Most Accurate Savage .308

[Drakejake]

Savage seems to offer several categories of rifles. Some are lighter with shorter barrels. The others--you figure it out. The 6.5 pound rifles might be easier to carry for hunting, while those with longer, heavier barrels might be more accurate. The Varminter rifles with accutrigger can be adjusted down to a 1.5 pound pull while some of the other models go down only to 2.5 pounds. Can anyone describe the pros and cons of the light vs. heavy Savage .308s for hunting and target shooting and make any other recommendations on a Savage?

Thanks,

Drakejake

 

[Shalako]

It seems the consensus of the tactical crowd is that the heavy barrelled rifles are more consistent with regard to accuracy, precison, ruggedness, etc. I'm not really sure that a good sporter couln't keep up with one for the most part though. My thinking is that one needs a variety of Savage rifles.

One Savage set up like something the Marines or Carlos Hathcock would have used. Heavy Barrel, 3 pound trigger, rugged scope and mounts, wide forend and palmswell for added stability on bags, 12+ pounds, probably in .30 caliber of some sort.

Then you will need a Savage set up as a Varminter. Heavy barrel, .22 to .25 caliber, 10+ pounds, high magnification scope, beefier stock to ride the bags, and a super light trigger. (I like a lighter trigger on a varmint rifle than my tactical rig. I figure the nerves are cool enough when I sight on a squirrel that I won't touch one off accidentally. If the rifle was being used in a Military or LEO capacity, the nerves would probably be a bit too racy to go below 3 pounds on a trigger. Just speculation there...)

Also, you will need a Savage sporter for hunting. Those heavy barrelled rifles are a chore to lug around all day over hill and dale. This would be good in an intermediate caliber like .243, 7-08, 6.5x55, or .280, have a good medium magnification scope, 3 pound trigger, and would be nice to have backup iron sights.

Then, to pass those boring summer months, you will need a Savage rimfire rifle to rid the world of a few varmints and practice your field shooting.

I guess these ramblings weren't very scientific but thats been my line of thinking when I bought my four Savages. I would love to have Remingtons, and Tikkas, and CZs but I'm having such good luck with Savages. And with the low price I can afford to buy more of them. Savage #4, a Stevens 200 in .243 ($289), is going to get camo'd in AlumaHyde II. I would be way to chicken to do that to a beautiful Remington.

 

[Shalako]

Hmm, I just realized you are asking specifically about a .308, that narrows things down a bit. First let's consider heavy barrelled rifles. These are for precision shooting such as target work and Military/LEO duty. A shorter barrelled rifle is stiffer and more easily manuverable for getting into and out of positions and Urban applications. Many are just as accurate as longer barrelled versions. The longer barrel gives you slightly more velocity and therefore more energy and slightly flatter trajectory. If you are doing real long range work, the advantages of the longer barrel are helpfull.

The sporter weight barrels are more for hunting and better portability. The thinner barrel will heat up quicker and cause shots to string a bit if fired in rapid succession without letting the barrel cool. But for hunting, you don't fire a lot of shots.

So if it is going to be a hunting gun that you will hunt with about 60% of the time and target shoot 40% of the time, get the sporter. If it will be mainly precision target work 60% of the time, get the heavy barrel. If you are a velocity fiend, get the longer heavy barrel.

Light triggers are best for accuracy. But the lighter the trigger, the greater the chance of accidental discharge because your finger got a twitch in it when you weren't quite ready to fire.

Now, I will quit hogging the thread and let some of the other members weigh in. There is plenty of expertise on the board that can set you straight on this stuff.

 

[Onslaught]

I've owned both the Savage 11FL (6.5#) and the 10FLP (8.5#) rifles in .308. Only the 10FLP had the Accutrigger, but they all do now. The 10 was uber-accurate (under 1" is "uber" for me since I STINK on the bench), even with cheap stuff (GA Arms), while the 11 was more of the around 2" variety with similar loads.

I'd MUCH rather have the 11FL if I were carrying it ANYWHERE, and I guarantee you I couldn't shoot offhand any better with the 10 than the 11. On BIG thing I'll mention for me (since I'm a self-confessed recoil SISSY) the 11FL was just plain uncomfortable to shoot, while the 10FLP was just about as much as I ever wanted a rifle to kick me.

I've considered another 11FL, but in 7mm-08 for my "sensitivities"