New Dick's Sporting Goods Package - "Model 11 VT"

[Wtlj]

I was wrong...

About what?

[ellobo]

., do you have to stay in same class of calibers or could get a .223 and ..308 out of the same gun?

Yes you can but be aware that going from .223 to .308 or any cartridge with a larger cartradge head dia means changing the bolt head and baffle at least. The beauty of Savages is that you can change everything to your liking, you just have to be aware that older rifles sometime need different things changed due to Savage's penchant for changing things without teling us.

El Lobo

[cpurick]

Yep, I bought the 11VT in .308, and I just got a 26" .260 barrel for it. Next I'm getting a 26" .243, and I might even put a longer .308 barrel on it at some point. Since they're all based on the same casing, the only thing you need to change out is the barrel. They even use the same headspace gauges.

If I went with the .223 I couldn't do this, though if I really wanted a .224 I could do it cheaper with a .22-250, which uses the same bolt and can probably be made to work with the same mag.

[Wtlj]

Yep, I bought the 11VT in .308, and I just got a 26" .260 barrel for it. Next I'm getting a 26" .243, and I might even put a longer .308 barrel on it at some point. Since they're all based on the same casing, the only thing you need to change out is the barrel. They even use the same headspace gauges.

If I went with the .223 I couldn't do this, though if I really wanted a .224 I could do it cheaper with a .22-250, which uses the same bolt and can probably be made to work with the same mag.

How much are those barrels costing you and where are you buying them?

[cpurick]

Jim at Northland Shooters Supply. Good prefit barrels are about $300, which is cheaper, faster and more convenient than having them made to order by the very same shops. You're gonna need some tools, too, and Jim has some of those as well.

You have to work patiently to get through to Jim, as his line is always busy. It's worth the effort.

http://www.savageshooters.com/forumdisplay.php?43-Northland-Shooters-Supply

[jonbearman]

They are special order(contract) rifles that are exclusive to dicks. I know other companies that do this as well and they wont be in a catalog or on the web as a normal number such as the model 10/12. They make so many and then they are gone similar to jerrys sport exclusives and davidsons I believe.

[expfcwintergreen]

cpurick, would you be so kind to give me the overall weight of the gun along with the barrel diameter at the muzzle
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+1.
I am also interested in the weight and the barrel diameter at the muzzle if anyone knows, and is it the same for both the .223 and the .308?

[cpurick]

Sorry, can't give the weight as I've already swapped out the barrel and scope and added a bipod. I can say it's heavy enough that you should be able to shoot it all day in .308 without giving your shoulder a workout. Recoil is a complete non-issue shooting 120 grain .260 Rem after upgrading to a 26" barrel.

I believe the OD of the 24" barrel at the muzzle is just over .8"/20mm. There's a bevel at the tip, and the washer-shaped flat area around the recessed crown is about 18mm across.

I would expect the .223 contour to be identical.

The rifle uses the smaller of Savage's two common shank diameters. It comes with the smooth barrel nut, which was a complete nightmare to remove even with Jim's action wrench. There's simply no way to grip the nut without damaging it. Eventually I turned it with a pipe wrench against bare metal (after stripping the finish off the nut and chewing into the metal a bit). I also had some problems with the action slipping in the action wrench, but there's no damage that I can detect.

[expfcwintergreen]

I believe the OD of the 24" barrel at the muzzle is just over .8"/20mm.
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Thank you. I am getting back in to target shooting after 30+ years of not firing a gun and am looking for rifles with heavy barrels. If either of the DSG's in Memphis has the .308, I will probably buy it this week.

[Wtlj]

I bought the .223 model, any scope recommendations cpurick?

[expfcwintergreen]

Wtlj wrote:
I bought the .223 model, any scope recommendations cpurick?
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Did it not come with the Bushnell 4-12X40 scope like Savage told you?

[Wtlj]

Yes Bushnell 4x12x40 sharpshooter

[cpurick]

I'm not qualified to recommend a scope.

I upgraded because just about everything's better than a package scope, and because I'm planning to use this rifle for half-mile shooting -- which is the same reason I rebarreled to .260 Remington.

[thomae]

Upfront disclaimer: I get no kickbacks from Dick's Sporting Goods (DSG), and am not an employee thereof.

Today, I went into my local DSG to see if they had a specimen on the rack. I had not even finished my "Do you have the new Savage..." when the CSR behind the counter smiled and pointed to the top rack. "I thought you would be in sooner or later to look at these," he quipped. He and I have had a lot of very good rifle discussions over the past few years and he knows me as a Savage guy.

Anyway, I looked at the rifle. It is relatively heavy. I didn't have a scale, but I'd guess about 10+ pounds at least, not what you want for walking around the woods rifle, but fine for shooting off a rest. The stock has the wider beavertail and although it flexed when I applied pressure with my hand, I would guess that there was enough room between the stock and barrel that even with shooting from a bipod, the stock would not touch the barrel. (Those of you who have tried it may certainly correct me if I am wrong...I'm just guessing here).

One interesting thing my friend behind the counter did say was that most of DSG discounts specifically exclude firearms, but if you open up a new DSG credit card account, you could get 10% off anything, including firearms, that would bring the pre-tax $599 price down to $539.10.

That's what I know.

[pg637b]

Is the vt barrel stainless

[expfcwintergreen]

Is the vt barrel stainless?
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I haven't seen it yet (I hope to today), but at $600, I doubt it. That seems like too good price for a heavy barreled rifle with even a marginal scope to also have a stainless steel barrel.

[shovelheadave]

Probably not S/S, the whole thing is matte black.

[Wtlj]

I have one in .223 its all matte black. I love it. I need a bipod and sling for the gun any suggestions. Don't mind spending good money on the best.

[1ShotKing]

Someone should post a picture!

[Wtlj]

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a552/williamleojr/D70B5A49-A4B9-4EEC-A22E-5C2F9C9DEE9B-1717-0000014B1D627624_zps5a291fa1.jpg

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a552/williamleojr/778B9FD7-0420-434B-874A-958670D7A09F-1717-0000014B3C091E54_zps0ebe53e5.jpg

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a552/williamleojr/0E8CEBEE-BFA5-4A2F-9F44-3DBA89ED42A6-1717-0000014AC155004F_zpsff0c89ae.jpg

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a552/williamleojr/464E9D9D-B7E8-4CFD-99F1-D91E43A3B661-1717-0000014AC43532E2_zpsb901b1a9.jpg

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a552/williamleojr/391F6437-FEE3-4F62-9F4F-CC56CB875D90-1717-0000014ACB0E7D1C_zps10ed16f7.jpg

Let me know if you guys want more detailed pictures. There not the best. From my dark basement and iPhone!