First rifle 7.62/.308

[Christel]

Don't get me wrong, I think it is the best trigger system since sliced bread and was I to have another rifle I would get that again.

[Hauptman]

We have a Savage F/TR and despite the heavy barrel, my sidekick shoots it without a bipod, just with a support under her left wrist. (She really wanted a match rifle, so a Palma barrel will soon be on order.........) The trigger is to die for, despite it's admittedly annoying habit of locking up if you're a bit too vigorous closing the bolt. Once you get to know it, you get used to lightly feeling the blade as you come onto aim. If it's locked, gently lifting and lowering the bolt handle sorts it.

[shugie]

Well today I've been to have a look at both the Savage and the Steyr.

First impressions were that the Accutrigger is quite nice, but that the set trigger on the Steyr is slightly lighter, albeit not by much. The Steyr seems a lot heavier, despite having much the same length and thickness of barrel, and it has a four round magazine, the Savage has an internal magazine. The Savage is probably easier to load single shots into.

The Steyr comes with scope/mounts and a moderator, and is probably a better bargain if both guns were in the same condition, which to my untutored and inexpert eye appears to be the case. It is being sold by a chap in my club, so I would be able to bend his ear if I was unhappy, and would guess he might be reluctant to sell me a pup for that reason. The seller of the Savage seemed a pukka geezer too though. Both of them have quite valid reasons for sale.

The Steyr forend is quite light, you can slip a sheet of paper between it and the barrel when holding the gun up, if you then rest the gun on the forend it traps the paper to some extent, showing sign of some movement. The Savage forend is much heftier. If I was likely to shoot with a bipod, would this be a significant point?

Anyone want to give me any ideas/thoughts/considerations to help me decide, as it seems a fairly even split at present?

As always, all help appreciated.

[Mr_Logic]

For target shooting, each and every time, the Savage.

[Gaz]

The Steyr forend is quite light, you can slip a sheet of paper between it and the barrel when holding the gun up, if you then rest the gun on the forend it traps the paper to some extent, showing sign of some movement. The Savage forend is much heftier. If I was likely to shoot with a bipod, would this be a significant point?

Yes, fore-end contacting the barrel will shift your groups, especially if it's moving under the influence of the bipod. You'll find that rifle may have a tendency for its zero to 'wander' depending on how much weight you put on it while in position. Nothing that can't be sorted by relieving wood from the fore-end until it no longer touches the barrel, but that depends whether you want to take woodworking tools to a new rifle or not.

[shugie]

The Steyr forend is quite light, you can slip a sheet of paper between it and the barrel when holding the gun up, if you then rest the gun on the forend it traps the paper to some extent, showing sign of some movement. The Savage forend is much heftier. If I was likely to shoot with a bipod, would this be a significant point?

Yes, fore-end contacting the barrel will shift your groups, especially if it's moving under the influence of the bipod. You'll find that rifle may have a tendency for its zero to 'wander' depending on how much weight you put on it while in position. Nothing that can't be sorted by relieving wood from the fore-end until it no longer touches the barrel, but that depends whether you want to take woodworking tools to a new rifle or not.

It's only new to me, and a synthetic stock anyway. I hope I've made the right decision, the Steyr just seemed to fit me slightly better, and I did like the set trigger. The fact that I'm buying it from a club member means I have a ready ear to bend if I'm not happy.

[Multihornedsheep]

How about a Swing Mk5 7.62mm with a 30" Border 1 in 13 twist, plus a stack of pre-fired shell cases for reloading?

Have one, looking to sell in the near future as don't get to use it that often.

Jus

[shugie]

How about a Swing Mk5 7.62mm with a 30" Border 1 in 13 twist, plus a stack of pre-fired shell cases for reloading?

Have one, looking to sell in the near future as don't get to use it that often.

Jus

The 7.62 slot on my FAC (and in my quite perfectly formed gun safe) is currently taken up with my Steyr. If I don't get on with that, I might sell it and buy something different, but not for a few months yet.

[IainWR]

Jus is offering you a gift horse (or maybe not - price is everything) of a true top of the range serious competition gun.

Explore.

[ovenpaa]

A Swing Mk5 is something rather special.