Savage long action build, need ideas.

[bowhunter]

I bought a new 338wm the other day. Its purpose is long range targets and medium range big game hunting as well as the occasional prairie dog exploding! I purposely bought this because it was cheap and an excellent builder. I hate remington and couldnt find a cheap enough weatherby or howa donor. It is a pre-accutrigger clearance model with a scope for $350 new. So I sold the scope already and will be buying a new one tomorrow. I am gonna order a rifle basix trigger (which is why i didnt pay extra for an accutrigger). I am shopping for stocks but they are limited for this LA with detachable magazine. I wish they made a Wyatt trigger guard magazine conversion for it but oh well. I am also deciding if I should get a muzzle brake or not, threaded so i can remove it for hunting? I am still finding all the reload stuff so i can quit shooting $2+ a round hunting ammo for targets. I havent shot long range in a few years so i am still debating my options. Its a budget build so I am looking for ideas on stocks? And to brake or not? I will probably wear this barrel out, I was gonna go 338rum but didnt realize my magazines werent big enough! Any ideas/help? Thanks.

I would have went 300wm but couldnt find a good deal on one.

[Colorado Osprey]

Is it not just a long action, but a long action magnun in 338WM. They are different.
The 338WM is not just a medium range big game cartridge. It is well suited for long range as well.
Very expensive though for a prairie dog.

I would stay away from a break.. they are usually detrimental to accuracy. Don't believe me? Check out any precision competition.. no breaks to be found except on BIG calibers.

If you want a stock, Fred at Sharp Shooter Supply can make any of his stocks for a DBM. http://www.sharpshootersupply.com/
Prices are reasonable. They also have a bunch of accessories like larger bolt handles and heavier recoil lugs. The recoil lug is a must IMHO for a precision rig.

[Tim K]

I would stay away from a break.. they are usually detrimental to accuracy. Don't believe me? Check out any precision competition.. no breaks to be found except on BIG calibers.

I don't know if I believe you. I see lots of brakes at precision comps. I have no personal experience with them, so I'll refrain from saying you are wrong, but I find your statement suspect.

[Delfuego]

Stay way away from Fred @ SSS, unless you dont plan on shooting it until 2016. Contact Kevin Rayhill @ http://www.stockadegunstocks.com/ for a stock, recoil lug and bolt handle. The older model Savages dont have very many aftermarket options compared to the newer 4.4" models. Kevin has unfinished stocks that can save you some coin if you want to do the finishing.

Criterion makes great drop-in Savage barrels.
Timney also make a trigger for pre-accutrigger models.

The best thing you can do to lighten and smooth the Savage action is a lift kit and some polishing.

http://www.steyrscout.org/savscout.htm#Tips
(http://www.steyrscout.org/savscout.htm#Tips)
http://forum.snipershide.com/showthread.php?t=42081&page=4&highlight=savage+bolt+lift

Good luck! PM me if you need any additional help...

[bowhunter]

Even more choices now!

[Colorado Osprey]

While a break is not in itself the problem it is usually disruption and harmonics that are affected. You can tune a comp and actually get better groups than without. BUT, most don't go through this process and get worse groups by just installing-screwing on a break/comp.

Also agree that Criterion is the must have for proven drop in accuracy.

Didn't realize Fred was that far behind... it's been about a dozen years since I needed his services.

For a cheap laminate stock the Boys aren't bad at $97... they are available for detachable mag Savages

[Kraven251]

With all things breaks/compensators, it is about research. My 5.56 PR with a break gives me sub-moa at 400 yards (haven't ran it out much past that).

Your mileage may vary, but it would be worth it to test for yourself with your rig. Just like with custom loads and everything else find what works for you and your rifle.

[Hoser]

I would stay away from a break.. they are usually detrimental to accuracy. Don't believe me? Check out any precision competition.. no breaks to be found except on BIG calibers.


