Author Topic: A Savage Build for Bear (Read 5771 times)

TheSkyBuster · « **on:** February 06, 2018, 07:55:28 PM »

My winter project is complete and ready to start slinging lead. I put this one together with the sole purpose of hunting black bear in Western Washington. For Quick off hand brush shots, or 300 yards across the clear cut this is the rifle I came up with. A couple of guys asked me to post my range results, here you go. So far only 6 shots and no load development.

At the range before I put the Leupold on:

First 3 shots out of the barrel:

First 6 shots out of the barrel:

The Boring Details:

Action: Savage 110 (was a .270 I purchased through Hunt-wa classifieds)
Barrel: McGowan Precision #4 contour 21" 1-14" twist .35 Whelen (Thanks Yorktransport for the help)
Stock: Bell and Carlson #: 2980-97
Scope: Leupold 3-9X40 LRD Reticle
Rings: Talley 1 piece (Talley #: 94x708)
Extras: Savage oversized bolt handle, Butler creek flip up scope covers, Allen Baktrak sling, Custom trigger job by TheSkybuster set at a clean 3lbs.
Rifle and all extras weighs 8Lbs 5oz.

92xj · « **Reply #1 on:** February 06, 2018, 07:58:29 PM »

I know nothing of savages.....
No issues with case ejection clearance with the back one piece mount ring?

Dan-o · « **Reply #2 on:** February 06, 2018, 08:17:21 PM »

Nice looking rifle.

I love my Savage rifles.

I imagine a 35 Whelen has to be a good bear thumper.

CaNINE · « **Reply #3 on:** February 06, 2018, 08:22:12 PM »

I think the bears of western Washington have been officially put on notice. Great job with the build.

kselkhunter · « **Reply #4 on:** February 06, 2018, 08:25:51 PM »

Nice rifle. Good luck this year. My bear thumper is also a 35 Whelen. 250gr Nosler Partitions.

BULLBLASTER · « **Reply #5 on:** February 06, 2018, 08:30:18 PM »

Whelens are awesome!

jmscon · « **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2018, 08:33:25 PM »

That’s a really nice looking bear poker! If you don’t mind, how much did the whole thing cost?

yorketransport · « **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2018, 09:17:35 PM »

That turned out great!

Quote from: 92xj on February 06, 2018, 07:58:29 PM

I know nothing of savages.....
No issues with case ejection clearance with the back one piece mount ring?

Savages have a pretty low ejection angle, so It won't be an issue.

blackpowderhunter · « **Reply #8 on:** February 08, 2018, 07:23:56 AM »

Awesome! Glad the savage action worked out for you and glad you got it all together

X-Force · « **Reply #9 on:** February 08, 2018, 08:56:25 AM »

Sweet.

I’ll be interested to see how the loads develop.

Kit Carson · « **Reply #10 on:** February 08, 2018, 06:55:02 PM »

Good lookin rifle !

jjness11 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 08, 2018, 11:10:56 PM »

Did you install the barrel yourself? I have a couple Savages that I have been thinking about customizing.

TheSkyBuster · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2018, 04:46:32 AM »

Quote from: blackpowderhunter on February 08, 2018, 07:23:56 AM

Awesome! Glad the savage action worked out for you and glad you got it all together

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2018, 05:18:46 AM »

Nice looking gun hope you are able to secure a couple bear with it this year.

TheSkyBuster · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2018, 05:40:15 AM »

Quote from: jjness11 on February 08, 2018, 11:10:56 PM

Did you install the barrel yourself? I have a couple Savages that I have been thinking about customizing.

Yes, I built a simple barrel vise last year, this was the 4th time I have used it between myself and friends.

CaNINE · « **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2018, 06:02:30 AM »

ive done a couple savage builds and have another one in work. Several members on here have done builds too. Is there general interest in starting a new thread where members can show off their savage builds and components used?

jjness11 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2018, 08:20:07 AM »

Quote from: TheSkyBuster on February 09, 2018, 05:40:15 AM

Quote from: jjness11 on February 08, 2018, 11:10:56 PM
Did you install the barrel yourself? I have a couple Savages that I have been thinking about customizing.

Yes, I built a simple barrel vise last year, this was the 4th time I have used it between myself and friends.

Nice. I just started doing my research, but I have two Savages that I am going to do, and go from there. Nice looking rifle!

jdb · « **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2018, 12:30:35 PM »

Thanks! Just what I need is something else to add to my want list!

TheSkyBuster · « **Reply #18 on:** July 26, 2019, 05:12:31 PM »

Update to an old topic:

pup0025 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 26, 2019, 09:29:21 PM »

Looks like it worked good. Congrats. Nice bear.

yorketransport · « **Reply #20 on:** July 27, 2019, 08:23:27 PM »

Well done!

TheSkyBuster · « **Reply #21 on:** July 27, 2019, 10:27:51 PM »

I am using the Sierra 225gr Gameking (#2850) pushed by Varget and a Federal 210
results are SUB MOA out to 300 yards (as far as I have shot this rifle, and plan on shooting it).
Interestingly I am getting about 25 -30 FPS faster than the velocity listed for a 24" barrel out of my 21" tube. When I used RL-15 I was getting slower than listed speeds.

The Bear in the picture above is my 2019 spring bear, he was an average boar under 200LBS. I called him in and shot him at 56 yards broadside, hit right behind the shoulder but about 3" higher than perfect, he dropped like a rock. Bullet exited straight out the other side. I found a small piece of the copper jacket inside a Bratwurst last week.

kselkhunter · « **Reply #22 on:** July 27, 2019, 10:40:16 PM »

Nice bear. Congrats.

My 35 Whelen loves Varget (and also IMR4064), solid accuracy and velocity. Very good powder for that cartridge.

Boss .300 winmag · « **Reply #23 on:** July 27, 2019, 11:26:17 PM »

Nicely done 👍, I have always wanted a 35 whelen.🤔

TheSkyBuster · « **Reply #24 on:** November 05, 2019, 06:28:03 PM »

Turns out that my "Bear Rifle" also works on elk.

TheSkyBuster · « **Reply #25 on:** November 05, 2019, 06:48:15 PM »

Have I mentioned how much I love this rifle?
I left the Magnums at home and took the Whelen on a five day general season elk hunt East of the Cascades. I was able to really put this gun through the paces. Riding in dusty ATV's and climbing steep rocky ridges for five days straight left a few new battle scars on the surfaces. On the morning of day five I was two miles in when a pair of spikes busted out of the timber on a dead run in my direction passing within 75 yards. I picked the bigger of the two, put the cross-hairs right behind the shoulder and sent a 225gr softpoint through through a rib, both lungs, and out the other side. Twenty five yards later, the bull was already slowing down when a second shot 4 inches higher dropped him in his tracks.

ghosthunter · « **Reply #26 on:** November 05, 2019, 07:02:11 PM »

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Author Topic: A Savage Build for Bear (Read 5771 times)

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