Savage for F/TR competition

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rem1858

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Hello fellow shooters;

Does anyone here use or have had experience in using a Savage 12 F/TR for competition.

Am really serious about getting into F/TR.

Thanks;
Clarence
 
I have an older Savage that is modified pretty much into the image of their F-T/R model and it does very well. I don't think you will get anything else close to suitable for the money.

A friend had a funny story last week. He went to the Long Range shoot in Lodi, WI, culminating with the State Championship,shooting a rifle the mate to mine.
Came to the end, they were announcing winners: "And the F-T/R champion is T____ J____."
He got up and said: "But I am from Alabama."
The announcer said: "Siddown."
 
The state champion had to be a resident of the state.

I got into that the other way around once. I was the Zone Champion in Handicap Trap because the guy who beat me in the shootoff lived outside the zone. I got the trophy, but the setup was such that he got the cash prizes.
 
The newer Savages are actually pretty nice and are working well at distance.

There are better choices, but the Savage is not a bad choice at all.
 
I shot an F class match the other weekend. I see a lot of Savages out on the long ranges these days. I agree with Jim. I don't think you'll find anything better, or even close for that matter, for the same amount of money.
 
I have narrowed it to two rifles.

Savage 12 F/TR
Sako TRG 22

The Sako is going to be about $5800. dressed up.
The Savage about $3500. dressed up.

I figure to go with the dedicated F/TR Savage, then maybe get the Sako when I have enough funds(got to have a backup gun, right...)
The Sako can be a double duty type rifle(long range and tactical).

Thanks;
Clarence
 
Rifle = 1300
Scope = 1400
Mount/rings = 150
Bipod = 500
Misc = 150

Total = $3500.

That is what I come up with.
Not a bad price in my honest opinion to get started in a shooting disipline.
If I am way off base, please let me know.

Clarence
 
Larry Racine builds a nice one, I had him build me one on a savage frame, looks good and seems to perform really well, I am going to use it more in the fall. I shoot service rifle right now so I havent had time to play with it yet. He got me one for 2250 I think, thats with a 30 inch kreiger barrel, adjust. buttstock, custom furniture, etc.
 
Rem1858,

I am cool with everything in your list of accessories, but what kind of bipod are you buying for $500?

That's a lot of $$$ for a bipod.
 
To make a long story short...

I am purchasing a Center Shot bipod.
The good thing is that it is $319. now instead of the $500 that it used to be.
They cut out the different color options and such to get the price down to be competative.

Was going to buy one from the UK, but at $700. it was too much and also weighed too much and the whole package would be overweight.

The Savage 12 F/TR will be here in the morning.

Already have the Ferrell 20 moa scope mount and 30mm rings.

The Night Force 12-42x56 scope will be here Wednesday.

Misc things coming this and next week.

Ready to compete after a good sight in.

Total so far is $3800.ish

Will keep you posted if interested.

What loads are you using for 500yds and for 1000yrds ?

Clarence
 
Sounds like a nice rig.

I have a a Leupold scope for about half the money and a Harris bipod but have been looking at upgrading to the Sinclair bipod for $200 (if they had any, which they do not.)

I load .308 with 175 SMK and 44 gr Varget, which is a grain below Hodgdon maximum but gives 2654 fps from my 28" barrel.
Or 155 gr Scenar and 46 gr Varget, likewise one grain below max; 2916 fps the last time I chronographed.

No reason to distinguish between 500 and 1000 yard ammo, the wind blows where the wind listeth. Unless you want to shoot .223 at midrange where it is very effective.
 
Well, I got her all put together yesterday and went out to sight her in at 200yds today.

Had some 10 mph cross winds from the left and the right but kept them all in the 10 and X rings.

Next weekend is my first 500 yd match.

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Clarence
 

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Nice groups at 200 yards for the first time out. Are you breaking the rifle barrel or just putting rounds through it out of the box without cleaning? There is a divided opinion on the value of breaking in the barrel, but if nothing else, it gives you time to get used to the rifle.

Personal favorite for 500-1000 yards is LC brass with CCI #34 primer, 42.5 to 43.0 grains of Reloder 15 powder behind a 175 Sierra MatchKing bullet. Does well out of my Rem 700 at 500 yards if I do my part. I vary the powder charge to compensate for the heat...lighter charge in summer when it's hot and heavier charge in winter when cold. Average velocity is 2550 fps...43.2 grains Re-15 give me about 2600 fps out of my 24 inch barrel.

Relax and enjoy the competition.
 
Jasper;

I have done the shoot, clean, shoot, clean thing in the past and also just go out and shoot.
Do not really see any difference over the years.
So with the Savage I cleaned the factory test firing out of her and shot 50 rounds through her Sunday and have been running patches through her the last 3 days.

Pic#1 was with my reloads using 168 SMK's over IMR 4064.
Pic #2 was 168 Federal Match ammo.
I had to hold about 1.5 moa either side of the X ring to get them there with the 10 mph cross winds.

I have a lot of 168 SMK's to get rid of, but am going to experiment with some Berger 185 VLD's that I have.
There is a reason that I am thinking of going heavy cause here in Phoenix at the Ben Avery range where we shoot 1000yrds it is common knowledge of how very windy it gets.
Am thinking of 175's also when i get low on 168's.

Anyone ever used Alliant Pro 2000-MR for 308 heavy's
Read where some are getting 2900 fps using 180 gr with a 30 inch barrel.
Alliant says that it was designed for heavy bullets and gaining 150 fps over standard loads.

JBM calculator shows a Berger 185 VLD at 2900 fps is mach 1.367 at 1000 yrds.
That sounds like a winner to me if it is accurate.

Cannot wait til Saturday, this is going to be interesting.
Never shot at 500 yrds before.

Clarence
 
Late to the party, but I shoot a Savage F/TR in F/TR class. Missing from your shopping list is a Karsten adjustable cheek rest.

Mine consistently shoots to 1/2 minute at 100 and the long tube starts them fast. Many people who score me in the matches comment on how well my rifle shoots. (Not 1/2 minute at 1000 where my errors have greater effect.)

Given today's choices, I'd opt for the Palma in order to get the adjustable cheek rest, but I'm happy with my rifle. It likes 175 Sierra Match Kings running right at 2700 fps.
 
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Swingpress;

Yah, Karstens was looked at, but I have a very long face/ chin.
The two layers of Dr. Sholls mole skin that you see on the stock is just right for me, LOL.

Looks like it is experiment time.
I want to just find a load that will work from 500-1000 yds and leave it at that.

Clarence

P.S.
Had to add the image of the mole skin LOL
 

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I've seen several people fail to make 1k with 168 SMKs. I wouldn't bother with them unless you want a different load for 500 and 1k. I never tried anything but the 175 SMKs because they work. I push them with Varget.
 
Only going to use the 168 SMK's at the 500 yrd line going about 2800 fps.
Everything that I have read says nothing over 600 yrds, so 500 yrds max should be fine.

Those that were looking for a bipod, did you look up Center Shot ?
Here is the sight
http://censhot.com/

I really like it and got some comments at the range on how it looks.
Bottom line is looks is one thing but utility is final.
It is lightweight, the adjustment is very fine , very rigid mount for the weight, has a lockable cant in it, smooth skids(I put mole skin on the bottom of my skids so it would slide on concrete smoother).
It fit perfectly into the T-rail of my Savage F/TR.

Clarence
 
I realize I am a bit late on this, but good job! That's a good score, especially for your first time out of the box.

Jasper
 
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