hi, i am new here. looks like a pretty cool site.
i am looking at buying a soild bolt action rifle for varmints and overall fun. i know for sure i will get it in .223. i been leaning toward getting a Savage 12VF. i am drawn to the accu-trigger and 26" barrel. it seems like a good rifle for the money.
anyone have good or bad experiences with this rifle? what scope (that does not cost more than the rifle) is the best for it?
i know that all guns like certain ammo the best, i was wanting to buy the white box (winchester) in 55gr at wally world--nice cheap ammo, is this ammo good for this rifle? thanks for the help

or...does anyone know of a comparable rifle (price and barrel) that is better than this rifle. thanks again

bowhunt/fish--the Savage 12 FVSS is indeed a great value and a great shooting rifle. Most of my buddies and myself, mostly shoot Savages anymore. I do have this model and like it very much. Hopefully you'll get alot of replies to this post. As for moderate priced scopes, their is certainly alot to draw from.. Two that I've had very good luck with are the Swift 6-18 X44 and Muellers 4-16x 50. As for ammo, I haven't shot any manufactured ammo, but I do have friends that have had very good results with Black Hills ammo either in the 52 Gr. hollow point or 55 gr.V-Max. What ever you decide to purchase, you will enjoy shooting it. Good luck with your choice--tr

Howdy bowhunt/fish Welcome to the HuntingNut. I have a 12fv in 223 I hand load for it but 50gr or 55 gr Nosler balistic tips will shoot 1/2 moa or better it's a very accurate rifle. As far as scopes I have a Simmons 44 mag 6.5-20 mil dot witch works very well I got the scope from www.natchezss.com and got it for under 100 bucks and it has performed well. The accu trigger is very nice you will like it
Joe

Ya can't go wrong with the Savage and you'll like the user adjustable Accutrigger. As for glass, buy the best that your wallet can stand.
Good Hunting!
Yotebuster

thanks for the replies so far---keep em coming. i'm going to a gun show tomorrow and if the price is right.....who knows

I've got the left hand model with a Burris 4X16X44 Signature Select scope on it. With my handloads it shoots .3 groups. With the 9 to 1 twist it can shoot a bunch of different weight bullets. Mine seems to love the 55 grain Nosler ballistic tip in front of W748 powder.
For the money, you can't beat it.

bowhunt/fish, I have heard many good things about the Savage 12VF. I don't have one but they sound great for the money. I'm sure you could do a lot worse.

Welcome to HuntingNut !!! I had the same job you have for 30 years. I was wondering about your signature line......be honest now. How hard is it to sit behind bill boards and shoot cars with radar

I have the same setup as shrpshtrjoe. The Winchester white box shoots between .5 and 1" depending how bad I'm shakin'. In the 26" barrel the velocity claimed on the 'white box' is real close to actual in the Savage 12FV. Save all of that good brass because we will have you reloading before you finish shooting up that box of ammo.

The Simmons 6.5-20x44 is a great scope for the rifle and should be just the ticket in the senderos. Check www.sportsmansguide.com for the Simmons 4.5-20x44 Mag mildot w/iluminated recticle under $100.00 if they have any left.

Here is a coyote that I took in a sendero in Webb Co Texas with a Simmons 44Mag, 3-9x44, so you don't have to have the high power to varmint hunt. Just for grins who would have thought that a blue stand would be so well camoed when backlighted by the sky.

popgun--LOL...the job is not bad, just have to work to help with the family and support my outdoor habit. besides i really don't like traffic stops, and i don't have to do them if i don't want to.

I have 2 12 FV's in 22-250 with the non accutrigger that are set to 2.75 pounds and I will put 5 shots under a nickel @ 100yds all day long with any ammo I feed it and better with others. I actually need to sell one. PM me if you have not found one locally.

dawgdad,
i am looking for a new 12FV in .223 caliber. no doubt i would prefer the 22-250 if i reloaded, but i don't have time to reload (never done it either) and i want the .223 because the factory ammo is cheaper. thanks anyway.

I don't have the 12FV but I do have a 10FP in .223. With remanufactured Black Hills 52gr HPBT Match I can shoot consistantly in the .3s for 10 shot groups at 100. Sometimes the 5th shot in one hole gets to me and the hole gets a tad bigger! I would suggest most any of the heavy barrel Savage rifles will shoot .5" and under so you can't go wrong. Right now I'm having fun with the 60gr bullets from several mfgs. I'll post my results down the road.

bowhunt/fish wrote:

dawgdad, i am looking for a new 12FV in .223 caliber. no doubt i would prefer the 22-250 if i reloaded, but i don't have time to reload (never done it either) and i want the .223 because the factory ammo is cheaper. thanks anyway.

And here I am with a .22-250 wishing I had a .223 to go with it!

The Savage is a very good rifle, as is the Ruger VT that I have.

For glass, the Simmons 44 Mag 6.5-20x was my first varmint scope and I loved it.

Hey, I just recently got a .223 bolt rifle and was really torn between the rem700 and the savage, but eventually gart sports had some sale where I got an ADL for 280$ and the rifle shoots great, only problem I have with it is with some factory rounds the bolt closes pretty tight, but after putting a burris scope and a H.S stock on it I can drive tacks if I like. BUt ive also shot a savage .223 and was very impressed with it as well though it did not have the accutrigger. Overall tho, I prefer the 700 simply because they are real easy to upgrade and make for a good fun rifle.
Also note, the scope I have is a burris 4.5-14 and I found it on ebay for 270$ Pretty cheap if you ask me, do a search, they may still be available.
btw, I also shoot black hills 55gr full metal jacket ammo and it does great
-eric

well, i did it, i ordered a savage FVSS in .223. i thought the SS looked better, also i don't have to worry about rust as much. wow, i am fired up!! i already have the scope for it---the bushnell elite 3200 5-15x50 in mult-x. i hope this scope is ok for 300+ yards shots.

when i get it, how do i "break in" the barrel properly? also, i want to shoot the win usa 45gr jhp round for varmints. for "breaking in" the barrel, could i use the even cheaper win usa 55gr fmj? i guess when i'm done with those i will have to clean the barrel and then resight for the 45gr--correct? how many rounds do i need to shoot to have it "broken in"? thanks for the replies and advice thus far, please keep them coming!!