Opinions on Savage 10 Build

[Ringman308]

I fell into a Savage 10 308 (4.40) last year thru a strange deal. I've completed several AR builds (5.56, 6.8, 308), but not much experience building bolts guns (always had the mods on my bolt guns done by a gunsmith). Seeing the APO adds has me thinking of trying a bolt gun build. Questions are:
Do you think the Savage is worth investing in?
If so, what mods have you done?
What mods do you recommend doing yourself and what do you recommend having done by a pro?
I'm thinking about new chassis and bottom iron.

 

[B3dlam]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

You should have no issue with a new chassis install yourself. Personally I put my savage into a Choate Tactical stock with new savage removable magazine bottom metal.

 

[Topstrap]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

Kinda depends on what it'll be used for. The Savage action won't take a back seat to any gun with quality components as far as accuracy is concerned for LR or tactical type matches. If you are investing the money in it to be a safe or show Queen then another "prettier" or flavor of the month action might suit your needs better. They can be real shooters that anyone can put together themselves on their kitchen table and be competitive with the right person behind the trigger.

If you read past threads you'll see more "closet" competitors are coming out and confessing to be using Savage rifles and doing quite well with them. We've built two LR rifles from model 11 actions and just got another undesignated Target Action for a new LR pistol build. If they didn't work I wouldn't be using them.

Think you'll be surprised with your gun when you're done with it, spend a bit of time cruising the threads here on the Hide and a visit to Savage Shooters http://www.savageshooters.com/forum.php will get you a lot of good information on what works best for these actions.

Good luck,

Topstrap

 

[bodywerks]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

First things first, ditch the accutrigger. I prefer the Sharpshooter supply competition trigger. Breaks like glass at as little as 1 lb. tacticalworks.com usually keeps them in stock. They are a DIY install if you have any mechanical know-how and a dremel.
Do a hide search for "bolt lift kit". It's a cheap and simple improvement to bolt lift smoothness. If you have an accustock-style action you have a little extra work to do but it's still doable.
Polish everything that has metal-to-metal contact (cocking piece, cocking ramp, both surface areas between the bolt handle[replace the bolt handle with a longer aftermarket unit first] and bolt lift cam, both areas between the bolt head and the alignment lug, and the bolt itself, aft of the cocking cam.)
I'm no pro, but Ive done a half-dozen triggers and a few bolt lift mods and all the polishing stuff. PM me if you have any questions and I'll do what I can to help.

 

[Ringman308]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

Thanks for the input guys and the link.
1st experience with a Savage. Seem to gravitate to Remington and Ruger.
You've increased my interest.
I'll do some more research.
PS - no closet queens but I don't shoot comps.
Mostly enjoy working on projects, but moved my hog setups to 500+ yards. I found it increases the chances for second or third hit after the first one goes down.

 

[chakup]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

Pick up a barrel and recoil lug from Northland Shooter supply, drop into an HS/McM/Manners stock or chassis of choice, pick up quality base/rings/glass and go to town.

 

[turbo54]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ringman12</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do you think the Savage is worth investing in?
</div></div>

"Invest in"? No. Savages are poor investments, as their resale value is shit. Are Savages good shooters? YES! Can they be made even better with certain upgrades? YES! In general though, I'd recommend buying someone's used tuned-up Savage, and let them take the resale hit.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bodywerks</div><div class="ubbcode-body">First things first, ditch the accutrigger</div></div>

Beg to differ. I find the accutrigger to be an excellent, and it is, undoubtedly, an extremely SAFE trigger. Regardless, I disagree that replacing the trigger is the "first" thing to do to a Savage.

 

[Hawk45]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

I never buy a gun as an investment, b/c I rarely sell them. You will never make money on a Savage, but you won't loose less then you have gotten out of it. I prefer to do my own work on my guns and like the ability to try different calibers w/o having to have a smith do the work. I can spin one caliber off and another one on in 7 mins.

The action is the key with the Savage, so get a good stock and bed it. The AccuTrigger is nice, I have a Timney on one of mine and like them both. I like 3-4lbs as a trigger weight. I'm not a fan of hair triggers, but to each their own.

 

[rusty815]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

Savages are great because swapping out the barrels is easy to do on your own. It also has a great aftermarket for parts, if you don't like the trigger you could buy a Rifle Basix or Timney or SSS trigger, a wide variety of stocks and chassis are available for Savage rifles including Choate, Boyds and Stockys, B&C, H-S, Stockade, Manners, Mcmillan, Mcree, XLR, AICS, etc. A lot of barrels makers make prefit barrels for Savage rifles, such as Mcgowen and Shillen.

 

[Temp9]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hawk45</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I never buy a gun as an investment, b/c I rarely sell them. You will never make money on a Savage, but you won't loose less then you have gotten out of it. I prefer to do my own work on my guns and like the ability to try different calibers w/o having to have a smith do the work. I can spin one caliber off and another one on in 7 mins.

The action is the key with the Savage, so get a good stock and bed it. The AccuTrigger is nice, I have a Timney on one of mine and like them both. I like 3-4lbs as a trigger weight. I'm not a fan of hair triggers, but to each their own.

