Bought this year the 6.5-284 and couldn't get it to shoot as accurately as I wanted--it was capable of less-than-1" groups at 100 yards, but I wanted better. I was also becoming more sensitive to recoil, even with a 14-pound rifle, so I chose the Creedmoor. Read lots of notes on barrel quality and was drawn to Shilen. After looking over Northland's site, I determined that, because of the magic-barrel-nut technology of the Savages, I could do it myself. I talked to James at Northland, selected the barrel--the stainless select match, 28 inches long*--I ordered it, new nut and recoil lug, two headspace gages, a short barrelnut wrench, and an action wrench/clamp. With beadblasting, shipping, and CC fee, the total was about $660.

All arrived today, and I managed to remove the old and install the new, going very slowly, in maybe an hour. Here are some pics.






New on the top.




Fortunately, the stock's barrel channel fit the new barrel perfectly...



Here 'tis finished.


The new barrel weighs about two ounces more than the 29" original.

Will get it to the range Thursday--****ed doctor visits!--and see how it goes.


* The original is 29 inches.