Loving me some FN

**ArtBanks** · October 20, 2019, 16:29

This has to be my favorite time of the year. Just enjoy the precision bolt action.
One of my favorites is the FN SPR in .308. Heavy fluted 20" chrome lined barrel with a Leupold MK4 8.5-25 sitting on her. Mac stock , Harris bipod, 10 rnd factory box mag. Nothing finer than getting down on the prone mat and placing each rnd where it is supposed to go. If you like a pre 64 Winchester action you would absolutely love this critter.

This target is a couple years old, but she can still take care of HR. I like these 500yd scaled for 100. I only had to put one rnd in each bad guy, but got carried away and wanted to make sure they were finished. 5 rnds is better practice than one. I did mess the hostage girls hair, but at least she survived.

**VALMET** · October 20, 2019, 17:16

Nice rig. And I agree, my favorite time to get to the outdoor range I’m a member of is in the fall...

2barearms · October 20, 2019, 18:35

Those rifles are no fun to shoot.....they do the same thing over and over and over...

davedude · October 28, 2019, 08:01

Very nice Art. Can you comment on the pros and cons between that one and your Savage?
Reason I ask is I have a LH Savage model 10 20" fat barrel stagger feed 4.275" action screw spacing with the bolt release up on the side that has two useless blind magazine stocks. I wanna convert to a DBM and useful stock. It's gonna cost to do that and maybe it would be more cost effective to buy something already set up. Not sure if FN makes the SPR in lefty though..

**ArtBanks** · October 28, 2019, 10:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by davedude

Very nice Art. Can you comment on the pros and cons between that one and your Savage?
Reason I ask is I have a LH Savage model 10 20" fat barrel stagger feed 4.275" action screw spacing with the bolt release up on the side that has two useless blind magazine stocks. I wanna convert to a DBM and useful stock. It's gonna cost to do that and maybe it would be more cost effective to buy something already set up. Not sure if FN makes the SPR in lefty though..

Well, the FN is a bunch shorter, has a chrome lined barrel and the DBM option was easy to add. The mags are steel which I really like.

If you are talking about the Savage Stealth, it's ok, but not the rugged quality of the FN and the mags are plastic with a steel follower. The Stealth is 6.5 and wonderful for prone shooting but feels a little fragile for me to rely on where the FN is a tank even though not very heavy.

The best thing is all my Savages and the SPR continually outshoot my Rem 700 and many of it's cousins shot by others.

Other Savage 110s that I own do compare favorable to the FN but the SPR still wins out in my book

ftierson · October 28, 2019, 10:38

Nice rig, although I prefer longer barrels (so I can lug the additional weight around, of course, but I'm sure that goes without saying

).

I have an FN SPR receiver (a M70 Win, really) built up with a Krieger heavy weight 26 in barrel with a Palma chamber.

It's a shooter (and keeper)...

Forrest

tac-40 · October 28, 2019, 14:46

I have the FN Patrol Bolt Rifle. Very similar to the SPR but the bore is NOT chrome lined and the rifle came with the Hogue over molded stock. That stock was flimsy and allowed the forearm to flex up and contact the barrel. Replaced the Hogue with an HS Precision stock that was glass bedded to the action. It now wears a Leupold Mk 4 LRT in 3.5X10X40. On a good day with good ammo, it will keep ½MOA group with me doing my part. And on a bad day for me, it will still keep ¾MOA. I really like this rifle and it will do what it needs to do out to 600 yards (longest range I have).

Compared to my Savage LE Tactical in 6.5CM, it is a close call. The Savage has a 24 inch heavy profile barrel and a Magpul 10 round AICS DBM. But the action is loose, not mechanically tight like the FN. Like the AK is to the AR. Accuracy with the Savage isn't as good as the FN, holding at a consistent ¾-1MOA. But the Savage is ammo sensitive and that may be the cause behind the accuracy issue. The Savage has the FN beat on recoil. It has very little and I can keep the scope on target with not problem.

davedude · October 28, 2019, 21:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtBanks

Well, the FN is a bunch shorter, has a chrome lined barrel and the DBM option was easy to add. The mags are steel which I really like.

If you are talking about the Savage Stealth, it's ok, but not the rugged quality of the FN and the mags are plastic with a steel follower. The Stealth is 6.5 and wonderful for prone shooting but feels a little fragile for me to rely on where the FN is a tank even though not very heavy.

The best thing is all my Savages and the SPR continually outshoot my Rem 700 and many of it's cousins shot by others.

Other Savage 110s that I own do compare favorable to the FN but the SPR still wins out in my book

Very good sir, many thanks.

davedude · November 03, 2019, 07:11

well hell looks like it will cost me about a grand or so to put the savage in a decent stock with detachable magazine capability. Or I could buy a new LH Bergara B-14 HMR or something else for the same money. Or go another direction entirely and get a pre-1898 40-70 lever action shooter. Hmmmm, sh*t, decisions decisions...

**ArtBanks** · November 03, 2019, 07:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by davedude

well hell looks like it will cost me about a grand or so to put the savage in a decent stock with detachable magazine capability. Or I could buy a new LH Bergara B-14 HMR or something else for the same money. Or go another direction entirely and get a pre-1898 40-70 lever action shooter. Hmmmm, sh*t, decisions decisions...

