Savage 111 LRH .338 Lapua, re-barreling / build time!

[lv2hunt]

This would be my second long range build, the first being a .338 Edge built a few years ago by Shawn Carlock on a Winchester Model 70 action, unfortunately I had to let that one go shortly after receiving it due to life changes and a new family addition.

About a year and a half ago I bought a new Savage 111 LRH chambered in .338 Lapua for my new long range rig, unfortunately I had a couple small problems with it from the start. The first problem I had was a chambering problem due to the forward most scope base screw being to long and protruding into the chamber, an easy fix except for the same screw hole was actually somewhat stripped from the factory as well.

The second problem I had was that the Accustock was not floated and was touching the barrel, upon complete tear down I found multiple plastic shavings from machining and drilling of the stock lodged in between the barrel and laying inside of the stock. I only ended up breaking in the barrel and shooting this rifle 50 times with sub par results and grouping. To be fair I didn't work with this rifle that much, I really lost interest in it till now due to the lack of craftsmanship and luck I had with it.

Fast forward till now, I tore the entire rifle down again to re-tap the stripped receiver hole which the Gunsmith had to remove the barrel to do and have decided to make lemonade out of my lemon and have a custom built rig built out of this rifle / action. After much research I have decided to go with a fluted 30" Hart barrel, and a 1:10 twist rate, contour is still up in the air. (I am thinking around 1.250" tapered, opinions on this please?)

I contacted Defensive Edge about re-barreling and apparently he no longer builds rifles for customer's unless they are full builds and only on Remington or full custom actions.

Questions I have that hopefully you all can help with:

Hart offers a complete re-barreling service and was wondering if anyone can vouch for their Gunsmith work?

I am assuming McMillian, Manner's, or Russos's stocks are the industry standard for tactical stocks, any others I should look into considering it is a Savage?

Long range Savage Gunsmith specialists recommendation?

Pitfalls to be aware of with this build?

And last but no least, should I have another .338 Lapua built, a .338 Lapua Improved, or another caliber?

Thanks,
Brandon, aka: lv2hunt

 

[sinarms]

Some people like the accustocks, they are okay for a cheap hunting rifle. I myself think they should be tossed, especially when there are so many better choices out there.

I have 2 of the 338L Savage rifles sitting in the gun rack right now for rebuilds. The customers were having the same problem as you are. They will be getting trued and Brux barrels. They should be very nice rigs after that.

I think you should go with a Russo stock just because they are a work of art. If you wanted a drag around beat up rifle I would go with a MCM or HS or Manners.

 

[lv2hunt]

Good Information, thanks Sinarms.

Brandon

 

[lv2hunt]

Going to turn this rifle into a shooter yet, update on the build! I ordered the barrel from Hart last week, they are currently running a 6 to 8 week lead-time. Specs of the barrel: Stainless, 30", .338, 1:10 twist, 1.250" for the first 5", straight taper to 1.000" at the muzzle, fluted with 6 flutes.

Thanks,
Brandon
aka, lv2hunt

 

[SidecarFlip]

One of our hunting group had Hart accurize his rifle (lesser caliber) and he's very happy with the results. From what I see, they do good work. I see you already ordered just a barrel so my comment is actually moot but if you decide to have them do the rework entirely, IMO, they are a viable option at least from what I see in my friend's rifle and it's accuracy.

Comments about cheap this and that on Savage factory platforms... I have this comment, look at the asking price versus a custom build or a TRG and your comments are answered totally.... Not that a TRG for 2 grand more don't have it's own issues.

 

[lv2hunt]

Side car flip,

Thanks for the comments about Hart. I am not trying to belittle Savage at all and hope I didn't come across that way. I know they put out a decent rifle for the value they offer, but if I spend over a grand on a factory rifle I do expect it to at least somewhat function. I am simply trying to spread my experiences so that others may learn at my expense and be aware. Moving on with the build...

Thanks,

Brandon
aka: lv2hunt

 

[SidecarFlip]

I took my 11-111 down as well (wanted to lighten the trigger a bit) and I relieved the Accustock and found some swarf too but I never commented on it anywhere, just removed it and carried on.

Any production firearm will have issues. Savage makes an affordable instrument. Affordability has it's drawbacks as we are all aware of.

Have fun.

 

[lv2hunt]

Update...

After alot of research on muzzle brakes this past week, I came down to two finalists that I liked. Option one was one of Kirby Allan's large 5-port Painkiller brakes, but after talking to him I found that it would most likely be overkill for my .338 Lapua. His smaller sizes wouldn't work due to my large 1.000" muzzle diameter.

Option two was one of Darrel Holland's new large diameter radial quick discharge brakes, after talking with Darrel this product seems to be incredibly effective and what I am looking for.

I will be ordering both the Holland radial quick discharge muzzle brake and a Holland pinned recoil lug in the near future for this build.

Thanks,
Brandon
aka: lv2hunt