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The Varget and the AA2495 loads shot well, the loads that used 760 shot all over the place. I have heard good things about 760 and the 7mm-08 so I'm guessing it might do better with a different bullet or loading.

I got the best results with Varget.

The Savage thumb-hole stock has a rubber pad on the end, but I would not call it a recoil pad, as it does very little to soften recoil. The stock is heavy though, and that helps a bit.

What really surprised me was when I finished up with the Savage in 7mm-08 and fired a few magazines from my M1A in .308. - The M1A was a LOT more comfortable to shoot, a real cream-puff compared to the Savage bolt gun.

The plan now is to purchase a Hogue rubber-coated, pillar-bedded stock for the short Savage action. It will be a bit lighter to carry and yet still be more comfortable to shoot.

My best ten-shot group with the new 7mm-08 barrel is around three inches. It is improving but still has only had about forty rounds through it. The weather is warming up here, so I expect to get out more often to shoot.

Gas guns are typically easier on the shoulder than bolt guns. I like Varget too. I get my most consistent loads out of it.

R,
Bullseye

Bullseye wrote:Gas guns are typically easier on the shoulder than bolt guns. I like Varget too. I get my most consistent loads out of it.

R,
Bullseye

gas guns spread the recoil force over a slightly longer time period and it lessens the felt recoil.
used to load my 12ga SKB with red dot and a ounce of shot, used green dot for the 20ga and the 28ga, so it was readily available. Ran out ot red dot and looked up a load for the 12 of green dot, worked great, less felt recoil and a target crusher. Burn rate is slightly lower and reduces felt recoil.

I wasn't being fair to the Varget loads when I talked about three inch groups... Looking at the target from that first outing, the Varget loads put ten rounds at 100yd into two inches.

The M1A Scout Squad has a thick, soft rubber recoil pad, weighs nine pounds and has a muzzle-brake. - It all adds up to soft shooting. The black plastic stock probably flexes a bit too.

I have a Hogue pillar-bedded, rubber-coated black plastic stock on a 98 Mauser in 30-06 that makes that gun comfortable to shoot. I'm thinking about getting one of those for the Savage to use with the 7mm-08 barrel. It would make it a bit lighter, and a bit easier on my shoulder with the recoil pad the Hogue stock has.

The laminated thumbhole stock is heavy, and it's pad is reminiscent of tire rubber, not very soft.