which Savage

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mshootnit

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If you are going to buy a new savage model 10, knowing full well that the plan is to immediately rebarrel which one (which model) would be a good place to start. I want to do a heavy 24" varmint setup. I plan to order the barrel from a good maker. I guess I would like info on which of the current model 10's have a desireable magazine and stock set up. I was thinking about starting with the hog hunter.
 
Hog hunter is anblind mag and converting to dbm can run as much as a new barrel.

Savage 11 is the same action as the 10 but more economical with the cheapo stock and dbm

Savage 12 is blind mag, hb, and large bolt handle as far as I remember.

Savage 10 has wood stock I believe.

16 series is stainless.

If you want dbm the 11 is the way to go, otherwise the hog hunter would obviously work. The hog hunter also has a matte finish on it which you may or may not want.

Pawn shops in my area often have several 110/111 in 30-06 for $300. Worth looking into as well.

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Having posted all the above, you may want to but a savage 12 and shoot it. I had one in 223 and it was VERY accurate. I just couldn't live with a 26" heavy barrel 223.
 
As I understand it (and from what Ive seen) all of their rifles do except maybe the 25 which is a walking varminter Every savage 12 should have the standard nut including the one I had.

Edit: If you look closely at the photo in the add you can see the nut
 
Just know if you go with the cheaper 11 it comes with the axis style magazine. To convert it to metal you will need to purchase a stock that accepts bottom metal as well as buying the bottom metal. You'll also need the metal floor plates for the magazine. The smooth barrel nut can be removed and replaced with a hex nut.
 
Savage has gone from having a very easy to understand lineup naming / numbering scheme to having a really confusing one.

Thanks to OP for the question and various answers, it's a good question and I bet others besides you have it.

I'm in a similar position but looking to get a Long Action in a magnum caliber for a project.

It looks like the Package Series are cheaper than the cheapest "just a rifle" version, even with the scope and rings. That's weird.

Limiting myself to guns chambered in .300 WM or .7mm RemMag I see this:

From their website I get this:

*packages w/ rifle, scope and rings*
11/111 Trophy Hunter XP Package (box mag, cheap plastic stock) $639
10/110 Trophy Hunter XP Package (box mag, cheap wood stock) $719

*just rifles*
11/111 FCNS (box mag, nicer blueing, accu-stock) $792
16/116 FCSS (box mag, stainless, accu-stock) $939
11/111 Long Range Hunter (floor plate, blue, acustock, mbrake) $1171
16/116 Bear Hunter (floor plate, stainless, acu, mbrake) $1098

The 12 Series are all Target models, have blind mags, and cost even more, over $1000.
The "Law Enforcement" Series are all over $1000, some 10 round box, some "flush".

**** Summary ****

The good old basic 110 long action w/ a traditional floor plate magazine are no longer cataloged. If you want a floor plate you are going to have to buy an upscale model.

By far the cheapest rifles, strangely, are the Package Series. Even with scopes they are less than the cheapest stand-alone rifles. The are all detachable box mags though, which I don't like as well as the traditional hinged floor plate.

How similar are the Axis series to the 110 model. These are even cheaper, but I don't know much about them.
 
Savage used to be the low cost alternative to Remington and Winchester. Now, not so much.

What it comes down to is that if you want a .300 Rem Mag rifle for hunting with a floor plate there are only two: one is $1100, the other stainless goes for $1175.

A Remington Long Range Hunter which has a Bell & Carlson stock, lists for $862.

I find that really surprising, not saying that the Savages are not worth it, they have done a lot of work to upgrade their rifles over the years. Many claim they are more accurate than Remmy's out of the box.

But it still represents an odd inversion. Like finding out that the Buick costs more than the similar Caddy.

For that matter the Winchester Extreme Weather is only $1300., again with Bell & Carlson stock and in stainless.
 
I still think savage is generally less expensive than their counterparts for their respective intended use.

Cabelas sells a cabelas only version of the model 12 for $420. Blind mag, cheap stock but same otherwise to any model 12.

A guy who wants an inexpensive hunting gun can find an axis for $200 and up depending on trigger or package. Uses same barrel as the others but the action is different.

I was looking for a bolt action 223 recently. I wanted a shorter barrel with a heavier profile in a faster twist. I thought I would end up with the 700 tactical for $650 but then stumbled on the savage hog hunter for $300 used. I could have purchased a new one for $400 and still saved a bit of money. To top it off I noticed the 308 hog hunter on sale online for $400 and purchased one of those as well.

So that is 2 savages for just about the cost of 1 comparable Remington and the hog hunter comes with iron sights and still has a threaded barrel...neither of which I am likely to receive much benefit from.

The pricier savages are usually touted as having some pedigree, earned or otherwise. But I do know that the target models at the top end of the savage lineup are consistently accurate enough to be trusted to win matches by marksmen far far better than myself.

I also think Savage has to keep reinventing the wheel to keep their lineup looking good and to have something to brag about that keeps people interested. People realized a long time ago how easy it is to build what you want from a donor action such as the op. This isnt a recipe for keeping a company current and isn't enough to compete in this very competitive market place where everyone has their hat in the ring of budget bolt actions.
 
You didn't say what caliber you are going with, but if you check the Savage Arms model list, there are drop-downs for the different chambering options for all the rifles they offer, since it is a little confusing.

I have a pre-accutrigger Model 110e (Long Action) that I would like to replace the furniture on and get a newer optic. :)
Savage is a good rifle for the $, IMHO. :D
 
ok I have pulled the trigger on the rifle, 10 FP SR. NOW I could use some tips on who makes a good replacement match grade barrel( caliber will be 6mm Rem.), what barrel wrench/ tools to tackle this with, any other advice appreciated!
 
I purchased a Shilen stainless match barrel for a savage target action from
http://northlandshooterssupply.com
They also sell and action wrench and barrel nut wrench that worked very well. Very good customer service when I called to order, and I have been very happy with the barrel.
 
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