What would you buy? Help me blow some $$$

[BlackSS]

Long story short:
I have a $500 gift card to bass pro shop. I can throw another 300 or so down on top of that towards a new rifle.
I am lacking a varmint / small predator gun and I have an interest in getting a large 338 as well.

I am limited to factory rifles as it has to come from Bass.

One more monkey wrench in the gears: I'm a lefty.

I'm looking at a savage 16 weather warrior in 22-250 or a Thompson Encore in the same. Seems like getting the Encore may be difficult.
The savage is a 1 in 12, where is that in the scheme of things for this caliber?
Nothing in any 338 sparked my interest in a factory LH rifle.

Other suggestions?

 

[blipelt]

22-250 1:12 twist should put you in the 55 to 60 grain projectile range. Wish I could help on spending your money, but I have a tough time figuring out what I want to spend mine on.


Brent

 

[liltank]

I'm sure you are not limited to what is on the floor. They could always order you in what you want. For predator, I am going with a .204 Ruger or something in that variation. Go to 6mmbr.com and look at their article on .20 caliber rifles. Some interesting info. You'll have splat factor to about 350-400 yards if you reload. You can use the Sierra 39grn Blitzkings which have a higher BC than a .224 cal to about 60grn bullet. You can push them pretty fast too. If you want a .338 then I would look for a RUM.

Tank

 

[BlackSS]

Anything I buy would almost certainly be a special order, but it still has to be a factory mass produced gun, they will not order a custom gun.
I think I might just get a 243 in a savage. I'm not concerned with pelt damage and I should benefit from the higher bc bullets.

 

[liltank]

These would be my choices. Nice thing about the short action is that there are more options for aftermarket stocks if you don't like the Accu-stock.

Savage Arms Firearms > 12 FLV

Savage Arms Firearms > 16 FLHSS

Savage Arms Firearms > 11 FLNS

Tank

 

[angus-5024]

good call on the .243

 

[BlackSS]

liltank,
do you think there is a real difference in accuracy from an accustock model vs. a non-accustock?
I really do not need the corrosion resistance of the Weather Warrior, but if the accustock will make an appreciable difference that is likely the way I will go.

 

[liltank]

liltank,
do you think there is a real difference in accuracy from an accustock model vs. a non-accustock?
I really do not need the corrosion resistance of the Weather Warrior, but if the accustock will make an appreciable difference that is likely the way I will go.

Well let me put it this way. A lot of people spend a serious amount of money to get the advantages that the Accu-stock offers. That is an aluminum bedding block specifically designed to fit the rifle of your choice that it is offered in to provide the most accuracy possible from a factory rifle. With that said, a buddy of mine has their normal synthetic that just uses a pillar bedding system and shoots very small groups. I could do the same with my VLP. His only complaint (accu-stock corrects this issue) is that the fore arm is very flimsy when under pressure from a bi-pod.

Some people don't like the feel of the plain synthetic offered and I have to agree, but the rifles are still accurate. I upgraded to a Bell&Carlson A2 Medalist to get the aluminum block bedding that comes with the Accu-stock. I also wanted a pistol grip type feel when I lay prone, so it is a matter of personal comfort as well.

I have held an accu-stock rifle and fired one and find them to feel a whole lot better than the typical synthetic. On the other hand getting the plain and synthetic and upgrading to a B&C Stock is really not that expensive of an endeavor.

Look at the Mod 14 classics w/ a wood stock. I think they come pillar bedded and if not, a good bedding job will do it wonders and make it a real shooter. I did that to my brothers rifle and went from a 1.5" to .5" at 100yds. They are really nice rifles in my opinion.

Tank

 

[liltank]

This is the model I was talking about:

Savage Arms Firearms > 14 Classic

Savage Arms Firearms > 14 American Classic Left Hand

Tank