Upgrade or just buy new?

[OR_Hunter]

I have a savage model 16 SS chamber in 300wsm with an accutrigger. I was wondering if it is even worth putting money into upgrading it or just starting over with a new gun? Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[JohnJohnson]

What is your goal for the rifle?

 

[RockAndSage]

I have a savage model 16 SS chamber in 300wsm with an accutrigger. I was wondering if it is even worth putting money into upgrading it or just starting over with a new gun? Thanks in advance for the input.

@JohnJohnson 's question is really the best place to start. Purpose and goals.

That said, the less aftermarket support there is for a given gun design, the more expensive things get and the fewer competent people there are to work on them. If the thought is, "I want it to be more like a ____ ", the fastest and cheapest route with the fewest headaches is usually just to get the "___".

 

[OR_Hunter]

Just to be a better shooter out to 500-600 yards. Just wondering if the savage platform is really worth putting the money into it.

 

[RockAndSage]

Just to be a better shooter out to 500-600 yards. Just wondering if the savage platform is really worth putting the money into it.

I'm all about new guns, but...the only thing that makes you a better shooter, is shooting. A .223 trainer of some kind is one of the best investments you can make in that regard.

 

[hoooogan]

After hunting season last year, I spent a couple days with a buddy working on holds and trigger pull (dry firing). No upgrades, no new rifle, just 200-300 dry fires focusing on holding still and a smooth trigger pull. Cost him a couple boxes of ammo for validation and he was hitting deer sized vital zone at 475y for ~4/5 shots. Even his 100y groups are now consistently sub MOA. Prior to that, he was maybe a 200y max shooter with inconsistent 3/4-2" 100y groups. Now I'd probably be comfortable with him touching 350 in the right conditions. He still needs to work on his time to shoot and judging windage, but massive improvement for virtually no money.

 

[HandgunHTR]

A couple good things about the Savages. Changing barrels, bolt heads, and magazines is very easy.

You can convert that Savage to a 308 for about the same money as having a gunsmith rebarrel a Remington 700.

Savages, in and of themselves, are pretty good shooters for the most part, and there are lots of people who make good prefit barrels for them.

If it were mine, I would get a 7, 6.5, or 6 Sherman Short barrel for it and see what it can do. I may replace the trigger with a Timney to get rid of the blade safety, but that would depend on how the factory trigger felt to me.
Of course those rounds require that you reload. If you don’t, then get a new bolt heads and mag and convert it to one of the many great short action cartridges.

 

[SloppyJ]

You can do it with what you have but it's going to be rough with a 300. I'd say grab a 243 or 223 and get some real practice in.