Bargain Savage/Stevens build?
- Thread starter BretN
- Start date
taylorce1
Handloader
- Jun 3, 2007
- 1,080
- 0
You're welcome Dwh, now for the shocking news! I'm pretty much done with Savage rifles. My interest in them has wained substantially over the past few years. I don't really see the advantage in it anymore. If a guy wants a .260 he can usually buy one cheaper than building one.
With the price of M700 ADL rifles at Walmart or a used one a guy with a barrel vise and an action wrench can build a Rem M700 as cheap as a Savage anymore. There are a lot of Rem-Age barrels being offered with a Savage style barrel but. With the Remington action you have so many more options for accessories.
Savage screwed the pooch IMO by dropping the Stevens 200 in favor of the Axis. This opened the door for other companies to come in and offer other cheap rifles feel and handle better than the Axis. They've jacked up the prices on the 10/110 rifles so much as well that they aren't any cheaper than the M700, Vanguard, and Howa rifles anymore.
If a guy wants a .260 to get his feet wet in that cartridge then buy the Trophy Hunter package with Nikon scope and be shooting the same day. It'll save several hundred dollars in the long run vs. buying a used rifle and a rebarrel and you don't have the wait times. Don't think I'm trying to discourage a guy from going the used rifle new barrel Savage route, they're a fun way to tinker in the garage on a weekend. Unless you're going after a cartridge or a barrel twist not offered in a factory rifle I don't see any cost advantage to a Savage rebarrel anymore.
With the price of M700 ADL rifles at Walmart or a used one a guy with a barrel vise and an action wrench can build a Rem M700 as cheap as a Savage anymore. There are a lot of Rem-Age barrels being offered with a Savage style barrel but. With the Remington action you have so many more options for accessories.
Savage screwed the pooch IMO by dropping the Stevens 200 in favor of the Axis. This opened the door for other companies to come in and offer other cheap rifles feel and handle better than the Axis. They've jacked up the prices on the 10/110 rifles so much as well that they aren't any cheaper than the M700, Vanguard, and Howa rifles anymore.
If a guy wants a .260 to get his feet wet in that cartridge then buy the Trophy Hunter package with Nikon scope and be shooting the same day. It'll save several hundred dollars in the long run vs. buying a used rifle and a rebarrel and you don't have the wait times. Don't think I'm trying to discourage a guy from going the used rifle new barrel Savage route, they're a fun way to tinker in the garage on a weekend. Unless you're going after a cartridge or a barrel twist not offered in a factory rifle I don't see any cost advantage to a Savage rebarrel anymore.
I agree.
With the way some of the lower cost rifles are shooting why not?
The builds I do anymore are either AIs or "weird" or old cartridges. More fun that way, at least for me. :grin:
I'm going to have to shoot one of those RAR Predators. That's pretty inexpensive as far as cost. I can always dress it up a little if it shoots like that.
You're right on the 700s too. I can't believe what Wally World and some other places are selling those for. Price is under what a bare 700 action was a few years back. Excellent points.
With the way some of the lower cost rifles are shooting why not?
The builds I do anymore are either AIs or "weird" or old cartridges. More fun that way, at least for me. :grin:
I'm going to have to shoot one of those RAR Predators. That's pretty inexpensive as far as cost. I can always dress it up a little if it shoots like that.
You're right on the 700s too. I can't believe what Wally World and some other places are selling those for. Price is under what a bare 700 action was a few years back. Excellent points.
bbearhntr
Handloader
- Apr 10, 2011
- 553
- 0
Bret, I found a few things interesting in this article. Good luck with your build!
http://www.longrangehunting.com/article ... ge-rig.php
http://www.longrangehunting.com/article ... ge-rig.php
wisconsinteacher
Handloader
- Dec 2, 2010
- 1,976
- 290
I built a 6mmBR off a Savage action with a Criterion barrel from Northland. I believe the owner's name is Jim. He as very nice to work with and helped me on my project. The rifle is very accurate and fun to shoot. If I were to build another (I hope to some day). I will contact him and take his recommendations.
- Thread starter
- #26
Well, here is the morphing plan at this point. Cabela's had the Remington 783 on sale for $259, so I put one in 308 on layaway. Wiil sell/trade one of my shotguns to pay it off and replace the shotgun with a bps.
Then I plan to get a boyds stock for it and bed that. I'll have two 308's at that point, one for each daughter. I'll develop a 125 gr BT or Sierra PH load that works reasonably well in both guns.
If one of them shows no interest in hunting, perhaps then I'll build something for me. Scaling back a little, but keeping the option open.
Mills fleet farm just put the 783 on sale for $239, and there's a $40 rebate. .270 and 30-06 only though. For those of you wanting to do this kind of build, they are definitely worth a look. Thanks for all your help.
Bret
Then I plan to get a boyds stock for it and bed that. I'll have two 308's at that point, one for each daughter. I'll develop a 125 gr BT or Sierra PH load that works reasonably well in both guns.
If one of them shows no interest in hunting, perhaps then I'll build something for me. Scaling back a little, but keeping the option open.
Mills fleet farm just put the 783 on sale for $239, and there's a $40 rebate. .270 and 30-06 only though. For those of you wanting to do this kind of build, they are definitely worth a look. Thanks for all your help.
Bret
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,370
- 9,005
That Savage M110 platform is solid.
Long action suggestions would be 257 Roberts AI, 25-06, 280AI, 338-06, and 35 Whelen.
JD338
Long action suggestions would be 257 Roberts AI, 25-06, 280AI, 338-06, and 35 Whelen.
JD338
taylorce1
Handloader
- Jun 3, 2007
- 1,080
- 0
bbearhntr":3vg8vjal said:
Read the article and it's a little dated, posted on March 1 2008 so it's seven years old. I doubt you can touch a Steven's 200 acton for $150 for the bare action anymore. I know I bought my first Stevens 200 .223 rifle off the old Nosler auction site (Bivouac) for $190 delivered and wish I had bought many many more at that price. I think my last Stevens 200 .243 Win that I bought cost me just over $300 out the door used, NOS on Gunbroker are priced starting at $400. Plus I don't think SSS has offered their Competition trigger for $85 for a very long time, at least not since they redesigned it to work with Accutrigger model rifles.
Unfortunately like I stated before the Savage just isn't the economical rifle they once used to be. I think the OP probably made the better choice going with the M783 Remington in the long run than going with the current Savage option of the Axis for a budget rifle. Though I still think right now Ruger is the current king of the "budget" rifles by offering better twist rates and larger variety of chambers.
