Help me build a precision Savage for $1700

[skypirate7]

Yes, comes with a factory-threaded barrel. I think eventually I'll put a nice flash hider on it since I want it to be "tactical" and I hear that muzzle breaks are louder. Any flash hider suggestions?

As for scope and mounts, here is what I ordered:

Vortex Viper HS Tactical Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 5-15x 44mm Side Focus 1/10 MIL Adjustments Mil-Dot Reticle Matte
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/18...us-1-10-mil-adjustments-mil-dot-reticle-matte

TPS XP Tactical 1 Piece Base (aluminum alloy, 20MOA, for Savage short-actions with round receiver)
http://swfa.com/TPS-XP-Tactical-1-Piece-Base-P42063.aspx

TPS Tactical Scope 30mm Rings (aluminum allow, super low .82", picatinny)
http://swfa.com/TPS-Tactical-Scope-30mm-Rings-P41992.aspx

What do you think of that setup? And will I have enough clearance with the scope and the super low rings?

 

[ironworkerwill]

44mm shouldn't touch the barel but its hard to know for sure sight unseen. You probably done right by the super lows because of the 30mm tube. I've never had any experience with the vortex but the 15x is really a plus. Otherwise the bases and rings is what I would have chosen. NICE!

 

[MtnCreek]

Any flash hider suggestions?

http://thunderbeastarms.com/products/30p-1
http://www.templartacticalfirearms.com/shop/suppressors/archangel-30-cal-suppressor/

 

[skypirate7]

Thanks friends. Doing some back-of-the-envelope calculations...

The Vortex scope has a bell outside diameter of 51.3mm (effectively 52mm). So according to this chart, with a 30mm tube it will require a minimum tube elevation of .300 inches: http://media.midwayusa.com/charts/ring_height.htm

The TPS low rings give .335 inches elevation: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/244847/tps-30mm-tsr-picatinny-style-aluminum-rings-matte-low

The TPS super-low rings give .228 inches elevation:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/22...icatinny-style-aluminum-rings-matte-super-low

So I think the low rings would definitely work and the super-low rings would work only if I get more than .072 inches of height from the mount.

Thoughts?

 

[MtnCreek]

If those rings won't give enough clearance for scope covers, I would go with taller rings. Good news is Midway has a great return policy. I returned some Luaplod rings that I had for about a year (1", never used).

Depending on how you're built, taller rings may suit you better anyway.

 

[mnhntr]

Easy. Buy a 12 LRP in .308 and put a Bushnell 3200 10x40 with a 20MOA rail. Done and money left over.

 

[ironworkerwill]

I think that 20moa base has you covered. It looks a good bit taller than a standard 2piece weaver.

 

[dubbleA]

I think that 20moa base has you covered. It looks a good bit taller than a standard 2piece weaver.

It may be taller but since it's canted it tips the objective end downward so the super low rings may not work.

 

[Cee Zee]

I have not been impressed by HS Precision vs. B&C

I have a B&C on one Savage and a H-S Precision on another. I like the B&C but there's no doubt the H-S is a better stock IMO. It's more rigid but not by a lot. Either stock works fine for me but the 12 LRPV comes with a H-S and it's a really good package. Like you said to do better you're going to have to spend a whole lot more money. There is the bad politics of H-S Precision though but that's a story for another board. They seem to have straightened it up anyway.

Again I would get a 12 LRPV because it's the cheapest package deal with the target action and it has the superior 26" barrel. 700 yards would be no problem at all for the .308 model. The barrels on these rifles are actually very good. For someone trying to come in under $1700 I don't think you could do better. Spend the rest on quality glass and you have a great setup. I'd go with a Weaver myself. Many bench rest shooters will say the Weaver is the lowest level of a scope that's good enough. It's probably going to cost around $500 for a good scope and mounting hardware. No it isn't a Nightforce but that isn't going to fit into the budget mentioned. Weaver makes good scopes. The T series is a popular choice for rifles in this price range.

I think you'll have a 1000 yard rifle with that setup myself. All you have to do is check out what Team Savage is doing with similar rifles. They're setting world records for individual and team scoring in F/TR shooting with a rifle that is not very different from this package. They would be using better scopes of course. But people do shoot 1000 yards with a setup like this. My .223 will do very well at 500 yards. I've never got to shoot it any farther than that. I don't think it will have a problem at 700 yards either to be honest. It will take more talent on my part and maybe I can't do it but the rifle will if it has someone that knows how.

 

[henschman]

I am also currently doing a somewhat budget-minded Savage long range/sniper build. I found a base model Savage 11 in .308 for $350 NIB. I am getting a Criterion SS heavy sporter barrel in .260 Rem from Northland Shooters Supply for $300 plus shipping, along with a RifleBasix trigger for $85. I am going with a McRees Precision G5 TMAG chasis with folding stock for $650. I will need a few AI mags to go with the chasis, at $62 a pop from Alpha Industries. All that plus the price of a decent optic will put my build a bit over your price limit, but I am working under different constraints... my build is being funded by an M-14 that I just sold for a fair bit more than that. I guess some might call this a budget minded build, but it will still end up being the most expensive gun in my collection!

FYI, lots of us don't want to do business with H-S Precision because they are a bunch of bootlickers who used a recommendation from Lon Horiuchi in one of their ads several years ago. Apparently they believed it would appeal to a certain clientele that they cater to, probably correctly (which is a scary enough prospect) but it certainly rubs me and many others the wrong way. One of the reasons I want to own a sniper rifle is because of the existence of pieces of filth like Horiuchi, and the fact that such people are employed by the government.

 

[Cee Zee]

That was the politics of H-S that I mentioned in my post henschman. It really, really stinks the way they stood behind that slime ball. I just didn't want to discuss a political topic here but I'm on your side with that. I bought my rifle with the H-S before I knew about the situation with Lon. Anyone thinking about buying one of their products should really check out who Horiuchi is and what H-S did regarding him. But they do make a decent stock and Savage puts them on their rifles in package deals so maybe some people can get past the way they did things.

 

[NDMarksman]

700 Yard Savage

My Model 10 Predator Hunter in .243 Winchester. It shoots 95 grain Berger VLD's pushed with RL22 with such accuracy it's scary!! It's a Zeiss Conquest with the Rapid Z-800 sitting on top and some self-clinging camo wrap from Cabela's to help the scope blend in. The entire package barely over $1,700.