Have you tried using a barrel vise? I highly recommend a wheeler barrel vise.

I agree other makes, such as Remington benefit from an action wrench and barrel vise, but practical experience with Savage has shown me you only really need one or the other with Savage, and the barrel vise is more simple to use, allows for "tighter grip/squeeze" ( b/c you aren't affecting the threads) and pretty much negates the need for the action wrench.