First Bolt Action Rifle

[montemon]

I’m planning to buy my first bolt-action rifle and leaning toward the Savage line. It will be used mainly for target shooting and plinking at the range...no plans for hunting at this time. I've narrowed it down to a couple of models in 308 . These is what I have so far:

- 11FXP3 22†light barrel, synthetic stock (package deal, comes with a scope) Good price
- 10FP (heavy barrel) not sure what barrel length to get, 20", 24" or 26"…what's the difference?

I'm thinking; do I really need a heavy barrel? Should I just go for the cheaper 11FX or I'm I going to regret it later? I've heard that the light barrel heats up quickly. Not sure other disadvantages it would have. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Slingster]

If hunting is not in the picture in the forseeable future, I'd say get the 10FP with the 20" barrel. You're not going to be shooting at long distance, so the additional velocity from a longer barrel isn't relevant, and the 20" will be much lighter and handier, plus a shorter barrel of the same diameter is stiffer than a longer one. And even if you end up going hunting eventually, it would be feasible to hunt with the 20" heavy barrel.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

FWIW, my buddy got a Savage 10FP in .223 rem a few months back and he is very pleased. The first time he brought it out, four of us took turns with it (and a 700PSS in .308) at 100 yards. With a Weaver Grand Slam 4-14 power scope, it was made us all feel like accomplished (sp?) marksmen. The accutrigger is very nice and I knew it was time to call it a day when I shot a 2.5" group. Most of the groups we were shooting were 1.5" or better so I don't know how I managed to shoot that 2.5" one . One of the other guys loved the Savage so much he got one for himself and eh. . .well, his girlfriend shoots MOA with it (same set-up) all day long (he's more of a pistol guy. . .) and the main reason I don't get one myself is that with two shooting buddies having the same rifle with the same set-up (Harris bipod and some aftermarket stock to go with the aforementioned Weaver Grand Slam) it seems kinda redundant. The ammo was surplus .223 and American Eagle, BTW.

Personally, I would go with the heavy barrel. With target shooting and plinking, you are just going to set up and shoot, so carrying the heavy barrel isn't really an issue, and that way, you don't have to worry about overheating as much (although you should still take your time). With barrel lengths, you are gonna have to get into twist rates and types of ammo, which I know nothing about so I will leave that to someone else. HTH and when you get your rifle, give us a range report. Oh, and also, welcome to the High Road.

 

[Kcustom45]

Savages are definitely good guns, I have one in .22-250 and I like it. I would recommend that you get one with the Accu-trigger, it is a very nice trigger.

I would recommend the heavy barrel for plinking and target shooting, because I think it would be more fun to shoot. Not much recoil with .308, but you would feel less with the heavy barrel.

200th post!!!

 

[pbhome71]

How about a CZ 527 Carbine in 7.62x39, or 223?

It is a fun gun. it is short and light. Ammo is cheap too.

Regarding heavy barrel. If you get one, you will most of the time bench it when you shoot, since it is heavy. I have a Remington 700P in 223. It has a heavy barrel. It was heavy. I end up chop it off from 26" to 20". I would have had it chopped down to 18", but my gunsmith did not want to do that.

Good Luck,

 

[glocksman]

If you're just wanting a plinking gun, I'd suggest getting a Mosin-Nagant M38 Carbine or M91-30 rifle from Aztec .

Ammo is dirt cheap and the gun should cost you right around $100 by the time you add in shipping and FFL transfer fees.

 

[montemon]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. Ok, looks like I'm favoring the 10fp with either the 20 or 24" barrel... Slingster, that's a good point about the 20" being lighter/handier and feasible for hunting, even though I doubt I’ll ever hunt.

What about a scope? Not looking to spend too much…about $100. I’m really new at this and not sure what type or magnification to get. Does a scope have to match a particular type of rifle?

