Savage 260 LRP review

ohmosy

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 17, 2010
79
12
39
Utah
Hello,

I have been lurking for a while now and learned a lot, so thank you all for that. I wanted to give a little review on my experiences with my Model 12 LRP in 260 rem. I wanted to get into the long range game, but like most did not have unlimited funds. Rather than blow my whole budget on a full custom rig and have little left for optics, i elected give this new offering from savage a try and throw a quality piece of glass on top. I havent found too many reviews for this rifle online so maybe some of you will find it intersting.

Here are the specs:

Savage Model 12 LRP 260 rem; entirely bone stock out of the box, the only thing i did was torque the action screws to 35 in-lb (front) and 30 in-lb (rear)

Scope: Nightforce NSX 5.5-22x50 NPR1 reticle
Base: Ken Farrel one piece steel 20 MOA (bedded with devcon)
Rings: Fen Farrell steel Standard height
Bi-Pod: Harris rocker w/ leg notches 6"-9"
Eagle Stock pack with two layers of mouse pad underneath

I now have about 450 rounds down the barrel and overall i am very pleased with the rifle. The HS stock seems to be of good quality, it is very rigid and the barrel is centered in the channel and fully floated (i have no experience with other higher end stocks so i cannot compare).

I really like the target accutrigger, I don't have a pull gauge, but i would guess it came out of the box at under 1 lb. It is very clean breaking with no creep or over travel to speak of. I have had it trip itself a few times when closing the bolt hard, but it does not bother me much. Maybe i would reconsider if the groundhogs ever learn to shoot back.

The bolt and action feel like a typical savage to me, no surprise there.

I am reloading for the 260 on my rock chucker single stage. I am using a forester mirco seater die, in combo with lee collet neck sizer. I did run the brass through a redding body die after the third firing because the bolt was getting stiffer to close.

I began my load development using with 139 scenars, a fresh box of lapua 260 brass, H4350, and some CCI200. The rifle shoot a decent overall with a few 5 shot 1/2 groups at 100yds but many groups where closer to 1 inch. Whether it was me, or the gun breaking in, the consistency i was hoping for just wasn't quite there.

After tinkering with 2 boxes of the scenars i decided to give 140 grn berger VLD hunting bullets a try. I could tell right away that the gun seemed to prefer the bergers over the lapuas. After a bit more load development i have settled on a load (for now at least) with the bergers that conistently produces 1/2" at 100yds for 5 shots. All of my load development was done using the harris bi-pod up front and a sand bag for the rear

140gr VLD hunting
41.0gr H4350
2.920 col (about .01 into lands on my chamber as best as i can measure)
fed210m primer
260 lapua brass

I have only shot 5 through the chrono but they where around 2790-2800 fps

I have stopped cleaning the gun about 250 rounds ago, other than on pass with the boresnake every 50-70rds. this gun definitely seems to like it dirty.

I shot this load at 300 yds for the first time the other day and produced a 5 shot group around 1 5/8". i was very pleased with this, i have only been into shooting and reloading for about two years. And the only training i have ever had is what i have read on the internet. I am sure a more skilled shooter could do better.

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Here are a few pics of the gun, sorry for the poor quality

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Re: Savage 260 LRP review

Very nice rig. You should be extremely happy with the results. I say throw a muzzle break on that big boy so you can watch bullet impacts and get to Rayner's or TVP for a competition. I'm planning on going to the short coarse this weekend at TVP just to form fire some brass and get quicker with using my mag. It would be good to see that rig in person and see how she does out to 1k or farther.

Good luck,
Merritt
 
Re: Savage 260 LRP review

thanks for reading and the compliments.

jay, i an not sure of any correlation between seating depth and throat erosion. I just wanted to jam those VLDs into the lands 0.01". Maybe someone could chime in.

rfutch, yes the stock does have a full bedding block. i have considered skim bedding it. but i am not sure i will mess with it.

mwrosebury, the recoil is very mild, i believe the gun weighs about 15lbs w/ scope and bi-pod. I am sure a break would make it easier to stay behind the scope though. for now i am just working on my form. I may put one on when i rebarrel.

