204 Savage with 1:9 twist barrel

[Hotshot]

Saw a thread over on Saubier that Savage will offer a 204 varmint accu-stock with a 1 in 9 twist. Rumors of additional 50 grain bullets in 20 cal. too. This will be interesting.

[jo191145]

Hotshot Interesting indeed.

Seeing as T/C just started going with 10 twist in some models I was considering breaking ranks with Savage and buying a TC.
I could'nt find a mention of Savages 9 twist intent on Saubier. Can you help steer me a little closer?

[kenbrofox]

Jo, it's on small cal discussion board, page 2, something new by Dave Moore. Cheers, ken.

[jo191145]

Thanks Ken
Looks like I'll give Savage a call Monday. I still have a 50% off certificate for Savage kicking around here anyway.

[jo191145]

The answer I got from Savage is NO. Looks like it was a misprint. Not the first time they've messed up in that area.
So no new 9 twist Savage for us 204 shooters. Such a shame.

[Wrangler John]

Well, go get a barrel and screw it on. Pac-Nor makes a 9" twist .204 barrel. They can make a drop-in barrel to match any contour exactly (may have to send in the old barrel to measure). Shilen makes 9" twist .204 barrels for VLD bullets, as a Savage Replacement Barrel in standard contours. Both all ready to screw on your action with a headspace gauge. It's cheaper than a whole new rifle and you can switch back and forth between barrels as needed. Barrel vise, action wrench and headspace gauge set and you're in business for any Savage project that pops into your dreams. If you can change a tire, you can do it.

To really get tricky, load a few dummy rounds with the bullet you want seated at the depth you want and have the throat cut to length when they cut the chamber. Seat them long puppies out into the neck where they belong. You'll have more fun than a peg-legged pirate in a room full of bubble wrap.

[jo191145]

Don't worry John, My barrel wrench is just about worn out I have a safe full of Savages and another safe full of barrels.
Just ordered a 30BR 17twist cut with a Robinette reamer yesterday from Benchmark barrels. Little known fact but Benchmark is willing to smith up a Savage prefit tube for a good price. 6-8 weeks waiting period and one of the finest custom tubes on the market today (So I hear)
Any contour you want, no extra charge.

I should mention Kevin Rayhill of Stockade Stocks uses Benchmark and will smith them up for just a tad less. Not to disparage Kevin but some of his "suggestions" were a little off the wall.

I'll be campaining this new big bore in some IBS Score Matches this summer. See if I can get Savage on the equipment list
After figuring out the cost to revamp my Viper drop port to shoot 30BR I took the cheap way out.

The factory barrels are just used for factory class egg shoots. No sense just shooting just custom classes when you can shoot em all.
A 9 twist would have been sweet!

[Wrangler John]

Don't worry John, My barrel wrench is just about worn out I have a safe full of Savages and another safe full of barrels.
Just ordered a 30BR 17twist cut with a Robinette reamer yesterday from Benchmark barrels. Little known fact but Benchmark is willing to smith up a Savage prefit tube for a good price. 6-8 weeks waiting period and one of the finest custom tubes on the market today (So I hear)
Any contour you want, no extra charge.

I should mention Kevin Rayhill of Stockade Stocks uses Benchmark and will smith them up for just a tad less. Not to disparage Kevin but some of his "suggestions" were a little off the wall.

I'll be campaining this new big bore in some IBS Score Matches this summer. See if I can get Savage on the equipment list
After figuring out the cost to revamp my Viper drop port to shoot 30BR I took the cheap way out.

The factory barrels are just used for factory class egg shoots. No sense just shooting just custom classes when you can shoot em all.
A 9 twist would have been sweet!

Now I hear that bubble wrap popping! One thing is for sure, these Savages are quite addictive. I just bought another safe to handle it all. Reminds me of the old IHMSA days with the safe full of Contender barrels. Wife discourages any more competitive shooting since I dragged her up and down California, into Oregon, Nevada and Idaho for a decade. Now she considers Indian Casinos the proper destination, cheaper too!

I hadn't paid any attention to Benchmark Barrels over at 6mmbr.com, now I'll do a bit of research. My last barrel is a Brux cut-rifled that is sold through Sharp Shooter Supply. They held the tolerances so close that I had to purchase their recoil lug as the OEM wouldn't fit. Strange thing is that the chamber was held so precise that the firing pin strikes are all dead center, don't usually see that unless the action is trued along with a precision chambering job. Shoots beyond expectations, in fact it's near perfect with me the limiting factor. Even the Shilen barrels aren't that close.

Off the wall suggestions are my favorite, weird calibers and cartridges accepted.

Well, carry on, I gotta get back to loading, ground squirrels will be out late next month and the creek low enough to get to them.