 

[Sharpshooter223]

I have a remington 700 VS in .223. For the range I promise you that you won't be dissapointed with this rifle. Mine is all factory with a harris bipod and a bausch & lomb 4-16x50 scope and it shoots half inch groups all day at 100 with just about any ammo. With 50 grain hornady v-max reloads it shoots a 1/4 inch group consistantly. .223 has no recoil and is very accurate. Mainly a varmit rifle but can deer hunt with it if you place shots right. As far as the scope goes... I wouldn't go cheap on the scope at all or you will hate it. Having a bad scope can make you hate shooting it. Cheap scopes sometimes will "bounce" around on you and keep you from shooting decent groups or they won't hold their zero. On my custom .222 I picked up a brand new redfield 6-18 scope off ebay which goes for about $170 or so and it has held it's zero. It is also a very clear and reliable scope. A remington 700 VS .223 with a redfield 6-18 would be a nice setup especially for punching paper.

 

[yzguy]

I went with the 10FP 24" heavy barrel, and am very happy with it. I also don't plan to hunt with it (otherwise it would have been a scout taperd barrel model) but wanted the additional weight to help with recoil. I went with the 24" because it was kind of a middle ground... the 20 just felt to short for an accurate rifle to me (but for all I know COULD be just as accurate), and I wanted it for a very accurate longer range (long to me is anything over 100 yards) rifle.

 

[tbige]

Savages have fabulous accuracy: My .223 package gun with $25 trigger job and better scope is a sub 1/4" shooter, and many other owners report similarly excellent results.

However, I always felt I didn't -- couldn't make myself -- spend what was required to get a truly good scope. Just seemed -- and still seems -- to be disproportionate.

And this failure on my part meant adjustments each time I went to range: they never seemed to hold from one session to the next. And this, finally, wrecked the whole experience for me. Could have been a bad mounting job, rings, what have you.

I don't believe it was the rifle. But I gave up.

Lesson: spend more than you want (and think you should have to) to get a good scope and rings.

 

[ocabj]

I don't see why you wouldn't go with the 26", especially since you're using it for target shooting anyway. You won't be stressed out with the extra weight of the additional 6" from a bench or prone.

Typically, you will get higher muzzle velocities out of longer length barrel, which is affects your accuracy at longer distances.

Heavy barrels make definitely makes a difference as far as accuracy. It takes longer for the barrel to heat up compared to a lightweight, which means you will have less barrel flex while shooting multiple rounds.

That said, I have a 10FP-LE2 in .308 myself. Changed out the factory synthetic with a Bell & Carlson when I bought it. I have a McMillan A-5 on order right now. If you can afford the Badger Ordnance base and rings get them. If not, go with the Ken Farrell base and Burris Signature Zee rings as a cheaper, but still solid, alternative. I'd avoid the Leupold STD 1-piece and 2-piece bases. They are not good for precision shooting (fine for hunting, though).

 

[montemon]

Everybody making really good points...making me think. Well, I still have a couple of more day to decide...going to a gun show this weekend. If I don't find any good deals there, going to my local gun shop...he quoted me some pretty good prices...

 

[tbige]

Nothing against gun shows, except perhaps the excitement -- which can blur judgment -- and possibly buying from a stranger -- who may or may not stand by the gun.

Be careful.

 

[tbige]

Nothing against gun shows, except perhaps the excitement -- which can blur judgment -- and possibly buying from a stranger -- who may or may not stand by the gun.

Be careful.

 

[montemon]

Thanks tbige...will definitely keep that in mind. My local gun shop quoted me some good prices for the 10FP models (about $430 ) so I'll probably end up buying from him.

Anybody know why the 20" and 26" have LE attached to the model # while the 24" is just plain 10FP?

 

[tbige]

Savage's nomenclature is beyond human comprehension.

Just curious: why .308 for your planed use? For punching paper and plinking, the first center fire that comes to my mind is .223. Cheaper to feed, great inherent accuracy, vastly less recoil. Then a .243...

 

[montemon]

tbige

I already own a AR15 type rifle in .223 and wanted something a liitle more powerful. Always wanted a bolt action rifle but never got around to it. I'm a pretty big guy so recoil doesn't bother me as much.

 

[tbige]

I see. Agree, then, .308 would be a good choice. Though recoil sensitivity isn't a function of size, I personally don't care for any more than necessary to get the job done.