Procrastination, AccuTriggers, Muzzle Brakes, and my new Left Hand Savage Scout.

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drobs

drobs

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Missouri
Savage Scout Rifle.jpg

In April of this year, I had Savage build me a Left Handed 110 Scout rifle in 308. Currently they only offer their 110 Scout in Right Hand. They used the action / receiver off their 110 Tactical Desert LH rifle:
https://savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=57524
and the barrel off of their 110 Scout Rifle:
https://savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=57136

I chatted with a nice woman named Effie who works in Savage's Custom shop. She quoted me a MSRP of $1,110.00. My dealer charged me $1,050.00 which included shipping and tax. I picked up the rifle in August.

For a scope I already had a Leupold VX-R 1.5-5x33mm FireDot Scout on hand. Plus a set of 30mm Warne rings.

Procrastination
Other than shooting a couple rounds of Lake City 165gr FMJ at my 25 yard gongs with iron sights, I really haven't shot this rifle that much. I've been hoping my Dead Air Nomad-L suppressor would be approved so I could mount it on this rifle. Still waiting on that approval.

Yesterday, I mounted the scope and took over to my local gun shop and had them laser bore sight it for me. Late yesterday afternoon I zeroed the rifle at 25yds using the same Lake City ammo. Since the Leupold Scope has a red dot, I use the center of the bullseye for my aiming point. As you can see I need needed to move the windage left and the elevation up.

Savage Scout Rifle 2.jpg

AccuTrigger
I was trying to shoot 3 shot groups but... I bumped into that accutrigger. I thought I was going crazy. My 1st shot would go bang just fine. The 2nd one would go click. On and on. I was about ready to toss the rifle after repeatedly having it go click instead of bang. Cycling the action empty, I couldn't repeat the problem. Seemed like it only happened with a live round in the chamber.

I was able to get the rifle sighted in but not with the 3 shot groups I was hoping for. After much cussing I pulled out the manual. Turns out your finger needs to be square on the Accutrigger. I was coming up from the side and putting side pressure on the trigger. Cycling the action empty and dry firing, I was able both repeat the problem and get it to dry fire / correctly. I figured it out, it was frustrating though. Gave up due to darkness.

Muzzle Brake (MB)
The muzzle brake really cuts the recoil on this rifle. I was really amazed by how well it works. Shooting off a rest, the recoil reminds me an AR15. It's loud though. I'm debating wearing ear plugs while hunting.

Saturday is deer season. Today, I'm planning to take the rifle over to a formal range and put a couple rounds of quality hunting ammo on target at 100yds. I have 165gr Nosler Ballistic Tips plus 165gr Federal Premium Trophy Bonded to try out.

More pics to come.


TLDR - the AccuTrigger is weird.

Updated pic:
Savage Scout Rifle 3.jpg
 
Last edited:
Very nice rifle. As a lefty I always like companies that will work with customers to deliver those special products.

Enjoy the rifle, you will get use to the trigger!
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
Very cool!

I see you have your Leupold mounted a bit further back than most Scout builds -- a good idea for increased FOV when using the higher-magnification. How do you like the arrangement?

BTW, Weaver tried marketing a fixed 4x Scout scope, but with full eye-relief and higher magnification it ended up with a really narrow FOV.

https://www.natchezss.com/weaver-classic-k-scout-rifle-scope-4x28mm-dual-x-reticle-black-matte.html
Click to expand...

I'm more of an iron sight shooter and am slowly working my way into scopes.

This is my 3rd ever scoped rifle. About 8 years ago I played around a 3x9 on a Winchester 300 win mag. The rings shot loose or weren't properly tightened down to begin with and I gave up on it. Just a little too much recoil for me as well. A friend of mine is slowly buying that rifle off of me.

The 2nd scoped rife is a Savage Axis 270, I picked up cheap about 5 years ago. It sat in safe forever. I finally shot it for the 1st time a few months ago.

I had originally bought that Leupold Scout Scope for a Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle but never mounted it. I bought the Ruger used off of gunbroker and found I absolutely hated the action. The bolt is almost impossible to cycle from the shoulder.

