Savage Model 12 Rifles

Varmint hunting has always been a popular sport in the vast expanses of the Great Plains and the Mountain West. It requires an extremely accurate rifle set in a high speed, wind resistant caliber for effective shots at long distances. Savage answered the call for a high-end varmint rifle in their Model 12 series.

The Model 12 is chambered in the most popular smaller sized calibers beginning with the blazingly fast Ruger .204. Other cartridges fitted to the Model 12 are .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester and 6mm BR Norma. All of these are fast, accurate and extremely effective in hunting coyote, fox, raccoon and even feral hogs.

The Model 12 steps away from Savage’s reputation for low-cost, efficient entry level rifles and into the competitive realm of higher quality, higher priced, long-range rifles that can be equally at home sighting in a coyote over the Nevada sagebrush at 1,000 yards, or on a bench rest in a long-distance shooting competition.

One of the first things you’ll notice in a Model 12 is the barrel length. These rifles all have longer, 26 to 30-inch barrels. That long barrel length adds a bit of zip to the cartridge but delivers much greater accuracy at long distances as well.

With the longer barrel length, you have a heavier rifle. The various models of the Model 12 are heavier than most standard hunting rifles, weighing between 10 and 14 pounds on most models. Every model has a stainless-steel barrel, an internal magazine and Savage’s popular AccuTrigger. The heavier weight, the longer barrel and the choice of smaller, faster cartridges are all features for long distance shooting in sometimes windy conditions.

The stocks vary greatly in design with some traditional styles, and a few with thumb-hole pistol grips. The BR Norma and Bench Rest models in 6mm are unique with flat, wider stocks and a ventilated forearm. They’re also the only models that are single shot. Other models are the LPRV-Left, the BTCSS, the Bench Rest and the most popular, the Varmint Low Profile.

• LPRV-Left – Black synthetic fiberglass stock, a 26-inch stainless steel barrel, a 1:8-inch twist for extreme accuracy, single-shot 6mm, drilled and taped for scope base and 11 pounds.
• BTCSS – Available in .22-250 and .223 calibers, this is the lightest Model 12 at 10 pounds. I had a four-shot internal magazine, a fluted barrel and either a wood laminate thumbhole stock and a 26-inch barrel.
• Varmint Low Profile – Designed the chamber smaller, faster cartridges it is chambered in .204, .22-250, .223, and .243. The .204 in this model’s 26-inch barrel is the king of rodent control, blazingly fast, accurate and suitable for larger varmints as well. All models weigh 10 pounds have wood laminate stocks.
• Bench Rest – A full-profile, button-rifled, stainless steel 30-inch barrel with a target gray laminated stock. Too heavy to pack long distances at 13.3 pounds but a nail-driving machine from a bench or blind in 6mm.
• Class 6mm Norma – Nearly identical to the Bench Rest in every feature except the stock design. The BR Norma has a wider flanged stock but is just as accurate with a 29-inch barrel. Both the Bench Rest and BR Norma are single shot.