Has anyone tried the Savage 12F series rifles? They look pretty good to my old eyes.

Hey 17, I have a 12FV in 204 Ruger. It is a really a great rifle. Accuracy is < 1/2 inch at 100 yds. The stock has aluminum pillar bedding, the barrel is a 26 inch heavy varmint type, and the accutrigger is adjusted to 1 1/2 lbs. The only complaint I have is that it weighs 10 1/2 lbs! Since buying this gun about a year ago, I have purchased 2 other Savage rifles. I have always purchased Remingtons in the past. But now I truly believe that Savage makes the best rifle. The barrels are interchangeable. If I want to convert my 204 to say a 223, all I need to do is swap out the barrel. The barrel can be swapped out by me (and I am not a gunsmith) in about 10 minutes. Try that with a Remington or a Ruger. Barrels can be purchased from several sources and cost anywhere from $50 to $350 depending on what you want. Competition triggers are available from several sources but I like the accutrigger myself. Stocks are also available from several sources. You can create yourself a custom rifle yourself without the help of a gunsmith if you want. Of course, some people would still let the smithy do the work. Anyway, give the savage a try. You won't be disappointed.
204

to me the .308 is a magnum target cartridge. compared to the b.r.'s and p.p.c.'s I own one in a f.n. p.b.r. mcmillianed. 20" however my fav hunting rig is a heym, [kinda f.n.ish] in 30-06. w\ a 4x m-8. during annual zero sessions it alway goes under 1" a 100yds w 165 horn spires. off a bag. It doesn't even have a sling, I just like carrying it at the ready. I think you're on to something about 800. have you calculated the difference {advantage} over a .308? the 30-06 strength is the 165+ bullet weight and its hard to get b.r. results at 1000 w a .308. maybe you could keep 1200 fps just long enough to make a difference. w a 175 smk? Carlos Hathcock did w a mod 70.

Minerfile, lots of good advice here.

Please tell us what type or kind of target shooting you want to do?
Any particular specialty: Benchrest, F-class, Service Rifle, Silhouette, casual matches, plinking, or ....

I've noticed that some rifles make better safe queens than target rifles.
So whatever you settle on make sure to shoot it lots, then tell us about the fun you're having using it.





;-)

The real question is how deep do you want to go. "Match" preformance is all relative. The semi custom description is about right. The Savage solutions as already mendtioned can be good. I've used savage actions and aftermarket barrels very succesfully. Just don't forget to Glass bed and torque the screws.

longwalker