Range Report, Savage 300 RUM-Duramax Stock

[Val]

Went to the rifle range to shoot my 300 RUM for the first time with the new Bell and Carlson Duramax stock. Had three issues to resolve. Replaced the scope to confirm that the previous scope was kerplunk. First time shooting with the new Duramax stock. Wanted to compare the 180 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips with the Hornady SSTs in 180 grain.

The replacement scope worked excellent after I finally got it sighted in. The Savage 116 has the factory muzzle break on it, so my optical boresight collimator, won't work on it. I had a guy stand behind me and told me where the shots were going until I started hitting paper. I need to send a scope back to Leopold for warranty repair.

Prior to the Duramax I had the cheapo Savage synthetic stock and this rifle yielded consistant .75" three shot groups. I was shooting 180 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. Much to my amazement I shot one three shot group that was between 1/4" and 3/8" (hard to measure them at the range) and leaning toward 1/4" group. I shot another 3 shot group that was less than 1/2" and pretty close to 3/8". I previosly was using a 4-12 scope (the broken one) and today I used a replacement 3X9 scope. The significant group improvement was with much less magnification. I have to attribute the improvement in groups to the new stiffer Duramax stock.

The Nosler Ballistic Tips were significantly more accurate than the Hornady SSTs. My best groups from the Hornadys were just under an inch.

[tbmaker]

How do you like the Duramax in as a whole?
Was thinking of changing my Savage 7mm STW.
They come with a Decelarator Recoil Pad? I have one on the current stock.

[Val]

I really like the Duramax. I also put one on my Savage 110 FP in 25-06. They look much nicer. I got improved accuracy on both rifles. They also have a Pachymyr (spelling?) decelerator pads which are a significant improvement over the Savage factory pad.

The Duramax stock is for the heavier barrels. You may have to get another type Bell & Carlson stock for your 7mm STW depending on barrel diameter. B&C are pretty responsive via e-mail if you have any questions.

[tbmaker]

Do you have varmit barrels on them?
The barrels should be the same between the STW and RUM.

[Val]

The barrels on both my Savages are the standard barrel. The Savage 116 barrel being a magnum is pretty thick. The 110 FP is the tactical model with the standard barrel which has a larger diameter than the hunter models. I don't know if the varmint barrels are a larger diameter or not.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Any "issues" putting the action in the stock?  Or was it just a simple drop-in and tighten the screws??

[Val]

Installing the stocks on both of my rifles was a drop-in, with the exception of a minor amount of forend grinding, with a dremel tool on one of them. The dollar bill test for free float on the one came up with a minor bit of interference, thus the small amount of dremel tool grinding where the interference occurred. It was pretty easy to install the stocks.