New to savage rifles and I'm confused as hell!

How do I figure out what stock to order? I have a model 16 trophy hunter with an accutrigger and cheapie plastic stock. I'm getting 1.5" groups at 100yds which sucks and I believe a better stock will help that. The trigger is something I'm still getting used to as I'm a long time rem 700 user and the accutrigger is much different. I have a burris 4-16 on top with leupold rings and the stock bases that I just loctited in place when I mounted the scope. All the screws are tight so I don't think it's anything moving around just a flimsy stock. I've has a B&C metalist before but have heard they're not the best for savage. I'm looking for some advise as I don't have much experience with these rifles

Long or short action?
bolt release location?
Newer gun, center feed?

tell us a little more, is it a DBM? Is the bolt release in the trigger guard or on the side of the action? I am assuming it is new enough to be a centerfeed magazine.

I have heard that the Medalist is a good choice for the Savage from other members here, I have not tried one myself, but the B&C Duramaxx stocks (no longer in production) are great and I have 2 of them and love them, so I can easily believe that the Medalist is a good choice.

It's a .243win with a detachable 4 round mag with the release button on the mag and bolt release button on the trigger guard
brand new in the box gun and I don't know what center feed is

You have a Savage 16 Short Action (SA), Center Feed (CF); Drop-Box-Magazine (DBM) and Bottom Bolt Release. Action screw spacing is 4.40" (corrected-Tks Boots). I would start with Stocky Stocks or Boyds Gunstocks to look at available aftermarket stock options for a Savage SA (4.40"), CF, DBM configured stock. If you want to wait for 16+ months, then there are other custom options.

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Originally Posted by jpdown

You have a Savage 16 Short Action (SA), Center Feed (CF); Drop-Box-Magazine (DBM) and Bottom Bolt Release. Action screw spacing is 4.0". I would start with Stocky Stocks or Boyds Gunstocks to look at available aftermarket stock options for a Savage SA (4.0"), CF, DBM configured stock. If you want to wait for 16+ months, then there are other custom options.

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Correct assessment except it should be 4.40" spacing. I would look at boyds also like jp said.

Boyd's seem to be mostly wood stocks...are they reliable? What I mean is cracking, warping, longevity, strength. I like my synthetic stocks for the weather resistance and this rifle is primarily a 600yd shooter at targets and very little hunting if any

what about the choate stocks?

The boyds I have had have been very durable.

Choate are good stocks. Aluminum bedding blocks and good thick plastic. Normally they are a bit heavy and bulky, but work well for target work.

I would love to say that Boyds stocks don't crack but all laminates can and will crack. It's just the nature of the material. That being said they are rigid and easily repaired and well worth the price. Regarding Choate stocks I can't offer any advice.

OP I have a 260 that was exactly the same as your 243

4.40 short action DBM center feed with the axis style mag.

I went with a DBM inlet Choate tactical, it does not use the axis style mags so that is some parts you'd have to get but you can get them from savage and there are a few other option.
Pretty much any other stock I know of will require some change of the mag setup.

If you purchase the Choate Tactical directly from CDI they will inlet it for you and you can use AICS style magazines at that point, much more reliable and durable in the long run.

I agree 100% with the AICS mags, made a huge difference In feeding.

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I'm getting 1.5" groups at 100yds which sucks and I believe a better stock will help that.

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A better stock may help or it might not help at all. Are you shooting hand loads or factory ammunition?

It was factory and crappy federal blue box at that. I still think it should shoot 1"at 100 with factory stuff.

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Originally Posted by *klutch*

It was factory and crappy federal blue box at that. I still think it should shoot 1"at 100 with factory stuff.

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Not necessarily, try some Federal Gold Medal Match or similar higher quality ammo.

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Originally Posted by Rick_W

Not necessarily, try some Federal Gold Medal Match or similar higher quality ammo.

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+1 My Model 11 likes the Hornady 100gr Interlock.

I got some federal fusion. I did a front and rear bedding job on the plastic stock and retorqued the scope bases and rings. When it all hardens I'm gonna give it a go to see if there's any improvement. If not there is a new stock in my near future. I'm in between the B&C and the choate. I may just get the B&C since I've had one before. What's the deal with changing the mag to an internal mag? Can I use the existing mag parts?

Yes, all you need is the "L" clip for the magazine. You can get that at Savage.

Just pop the DBM floor plate off of your mag body and follower, insert clip and stick into a blind mag stock for a SA-CF and you are set to go.

+1 on boots instructions on how to go to blind mag. I did it on my build a few weeks ago. Its easy. I have the choate tactical(mines a LA) and I like it. Its kinda heavy but for your intended purpose it would fine.
Scooter