Savage Model 12 question

[igotta40]

I finally bought this rifle I’ve had my eye on for a while. Before buying I tried to read up on the particular model/caliber but didn’t find much, so I’m here asking if anyone has the same or knows a little bit.

Savage 12 Varmint Low Profile (VLP) in .243 Win. It seems to be out of production so I’m wondering when it was made. I bought it new, but I’m pretty sure the store had it on the shelf a long time.

Also, if anyone has one, how do you like it and what loads seem to work best? I’ll be using it for the range.

 

[Stevel]

This might help. Nice rifle btw.

 

[12Bravo20]

What you have is a Savage Model 12 BV. The B stands for Boyds laminate stock and the V stands for Varmint (heavy) barrel. It should be a good accurate rifle for you. I have several centerfire and rimfire Savage rifles with their Varmint barrels and all are very accurate.

After looking it up, Savage decided to call it the VLP for what ever reason even though I found the same rifle but in 223 and it was the Model 12 BV. Either way You should enjoy it.

 

[dcloco]

Model 12 VLP

 

[stillquietvoice]

Savage 12 Varmint Low Profile (VLP) in .243 Win. It seems to be out of production so I’m wondering when it was made. I bought it new, but I’m pretty sure the store had it on the shelf a long time.

Also, if anyone has one, how do you

Does it have a bottom bolt release or a top bolt release? Savage started producing bottom bolt release actions a few years ago.

 

[12Bravo20]

Then there is the staggered feed versus center feed models too. The way to tell the difference is the action screw spacing. Stagger feed models will have 4.27" between the action screws while the centered models will have 4.4" spacing.

 

[Varminterror]

What you have is a Savage Model 12 BV. The B stands for Boyds laminate stock and the V stands for Varmint (heavy) barrel. It should be a good accurate rifle for you. I have several centerfire and rimfire Savage rifles with their Varmint barrels and all are very accurate.

After looking it up, Savage decided to call it the VLP for what ever reason even though I found the same rifle but in 223 and it was the Model 12 BV. Either way You should enjoy it.

The BVSS, Boyd’s Varmint Stainless Steel was the “OG” model which preceded this “VLP-DBM” Varmint Low Profile - Detachable Box Magazine. Probably would have been around 2008-2010 ballpark that they released the VLP-DBM, if memory serves, as I believe they came out either right before or right after we bought the rifle below for my wife (a BVSS). The VLP-DBM has the same barreled action but in a lighter and thinner stock with a more swept pistol grip and less palm swell, narrower and flared forend, and a detachable box mag. The BVSS has a more bench focused stock, nearly vertical pistol grip with a big swell, big blocky rounded rectangle forend, and an internal blind mag.

This is a BVSS.

 

[gotboostvr]

After looking it up, Savage decided to call it the VLP for what ever reason even though I found the same rifle but in 223 and it was the Model 12 BV. Either way You should enjoy it.

Savage naming decisions make about as much sense as S&W revolvers. At least Glock does it in patent filing order even if it works out kind of goofy sometimes.

 

[igotta40]

Yes, thanks for the replies. From the reviews I’ve seen so far LP indicates Low Profile meaning the forend is flatter. There’s a ton of models/variants. Trying to sort through them.

 

[igotta40]

It’s a center feed, DBM, side bolt release with 26” fluted stainless barrel and yes, apparently a Boyd’s laminate stock

 

[12Bravo20]

It can be confusing at times, especially when Savage throws in an odd ball.

Here is a basic break down:

G - wood stock
F - Synthetic stock
B - Boyds laminate stock
T - Thumbhole stock.
V - Varmint barrel (heavy barrel)
SR - Suppressor Ready (threaded barrel)
SS - Stainless steel
L - Left hand

With my 3 Savage rifles I have a:
Model 12 FVL - synthetic stock, varmint barrel, left hand
Mk II GVL - wood stock, varmint barrel, left hand
Mk II BTVLSS - Boyds laminate thumbhole stock, varmint barrel, left hand, stainless steel

I'm sure I am probably missing a few. What I listed will be the most common that you will run into.

 

[Varminterror]

@igotta40 - feed it even moderately well and it’ll shoot small for you.

Top is a BVSS, bottom is the redesign VLP-DBM. Same barreled action, different stock. Different handling, but largely the same potential for precision. @Nature Boy uses a Shilen rebarreled 12 BVSS for competition, shooting ridiculously small. I always wanna pretend to be cooler than liking Savages, but holy cow do they shoot small, especially for a sub-$1000 factory rifle.



This was a divergent model designation from the conventional Savage coding listed above, as they included the hyphenated suffix “DBM” for detachable box magazine” as a marketing gimmick to satisfy all of us colony varminters and coyote callers who wanted dbm for easier load and unload, AND, as the “L” diverged from the normal “left hand” designation to mean “Low,” as in “Low Profile.”

 

[12Bravo20]

I always wanna pretend to be cooler than liking Savages, but holy cow do they shoot small, especially for a sub-$1000 factory rifle.

I don't think I have owned or shot a Savage rifle that was not accurate right out of the box. From my personal experience, the varmint barrel is the way to go. Even my old Springfield Model 120 that someone brazed the front sight on is very accurate.

 

[igotta40]

I already have a 10 Precision Carbine 223 and a 110 Prairie Hunter in 224 Valkyrie, they are both tack drivers, both heavy barrels. I could do without the cheesy Accustock, so far I’ve been working around it.

 

[someguy2800]

My dad has one in 223. Pretty sure they still make that one, just not in 243. You can look up the manufacturing date based on the serial number