Researching the scope, seems most mount it over the ejection port as the eye relief is not as long as a traditional scout scope.
https://www.leupold.com/scopes/compact-scopes/vx-r-1-5-5x33mm-scout

FOV on the lowest setting is good. At the higher magnification - it gets tight. I need to play with it more but I'm planing on using that same low power setting at 100yds today plus while hunting.

Any thoughts on that would be appreciated.
 
I had a problem recently with my Savage B22 Accu-Trigger after I dropped it into a new Boyd's stock giving me problems similar to those described above. After much investigation and numerous different things I tried what finally worked was a small shim on the post for the rear action screw. This was after I discovered the action worked fine when the screw was loose but not when it was properly tightened. I never did discover exactly where the new stock was interferring with the action, but since the shim worked, I'm happy with the result. Took it out to the range twice since fixed and shot 100 rds w/ 100% of them going bang. :)
 
Any thoughts on that would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I've played with the Scout configuration for about 30 years and lately I'm using two different configurations. My original Scout was built on an ex-Israeli M98 barrelled action. I eventually changed the optic from a long eye-relief 1.5x scope to a See-All tritium prismatic sight, which reduced rifle weight about 8 ounces (vs. scope+rings) without sacrificing very much in the way of speed and accuracy. I don't have a photo handy with the See-All mounted, but here's the rifle with a TRS-25 red dot:

MauserScoutRifle02.jpg

My other 'scout' is a Kimber 84M Hunter with the barrel slightly shortened and with a conventional Leupold 1-4x usually mounted. Using Warne QD rings, the levers of which provide a good return-to-zero index, I can quickly swap the scope with another TRS-25 (fitted with its own QD lever). The red dot fits in a shirt pocket as a backup/illuminated sighting option. With an entire spare sight, I didn't bother mounting irons. This rifle started out light enough to easily make Cooper's recommended 3 kilo weight, which the Mauser flunks.

Kimber84MScope.jpg Kimber84MRD.jpg

My takeaway has been ... whatever looks and works best for you. I'm not religious about the Scout concept as specified by Cooper et al, but it has it's attractions. Recently I acquired a Yugo M98/48 with a ZF-41 scope, which probably means I'm still playing with this notion.

Yugo48zf41.jpg

I've handled a Steyr Scout and they are very smooth and handy to operate, but I'm not sure I like the design better than what I've got. I still want one someday, though. The Kimber is about a pound lighter and more accurate than the lightest configuration of my Mauser, but both point quickly and group well. I haven't tried shooting thrown clay birds with a rifle like Cooper did with his, but I'm crap with a shotgun anyway.
 
The Accutrigger can be a challenge to those not used to Safe Actions. What I’ve found(and reason I like the Accutrigger), is to treat it as a 2 Stage trigger. Consciously depress the safety blade & HOLD on the trigger. People who have the infamous “CLICK” problem are setting with tip of finger resting on edge of trigger. I do full custom a setup on Accutriggers. Square & polish the trigger/sear surfaces to perfect parallel, install new springs with an over stop and add shims where necessary to eliminate slop. My triggers are precise, dependable & nearly no cost to perform.
 
drobs said:
Muzzle Brake (MB)
The muzzle brake really cuts the recoil on this rifle. I was really amazed by how well it works. Shooting off a rest, the recoil reminds me an AR15. It's loud though. I'm debating wearing ear plugs while hunting.
Click to expand...

I would NOT shoot that sucker without hearing protection (again)!! :(

I was working up a load about 2 years ago and making notes while barrel cooled slipped my right muff up then failed to pull it down for the next string. One shot and the crickets are still alive and well in that ear, and I already had a 30% hearing loss according to VA prior to that and "never" fire a shot w/o hearing protection. (The muzzle brake came off the next day, and it's even handier dehorned! )

I would highly recommend electronic muffs for your hunting, but do not shoot it without some hearing protection.

Other than that cursed brake, its a very handy little rifle....still loud w/short barrel, but nothing like w/o the brake. Recoil, even without the brake, is very mild, IMO.

