Almost done!

liltank

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2008
Messages
4,197
Location
Central Pennsylvania
Well... here is my long awaited project. Don't know if you all remember, but it started life as a stock Savage VLP Mod 12 in .308 then I rechambered to 300WSM. I then tweaked on it as I could afford, but never quite got it to where I wanted it to be. For being mostly factory (except the break and skim bedding coat) it shot very well. Half minute happened often and 3/4 was the norm. Just got tired of being beaten on and having hit and miss accuracy due to brass problems. So it has been returned to a .308 Winny and initial groups even during break in look promising (3 shot bug holes). I bought a Wheeler engineering nut wrench and action wrench. I used some borrowed headspace gauges to set the barrel.

Here's the equipment list:

Savage Mod 12 VLP action
EGW 20MOA base
Weaver Tactical rings
Horus ASLI level w/cosine indicator
Lothar Walther 1:12, 6 groove, 28"
SSS Comp. Barrel Lug
B&C Medalist A2
Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 w/target dot
Homemade break by a previous smith, but will be replaced w/ a muscle break.
Harris swivel bi-pod 9-13"

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I'm waiting on a mandrel from PT&G that will allow me to lap the bolt face. I am also waiting for someone to have an aftermarket bolt knob available. They all seem to be out of stock. Right now my sights are set on the BA/T 110 Handle from Savage to come in at Midway. I think it will just look awesome on my rifle. The stock was originally black, but didn't set with me. So I got some ultra flat Krylon camo OD Green and gave it a once over. I think she looks pretty good.

Tank
 
Hey partner, That looks great! Looks like something that I want to do in the near future. Hope she shoots as good as she looks. Post some pics and let us know when you find out.
 
Like it!! Can't go wrong with what you got going there :D Sure wish I had something along those lines so I didn't have to rebarrel every winter, I need something that I can shoot for years without torching of the barrel!!
 
Very nicely done and well thought out. Maybe if we get together and shoot later on this year I'll get to take a peek at it.
If you don't mind answering this question, roughly what's the ballpark figure on the gun?
 
Very nice looking rifle, what pills are you shooting in her with a 1x12 twist.

I just bought myself the savage mod 10 FCP HS Precision in 308.
 
Very nice looking rifle, what pills are you shooting in her with a 1x12 twist.

I just bought myself the savage mod 10 FCP HS Precision in 308.

The majority of my shooting will be with 175 class bullets. I really want to shoot the 178 Hornady BTHP, but right after I bought some from Midway, they have been out of stock since. So if things don't change, I will probably be shooting either the 175 JLK or 180LBT JLK. If I go with the 180's then it will be my primary bullet. If I go 175's then I will try and get a load worked up with the 208 A-max using RL17. It is shooting 175 SMK's really well right now with 43.5 grains of IMR 4064, and the 178's are doing well with a similar load.

Tank
 
Very nicely done and well thought out. Maybe if we get together and shoot later on this year I'll get to take a peek at it.
If you don't mind answering this question, roughly what's the ballpark figure on the gun?

As is right now about $1570. That isn't including the initial rifle purchase 2yrs ago. Breaks down like this:

Action- $375 (estimated due to being a donor from an $800 rifle originally Mod12 VLP w/DBM)
Barrel- $500 (specified contour, chambered, hand lapped, threaded for muzzle break, threaded for my action)
Scope-$275 w/ Butler creeks (closeout sale on swfa.com)
Stock-$220
Rings-$35
Base-$40
Recoil Lug-$35
Bi-pod$89

I still want to get a bolt handle, and target trigger set up to lighten it up a bit more. I would like to be in at 12 to 14oz. Right now its better part of 1.5lb pull.

Tank
 
liltank,
Looks good man! Gotta love those Savages. Have you tried the 178gn A-Max in it yet?
I wish B&C would start making that stock for the LA Savage. Does anybody make a similar stock for LA's? JohnnyK.
 
liltank,
Looks good man! Gotta love those Savages. Have you tried the 178gn A-Max in it yet?
I wish B&C would start making that stock for the LA Savage. Does anybody make a similar stock for LA's? JohnnyK.


I know Choate has a new design that will accommodate the LA along with H-S. Stockade stocks make Savage specific stocks. Matter of fact he specializes in stocks for both long and short actions. My next stock for a Savage build will have a DBM bottom metal set up. I opted to make a wood plug for this build and feed it with single rounds. I shot the 178 A-max when it was a 1:10 twist, but have yet to try it in this one. I went with the BTHP due to the higher BC. That is why I am considering the JLK's. They are a little cheaper than Berger and you get 25 more bullets per order.

Tank
 
As is right now about $1570. That isn't including the initial rifle purchase 2yrs ago. Breaks down like this:

Action- $375 (estimated due to being a donor from an $800 rifle originally Mod12 VLP w/DBM)
Barrel- $500 (specified contour, chambered, hand lapped, threaded for muzzle break, threaded for my action)
Scope-$275 w/ Butler creeks (closeout sale on swfa.com)
Stock-$220
Rings-$35
Base-$40
Recoil Lug-$35
Bi-pod$89

I still want to get a bolt handle, and target trigger set up to lighten it up a bit more. I would like to be in at 12 to 14oz. Right now its better part of 1.5lb pull.

Tank

Is this the scope? I may get one today at that price?
Vortex 6.5-20x44 Viper 30mm Rifle Scope
 
Is that a really good price for the scope? How many moa of elevation is there?

The original price on these are in the $375 -$400 range. I would scrape it up if your interested in getting some new optics. The MOA adjustment is right around 68MOA. I could get around 50MOA after setting my zero with my 300WSM. I have to reset for my .308 now. Should be about the same, but maybe a little more. That is with a 20MOA base. The adjustment is one of the reasons I wanted the Viper over my Buckmaster.

Tank
 
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