I think I will stand by my assessment of the "skullduggery" and poor sportsmanship involved in trying to "enhance" the outcome of the savage "win" at the Hickory.
And my opinion is worth exactly what it costs each of the conspirators!
I would no more be a part of that kind of poor sportsmanship than rob a charity box!
To each their own - I guess!
Each of the co-conspirators in that type "win" can truly be "proud"!
Sheesh!
As for the cost of the savage Model 12 in question my friend, I found out paid $1,000.00 cash to get his from a local dealer - still NOT an 'everyday" type Rifle purchase!
Dan Newberry: savages "win" (if YOU can call it that!) is not killing me at all! I am personally interested in factory/hybrid Rifles shooting as well as possible regardless of make, model or brand.
Jhunt: I have shot along side many savage Rifles both at the range and while Hunting - they are ugly, clunky and unattractive - of that you can not deny. And, as of now they are clearly overpriced!
They do often shoot well and of that I have NEVER denied here or anywhere else.
You rationalize the savage "win" anyway you want - it still would not interest a true sportsman to conspire in such a way. No matter what brand of firearm they chose to travel to a competition with!
Tiny68: Yes I do constantly trash talk savage Rifles and NOTHING you have posted has changed my opinion of them one iota!
The are cheap looking, cheap feeling, unattractive and poorly styled, UGLY Rifles.
And, as has become apparent and predictable this thread has become another "trash Remington" thread!
Sheesh!
Well I have a vault room full of fine shooting, good looking, well balanced and carefully crafted factory Rifles made by Remington. As well as more made by Winchester, Sako, Tikka, Weatherby, Ruger, Browning, Marlin and several other manufacturers!
I am "genuine" there Tiny68, when I say, once savage makes an attractive, non-clunky well designed Rifle that shoots real well - I will be in line to buy one!
I have no interest in brand discrimination what so ever.
I will state again for the record I hope the savage arms company lives long and prospers.
But as of now I see NOTHING in their lineup to motivate $1,000.00 leaving my pocket and going into theirs!
You may be interested in the average accuracy on one of the last Remington bolt action Rifles I purchased. This is an all factory stock XR-100 in caliber 223 Remington. Originally this Rifle had a Leupold 8.5x25x40mm variable scope on it - it now has a Leupold 6.5x20x40mm scope on it. With this Rifle using bullets I Varmint Hunt with (Berger 52 gr. MEF's) I fired the smallest group (5 shots at 100 yards) I have ever managed with an all factory (non-40X Remington) Rifle I have ever made! And I have been making them for more than 45 years now.
That group measured .121"!
Reading from my loading log I can quickly figure out the average grouping for this Rifle to date. Including ALL load test groups (5 shots at 100 yards) and all sight-in verifications this all stock Rifle averages .378"!
savage has no "corner" on the factory accuracy market!
How about the last Sako Rifle I purchased? This bolt action Rifle is in 6mm PPC caliber and the last two groups (5 shots at 100 yards) I fired with it for sight-in verification measured .226" and .212"! This Rifle shoots Nosler 70 gr. Ballistic Tips to an accuracy level that REALLY impresses me! This Rifle wears a Leupold 24x scope. The AVERAGE group size of ALL groups (5 shots at 100 yards) made with this Rifle comes to .392"!
savage has no "corner" on the factory accuracy market!
How about the factory Rifles from the folks at Ruger?
I own a Ruger 77 V/T in caliber 204 Ruger that is all stock and wears a 6x24 Sightron variable scope. The last two sight in verification groups I made with this Rifle measured .370" and .530"! These groups were made with Varmint Hunting type bullets.
savage has no "corner" on the factory accuracy market!
Another Ruger all factory stock Rifle I recently purchased was a Ruger #1-V in caliber 204 Ruger. I have just begun load development with this Rifle and it wears a relatively low power Nikon Monarch scope in 5.5x16.5 power. Again using Varmint type bullets this Rifles average of ALL load development groups (5 shots at 100 yards) comes to .568"!
savage has no "corner" on the factory accuracy market!
One more recently purchased Remington Rifles performance synopsis for your consideration - Remington 700 VLS in caliber 204 Ruger with Nikon 6,5x20 variable scope. The average group (5 shots at 100 yards) size made with this Rifle INCLUDING ALL load development and sight in verifications comes to .388"!
savage has no "corner" on the factory accuracy market!
AND, Tiny68, each of the above mentioned Rifles are extremely handsome and well styled and balanced Rifles!
This so called win is not the first "pushing the rules" incident I have witnessed with savage type folks!
I saw with my own eyes at a Varmint Hunters Jamboree where some savage type folks had entered a "factory stock" savage Rifle in the stock class at the Jamboree Shootout and did fairly well with their Rifle in caliber 222 Remington Magnum!
What you say - savage never made a factory Rifle in caliber 222 Remington Magnum!!!
And indeed you would be correct - it seems the gunsmith who specializes in savage work and aftermarket equipment owned the Rifle and indeed had to admit to "re-chambering" the factory barrel with a custom reamer to the 222 Remington Magnum caliber!
AND the ammunition the owners minion was competing with in the factory class had been neck turned! Sound like a tight necked, custom chambered "all factory" pushin the rules savage Rifle to you Tiny68?
Hmmmm...... does that sound like the spirit of fair play or does it sound like "win at any cost" conspiracy?
I think the latter!
Rationalize the "win at any cost" mentality all you care to - you are not convincing me the actions of some of these type folks is fair play and sportsmanlike!
Long live savage (genuinely!)!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy