savage 12 F/TR

[matts318]

Well Im going to upgrade to a better 308 this december and have been looking around and the savage 12 F/TR caught my eye, anybody have any experience with them? I know its a big gun but Im buying it just to do long range shooting. It has the savage target action with the target acutrigger thats adjustable down to 6oz and a 30" bull barrel. So far it looks like a good deal but I would like to hear some input from some people.

Thanks
Matt

 

[JCalhoun]

I recently finished doing a product review on one for SavageShooters.

It is a pretty good way to get into a long range rifle but I was less than impressed with stock. It doesn't really feel that well from prone or a bench. The cheek piece is from the Choate stock and is rather cheesy for a rifle of this expense. The FTR and it's cousins the F-Open and LRPV use three action screws. The only aftermarket stock for them at the moment are the ones offered by Sharp Shooter Supply. The target Accutrigger is set really light from the factory but is easy to adjust.

Unless you plan on doing 1000 yard plus distances with it, I'm not too sure it is a better deal than the Model 12BVSS Low Profile.

Savage also offers the Model 12 F-open which is in 6.5-284 and uses a better stock.

 

[Guy Miner]

I don't own one - but my neighbor and shooting buddy Monte Milanuk shot one at the F-class nationals in Raton New Mexico just a couple of months ago. He took second place at the Nationals, shooting a factory rifle... Against all sorts of high-dollar expensive rigs... I was impressed with his results at 600 - 1000 yards during the match.

He reported no reliability issues with the rifle.

I already have a couple of nice precision .308 rifles, and they do fine for me, but if I was just starting out in the long-range accuracy game, I'd latch onto one of these Savage rifles in about a half a heartbeat. They're inexpensive, for a target rifle, and they do deliver the goods. If the stock doesn't fit well, it is wood laminate and can easily be modified, or even replaced if you so desire.

I did a short write-up on the Savage here in August: http://www.noslerreloading.com/phpBB2/v ... php?t=5226

Regards, Guy

 

[FOTIS]

They are shooters! That is for sure!

 

[matts318]

Thanks for the replys, sorry I couldnt get back to it till tonight, I had to guide for quail this weekend! I have thought about other model 12s, I have a 10 FP right now but I would just like something better and more accurate and I dont have the cash to drop into a custom right now.

So Im not committed to a savage by any means, it just really caught my eye, so what else could I get for around $1000 thats better than a savage 10 FP? I probably should have mentioned that earlier, but I am looking at shooting at least 600 yards with the gun.

 

[Guest]

There are probably several rifles out there that will shoot well at those distances (in the hands of a marksman more skilled than I am). If you want a little review of several different long range rifles, you could check out this site:

http://www.snipercentral.com/index.phtml

This guy does a lot of "tactical" reviews, and the information is sometimes a little esoteric for a guy like me, but if you're looking for actual reviews of long range guns, he has some. Overall, it's a good site, information-wise, too.

If I were looking right now, I'd consider the Savage, or perhaps getting a Howa action and having it built. I suspect you could get a Howa donor rifle for under $300 (maybe around $225-250 if you shop) and have a good barrel installed and get a good stock, and you'd have about $1000 or so in it. I bet it'd be a shooter, too.

 

[matts318]

Thanks for the info dubyam Im gonna go check that out, at this point in time I dont really wanna mess with having a gun built, Im still in school and all over the place during hunting season. Im gonna go read up those reviews and see whats out there that I can afford, Im just looking for a gun that will perform out of the box.

 

[Guest]

I did a little more reading on the Howa, and their supreme varminter (I think that's what it's called) is well reviewed by both Mel at SniperCentral and also the fellow from the gunshop that sent it to him. That could be either good or bad, though. I have friends who have owned Howa rifles, as well as Weatherby Vanguards (made in the same factory) and all have been pleased with the accuracy they achieved. I don't think the Savage is a bad idea, but with the Howa you might get out a lot cheaper. Then again, you might not get what you want, which is a 1000yd shooter.

 

[FOTIS]

http://www.savagearms.com/12PrecVarm.htm

this is it!

 

[matts318]

pop the only problem is they dont offer it in 308 which is what I want, but I do have a savage model 12 BVSS in 22-250 already! Very nice gun by the way, its my coyote gun! :twisted: I really do like that low profile varminter though, its what im looking for but i just want it in 308, I might have to go back and check out all the model 12s again to see if I missed anything. Keep it coming guys im very open minded to guns other than savage also, just using my savage 10 FP as my gun to compare all others to, the new one needs to be able to out shoot my old 10 FP!

 

[FOTIS]

I know but they do make something like that in 6/5x284.
Additionally they do have a SAVAGE Custom shop!
They are currently building me a new rifle.

Call them and ask to talk to Effie Sullivan. She is awesome!

 

[matts318]

Well I called and left a message for Effie, hopefully she will get a chance to call me back today and talk about building a rifle. Hey pop do you mind tellin me a little about the rifle there building you?

So I guess now I need to decide how I want it built, Im confident that the savage custom shop can build something in my price range. Im sure most of yall know more about having a rifle built than me, so give me your ideas, all that I ask is that it be chambered in 308! Im looking at shooting at ranges of at least 600 yards to, with either the 155gr or 168gr bullets.

Im excited to hear what yall come up with!

Thanks

 

[FOTIS]

I got a 300 RUM--yes they do not produce this on a constant basis.
Accutrigger, Stainless action, laminated stock, my name laser etched on the bolt. All basically hand made by one guy from start to finish!
Will have the button rifled barrel, fully free floated and accuracy proofed at the custom shop.

 

[matts318]

Sounds like an awesome rifle pop! Im thinkin Im gonna go with the 1" bull barrel 26" in length and maybe a 1 in 12 twist, I would like to shoot the 155gr bullets I think, savage target action, target accutrigger, and the H S precision stock thats on the low profile varminter.

 

[FOTIS]

It will rock!

Savages shoot great as a factory gun. Imagine a custom!

 

[matts318]

Now im all excited about this! Cabelas messed up my 10 FP when they installed my new scope, stripped the threads in the reciever for the front scope mount, they are gonna rethread it for bigger screws and Im just gonna sell it to them to help pay for the new one. About how long does it take for them to finish a rifle there?

 

[FOTIS]

Now im all excited about this! Cabelas messed up my 10 FP when they installed my new scope, stripped the threads in the reciever for the front scope mount, they are gonna rethread it for bigger screws and Im just gonna sell it to them to help pay for the new one. About how long does it take for them to finish a rifle there?

I was told 6 weeks for mine. This is always pending on the availability or lack there of components on hand

 

[matts318]

Awesome! I expected it to take longer than that, Im gonna go ahead and order it tomorrow probably and hopefully it will be ready when I get home for christmas break. Give me some time to work up a load for it, I will let yall know what I end up ordering, any suggestions before I talk to them?

 

[FOTIS]

Awesome! I expected it to take longer than that, Im gonna go ahead and order it tomorrow probably and hopefully it will be ready when I get home for christmas break. Give me some time to work up a load for it, I will let yall know what I end up ordering, any suggestions before I talk to them?

So you talked to Effie? What are you ordering exactly?

 

[matts318]

No i didnt talk to her personally, I called savage but she was on the phone so they directed me to her voice mail, Im waiting on a call back from her. Im thinkin im gonna order it with the 26" length, 1" bull barrel with a 1 in 12 twist, savage target action, target accutrigger, and the H S precision stock that they put on the low profile varminter, the stock is probably what im most undecided about.

But this is my first gun to have built how I want it so I was hoping some of you more experienced guys could help me out. I just want it to be set up for shooting the 155gr match bullets, those 168gr drop like a freakin rock!

Does that sound like a good setup?