I have been playing and building a number of Savages/Stevens over the last couple of years and can offer these ideas. I assume that since you are using SSS that you are playing with a Savage.
If all you want is a 30-06 heavy barrel for moderate range shooting, find yourself a 112BVSS, bed it and you will have a 1/2MOA or better shooter with handloads. Personally, I would suggest a 7RM as the ballistics are head and shoulders over the 30-06.
If you need a custom, then start with a Stevens. Fred will adjust the timing on the bolt as this will make it easier to open. Very little if any work is needed on the action.
The traditional blueprinting does not really apply to the Savages as the floating bolt head ensures even contact between the lugs. From feedback I have read from smiths and from my own project rifles, the Savage actions come pretty straight out of the box anyways and any slop is taken care of by the bolt head.
Swap in a SSS trigger. These are very nice and can be tuned down to 12ozs. If you want lighter, go with a rifle basix 2.
For barrels, SSS will offer douglas. I would look at the 280 or better yet, the 280AI. The ballistics are close to the 7RM and way better then any 30-06 loading.
Have a look at their new lam stocks and those offered through his sister company Stockade stocks (fiberglass). There are some very nice styles that will suit any approach to LRH. Brownells carries some too.
Get the stock and action properly bedded even if there are pillars and the alum bed. Close doesn't count when you are looking for max accuracy.
Pac nor makes pre fit barrels and I feel their quality a bit better then Douglas. Talk to Fred about that. He seems to be a very straight up kind of guy.
I like the Farrel 20MOA base and Burris Rings w/inserts to handle the optics duties.
From here, just load up some ammo and have at it.
I have shot a number of factory rifles and they have all shot at least 3/4MOA. Most were 1/2 MOA or better at 200yds and sub MOA out as far as my Leica 800 can range.
That is pretty amazing performance from a factory rifle but these Savage/Stevens do it time and time again. So unless there is a particular cal or stock you want, I would just go with a factory rifle. You might gain 1/4MOA by going with a match barrel over a factory pipe. Then again, you may not.
Jerry
