Savage Tactical Rifle Project

By Jerry Teo

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Based on the overwhelming response to my previous article, Long Range Rifle On A Budget, Len and I discussed creating an article to walk you through a rifle build using a Savage rifle. The goal was to show you what could be done simply and inexpensively to turn a vanilla grade rifle into a tack driving custom.

To ensure the tack driving part of the equation, we were able to get support from Shilen Rifles Inc and Berger Bullets. Shilen Rifles supplied me with one of their superb SS Select Match prethreaded and chambered barrels ready for headspacing, while Berger Bullets supplied their match grade 22cal 80gr VLD to get the most out of the barrel. Their support on this project is greatly appreciated.

In looking over the many projects shown on this board, I decided to take a different approach and put together a 'tactical' rifle in 223, something that would excel in the field and have many of the desired features common to 'professional' rifles. You will notice a number of styling cues from European and AR based sniper rifles.

The completed rifle would make a great varmint rifle or compete in tactical rifle shoots, even F class. Ease of handling, good ergonomics/balance and light weight were project goals. The rifle, complete with bipod but without ammo, tips my bathroom scale at 12lbs. A pound could easily be knocked of with a lighter stock build, more if the barrel was fluted (10lbs unloaded is easily accomplished). Without the bipod, the rifle balances in front of the mag, making it very easy to shoot offhand.

In a larger cal, it would certainly work wonderfully as a long range big game rifle. Something that would only require a new bolt head, mag, and barrel plus 15mins of your time. Yes, you can be smoking coyotes, prairie dogs, steel gongs, and Alaskan moose by changing a few parts.

The base rifle was a Savage 11FCNS. This rifle comes with a sporter contour 22" barrel, Accutrigger, alloy trigger guard and bottom metal supporting the new superb center feed mag, a synthetic/injection molded hunting style stock with a superb soft/spongy/recoil absorbing recoil pad. Basic, readily available and dirt cheap - street price around $400.

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As has been my SOP, very little is done to the action. The accutrigger was adjusted for a crisp breaking 1.5lbs pull (spring swap). The bolt timing was adjusted to reduce the bolt lift and smooth its operation. The bolt handle was exchanged for one with an oversized bolt tactical bolt knob created by a Canadian dealer. That's it!

I have never found the typical blueprinting to be beneficial or required to this family of actions due mainly to the unique floating bolt head. Many of the alignment woes that plague solid front locking actions like the Rem simply don't affect the Savage. Saves a whole bunch of time and money to correct.

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Savage Tactical Rifle Project

I retained the barrel nut for headspacing as this ensures a quick and easy barrel swap. There is no accuracy loss in using this style of headspacing and there is a solid argument that it can actually be better then applying heavy torque to tighten a shouldered headspaced barrel to an untouched action.

To prove to myself the value of this barrel install, I took one barrel and installed it on 3 actions (1 Savage and 2 Stevens) produced over a number of years. What I got was identical performance with the same ammo. Essentially, you can buy a tested barrel, install it on your action and use the same loads/ammo to get the same results. How's that for modular?

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Finishing touches included installing a Farrell 1pc steel MOA base and a Bushnell 6500 2.5X16 - 42mm scope held in Burris Sig rings with inserts. Using the included shims, the scope was canted to maximize the available 80mins of travel to shoot out to 1500+ yds from a 100yd zero.

The heart of this project's mods involved the changes to the stock. The stock is definitely functional but does have a pretty floppy forend (now resolved with the new accustock). With some simple material and a little bit of woodworking, the stock is easily transformed into something unique and very custom. I figured pictures would illustrate the mods better and more easily than text.

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The material used for these stocks readily accepts epoxy and sticks very well. SPF 2x4 lumber and plywood were used for the build up. This provides a solid surface that takes a finish easily and stands up to usage well. You can also use foam, but you must cover the surface with fiberglass and a suitable resin (some foams will melt with polyester resin) to create a durable surface. Although easier to shape, the finishing process is far more complicated when resin and glass is involved. For the most durable surface, you can also glass over the wood and plywood.

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The cutting was done using a small bandsaw, the shaping on a tabletop belt sander and sanding blocks. An electric palm sander really worked great to shape the Bondo. Hand tools can easily be used but being the lazy type, power tools rule. 5 min epoxy was used throughout to adhere the parts to the stock. Polyurethane glue can likely be used, but the much longer cure time didn't interest me.

The filling and contouring was greatly simplified by using good ole Bondo. Other fillers will also work but I really like how easy this material is to work with, leaving a nonporous finish that takes paint well. Being catalyzed also ensured a very solid product that wouldn't shrink over time. Be very careful in using water based air dry fillers. This stuff can continue to shrink leaving all manner of surface defects a few weeks after your perfect paint job.

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Once the shaping of the stock was completed, the action was properly bedded. ALL modern drop in stocks whether from the factory or aftermarket have inletting that can best be described as generous. The action is really unsupported leaving the potential for flyers and overall lousy accuracy. Unique stocks like the upcoming Savage Accustock may just resolve this all too common problem.