I am not a fan of scout scopes, so I removed the rail and mounted scope conventionally.
48223042766_46e380971e_c.jpg

35677806585_d43891e50f_o.jpg

Only other change I made was a 5 round magazine; much handier to carry in the field. Great little rifle, you're gonna enjoy it.

Regards,
hps
 
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@hps1 I did the same thing standing next to a .338 Lapua with a brake on it at a range. Couldn't believe the noise. I'm sure I have permanent hearing damage as a result. @drobs I would NEVER, NOT EVEN ONCE, NOT EVEN WHILE HUNTING, shoot that thing without hearing protection if I were you.
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
Very cool!

I see you have your Leupold mounted a bit further back than most Scout builds -- a good idea for increased FOV when using the higher-magnification. How do you like the arrangement?

BTW, Weaver tried marketing a fixed 4x Scout scope, but with full eye-relief and higher magnification it ended up with a really narrow FOV.

https://www.natchezss.com/weaver-classic-k-scout-rifle-scope-4x28mm-dual-x-reticle-black-matte.html
Click to expand...

I have two of those Weaver 4x scout scopes. I can't claim they are the best choice for .30 caliber "scout" rifles, but they are an excellent choice for rimfire "scout" rifles like my .22 WMR Zastava. In use, a .22 mag "scout" just needs a little bit more magnification over a typical fixed power scout scope.

Another example below.



That scope mount on the Ruger is being manufactured now.
https://www.doveguns.com/product-page/ruger-american-rimfire-scout-scope-base
 
Last edited:
chicharrones said:
I have two of those Weaver 4x scout scopes. I can't claim they are the best choice for .30 caliber "scout" rifles, but they are an excellent choice for rimfire "scout" rifles like my .22 WMR Zastava.
Click to expand...

Now that's a novel idea! I have been considering a WMR rifle "one of these days" ...

My present rimfire project is a 4 lb. 10/22 with Ruger innards, a Brownell receiver, Kidd barrel and MagPul's T/C stock. I've mounted ghost ring irons (rear sight was still on order when the photo was taken; it's mounted now and the RMR got moved to my Troy pump rifle) with a TRS-25 red dot co-witness -- fairly effective for LR ranges, but 4x magnification makes a lot of sense with a WMR.
BRN22R02.jpg
 
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One of the features I really like on my Savage Model 116 SE rifle, chambered in .338 Magnum, is having the option of shooting the rifle with the brake turned off or on with the twist of the wrist. I don't know why more rifle makers don't offer this brake-type configuration.
 
SwampWolf said:
One of the features I really like on my Savage Model 116 SE rifle, chambered in .338 Magnum, is having the option of shooting the rifle with the brake turned off or on with the twist of the wrist. I don't know why more rifle makers don't offer this brake-type configuration.
Click to expand...

I like iron sights and that was the selling point on Scout Rifles.
I also have lefty Ruger Gun Site Scout but just don't care for the action. Probably going to put the Ruger on Gunbroker.

Only reason I'm holding on to the Ruger is it has a standard barrel thread that will easily take a suppressor.
With the Savage, I'm pretty sure I'm going to need a something custom to mount my suppressor.
 
Awesome rifle! I really like it! I have a savage that I couldn't get used to the accutrigger on either. Ended up replacing it with a timney, I think it was $80. Savage has been making very good rifles for a while now!
 
David Hoback said:
The Accutrigger can be a challenge to those not used to Safe Actions. What I’ve found(and reason I like the Accutrigger), is to treat it as a 2 Stage trigger. Consciously depress the safety blade & HOLD on the trigger. People who have the infamous “CLICK” problem are setting with tip of finger resting on edge of trigger. I do full custom a setup on Accutriggers. Square & polish the trigger/sear surfaces to perfect parallel, install new springs with an over stop and add shims where necessary to eliminate slop. My triggers are precise, dependable & nearly no cost to perform.
Click to expand...

RE safe actions. I carry a Glock and own / shoot multiple Glocks for the last 22 years.
The AccuTrigger is completely different than a Glock Safe Action trigger or any of the handgun variants (glock style triggers).

