Waiting/Some Advice

[SKami]

So, while I'm waiting for my LRP to get fixed by Savage, I stopped at Cabelas. They have a Savage Model 11"Prarie Dog" for sale, and after getting their credit card, I walked out with another Savage rifle for under 400.00. It's got a blind mag, accu-trigger, and a varmint contour barrel (22/250), I'm thinking custom build-stock/.243 1:8 twist barrel etc. what do you all recommend? Have already spoken with Jim at NSS ( what a nice guy). I need some input, as I'm pretty new to Savage.

[jonbearman]

Take a look at what boyds has available for a decent stock and a 1in8 .243 is good just the way it is for varminting or target work.If it is mainly target work then I would suggest making it 6 creedmore and it will magazine feed nicely especially the centerfeed mags.If you want something really accurate beyond the .243 then think the 6mmBR which would be better single fed but super accurate and easy to tune loads for with the use of the best brass(lapua) it would be a hoot.

[SKami]

I already have a .243, and the reloading stuff, my LRP is a .260 rem, not opposed to another 6 mm, do you have a favorite, and am I on the right track with twist rate for the 6, I am open to suggestions. I have a eabco stock on a ruger 10/22 which I like, but would rather have a "sportier" style for this build. I think I will shoot it as is in 22/250 to see how well it performs, but basically bought it to fully customize.

[SKami]

By the way, Lapua brass is the bomb, got some in various calibers, and love it!

[bootsmcguire]

6BR is a great choice if you want another 6mm, but if you want to march to the beat of a different drummer and go with something different some great choices would be a 243AI, 6mm Rem AI, or you could go for totally different and do a 6-250AI just for fun. I currently have the 243AI and love it. I also have the 6BR and it is a real shooter but I have just gotten bored with it. I need to just take it out more but so many others to play with. The 6-250AI is on my wish list just because I want one but so many to try so who knows.

The 243AI gets my vote with a fast twist to push the 105,107, or 115 bullets. Plus the AI adds greatly to your brass life and basically eliminates trimming.

[rjtfroggy]

Here is a thought. I have had 95 & 107 gr. 6mm SMK on back order since the end of last October, non existent. This is with 4 different places, even called Sierra and they have none nor any plans of production for the near future,so my costly Savage BR gun sits in the safe unused for this years br matches. My advice for what it is worth stay away from the 6mm stuff for now and stick with the stuff that is availiable and buy some extra if you can don't get stuck like some of us did.

[SKami]

I have a pile of 95 grain noslers, and some hornady gmx's ( which won't shoot well thru my current setup cause of twist rate), but that's a consideration, Spose I could go with something else at first, and then if/when things get back to normal, try a BR or AI? I wonder about brass for a 6-250? Can you neck up the 22/250? Anyway thanks for the input, Boyd's seems to have some great options as far as stocks go, and not very expensive either!

[SKami]

As far as barrels for the 11, I think I will go with NSS and a criterion, just cause his service is so awesome-open to suggestions.

[SKami]

Barrel length is another question, I think I'd go with a varmint contour, but is 24 to short. Should I be thinking 26-28, I guess it depends on caliber?

[bootsmcguire]

For a 6-250AI or 6-250 you just neck up 22-250 brass or neck down 250 Savage brass. I make 250 brass by necking up 22-250 when I can't find the straight 250 brass.

24" wouldn't be bad for a 6BR or a 6-250AI or even most of the others. For a 243AI or 6-Rem-AI or bigger I would go 26" or longer just to get the most from it, but they would work ok with a 24".

[teddog]

By the way, Lapua brass is the bomb, got some in various calibers, and love it!
No doubt Lapua is good stuff, but after the purchase I would be thinking a "bomb" went off in my wallet:) I will stick with sorting and otherwise tuning my standard R-P. W-W, and other less expensive brands. If I do my part my Howa 22-250 can keep 5 shots touching with regular brass. Some cases are going on 10 firings with no issues. I guess if a person does not have the time to mess with common brass Lapua would be the best option.

[Slowpoke Slim]

I guess I missed where you said what you want to use the rifle for? We talking targets, varmints, prairie dogs, benchrest,...?

I highly recommend Jim at NSS. I've bought several guns and barrels from him. Great guy.

As for barrel length, it really depends on what you want out of the rig. I have a 26" bbl on my 22-250 and a 28" bbl on my 243. I think my next barrel on my 243 will be 30", like the bbl on my 12F. But mine are all benchrest/prairie dog guns, so I'm not lugging them around anywhere.

[GaCop]

6.5 bullets still seem to be easy to find.......why not a 6.5X47 Lapua?

[bflee]

Whats wrong with the LRP?