The new Savage Stealth in either .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor can be had for under a grand and are available in LH for those so handicapped.

davedude · November 03, 2019, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtBanks

The new Savage Stealth in either .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor can be had for under a grand and are available in LH for those so handicapped.

It's worse than you know Mr. Banks, I'm a special kind of handicapped--- ambidextrous! Favor the right but can do with either. Shooting seems more natural left hand. For me anyways. Right hand bolt guns no problem-all my shooting life but was spoiled with a left hand action a few years ago and will not buy another bolt rifle with the handle on the wrong side.
Thanks for the info, 6.5CM is going to get looked into along with other value options as well as more expensive ones.

Oh and by the way, I always enjoy your posts Mr. Banks. Thanks very much.

October 20, 2019, 16:29	#1
ArtBanks Veteran Member Platinum Contributor FALaholic #: 28761 Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Preston, CT Posts: 1,783	Loving me some FN This has to be my favorite time of the year. Just enjoy the precision bolt action. One of my favorites is the FN SPR in .308. Heavy fluted 20" chrome lined barrel with a Leupold MK4 8.5-25 sitting on her. Mac stock , Harris bipod, 10 rnd factory box mag. Nothing finer than getting down on the prone mat and placing each rnd where it is supposed to go. If you like a pre 64 Winchester action you would absolutely love this critter. This target is a couple years old, but she can still take care of HR. I like these 500yd scaled for 100. I only had to put one rnd in each bad guy, but got carried away and wanted to make sure they were finished. 5 rnds is better practice than one. I did mess the hostage girls hair, but at least she survived. __________________ Semper Fi Art Sgt. USMC 66-72 RVN 67-68 Last edited by ArtBanks; October 22, 2019 at 04:30.

October 20, 2019, 17:16	#2
VALMET Curio & Relic Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 1826 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 3,176	Nice rig. And I agree, my favorite time to get to the outdoor range I’m a member of is in the fall... __________________ "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is a symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." -George Orwell, 1940. "Dammit Smithers this is brain surgery, not rocket science. Now hand me that ice-cream scoop!” -C. Montgomery Burns

October 20, 2019, 18:35	#3
2barearms Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 13866 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Somewhere in Amerika Posts: 15,748	Those rifles are no fun to shoot.....they do the same thing over and over and over... __________________ "Owning a Firearm doesn't make you Armed any more than owning a Guitar makes you a Musician" Was mich nicht umbringt macht mich stärker

October 28, 2019, 08:01	#4
davedude Registered FALaholic #: 20538 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas-Fort Worth Posts: 4,819	Very nice Art. Can you comment on the pros and cons between that one and your Savage? Reason I ask is I have a LH Savage model 10 20" fat barrel stagger feed 4.275" action screw spacing with the bolt release up on the side that has two useless blind magazine stocks. I wanna convert to a DBM and useful stock. It's gonna cost to do that and maybe it would be more cost effective to buy something already set up. Not sure if FN makes the SPR in lefty though.. __________________ There's only two reasons we showed up here, to party and kick some ass, and we're almost out of beer!

October 28, 2019, 14:46	#7
tac-40 Moderator Armed Curmudgeon FALaholic #: 12090 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SC-Low Country Posts: 8,528	I have the FN Patrol Bolt Rifle. Very similar to the SPR but the bore is NOT chrome lined and the rifle came with the Hogue over molded stock. That stock was flimsy and allowed the forearm to flex up and contact the barrel. Replaced the Hogue with an HS Precision stock that was glass bedded to the action. It now wears a Leupold Mk 4 LRT in 3.5X10X40. On a good day with good ammo, it will keep ½MOA group with me doing my part. And on a bad day for me, it will still keep ¾MOA. I really like this rifle and it will do what it needs to do out to 600 yards (longest range I have). Compared to my Savage LE Tactical in 6.5CM, it is a close call. The Savage has a 24 inch heavy profile barrel and a Magpul 10 round AICS DBM. But the action is loose, not mechanically tight like the FN. Like the AK is to the AR. Accuracy with the Savage isn't as good as the FN, holding at a consistent ¾-1MOA. But the Savage is ammo sensitive and that may be the cause behind the accuracy issue. The Savage has the FN beat on recoil. It has very little and I can keep the scope on target with not problem. __________________ Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you. Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom. Schools uses to start with the "three R's". Reading, writing, and arithmetic. Now they start with the "three D's". Dipshitery, Dumbassery, and Douchebaggery-Retired Bum If you do in fact have a problem, you have the rest of your life to solve it. How long your life lasts only depends on how well you solve it.

October 28, 2019, 10:38	#6
ftierson Registered FALaholic #: 13827 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 16,423	Nice rig, although I prefer longer barrels (so I can lug the additional weight around, of course, but I'm sure that goes without saying ). I have an FN SPR receiver (a M70 Win, really) built up with a Krieger heavy weight 26 in barrel with a Palma chamber. It's a shooter (and keeper)... Forrest

November 03, 2019, 07:11	#9
davedude Registered FALaholic #: 20538 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas-Fort Worth Posts: 4,819	well hell looks like it will cost me about a grand or so to put the savage in a decent stock with detachable magazine capability. Or I could buy a new LH Bergara B-14 HMR or something else for the same money. Or go another direction entirely and get a pre-1898 40-70 lever action shooter. Hmmmm, sh*t, decisions decisions... __________________ There's only two reasons we showed up here, to party and kick some ass, and we're almost out of beer!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode