Savage 10 fp project

[mshootnit]

OK
I have installed a Shilen select match stainless heavy barrel onto a Savage 10 FP. This was a tactical heavy barrel 308 with tupperware stock. 4.375" screw spacing. Top bolt release. Blind mag centerfeed action. A couple questions:
I am looking at the Bell Carlson M40 stock...looks nice to me. Yea or Nay? The problem is I can't find bottom metal for the swap. Where to source this? Savage phone system is disconnected due to the chinavirus.

Second do you think it is worthwhile to splurge on a chassis? If so which one? Was looking at the MDT XLSS gen 2. Worth it?

 

[Charlie98]

Is your Savage stock an Accustock?

I've got a 10 TAC with an Accustock... I don't have too many complaints about it...

 

[mshootnit]

non "accu" stock. Maybe I should just glass bed the darn thing, but that blind centerfeed is a pain. The mag box is pinched in (centerfeed) so it is a bit like top loading a dbm through the ejection port... not handy.

 

[BigBL87]

Another option you could look at is the Choate Tactical. It's a hoss weight wise but given you're using a heavy match barrel I'm guessing that isn't a big deal. I had to do a little minor inletting but I'm very happy with it for my Savage 10 FCP. They have lots of different options to match the different versions of the Savage actions and at least in my case I was able to use the stock bottom metal.

 

[Condor]

I did something similar, and am very pleased...

Savage Model 11 in .243. It is in a Bell and Carlson M-40 stock. I installed a Criterion barrel, and got the bottom metal from Savage to match. I heard today Massachusetts may reopen businesses on May 18, so hopefully you will have that option shortly.

Pacific Tool and Gauge sells a bottom metal for Savage rifles; these use AICS magazines, so that may not give the appearance or functionality you are looking for.

A few pictures of the rifle on some deer hunts in upstate last year.




This is a model 12 using the AICS magazine system. Different stock than what you are using, and it is the factory barrel. I like this set up as well.

 

[mshootnit]

I notice your rifle is a bottom bolt release but mine is a top release ...
Will the PTG AICS system mate up to the M40 stock?

 

[Condor]

@mshootnit, I am not sure, but from looking at the pic and description on the PTG site I think it may.

Bell and Carlson advertise a short action Savage, top bolt release, detachable box magazine stock in M40 configuration. PTG has two options for Savage short action AICS compatible metal; I presume the one you require is “without bolt release”. Both are listed for 4.4” action screws.

The issue may be the fit of the PTG metal (thickness)...I am not sure if it matches the Savage bottom metal. There is approximately 0.6” of room between the flat metal in my Bell and Carlson stock and the bottom of the stock. The Savage bottom metal is about 0.59”. You may be able to ask PTG (Or Bell and Carlson to confirm) that the parts will fit (PTG may be able to get you the thickness of the front portion of the bottom metal). PTG advertises that only minor inletting with sandpaper is necessary, but they don’t specifically refer to Bell and Carlson stocks.





My AICS project used metal from CDI Precision, and i do not believe they are in business now. I don’t know if they are identical in profile to the PTG metal. This was on a Boyd’s stock, made of wood (so I presume easier to work than the synthetic and aluminum Bell and Carlson stock), and i inlet the metal in an evening with a Dremel with sander attachment and a chisel. I was a bit particular about a great fit, so i did a skim bedding job of the bottom metal with JB weld (clear shoe polish on the metal as a release agent. That worked really well (was probably not necessary).

This really didn’t answer your question-apologies-but i hope i pointed you in the right direction.
good luck!

 

[mshootnit]

very helpful, thank you

 

[rbernie]

EABCO sells bottom bits:

https://www.eabco.net/Savage-Short-Action-Plastic-Magazine-Well--Plastic-Bottom-Metal_p_14780.html

I have built a 358 Winchester and a 450 Bushmaster and a 257 Roberts using the B&C M40 stock and these bottom pieces, and it works great. The new AXIS magazines, with a proper spring loaded latch, are the way to go.

if you want the earlier style metal bottom with the magazine release on the metal, eBay is the way to go. You can usually find them for a little more than $100, which is certainly less than converting to AI magazines - and let you keep the magazine flush with the bottom of the stock. That is what I have done for several of my bench-oriented builds, where weight was less of a concern.

Second do you think it is worthwhile to splurge on a chassis? If so which one? Was looking at the MDT XLSS gen 2. Worth it?

I have bought a couple of the LSS chassis, and while I think well enough of them – they are certainly not lighter than the B&C M40, and the pistol grip approach certainly changes how you carry them in the field, if that’s your intention. The XL version is a necessity if you intend to shoot it off of a bipod or bags; the original design tried to save weight by making the forearm too short, IMO. Both of my LSS are set up with a CTR and a 3/4” riser, and I arrived at that through a fair bit of trial and error.