Savage Tactical Rifle Project

Proper bedding involves supporting the action so that when the action screws are hand tightened, the action is level and unstressed. Most importantly, the recoil lug is fully supported even at the front so that the action can be held rigidly while under recoil. A quality epoxy steel makes this task very straightforward and is the first thing I recommend to anyone when tuning any rifle.

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One feature I really wanted to add were RAILS. Now no one makes rails for Savage or Rem stocks like they do for the AR and many other military rifles so I had to improvise. The rails you see are UTG rails for the 10/22. These rails are very well machined from a quality alum alloy and covered with a very durable finish. You can find these from various dealers and eBay for around $35. Pretty amazing considering the excellent quality of manufacturing.

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The stock was modified to fit, which was actually a pretty simply thing to do. The Shilen barrel was also reshaped to better fit under the rail. Spacers were made so the rails were further apart, allowing the Shilen barrel to fit without interference. Adding an aftermarket Harris bipod adapter makes adding a bipod a snap. Very solid install.

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Once the stock was finished and sealed, I wanted to put on a textured camo paint job. This is greatly eased by first applying bedliner from a spray can. It is super easy to apply and builds up to a durable surface that is textured with a little give. This stuff is readily available at any auto supply store. Just ensure that it is paintable.

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Colour was applied using matte camo colours by Krylon. Various natural items were used to help separate the colours and give a realistic pattern and depth. Again, it is very easy to do and if you don't like the results, just give it a coat of compatible flat black and start over.

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The barrel was masked using the 'fishnet' style wraps you sometimes get with barrels. This gives a really nice scaly appearance and texture. No top coat was used as I couldn't find a compatible clear matte (didn't look very hard either). No matter, as it has been wearing really well and it's easy enough to repaint next season.

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I am very happy with how the appearance turned out. The grip is very comfy to use. The trigger pull length is a bit short but I got used to it readily. The butt contacts me lower then the original stock due to the raised comb. This really helps the stock track straight back during recoil. That spongy recoil pad reduces the kick to something akin to shooting a 10/22 - very effective material. That rear grip does make shooting off a bipod very comfy and secure. Sits on a rear bag well too.

The center feed mag is one of the smoothest and most durable mags I have ever used. With the SSS extended mag, the capacity is a whopping 12 rounds. I did have to add a portion of spring from an AR mag, but would suggest using another factory spring for ease of set up. Not a cheap item but the quality of the product is well worth the price.

Savage Tactical Rifle Project

So how does this rifle shoot? Using the 80gr VLD Bergers, Varget, CCI 450 primers and prepped Win brass, this rifle is grouping in the ½" to 3/4" at 200yds if the winds don't get me. That is 1/4 to 1/3 minute accuracy from a box stock action and a simple swap to a Shilen barrel. Not bad, not bad at all.

I have been plagued by shooting on windy days and that has chased me for 5 weeks now. I have tried to shoot under similar conditions to try and get my tightest groups. Using a 16X scope does allow for some aiming error at 200yds. I feel that I am losing up to 1/8" in aiming repeatability versus a very high mag scope.

This target started off great with rds 1 and 2 snuggling close together. Unfortunately, I got caught with a condition shift and a strong gust blowing shot 3 off. Waiting a bit for the winds to settle down, I put 4 and 5 into the group. The cluster of 4rds is 1/2"

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The second is a three rds group showing the potential of this rig when the moons align and the winds die. Certainly not the normal group size but it looks great on the wall.

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One obvious benefit of using a properly stress relieved match barrel, besides superb accuracy, is how consistent it shoots even when it gets hot. The third target was for rds 13 to 17, shot under 10mins. The Shilen barrel was hot but the group still stayed stable at just 1" at 200yds. I would not recommend shooting a barrel hot all the time, but it is nice to know that your accuracy will stay when defending against a horde of approaching prairie dogs. I fired this group as the winds had finally calmed, and I wanted to see how stable the Shilen barrel would be when hot. Works just fine.

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The final pic is of a nice 3 round group at 800 yds while we were pounding gongs in more gusty strong winds. I was able to get some light but steady air and fired this 3 round group. The closest two are at 2 1/16". The furthest is 2 1/2". The vertical was close to 1 5/8". Not bad, not bad at all.

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I didn't bother with a barrel break in having found no real benefit after testing many barrels over the years. After the first 30 rds were fired, I did a complete barrel clean of the Shilen barrel, and there was ZERO copper fouling.

I have since gone as long as 150 rds without cleaning the Shilen barrel with zero copper and minimal powder fouling with no loss in accuracy. I just cleaned 'cause I was feeling guilty. The Shilen is a very smooth barrel indeed.

Total outlay for parts and materials (minus optics and bipod) is under $800, which is a steal given its performance and 'custom' looks. Of course, if you had someone do all this work, the labour cost would go up.

I hope that this article will inspire you to go out and build your own custom rifle. It really is quite an easy project to complete. I look forward to seeing pictures of your project rifles. Enjoy...

Jerry Teo
aka Mysticplayer


Jerry shoots regularly out to one mile and also competes in F class. His current cartridges are 223, 6.5 Mystic, 7 Mystic, 308, 300RUM and 338 Mystic. He enjoys experimenting with gear and wildcatting in order to increase accuracy performance and to debunk accuracy myths.