I also disagree. I see lots of them and sometimes use a brake on my long range rifles.

You wont see them at a short range benchrest match because they are not allowed. At 600 and 1,000 yard benchrest matches they are allowed and used by a majority of shooters. And lots of those guys are shooting 6mm calibers now days.

[Hoser]

For a hunting gun I would not go with a brake. Brakes are hell on eardrums.

The 338 Win Mag is a great caliber but expensive to feed.

[bowhunter]

For a hunting gun I would not go with a brake. Brakes are hell on eardrums.

The 338 Win Mag is a great caliber but expensive to feed.


Yes it is expensive! Thats why I wanted a 300wm. But once i find some powder i can start reloading. I want to get it out and stretch its legs. I couldnt afford a high end scope so I put a nikon on it. According to Nikons "spot on" program it looks like a 200yd sight in will get me to 792 without cranking knobs. The scope only has 60moa total adjustment, so I am hopeing it sights in good and I dont have to buy a 20moa rail? I am no mathemagician!

[Wildboarem]

While a break is not in itself the problem it is usually disruption and harmonics that are affected. You can tune a comp and actually get better groups than without. BUT, most don't go through this process and get worse groups by just installing-screwing on a break/comp.

Also agree that Criterion is the must have for proven drop in accuracy.

I call Shenanigans! Where is my broom? I run a Savage chambered in .260 rem with a Criterion tube. Shoots sub minute all day long easily. Also know of a over a 100 other Criterion owners with even better results. http://www.savageshooters.com/showthread.php?7630-Criterion-prefits
So with all this info, you have a built Savage right? And you have a Criterion right? And you have a break that has degraded your accuracy right? I admit that it will change harmonics, but so will a can. One may have to change load accordingly but it doesn't make an accurate tube inaccurate in and of itself generally.
I also run a Choate stock. There are options for the savage. Fun to build, for the DIY type. Might also look at the .338 edge if you like the .338 caliber. You have lots of options. Good Luck.

Didn't realize Fred was that far behind... it's been about a dozen years since I needed his services.

For a cheap laminate stock the Boys aren't bad at $97... they are available for detachable mag Savages

[Colorado Osprey]

Umm No.. never even fired a Savage... LOL
Here is a link to a pair of Savaged I did in '05... and one is a Criterion barrel. Can you guess which one?
I have only built a dozen since then. Most of those doner chassis were brought from members here.
http://www.oa2.org/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2675&p=18138&hilit=savage#p18138

Check close... I am a member at Savage Shooters forum too?
Shenanigans? Who is the newbie here? I've been trying to contribute here 7 years longer than you.. same at Savage Shooters.


As far as comps.. sorry I have sworn them off years ago. I don't own a gun with a comp any longer. The last one was a 270 Ruger tang safety M77 I had fitted with a comp for my father since he had a bad shoulder and couldn't take the recoil any longer. It did it's job, but accuracy suffered. This wasn't my only bad experience. I have had good experiences, but again, with tuning.

[Wildboarem]

Ha! That is good stuff. I personally have a CBI and it is a decent shooter. I know of many others that have great success with them, more having good luck than bad luck. So I did think your response to CBI tubes being inaccurate (or a drop in accuracy) was overly harsh. As far as the comp, I re-read your post and I agree with most of it, I feel that a comp may disrupt harmonics and need tuning but it isn't the norm. I misread it the first time, I apologize.
As far as being a "Noob", really? What does that mean. I haven't been a surfer of the internet forums as long as you or post as many posts, so somehow that imparts some special privilege, wisdom or means that somehow I'm not as knowledgeable or a child or whatever BS is BS.
I asked simple questions, I didn't mean to insinuate that you didn't know what you were talking about. I was trying to figure how you were basing your opinion.

[Colorado Osprey]

Sorry, just took shenanigans the wrong way

I meant Criterion barrels are great... and a must have for great accuracy
I haven't seen a bad one yet.