asking opinons on comparing two Savages

[thomis]

I'm so close to placing my order. I am just having a really hard time deciding between these two:



Model: 11 GCNS
Series: Hunter AccuTrigger: Yes
Sights: Drilled and tapped for scope mounts AccuStock : No
Magazine: Detachable box Stock material: Wood
Barrel material: Carbon Steel Stock finish: Satin
Barrel finish: Satin Stock color: Natural
Barrel color: Blued Action: Short
17834 308 WIN 1 in 10" 22" 42.5" 6.75 lbs CAP: 4 MSRP $678.00

AND




Model: 14 Classic
Series: Classic AccuTrigger: Yes
Sights: Drilled and tapped for scope mounts AccuStock : No
Magazine: Hinged floorplate Stock material: Wood
Barrel material: Carbon Steel Stock finish: Satin
Barrel finish: Matte Stock color: Natural
Barrel color: Blued Action: Short
17941 308 WIN 1 in 10" 22" 42" 7.5 lbs CAP: 4 MSRP $860.00

I want .308 and I'll be topping it with the Leupold Ultralight 3-9 x 33 Matte Blue:
http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting/products/scopes/ultralight-riflescopes/vx-ii-3-9x33mm-ultralight/

What I don't understand is...
why is there a 3/4 pound difference in the two?

what is better, the hinged floorplate or the detachable box?

I don't understand the $200 difference.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

 

[Uncle Mike]

The difference between the two is purely aesthetic...with the stocks being of different wood also.

The 11 series has a walnut FINISHED (stained) hardwood (probably birch) stock-

The 14 series has a honest to mammy, real Walnut stock...no stain here, just walnut!

The 14 series also has a deeper blue and there is more metal preparation before bluing than there is on the 11 series.

As for the weight variance....Savage tends to approximate the advertised weights of their walnut stocked rifles, posting the higher of the weights in which the rifle may weigh. This is due to variances in the density and weight of the wood used in walnut stocks.

So, the difference is in the looks department, the 14 being the fashion model while the 11 being the cleaning lady...but both of them will tango just as well as the other!

You have made a wise choice.

As for the hinged floor plate and detachable magazine model...neither is an asset or a handicap, it is purely personal preference....the detachable magazine units tend to offer more convenience with regards to loading and unloading of the rifle. You can carry an extra loaded magazine in your pocket for those lightning fast reloads when the deer are attacking or....simply shove a shell into the magazine of a hinged floor plate model.

The price difference results from the 14 series having more work pit into it for the bluing process than the 11 series and from the stock being of walnut instead of the lesser expensive hardwood.

The decision is yours.......

 

[alphabrace]

Great questions, I am interested also in the answers...

 

[thomis]

Thanks, for pointing out the differences UM.
But... I still can't decide! I'd like to heft both of them and look them over but none of the local gunshops have any in stock. But I take that as a good sign..
cheers

 

[rangerruck]

Once again, Unky Mike is dead on. Just a tad more of the ol' labor intensive aspect on the nice woody. Now some would say, the hinged floorplate is more accurate becuase of less flex due to less wood taken out of the stock; I suppose this could be true, but if we are talking primarily a hunting rig here, then how much of a diff is this going to be at 100 yds? Less than 1/8 of an inch or even less than that? So I wouldn't worry about that; I personally like the ol timey looks of a hinged floorplate, especially if it is a metal floorplate. And if it is not, i am sure someone around here knows who makes a Savage metal replacement floorplate...

 

[jimmyraythomason]

For me the choice would be easy. The Model 14 Classic all the way. I has everything I like in a bolt gun. (I don't like stained hardwood rifle stocks at all)

 

[Uncle Mike]

Now some would say, the hinged floorplate is more accurate because of less flex due to less wood taken out of the stock;

As for the Savage's...either one is the same as to the receiver, only the bottom metal is different.

As a matter o' fact, we routinely swap hinged floorplate type rifles over to detachable magazine type, and have done a few the other way, a simple change of the bottom metal is all that is needed.

Thomis...if it where me, I would get the 14 American Classic.(Detachable Box Magazine DBM)

 

[Murphys Law]

I would go with the classic too. If your the type of hunter that loads up in the morning and unloads at the end of the day, then go with the hinged floorplate. Most of my hunting rifles are are the hinged type. One advantage is that you will never lose the magazine. We do a lot of deer drives in the late season after every one has given up on their stands and are constantly traveling between farms and wooded areas. Load, drive a field or area, go back to truck, unload, drive to the next farm and repeat. Its not uncommon to load and reload 4-6 times a day. For that type of hunting, I like a magazine, but its a minor point and you will be fine with either type.

 

[nhm16]

I know these are hunting guns, but if you ever wanted to, you can get a 9 round DBM from Sharpshooter Supply. Though as said before, conversion between DBM and hinged floorplate is simple.

Me, I'd get the 14, if only because of the nicer stock and finish. Otherwise they're basically the same.

 

[thomis]

thanks all, I appreciate your feedback

i will go with the 14 classic and i really like the idea of being able to retro to a DBM

 

[Uncle Mike]

i will go with the 14 classic and i really like the idea of being able to retro to a DBM

Don't buy solely on the plan of changing the bottom metal..whereas the process is easy to do, first you have to get one, Savage doesn't have these for sale like run of the mill parts, and then there is the cost, IIRC this part was close to $200 Dealer and then you have to buy the magazines.

So if you think you might want the DBM model, the American, then you may be better off getting it.

Also, with regards to the entire rifle, new... the DBM model is lesser costly than the hinged floorplate model!

 

[d2wing]

I had a 14. Nice looking but mine would not shoot. After the first round the action would not cycle, something was wrong with the bolt. I took it back to Cabela's and the guys in the shop couldn't fix it. I got my money back.
I know I'm stepping on toes around here but I wouldn't buy another one.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Yea it was...for a time, some of the Savages had rough extractors in them.

A two dollar part that takes every bit of 30 seconds to change.

That's why you should buy from a gun shop! lol hehehehe

 

[jmr40]

On the weight. Savage rifles used to all have aluminum bottom metal and plastic trigger guards. On newer rifles they have gone to all steel and they have not updated their specs on many of the rifles. Put almost any new Savage on the scales and they will weigh about 1/2 lb more than the specs say they should.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Yes Sir! and you and the rest of the free world should call Savage and bish them out over it! lol

Seriously, I do believe they have recognized that malfunction and taken care of it in their latest website and catalogs.

The days of corporate greed is gone at Savage, and they are building fine firearms again. Gone is the cheap plastic on all but a couple of their models, and the bottom metal now compliments the rest of the rifle as to being made from the material the rifle is.

 

[jmr40]

My post was not meant to be critical of Savage rifles. Just pointing out my theory as to the difference in listed weights.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Your post was not taken that way.....I was being somewhat sarcastic!

...but we still should call them up! hehehehe

 

[Tim the student]

The price and the detachable magazine is what would do it for me.

 

[cliffsgsr]

Keep in mind, if you happen to loose a detachable mag, you have a very slow single shot.
Also don't forget extra mags will set you back 40+ bucks each. My employee has a Sav 30-06 with cheap plastic stock and got 3 shots under a dime during barrel break-in. Good luck, enjoy a great rifle. Cliff

 

[Sav .250]

Picture #1............the lighter the better.