I'm not saying it's bad it's just a different trigger than anything I have ever experienced. I like the rifle and can learn it, though I could see replacing it as well.
 
SwampWolf said:
One of the features I really like on my Savage Model 116 SE rifle, chambered in .338 Magnum, is having the option of shooting the rifle with the brake turned off or on with the twist of the wrist.
Click to expand...

How much difference in POI do you experience between "on" & "off" with your 338 muzzle brake? Of course it would depend upon how hard you hold the rifle down.

drobs said:
I like iron sights and that was the selling point on Scout Rifles.
Click to expand...
Wish I could still see iron sights, but alas. :(
drobs said:
I'm not saying it's bad it's just a different trigger than anything I have ever experienced. I like the rifle and can learn it, though I could see replacing it as well.
Click to expand...
It was love at first pull with the accutrigger for me, but maybe the fact that I cut my teeth on 2 stage Mauser & Springfield triggers that made the difference. I use the accutrigger much like I did the 2 stage military triggers.

Regards,
hps
 
hps1 said:
How much difference in POI do you experience between "on" & "off" with your 338 muzzle brake? Of course it would depend upon how hard you hold the rifle down.
Click to expand...

It was interesting experimenting between the "off" and "on" settings in terms of determining whether the poi changed or not. I am happy to report that there was virtually no change of any meaningful consequence, at least in my rifle.
 
drobs said:
View attachment 955181

In April of this year, I had Savage build me a Left Handed 110 Scout rifle in 308. Currently they only offer their 110 Scout in Right Hand. They used the action / receiver off their 110 Tactical Desert LH rifle:
https://savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=57524
and the barrel off of their 110 Scout Rifle:
https://savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=57136

I chatted with a nice woman named Effie who works in Savage's Custom shop. She quoted me a MSRP of $1,110.00. My dealer charged me $1,050.00 which included shipping and tax. I picked up the rifle in August.

For a scope I already had a Leupold VX-R 1.5-5x33mm FireDot Scout on hand. Plus a set of 30mm Warne rings.

Procrastination
Other than shooting a couple rounds of Lake City 165gr FMJ at my 25 yard gongs with iron sights, I really haven't shot this rifle that much. I've been hoping my Dead Air Nomad-L suppressor would be approved so I could mount it on this rifle. Still waiting on that approval.

Yesterday, I mounted the scope and took over to my local gun shop and had them laser bore sight it for me. Late yesterday afternoon I zeroed the rifle at 25yds using the same Lake City ammo. Since the Leupold Scope has a red dot, I use the center of the bullseye for my aiming point. As you can see I need needed to move the windage left and the elevation up.

View attachment 955183

AccuTrigger
I was trying to shoot 3 shot groups but... I bumped into that accutrigger. I thought I was going crazy. My 1st shot would go bang just fine. The 2nd one would go click. On and on. I was about ready to toss the rifle after repeatedly having it go click instead of bang. Cycling the action empty, I couldn't repeat the problem. Seemed like it only happened with a live round in the chamber.

I was able to get the rifle sighted in but not with the 3 shot groups I was hoping for. After much cussing I pulled out the manual. Turns out your finger needs to be square on the Accutrigger. I was coming up from the side and putting side pressure on the trigger. Cycling the action empty and dry firing, I was able both repeat the problem and get it to dry fire / correctly. I figured it out, it was frustrating though. Gave up due to darkness.

Muzzle Brake (MB)
The muzzle brake really cuts the recoil on this rifle. I was really amazed by how well it works. Shooting off a rest, the recoil reminds me an AR15. It's loud though. I'm debating wearing ear plugs while hunting.

Saturday is deer season. Today, I'm planning to take the rifle over to a formal range and put a couple rounds of quality hunting ammo on target at 100yds. I have 165gr Nosler Ballistic Tips plus 165gr Federal Premium Trophy Bonded to try out.

More pics to come.


TLDR - the AccuTrigger is weird.

Updated pic:
View attachment 955185
Click to expand...

Congrats, looks like a great setup. I love that scope. Here is one on my DDM4 AR-Scout (I have it in both 5.56 and 6.5G uppers)

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