new gun or new stock for trophy hunter XP?

[anothernewb]

Bought a Trophy hunter XP (.308) when they first came out. All in all it's been a great gun. But I have one "issue" if you could call it that.

It's accurate - enough. What it really is, is a superb hunting rifle. It'll put anything between a 2 inch circle to a 3" circle. anything. from the cheapest ammo to federal match. I've lost count of the different ammo I've run through it. from 147 grain to 180 grain. factory to handloads. For a pure hunter, this is probably a godsend. you could pick up anything, off any shelf, and within 200 yards. Never have to touch the scope.

What i don't really care for is the recoil from such a light unit. it's got the cheapo plastic stock that flexes, and is just too light weight IMO. (granted if I was walking around with it, the weight is awesome - I get that)

I'm only a modest hunter. I can take it or leave it. What I would like to do is chase the bullseye a bit more. Which has got me thinking is it better to perhaps spend the cash on a new stock which might stiffen things up and dump some recoil, or just buy a whole new package.

apparently to do a stock - I need something called the "bottom metal". Could someone direct me to just what exactly that is, and where/how I would find that and buy the correct part??? I gather it's got something to do with the magazine.

One last thing. It's a LEFT hand bolt.

 

[Varminterror]

Does your rifle have a molded plastic trigger guard? I thought all of the 11 Trophy Hunter XP’s had metal trigger guards.

The trigger guard and magwell are the “bottom metal”.

Do you have the bottom bolt release, or top?

 

[Newtosavage]

Just get a Boyd's stock. You will not regret it. You can contact Boyd's about what bottom metal (plastic) to get for your model rifle and their stock. The Trophy Hunters use the Axis mags and don't have "bottom metal" per-se. But it's not expensive to add to a Boyd's wood stock, and that heavier stock will do exactly what you want.

I've owned three Savage TH XP's and all three have been great. My brother and a friend now have two of them after they shot mine and bought them from me. I prefer the plastic factory stock because I like lightweight hunting rifles (I walk a lot) but if I wanted a heavier rifle that absorbed more recoil, I would not hesitate to drop my action into a Boyd's stock and keep rolling.

 

[LoonWulf]

Does your rifle have a molded plastic trigger guard? I thought all of the 11 Trophy Hunter XP’s had metal trigger guards.

The trigger guard and magwell are the “bottom metal”.

Do you have the bottom bolt release, or top?

My 11XP had (still has even tho i switched stocks) a plastic trigger guard, but i dont think any were ever actually part of the stock. Im betting someone told him he would have to switch to a dbm or floorplate style bottom "metal" to switch stocks.

Just get a Boyd's stock. You will not regret it. You can contact Boyd's about what bottom metal (plastic) to get for your model rifle and their stock. The Trophy Hunters use the Axis mags and don't have "bottom metal" per-se. But it's not expensive to add to a Boyd's wood stock, and that heavier stock will do exactly what you want.

I've owned three Savage TH XP's and all three have been great. My brother and a friend now have two of them after they shot mine and bought them from me. I prefer the plastic factory stock because I like lightweight hunting rifles (I walk a lot) but if I wanted a heavier rifle that absorbed more recoil, I would not hesitate to drop my action into a Boyd's stock and keep rolling.

My suggestion as well, but like VT asked, gotta know which type of bottom metal and bolt release you currently have on your rifle.
also is your magazine centerfeed, or staggered, Savage had ...three?, maybe just two...different action screw spacings on their short action rifles.

another option to just add weight, and stiffen the stock a bit, is pour resin/epoxy into the voids in the forend and weight the butt.

 

[jmr40]

Standard factory injection molded synthetic stocks as a rule are no lighter than solid wood, often heavier. The same is true of the high end fiberglass stocks. The mid priced synthetics plywood stocks made by HS-Precision and Bell & Carlson are typically about 1/4 to 1/2 lb heavier than factory wood or synthetic stocks. The plywood stocks from Boyds are extremely heavy, anywhere from 1/2 to over 1 full pound heavier than standard wood or synthetic stocks. The rifle you have is 7 lbs, which by modern standards is on the heavier side of average as is. With a scope on there you're probably over 8 lbs which is the max weight that most people want in a hunting rifle anymore. I don't have a rifle in my safe that weighs over 7 3/4 lbs including optics. Some are under 6 lbs including optics. You don't get a lighter synthetic stock until you get into the $600 stocks made with Kevlar.

I think the problem is between the ears. You've convinced yourself that it kicks hard and it too light. It doesn't, and isn't.

I'm only a modest hunter. I can take it or leave it. What I would like to do is chase the bullseye a bit more.

Then you need to buy a rifle better suited for target shooting instead of the big game rifle you have. I'd suggest something designed for that purpose and in a lighter recoiling rifle. Your 308 will have about 15-18 ft lbs recoil depending on the exact load from an 8 lb rig. A 223 will have less than 5 ft lbs from an 8 lb rifle and make a better target rifle out to at least 300 yards. If you want to shoot farther and have a dual purpose target/hunting rifle the 6.5 CM does it with about 12 ft lbs recoil and is good enough to take you well past 1000 yards.

I wouldn't touch the rifle you have. Either sell/trade it to finance what you really want, or just keep it for hunting and add a 2nd rifle for target shooting.

 

[anothernewb]

Think I will have to post pics to answer some of the ?s posted.

 

[2ndtimer]

You might consider selling your Trophy and getting one of these:
https://www.cabelas.com/product/sho.../savage-fv-varmint-rifle/1994604.uts?slotId=7

They had them on sale a few months ago for $369.95 with Savage offering a $100 mail in rebate. I bought one in .308 Win. for my son and it shoots very well. With the 26" heavy barrel and a Bushnell Elite Tactical 5-15x scope, it doesn't kick bad at all and the longer barrel adds a little velocity to those 175 gr match bullets for reaching out for steel past 800 yards. Or, if you want to go for the "cartridge if the month club", they also offer it in 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[LoonWulf]

Think I will have to post pics to answer some of the ?s posted.

That would be extremely helpful, a side picture and of the magazine should tell us what we need to know.

Another question, does your stock have a squishy pad? I think the first ones didn't. Couple a 6.5lb gun with a hard pad, and it holding it a little loose can sting.
I tried free recoil with my .243 and 6.5 a couple times and both of those stung when the stock came back from just a little ways off my shoulder. The .243 was a trophy, from bout 2008. The 6.5 was a Howa 1500 in a s&w stock, so weighted something like 8.5-9lbs

 

[anothernewb]

yep. squishy pad on mine. mine is a 2012 vintage

 

[Newtosavage]

Standard factory injection molded synthetic stocks as a rule are no lighter than solid wood, often heavier.

Interesting. I have not found that to be true at all for either Savage or Tikka rifles. Their standard factory plastic stocks are the lightest option available of any stock I have found, at any price - which is why all my hunting rifles wear "cheap" tupperware stocks (with custom paint jobs of course ).

 

[Condor]

I replaced the stock on my Savage Trophy Hunter with a Boyd’s... i am very happy with it. If you call Savage at 1-800-370-0708 and give them the serial number for your rifle they can help you order the parts you need - the metal bottom for the stock, a metal cap for the magazine bottom, and if you like, a metal trigger guard. This will leave you with all wood and metal on the Boyd’s stock. When i ordered, shippong was fast - i received the parts in a few days.

 

[Varminterror]

My 11XP had (still has even tho i switched stocks) a plastic trigger guard, but i dont think any were ever actually part of the stock. Im betting someone told him he would have to switch to a dbm or floorplate style bottom "metal" to switch stocks.

In my mind I meant to say I didn’t think any of the TH XP’s had integrally molded trigger guards, but I was fighting flight delays and distracted at Atlanta airport today... the trigger guard should transplant. Boyd’s or Savage would be able to tell him what components he needs.

If the existing stock fits ok, I’d load up lead sinkers in the forend and epoxy fill it, plus a bar in the buttstock to maintain the balance point.

The 11 TH XP isn’t a bad starting point. Get a stock set up how you want, then when the barrel goes, screw on another one for relatively low cost. Easy.

 

[cdb1]

I never thought of the Trophy XP being a particularly light rifle. Maybe that style of stock doesn't fit you well and another style would mitigate felt recoil.

 

[LoonWulf]

I think mine was a little over 7lbs with the stock Simmons scope it came with at the time. Mine stung if you didn't hold it ...well, mine stung if you held it poorly. As long as it was seated ok it felt fine to me, but again at the time I was also eating recoil from a sub 8lb .300 shooting 208s.

 

[Glockula]

I have a 2013 vintage TH xp in .308 win. This is an extremely light rifle with the flimsy plastic stock. I can report the EXACT same experience regarding accuracy through 1000 or so assorted rounds. I found mine to like 165 Sierra GKSP the best and will regularly put n them into a 1.25 inch circle at 200. I have never messed with restocking because it seems complicated and I like the mag. I have killed 3 deer at 150 yards and under. I use this as a "beater" walking around and brush gun.

No real complaints but accuracy has been less than stellar.

 

[Newtosavage]

I guess I don't feel the need to replace my plastic factory stocks because my Savages routinely print under an inch, without modification. This is with handloads however.

 

[HB]

I found mine to like 165 Sierra GKSP the best and will regularly put n them into a 1.25 inch circle at 200. I have never messed with restocking because it seems complicated and I like the mag. I have killed 3 deer at 150 yards and under. I use this as a "beater" walking around and brush gun.

No real complaints but accuracy has been less than stellar.

1.25” at 200 yards is pretty darn good for an inaccurate rifle.