After having purchased a new off the shelf Savage 112 fsak in 2002 I have dreamed of making it look and shoot better. Yes a 112 fsak in 300 rum. I have checked in every reference i can find and officially this rifle was never manufactured by savage. The only thing close I can find in blue book of gun values is a 116 fsak with flutted barrel. But somehow a blued receiver, stainless non fluted ported barreled savage 112 became mine. With a BSA mil dot scope for hunting the rifle out of the box with only a trigger job would hang around at 1.25" groups at 100 yds with various remington factory ammo.
I purchased a savage factory seconds laminent stock from sportsmans guide with tool marks looking like it was cut out with a chain saw instead of cnc machinery and shipped it with my rifle to Scott Null of savagegunsmithing.com in Driggs Idado for some work. Scott finished up the stock, glass bed it, installed oversized recoil lug, trued the action, and set the barrel in what appears to me is about 1/3 turn estimating by the fact factory stampmarks on barrel is now on the bottom of the barrel and he had to engrave it so the caliber designation is visible. Upon my receipt of rifle I was very satisfied with the stock finish and fit. I then topped it with warne 1 piece base, burris 30 mm max rings, at 20x super sniper scope and a limb saver barrel deresonator and headed to my brother's place for some range time.
We shot some 180 gr sst handloads with about 1 inch groups. Was initially disappointed but I wanted the best B.C. i could get so we loaded up some 208 gr a-max bullets with new remington brass and 93 gr of retumbo pwd at 3.65 oal( after determining the amax didn't hit rifling till past 3.78 and they fit in the mag well) and it was like magic. I shot from prone position with front and rear bag supported my lifetime best 3 Rd group of .348" group shot on 11/21/09 in alliance NC. My brother sam (dodgesst on hide) done the load developement.
Now i have read many mixed reviews about using a-max's for hunting but i cannot imagine a 208 gr a max bullet failing so catastropic that clean white tail deer kills can not be made. I hope to get to do some deer hunting the next few wks to find out. I also placed a red dot on side of the rifle in case something jumps out at 25 or so yds making that 20x scope worthless. I plan on hunting some pwr line right aways prone with some potential 500 yds shots.
There are alot of variables to consider in this great group. 1. I never used the limb saver before and never adjusted it, just placed near wuzzle end according to directions for free floated barrels. Cannot comment on it's effectiveness except i know it is not detrimental in any way.
2. never used 208 gr a-max before smith work. Only used 180gr
3. Put higher quality bases, rings, and scope on rifle. 4. The outcome is awesome. The recoil of this rifle with muzzle brake on is equal to .243 and 30.06 with it off. I shoot it one handed with left hand off the forarm when the brake is on. Even with the brake off I can shoot it many times without culminative recoil fatigue. I placed a limbsaver slip on recoil pad over the factory Savage 1/4" thick not worthy for magnums pad and they both together do the job. For right now the only thing the rifle needs if timing for the bolt as it is very rough at rear of the action. I have about 300 rds through this barrel so expect this accuracy only to last maybe that much more before throat erosion becomes evident but barrels aren't too expensive. Considering the long range potential of the 208 gr. a-max with B.C. of .648 launched out of the 300 RUM rivals the best of long range cartridges ie 338 lapua at much lower cost it's hard to beat for the money. I only wished we hadn't forgot the chronograph.
![url]](http://[url="http://www.hunt101.com/data/544/medium/DSCI0172"]http://www.hunt101.com/data/544/medium/DSCI0172[/url])
![url]](http://[url="http://www.hunt101.com/data/544/medium/DSCI0168"]http://www.hunt101.com/data/544/medium/DSCI0168[/url])
![url]](http://[url="http://www.hunt101.com/data/544/medium/DSCI0165"]http://www.hunt101.com/data/544/medium/DSCI0165[/url])
I purchased a savage factory seconds laminent stock from sportsmans guide with tool marks looking like it was cut out with a chain saw instead of cnc machinery and shipped it with my rifle to Scott Null of savagegunsmithing.com in Driggs Idado for some work. Scott finished up the stock, glass bed it, installed oversized recoil lug, trued the action, and set the barrel in what appears to me is about 1/3 turn estimating by the fact factory stampmarks on barrel is now on the bottom of the barrel and he had to engrave it so the caliber designation is visible. Upon my receipt of rifle I was very satisfied with the stock finish and fit. I then topped it with warne 1 piece base, burris 30 mm max rings, at 20x super sniper scope and a limb saver barrel deresonator and headed to my brother's place for some range time.
We shot some 180 gr sst handloads with about 1 inch groups. Was initially disappointed but I wanted the best B.C. i could get so we loaded up some 208 gr a-max bullets with new remington brass and 93 gr of retumbo pwd at 3.65 oal( after determining the amax didn't hit rifling till past 3.78 and they fit in the mag well) and it was like magic. I shot from prone position with front and rear bag supported my lifetime best 3 Rd group of .348" group shot on 11/21/09 in alliance NC. My brother sam (dodgesst on hide) done the load developement.
Now i have read many mixed reviews about using a-max's for hunting but i cannot imagine a 208 gr a max bullet failing so catastropic that clean white tail deer kills can not be made. I hope to get to do some deer hunting the next few wks to find out. I also placed a red dot on side of the rifle in case something jumps out at 25 or so yds making that 20x scope worthless. I plan on hunting some pwr line right aways prone with some potential 500 yds shots.
There are alot of variables to consider in this great group. 1. I never used the limb saver before and never adjusted it, just placed near wuzzle end according to directions for free floated barrels. Cannot comment on it's effectiveness except i know it is not detrimental in any way.
2. never used 208 gr a-max before smith work. Only used 180gr
3. Put higher quality bases, rings, and scope on rifle. 4. The outcome is awesome. The recoil of this rifle with muzzle brake on is equal to .243 and 30.06 with it off. I shoot it one handed with left hand off the forarm when the brake is on. Even with the brake off I can shoot it many times without culminative recoil fatigue. I placed a limbsaver slip on recoil pad over the factory Savage 1/4" thick not worthy for magnums pad and they both together do the job. For right now the only thing the rifle needs if timing for the bolt as it is very rough at rear of the action. I have about 300 rds through this barrel so expect this accuracy only to last maybe that much more before throat erosion becomes evident but barrels aren't too expensive. Considering the long range potential of the 208 gr. a-max with B.C. of .648 launched out of the 300 RUM rivals the best of long range cartridges ie 338 lapua at much lower cost it's hard to beat for the money. I only wished we hadn't forgot the chronograph.
