The goal of this project is to build a cost effective accurate training rifle.   The rifle is Chambered in .223 which will allow the shooter to use less expensive ammo and will help the shooter learn more about the basics of hand loading,  ballistics, and comfortably hitting targets at various distances.

The owner of the Hog Hunter will be overseas for the better part of the year therefore has little use for the rifle while he’s gone.  The owner agreed to let us use his rifle to document the installation of the accessories/changes that he has specified.    It was also agreed that the rifle can be shot for range reports as needed.   He mentioned that he was excited to watch from afar as his rifle is built step by step.

For an entry level rifle competitively priced at around $500 the Savage Hog Hunter Model 11 is a great foundation for this project.

Below are the specifications from the Savage Arms website.

What makes the  Savage Model 11 Hog Hunter unique in the Savage line up  is that wears the infamous “Tupperware stock”, iron sights, medium contour barrel, threaded muzzle  and an Accutrigger.  The next closest rifle in the Savage offering is the Model 10 FPSR which is priced at almost $250 more than the Model 11 Hog Hunter but has similar options sans the iron sights and a 22″ barrel vs. a 20″ barrel.

Originally this project was going start with Steven’s 200 chambered in .223.  The Stevens is a great low priced option at around $350 retail however upgrading the trigger and the sporter contour barrel would have increased the total project price by at least $400 to $600 depending on the quality of parts.  The Hog Hunter ships with a medium contour barrel and the Savage AccuTrigger which is a nice upgrade.

The 1:9 20″ barrel also makes the Hog an interesting option.  The 1:9 twist is very common and should stabilize 55 gr. to 69 gr. bullets nicely however since the shooting will be at elevation we may find that the 1:9 can stabilize a heavier bullet.  More on that when we do load testing.

One of the first upgrades for this project is a replacement stock so the “Tupperware stock” as an option helps keep the retail price of the Hog Hunter affordable.  The savings will be used on aftermarket accessories to accurize the rifle.

 

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 30th, 2013 at 3:55 am and is filed under Project Savage, Tactical Works Home. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.