Been lurking around the site for some time now and I'm in the market to get either a xp or a striker for alternative methods deer season in Missouri. Is one of these better then the other in your guys opinion? Also where is a good place to find one as I know there not the easiest to come by?

Well, that's a loaded question. Having had both, I can say that a midgrip XP has better balance and is bit handier. One thing I prefer about the Striker is the ability to change barrels at will, and the quick follow up shot capability can come in handy. The factory stock of the Striker was designed for HUGE hands. I slimmed mine down a lot to fit my hands. The factory XP stock fit me perfectly. Of course there are custom options available for both. I'd suggest saving a search on GunBroker and eventually if you're patient you will land a good deal.
The XP's seem to demand a higher price than the Striker, and some sellers are

Awesome thanks. I've noticed the xps do seem a tad higher. I've been checking on gunbroker and have seen the occasional one on here as well. I'm thinking on going with the striker since there a little more reasonable. Plus Im a bigger guy with big hands so maybe it will fit me well

Welcome to SP. What caliber are you looking for?
Keep watching the classifieds
Nmhunter

I'm looking for possibly a 7mm-08. What were some bigger calibers they made
In the striker. Also I see a lot of guys hand load for them. Do they shoot a lot better with hand loads?

The largest factory chamberings were the 270 WSM and 300 WSM. Other offerings were 223 rem, 22-250, 243 win, 260 rem, 7-08 and 308 win.

With custom barrels you can do just about anything you want.

Hand loading allows you to get the most from any firearm by finding what the gun likes. Some factory ammo has gotten pretty darn good though.

Hey Buffalo!
Welcome to the forum, we're not too far apart. I live in Viburnum so I'll keep an eye out for a pistol for you. You have gotten good advice so far, I have flirted with the bolt guns (Strikers and XPs both) on more than one occasion but have always gone back to the break open pistols. I shot my first Missouri handgun deer in 1978 with a 10" .30-30 Contender. I currently shoot Contenders and Encores both .

I've had rear grip XP's and center grip XP's and Strikers and I think that the center grip bolt guns balance better....but then I also like my rear grip Encores and Contenders.

My Strikers in .308 and 7mm-08 were accurate out of the box but to me they were also more bulky / heavy than the XP's......the Strikers went down the road but I still have a XP.

Thanks for the advice guys and thanks bobcat for keeping an eye out

Welcome to SP. I have a Striker in 300wsm and love it! It does everything and has become one of my favorite pistols. I have good size hands and have loved the factory stock.

Buffalo,

WELL, if you're still in the market, you can refer to this ad for a few I have.

Strikers For SAle

Circumstances force sale.

calibers available are: 22-250, 243, 7-08, 308 in mid grip, and 284 WIN in a rear grip.

Larry
Tinkerer

Welcome to SP, Buffalo.

Welcome to the board. I've never owned a striker but I've shot them. I own several xp's. I like rear grips for shooting from the bench and centergrips for field work. Its not a balance thing for me. I normally shoot prone and centergrips allow more comfort when shooting prone because I'm not as bunched up. But for target work from a bench I really like Jewell triggers and the longer wheel base of a rear grip.

Aaron

I just got a striker, and have had XP's. The XP's are the top,but are much more money. The big plus for the Striker is barrel replacement. I got a 243 Striker, and changed the barrel to 6BR 8 twist. You can buy chambered barrel from places like Northland shooters supply, changes barrels at will. I got a in stock rifle barrel and had it cut locally. They will make you a pistol barrel, but it would take 8 to 12 weeks. You can also change Boltheads on all Savages, you can go from a 223 to 300 WSM with the same action. So if you can't find the Caliber you want, it can be changed.

Mark

So if I'm using one for deer hunting and shooting off a bipod you guys would recommend center grips?

Center grip
Nmhunter

Centergrip for that kind of shooting.


Aaron

quote:

Originally posted by MarkS:
I just got a striker, and have had XP's. The XP's are the top,but are much more money. The big plus for the Striker is barrel replacement. I got a 243 Striker, and changed the barrel to 6BR 8 twist. You can buy chambered barrel from places like Northland shooters supply, changes barrels at will. I got a in stock rifle barrel and had it cut locally. They will make you a pistol barrel, but it would take 8 to 12 weeks. You can also change Boltheads on all Savages, you can go from a 223 to 300 WSM with the same action. So if you can't find the Caliber you want, it can be changed.

Mark

Can't you do that with rem's too? I think they call it remage??

Aaron

I have three xps to build off of. To me its xp's before strikers. The strikers around here seem to be bringing easily twice what you can get into a good xp for. Last xp i bought was $500. The striker i saw the other day they where asking $950 for!

quote:

Originally posted by Buffalo12888:
So if I'm using one for deer hunting and shooting off a bipod you guys would recommend center grips?

Absolutely!

I see Strikers in the $500 dollar range quite often, but it is hard to find an XP for less than $750 around here.(St Louis area)

I just purchase my first Savage Striker in 243 Win with a Burris 1.5-4 scope, Harris bi-pod for $475. It looks like new & has been shot very little. I haven't shot it yet. Did I get a good deal? I also purchased a Remington XP 100 in 7mm BR, 15" barrel with a Burris 2.5-7 AO scope back in the spring. I won't say what I paid, probably too much, but I have wanted one since I first saw one. This one was made in 1985 & had never been fired. At 100 yds. it shoots dime size groups. Hope the Striker does the same.

quote:

Did I get a good deal?

You done good.

You made a good buy on the Striker topped off with the Burris and Harris.

Cool

What load shoots good in that 7br?

Kyode, I'm shooting 33gr. of Win 748, CCI 450 primers & Hornady 120gr. V-Max bullets in Remington cases, which by the way were hell to find, with a COL of 2.290. This is the first load I tried & I figured it was going to get any better so I stopped with that.

Thanks guys! Even my wife thought that Striker was a great deal so I got permission instead of having to for asking forgiveness. Now about those $425.00 worth of primers & powder I just ordered, I'm really going to have to ask for forgiveness!!!

quote:

Originally posted by mstem54:
Thanks guys! Even my wife thought that Striker was a great deal so I got permission instead of having to for asking forgiveness. Now about those $425.00 worth of primers & powder I just ordered, I'm really going to have to ask for forgiveness!!!

-Mike