotgun once it got hot). But still, I was impressed. Good ammo, free-floated barrel, stiffened stock, and bedded action can do a lot for a Stevens/Savage 10 or a Marlin short action.
Before swapping the barrel on it I'd try floating the barrel channel, bedding the action, and stiffening the forearm with bar stock. Myself and another guy did this to a Marlin XS and he shot a 6" group with it at 600 with 168gr FGMM (I never shot it that well). Granted, it was only three shots with a long cool-down time between each (it turned into a shotgun once it got hot). But still, I was impressed. Good ammo, free-floated barrel, stiffened stock, and bedded action can do a lot for a Stevens/Savage 10 or a Marlin short action.
Re: Savage 110 .243 ?
Well i bought the rifle it seems to be in pretty good shape cosmetically. i dry fired it a few times and the trigger is really stiff but i think i got a keeper with some potential now I've got a ton of questions
1. how can i tell what twist it is? all i know is a savage 110 .243 that is about 10 yrs old
2. what grain bullets will the .243 in different twists handle?
3. A lot of you have said about floating the barrel and pillar bedding the stock. are you meaning to do that with the factory stock and barrel or wait till i upgrade those.
4. what are some pet loads that you recommend starting to play with to get to know this rifle ( p.s i am a better reloader than a shooter
)
5. what scope base would you recommend for this because the long action spaces the rings so far apart its hard to get the scope far enough back to get proper eye relief
thanks for all your help
Well i bought the rifle it seems to be in pretty good shape cosmetically. i dry fired it a few times and the trigger is really stiff but i think i got a keeper with some potential now I've got a ton of questions
1. how can i tell what twist it is? all i know is a savage 110 .243 that is about 10 yrs old
2. what grain bullets will the .243 in different twists handle?
3. A lot of you have said about floating the barrel and pillar bedding the stock. are you meaning to do that with the factory stock and barrel or wait till i upgrade those.
4. what are some pet loads that you recommend starting to play with to get to know this rifle ( p.s i am a better reloader than a shooter
5. what scope base would you recommend for this because the long action spaces the rings so far apart its hard to get the scope far enough back to get proper eye relief
thanks for all your help
Re: Savage 110 .243 ?
If you have a wood stock you can bed it or just install pillers. My hunting rifle is a wood stock that I beded. After doing some load develoupment I was getting sub MOA and that is with a stock pencil barrel.
For a base try a one pice EGW, it will get the job done.
If you have a wood stock you can bed it or just install pillers. My hunting rifle is a wood stock that I beded. After doing some load develoupment I was getting sub MOA and that is with a stock pencil barrel.
For a base try a one pice EGW, it will get the job done.
Re: Savage 110 .243 ?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RonHam</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you have a wood stock you can bed it or just install pillers.
</div></div>
Where do i get get the pillars? which ones do i get(i.e. where and what do i measure)? and how do i do it? any links, previous threads, or recommended books on how to pillar bed my existing stock would be awesome.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RonHam</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you have a wood stock you can bed it or just install pillers.
</div></div>
Where do i get get the pillars? which ones do i get(i.e. where and what do i measure)? and how do i do it? any links, previous threads, or recommended books on how to pillar bed my existing stock would be awesome.
Re: Savage 110 .243 ?
I hate to say it but the search function is what you should start with. The Google search box on the right side of the page is specific to SH. Start with that and check out the gunsmith sections and you will start finding the information you want.
I hate to say it but the search function is what you should start with. The Google search box on the right side of the page is specific to SH. Start with that and check out the gunsmith sections and you will start finding the information you want.