</div></div>

I agree. This is why I don't recommend the SSS trigger very often. Mine won't go above 1.75 lbs. The Savage action is a really nice action to build off of. You won't be disappointed.

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chakup</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Pick up a barrel and recoil lug from Northland Shooter supply, drop into an HS/McM/Manners stock or chassis of choice, pick up quality base/rings/glass and go to town. </div></div>

+1

I like the Accutrigger quite a bit...but I like the Rifle Basix SAV-1 better.

 

[Ringman308]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

Great info.
I've got Timney in all my gassers and happy with them.
Any info on parts availability: barrels; chassis?
Any idea what I'm I looking at on wait times?
Hope it's not like the AR madness!

 

[bodywerks]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

I have owned 4 savage accutrigger rifles. Each one had problems with not engaging the sear and jamming up against the accurelease. I'm not alone. Its a common issue. To each their own. I'm not a fan of trigger pull weights similar to a pistol on precision rifles. I want about a pound,
1.5lb max. The sss is super crisp and 100% reliable at those weights.

 

[CaptNemo]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

I love my Model 12 LRP in 6.5 Creedmoor with the H-S Precision stock and Target AccuTrigger. I had it out yesterday shooting 100 yards, if I was paying attention, it was printing 1/2 MOA and on a rapid fire string of 15 shots, it was still under an inch with Hornady 140g AMax Ammo. That was sand bagged off the bench and single loading the cartridges after the four in the magazine ran out. But it was as fast as I could get the crosshairs back on target and squeeze the trigger. This has quickly become my favorite rifle, accutrigger and all.
I really don't understand all of the hatred toward the accutrigger, it's just a two stage trigger like any military rifle with the exception of an M-16 / AR 15, and they have a crappy, rough single stage trigger.
When the barrel gets where it won't shoot well, I'll replace it with a Kreiger tube and never look back.
So far on my rifle I have:
Bedded the action to the bedding block in the stock with J-B Weld
Bedded the EG picatinny rail scope mount to the action with J-B Weld
Weaver Picatinny rings
Millett 4-16 X50 Tactical Milldot scope w/ 30mm tube
Added a short piece of Picatinny rail to the fore end to mount a LaRue / Harris bipod.
Other than that, it's box stock.
But the sky is the limit with a Savage, barrels, stocks, chassis, and the best thing is you can do 90% of the work yourself with less than $100.00 worth of tools !
You just don"t have all of the uber fancy, high end, name brand stuff to empty your wallet of ammo money like the "other" rifle maker.
Just my opinion and I have several "Brand R" rifles from the 80's.

 

[Topstrap]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

Know the OP wasn't specifically asking about the pros and cons of the accu-trigger but it's kinda ended up with this discussion. I have two Savage model 11 guns and I've told others that if I could get the same accu-triggers on all my other rifles and LR handguns I'd change them in a heartbeat. Ultra crisp and once I got used to the feel of that secondary bar on the trigger I've come to really like it. When I bought the actions from Jim (NSS) I did get the extra Varmint trigger spring and used it. It does help lighten them to get them down to around 1 - 1 1/2lb.

I just picked up a new undesignated Target Action for the new LR pistol build and it has the ultra light target trigger, I've never been a fan of super light triggers but that thing is scary nice. I like to be able to feel when it's going to go off so it'll probably be set around 1#. Being mainly a precision handgun shooter I've had to learn pretty good trigger control and that made it a whole lot easier to move over to rifles and even a heavy trigger as long as it's crisp isn't a big deal.

Maybe for BR type of shooting a trigger measured in the ounces is nice but I've seen a LOT of shots going off when the shooter isn't ready at our matches. A good crisp trigger is needed but those ultra light ones that you have to ease the bolt closed like you were closing it on an egg isn't really necessary or safe. Not sure why some are nice and crisp and others hate them but at least you can give it a fair chance and do other modifications before spending money on an aftermarket trigger.

Topstrap

 

[anthonylapoint]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

I have a Harte barrel on mine chambered in 6X and it shoots like a bastard. I get easy sub 1/4" 5 round groups with it. It shoots 600 yards almost too easy. I like the accutrigger and if you don't mind how ugly the stocks are, they shoot great.

Put a good barrel on it and that's all you need for an accurate as hell rifle. Don't expect to sell it and don't expect to win prettiest rifle awards but you may win smallest group awards.

 

[Ringman308]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

By "invest in", I was think more about time and effort for a good shooting rifle. It's more than just a hobby. I think its the combination of the science, physics, mechanics, doing work to make improvements. The only guns I've let go of in the past are the semi autos. I've not let go of a bolt gun yet. Sounds like I can put in a little time, money, effort and have a real good shooter with the Savage.
Thanks and keep the info coming.

 

[JWV]

Re: Opinions on Savage 10 Build

I have built on quite a few Savage actions. Great value for the money and don't care about the low resale value as I have no intention of selling them. I use one of mine as a F-open rifle and compete well. Every match I attend I see more and more savages. Also, I have both the SSS comp trigger and RB-sav 2. They are both very nice triggers. The sav-2 adjusts down to mere ounces for the F-open game though.