Do you guys know about the
Savage Target Action and AccuTrigger? They are becoming more popular and are a big step up from the lower level actions and triggers. There are actually 3 levels of AccuTriggers. The target version is the best one by a big margin. The action and trigger costs more than most Savage rifles. You can buy this setup on certain models of Savage rifles and in the past other models had this level of quality.
As for the fact that benchrest shooters don't use these actions that has more to do with gunsmiths being established with working with certain setups. They are slow to change because change means lots of work and money for testing. Instead of trying to re-invent the wheel they stick with what they know works. And there are certainly better actions available. But that isn't what the OP asked about. He said he wanted a Savage setup and there are good reasons for choosing that. You can get a lot of accuracy for less money than it takes to build a top of the line bench gun.
For the record certain models of the .223 12 LRPV came with the target action and trigger at one point. Mine has it. You can tell them by the red center blade on the trigger. IMO that's an excellent place to start. You get a 26" barrel which the people at the Savage board like more than any other Savage barrel because it is balanced better. At least they did when I bought mine about 2-3 years ago. I haven't been on that board for a while. That rifle has a left port, right bolt setup that is a pure pleasure IMO. It's so easy to load the rifle it's amazing. It is a single shot BTW which is certainly a plus for bench work or varmint work. They come with either a 1:7 twist or a 1:9 twist both of which can work with bullets up to about 75 gr. but the 1:7 can go heavier (longer actually) of course.
I have no problems doing 500 yards with mine but that's the limit at my gun club. I hope to be joining a club that has a 600 yard range soon.
To give you an idea what kind of accuracy I get with a good load I will mention the Shoot N See target someone had put up at about 400 yards at the range. I shot at it 3 times. One shot missed the bull by about an inch. The other 2 were dead center in the bull. That was with Black Hills 52 gr. ammo on a very still day. If the wind is blowing those lighter bullets will be all over the place. I usually shoot 69-75 gr. bullets and always Black Hills. I have yet to find anything else that comes close to working as well.
I am not going to claim I can shoot that well all the time. Far from it. But if I have a good batch of ammo and the wind is low I can shoot a 2" group pretty often. That 3 shot groups I described above is the best string I've ever put together in fact. But I have nailed 2" targets at a rate of maybe 5 out of 7. The rifle is so easy to shoot it really makes me look a lot better than I am. It just doesn't bounce around from nervous energy and it will fire bullets consistently. That's about all we can ask of any rifle.
I usually don't mention actual group sizes because it only leads to problems on a board like this. I really am not doing anything except pointing the rifle and pulling the trigger.
BTW that trigger can be adjusted down to about 4 oz. but it will flip the sear block as soon as you push the bolt down pretty much every time if you set it that low. I can't get mine below about 10 oz. without problems. There are better triggers a person can buy. SSS is great when it comes to setting up Savages but expect to wait almost 2 years to get your rifle back if you send it to them. And they don't work cheap. Still their results are said to be really good. I wouldn't know for sure myself. I'm just repeating what I've heard on the Savage board.
