Savage 16FCSS .223 impresses a Remington guy! Again!

G

Ginner

Guest
Only an initial impression but so far that ugly S/S rifle is wonderful. I love Rem 700's but so far I can find little fault in this rifle. Mr. Coburn is the man.
Where else can you buy an American-made, stainless, synthetic, clip-fed, pillar-bedded, free-floated, sub MOA rifle with a factory trigger (Accutrigger) that is not only adjustable for pull weight but breaks nicely at 2.5lb (tested) right out of the box for $575 (real-world price)? No place I ever heard of!
Even the sound and feel of the action when chambering a round is pure quality, almost therapeutic.
I've only just roughed in the scope @ 30yds but this rifle has put it's last four consecutive rounds of 45gr UMC hollow point factory loads inside a 1/4" diamond shaped bullseye, at that range, while resting off the mirror of my truck in my driveway. I cannot wait to get to a real range and shoot this thing with some handloads from a set of bags.
I went to the gun shop to buy a Remington model seven or 700 but just could not get what I wanted. Cerebus sucks! Investment corporations should never run such an iconic company.
I know this is old news to many but for me it has taken that long to leave an old friend.
 
While you were sighting in.......

did you happen to hear "Dueling Banjos" in the background, or maybe a ...... coon-hound or two on the nex' ridge???


Hey!! I'm only teasing, I just couldn't help it, when I read that, I cracked UP!!!:D:D And I have done that too, probably everybody has, sooner or later. No offense meant. You have to admit, it gives new meaning to the term, "bench REST", jus' reclinin' with the button on the seatside, rollin' on back till I get the right elevation...and if you work night work, your wife comes out & finds you ASLEEP!!!!:cool:
 
Hillbilly for sure.......and lovin' it!

My driveway is .4 miles long off of a back road, get this, in Weedville, Elk Co., Pa. Not because I have to be here, either. I love it! Got a big 'ol lodge on a laurel point, 6 deer (2 bull elk last week) 40 feet outside the kitchen window right now, coyotes in the hollow below the house yesterday, 3 horses, new barn, a John Deere 4310;) and no damn neighbors in sight. I would not trade even up for a house in the Hamptons (unless I could sell immediately)!! I even have a full set of teeth, a great job, like my inlaws and my kids can not only shoot but get straight A's:cool:. Yeah I'm livin' right.
The truck mirror/rifle rest is just a product of my being raised on a farm and exercising my rights as an American. Not embarrassed in the slightest to be a redneck!
 
Savage 223

Ginner: if you really want your Savage to come alive, follow Savages' recommendation for the 1-9 twist barrel and use the 69 gr. Sierra #1380 HPBT. Since buying my 10FP new in Aug. 2000, have put 2500 rds. down the barrel ( just replaced w/ a Hart 1-8), and the most consitantly accurate bullet is the 69 Sierra. Tried various other weights & brands & the 69 remains the winner: also excellent in the new 1-8 Hart. Check out your bedding. My Savages have all required a little "clean-up". Great rifles, for their cost: I've contacted Ron Coburn & complimented him on their product.:)
 
Thank you Mr. Shuster!

This particular .223 I bought for still hunting 'chucks, coyote, turkey, snowshoe and the occasional double lung or headshot on venison. My other .223 is a 700 vlss thumbhole but it has a 12 twist barrel so I've been sticking to ballistic tips with it up to 60gr. with very good results. That said, I will order the 69's today. I had not thought of the Sierra's with my 12 twist mentality, thanks.
I do have some questions. Has anyone used the 69gr HPBT on whitetail? Will it break through a shoulder and still have enough for a clean short range kill (under 100yds) from a .223? Also, do I need a special bedding compound or will anything stick to the factory tupperware stock? I don't intend to bed if it will shoot under 1/2MOA consistantly. If I clip one coil from the trigger spring can I get the pull down just a bit more to say 1.75lb from 2.5?
Any other tips for this ugly, beautiful rifle?
 
Savage 223

Ginner: I'm also from Pa (SW corner), and although no longer hunt deer, I do believe anything smaller than 6mm is not permitted, in Pa. Maybe I'm wrong and the Game Commission has changed the regs. Favorite powder is Varget in the 25 to 26 gr. range ( 26.1 is max for the 69 gr). Seated .020" off the lands, to touching, did not seem to matter, exc. 5 shot groups @ 200 yd w/ both. Original factory barrel was ugly, as seen with my borescope. Reamer & tool marks chamber to muzzle, but it was always a good shooter with very little copper fouling that did clean out with minimal effort. Go figure. Both my Savages needed some attention with bedding. Tighten down the front guard screw, then watch the rear of the tang as you tighten the rear screw. Tang could be seen bending/springing down. Savage synthetic was replaced with a Bell & Carlson, and the laminate 12BVSS was bedded with Brownells "Steelbed". No more flexing at the tang. Proper bedding did tighten up the groups, on both of mine.
 
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fd correctly diagnosed what I consider the weakest link in the Savage package.
The rear pillar is actually just half a pillar as its relieved for the trigger. Bedding usually helps. One should snug the front action screw then snug the rear lightly then tighten the front solidly. Then make sure the rear is tourqed enough. Works for me.

I know of one Savage smith that does not follow mormal protocol and beds the rear tang fully instead of allowing it to float.

I've seen my heavier recoiling Sav's chew up the weaker bedding compounds in the rear action pillar area. There are ways to counter that problem.

Still never found a reason to buy any other factory gun;)

I've shot prone out of the back of my dumptruck to utilize varying yardages without a bench. A Connecticut redneck????
 
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Ginner said:
My driveway is .4 miles long off of a back road, get this, in Weedville, Elk Co., Pa. Not because I have to be here, either. I love it! Got a big 'ol lodge on a laurel point, 6 deer (2 bull elk last week) 40 feet outside the kitchen window right now, coyotes in the hollow below the house yesterday, 3 horses, new barn, a John Deere 4310;) and no damn neighbors in sight. I would not trade even up for a house in the Hamptons (unless I could sell immediately)!! I even have a full set of teeth, a great job, like my inlaws and my kids can not only shoot but get straight A's:cool:. Yeah I'm livin' right.
The truck mirror/rifle rest is just a product of my being raised on a farm and exercising my rights as an American. Not embarrassed in the slightest to be a redneck!
Click to expand...

Man, life is GOOD..! Sounds like an AWESOME place! :)
Enjoy it to the fullest! An accurate rifle is just iceing on the cake!

cale
 
Working on it.

Thank you for the insight. Will try the action screw sequence first then bed if neccessary.
The local shop had the 69gr HPBT on stock. Also picked up some Benchmark (have Varget & love it) and Rem BR primers. Had to order the Lapua brass but should have it in about a week. Will play with the Rem brass in the meantime.
I checked the game laws and it now reads "any manually operated centerfire rifle or handgun".
I am not advocating the use of a .223 as a deer rifle. IMHO it is not humane unless you can really pick your shot. My youngest daughter is just to slight of build for my 7mm-08 at 12 years so she will use the .223 with me under close supervision 'till she gets a bit bigger. I do not want her to develop a flinch. My dad raised us with 6mm Remingtons and my oldest daughter carries mine but they're no longer available. So I got another .223 to use for varmint/small game after she's big enough for the '08.
I don't have a bore scope yet and I was wondering if you guys that do would share your opinion of foaming bore cleaner/bore snake for general maintenance on a hunting rifle, not a bench gun.
 
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