I have been curious about TVP for a while now as it is only about 90 min from me, and would love to stretch her legs a bit. I probably will not make it out there till after archery season though, my other passion.

thanks
 
Re: Savage 260 LRP review

Hey ohmosy, great choice. I've got the same model and these rifles are very solid built.
IMG_20110929_142734.jpg

I went out and did some shooting today and these are my results with 39.5 grains of RL-17
*140 grain Bergers
*LC 308 Brass necked down
*case length 2.0195
*OAL with bullet comparator measured from ogive to base is 2.2695 which is about .10 off the lands. I have found that the further that I push these Bergers into the lands, the more my groups open up.
*turned the necks
*uniformed the primer pockets
*debured the flash holes
I had planned on getting velocities today but as I squeezed off my first shot the wind picked up and as the Chrony tipped I killed it with one shot. I would not have cared but the chrony was borrowed.
IMG_20111001_201631.jpg

This is my 5 shot group from 100 yards off of a bipod with no sand bags. This rifle shoots way better than I could. These Savage 12 LRP 260 are great. As OHMOSY said the triggers break very nicely with no creep, the action was built very solid. Just on a side note if anyone is on the fence about the new Sightron S3 6x24-50 LRMOA's, get off the fence. As usual Sightron has come out with another GREAT product with very crisp and clear glass, eye relief is very forgiving, turrets feel very clean,
crisp and solid. GREAT review OHMOSY and happy shooting.
 
Re: Savage 260 LRP review

I have got the same rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor and feel like your review is accurate except that I don't like the HS P stock at all doesn't fit me and be very careful about exposing it to heat. I am getting similar accuracy with 140 grain AMAX's factory not handloaded.
 
Re: Savage 260 LRP review

My dad has one of the Savage 10 hunters chambered in 260. I found a load for him with 140 Amaxes and it hammers. He bought it used for $1000.00 with a leupold scope on it I sold for $700.00. I put a bushnell Elite FFP 6-24 on it and he calls it his $300.00 gun.
He loves to get it out and show it off at the range when we are all down there with our $3-4,000.00 rigs. Bottom line though is it will hange right there with them.
 
Re: Savage 260 LRP review

I got my 260 LRP last month and have been doing some load development. Everything is under and inch and Sierra 142s pushed with 44.2 gr of H4350 to about 2875 is a .4 moa load for me. UPS dropped of a Nightforce 12-42 BR today. i just mounted it up and will shoot it in a couple days. I am impressed with this rifle.

Hog
 
Re: Savage 260 LRP review

I have close to 1000 rounds through mine, still really pleased with the rifle. I have switched to 140 amaxs because of how much cheaper they are than the bergers, and i thought i would not have to worry about chasing the lands to keep them jammed. So far so good. Earlier this spring on a calm day I could not miss a 8x8 plate at 625 yards with the amaxs.

I have thought about replacing the stock but i actually really like the HS. especially from shooting from a bench. When prone i have found i do prefer a more vertical grip like found on many tactical stocks, but still don't find the HS to be awkward or cumbersome. It is a great all purpose stock IMHO. Not sure about the heat issue. My rifle has been pretty much a range queen in fairly mild conditions.

The accutrigger is holding up great. I eventually adjusted it to be a bit heavier than from the factory, i would still guess i have between 1.5-2 lbs.

Like i said i am still very pleased with the savage and would recommend one to anyone interested in long range target shooting. Call me crazy but personally i consider my 260 LRP to be the most accurate rifle i own. Its main competition is a Finnish 308 that cost 4x as more than the LRP. Does it beat it on build quality? Hell no. On pure paper punching accuracy? For me the answer is yes, not by a wide margin however.
 
Re: Savage 260 LRP review

Anyone compared this to the Model 10 Predator Hunter? I can get a new one for under $700 an it has the accustock/trigger with the bedding block. Barrel is 2" shorter. I'd like the rifle to be usable for hunting and range/match duty.
 
Re: Savage 260 LRP review

I have around 150 rds through my LRP in 260. It will definately shoot better than .5moa. I got my best groups .244 with 140gr berger VLDs and 41.5gr of H4350 and .239 with 142gr SMKs and 44.5gr of H4350. Both loads seated .020 off the lands.