Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Pick one of these 2 guns for me

Both 6.5 CM
Both shot under 200 rounds

1. RPR gen3 with dead air muzzle brake. No description on how well it shoots. $1200
2. Semi custom Savage 12fv with McGowen barrel, glass bedded with Boyd's varmint stock. Owner describes 3/4 mOA to 1k. $900

My purposes would be prairie dogs, steel and paper, and maybe carrying during deer season (I know these are nearly 11# guns)
Give me your 2c please.

The 12FV is a good gun. Wondering why he changed barrels? I'm sure the McGowen is marginally better than the factory barrel, but probably not by too much. It should shoot better than "3/4 moa" for sure. The RPR is probably pretty accurate too. The Cabela's exclusive would be my pick, but "$250 cheaper" doesn't really tell us how much it is actually. The way I'd approach it is like this:

$419.00 for the rifle new
$220 for the Boyds stock
From the sounds of it, the Mcgowen barrel doesn't add too much to the value of the rifle.
Total: $640.00 for the Savage 12FV Cabela's exclusive.

As for your last statement: Carrying an 11 pound rifle. I've done it, but much prefer packing the 6 pound Tikka Superlite. It also shoots as good or better than the 12FV, by your description and can be had for $750.00 normally..

I wish I could find a new 12FV!
I know there are a number of guys out there who would not be caught dead shooting a Savage but I'm not one.
If I could find them, I'd buy a6.5 and a22-250 right now!

And yes, I'm still considering a new RAR or Tikka T3x Lite (not superlite) but wanted to see what thoughts were on these 2 guns.
Seems like the RPR is potentially a good deal, as t they are new at near $1400.

I would lean toward the Ruger due to the majority of your purposes. I would find something else to hunt deer with unless you're shooting from a stand.

For the money you’re talking about, I’d look for a new specimen of something I picked out myself rather than someone else’s change of heart.

I seldom have to climb over a couple of hundred feet around here, and have carried a number of 9+ pounders over the years, but 11lbs? At the risk of rousing the “lose some weight” crowd, that’s a lot to tote around, whether slung or carried in one’s hands.

Not an FV but a heavy barrel Savage 6.5C that I believe is an SW exclusive.

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...bolt-action-rifle-65-creedmoor/p/1620748

I have McGowen barrel on my Win 70 270 Win and it will shoot less than .500 inch with various handloads. FV was Cabela's exclusive I believe.

Yes, but the fv is quite a bit cheaper!

I've got a 12FV 6.5 C it was moa out of the box with Hornady American whitetail hunter loads with 129 gr SP's and a handload with 120 gr nosler solid bases. They shoot nice but are heavier than even a regular Tikka t3x. Mb

11lbs too much for you? Really? How far are you carrying? Stand hunting with it isn't a bad idea.

My '98 weighs in about that, and I have and will continue to carry it (not far!) at times. It's not that bad using a Safari sling. 1" groups at 300 yards goes a long way towards making it "acceptable". . Mostly I use it off an ATV or snow machine, but I have carried it several miles up and into the caribou ridges.

I'm currently 73, 6' tall, 150 lbs, so it can be done.

I'd weigh more if I had brains.....,

Saving money on copper solvent?

You make fun of Savage barrels, but they do shoot good. None of mine collect copper. Like I said, the 12FV shoots good. And yes, the 12FV is a Cabela's exclusive, like I said in my first post. They normally cost $419 out the door. 6.5 Creedmoor? They shoot well enough you don't need a fancy barrel. 10 shot groups, not 5:



Having said this, if it were me and I was wanting a heavy rifle that obviously costs more than a factory Cabela's 12FV, I'd buy a Tikka CTR. You get better function and accuracy/precision and they are not even as heavy as the Savage. The OP is still not telling us how much this Mcgowen barreled 12FV is going to cost. As much as a Tikka? No question, I'd buy a Tikka instead. If wanting a hunting weight rifle, buy a T3X lite or superlite. Its going to shoot almost as good as the factory 12FV, but be much lighter and more pleasant to pack around.

Neither. Use your $$’s for something you really want, no compromises.