Need help choosing different .308 bolt action......

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I got a Remington 700 PSS a couple years ago, hunted down a nice deal on a Leupold MK IV PR mil-dot scope, put a Harris bi-pod on it, and had fun with it for a while. But it's a heavy beast, and i haven't shot it in a while. Now a buddy of mine is (again) making noises about buying it from me, and i may let it go. But, i'm thinking of replacing it with another lighter,cheaper rifle/scope combo.( I like the Bushnell 3200 Elite 10x ) I had heard good things about the Savage accu-trigger rifles, but was recently reading lots of not-so-good stuff about Savage. I'm looking for other quality,economical, .308 recommendations. BTW, i'm still looking at .308's 'cause i like the round, and i have a semi-respectable stash of ammo. As always, any help muchly appreciated.......M.
 
What sort of bad things have you heard about the Savages? They're generally regarded as very accurate guns.
 
I guess I would have to ask what do you plan to do with the rifle since you didn't mention.

You've got a nice set up and the only complaints you made in your first post were about the weight and the price of the set up. Is it a hunting rig, or a range queen, or something else?

I guess the way I look at it is if you aren't planning on doing something with it where weight is a factor I'd just hang onto it. You've already spent the money, so a "cheaper option" really doesn't do much for you.


And, FWIW, I have a Rem 700P LTR. With scope and bipod it weighs right at 10lbs. My wife has a Rem 700 ADL with the light, injection molded plastic stock, blank floor plate, no bipod and a tiny Simmons scope. The weight savings is 2.2 lbs, and will be less when she adds her bipod.

If that is your main reason for getting rid of it and going to something cheaper I just don't see the logic since you've already spent the money on what you've got.

If you're just bored with what you have and want something new, or have other plans for the money left over from the sale...well, that's a whole other story that wasn't mentioned in the original post.
 
Tikka t-3 is a great accurate rifle that can be set up to weigh right at 7 lbs with a scope. Savage rifles are good, but not in the same league as the Tikka in my experience.

A lot of people make a big deal over the fact that Tikkas only come in one action length. This is true but the bolt on my Tikka 30-06 is shorter than the bolt on my short action Savage .308.
 
Since you are scraping the bottom of the barrel for interest here. I will give you a bump.

How heavy a rifle are you looking for? Lightweight deer chasing rifle? Or a practice practical positions all morning at the range rifle?

Someone should come along and offer Howa as a price performer. Would anyone care to comment on the Howa factory trigger or the value of trigger upgrades for Howas?

Update: didn't see those three earlier posts when I started writing this one.
 
I've got 7 Savages. Haven't had a problem with any of them. So what have you heard? I shot a .294" 5 shot group with the 6.5x47 Lapua I built doing load testing. I'll take a Savage in a heartbeat.
 
Another savage shooter here. I own 2 - 308, 223. I am planning on buying at least another one just for range duty with a similiar setup as yours. I can pull (so far only 20 shots with federal ammo) about 1.5 MOA that I am sure will lower as soon as I get my handloads made (darn you midway! Give me my order now!)
 
Not exactly cheap but I sold a few of my older rifles and bought a Kimber 84M .308. It only weighs 5 1/2 Lbs. and is unbelievably accurate. It also does not kick as much as you would think for being so light. I ended up paying $900.
 
but was recently reading lots of not-so-good stuff about Savage.
Click to expand...

I'd also like to hear what you've heard...


This is true but the bolt on my Tikka 30-06 is shorter than the bolt on my short action Savage .308
Click to expand...

Hmm... I'd like to know exactly what your thought process on this is, cuz I can't even lay a 30-06 round in my 7mm-08 Savage/Stevens without angling it. I can see how the bolt may be a different length, but what about the bolt travel?
 

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Schleprok62, Not trying to trash Savage rifles. I have one and like it. Just pointing out that many people are critical of the Tikka because it only comes in one action length, then reccommend a Savage because they make a short and long action. What many do not realize is that for some reason Savage uses extra long actions in all of theit bolt rifles and their short action is almost as long as everyone else's long action. The action opening on my Savage .308 is 3 1/16". The same opening on my Tikka/Remington/Winchester/Ruger rifles all measure 3 1/8" and they are long actions. Just to compare my Remington .308 measures only 2 3/16" and my Weatherby in .308 is 2 3/4". I do not have a Savage long action to measure but they have to be close to 4". For what it is worth I have to angle a 30-06 to get it into the action on my rifles as well, and they are chambered for 30-06.

Savage makes good rifles and I am not trying to talk anyone out of buying one, but if a true short action is important to you then you need to look else where.
 
Also a fan of the Savages. I have a few ranging in weight from light field rifles to heavy (FT/R) benchrest rilfes all in 308. And if you ever do have any problems I've herd there customer service is very good. Just my 2 cents.
 
jmr40, are you sure that's not a Savage from before the date of their true short action? Personally, I have no use for a short action, it just limits your cartridge length, while saving less than 4 oz of weight.
 
Many thanks for all the input,everyone. You're right, i should have included i bit more info in my original post, i should have known better !!!
I'm considering letting the 700 go 'cause,as i said, it's a heavy unit, but also, as mentioned above, i've kinda lost that lovin' feelin'. You all know how that one goes. I would possibly get another simply because i don' have anything else of this type in my arsenal ( my harem leans toward assault rifles ) and 'cause i still have more than a few rounds of .308. But i'd only do it if it looks like i can trade out and still save a few hundred bucks. Anyway, you all asked about what i'd read about Savage, below is a link to another forum that had some interesting comments about Savage rifles........thanks again......M.

http://www.infohub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2999
 
I started a thread recently about a good choice for an inexpensive .30-06 bolt-action rifle that might interest you.

I do like Savages, but the ones that really caught my eye were the Howa-Hogue rifles (Howa actions with Hogue overmolded synthetic stocks in black, green, or desert). The 20" barrel Ranchland Security Rifle in .308 has a street price of a little over $400, or add scope rings and a nice Nikko-Sterling 3-9x42 scope anfor a little more. It seems like a great, lightweight package.
 
If you are looking for cheap, light weight, quality .308 bolt go no farther than the Stevens Model 200.

You won't find better quality and out of the box accuracy for the price. It's got a kind of ugly synthetic stock on it but it is light weight.

I've got one and love it. More accurate that I'll ever be.
 
My Savage 10FP is more accurate than I am. It is also a heavy piece of work, but other Savage owners that I have talked to say they are all accurate out of the box.
 
Anyway, you all asked about what i'd read about Savage, below is a link to another forum that had some interesting comments about Savage rifles........thanks again......M.

http://www.infohub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2999
Click to expand...

Well, I read the thread and am indeed unimpressed with the so-called" gunsmith comments. For one thing, to my knowledge, all Savage rifles are free-floated and pillared. I know they aren't bedded though. SO these comments, in my opinion are nothing more than just biased comments. I can understand that a gunsmith has to make aliving, but I have my doubts about using one that openly bashes any firearm, regardless of make or model. If the guy thinks my Savage is junk, why would I retain him to work on any of my stuff?

I have a Stevens model 200 in 7mm-08 and it's far more accurate than I am... oh wait, a good number of us have said that about our beloved Savages...

Cheers... buy the Savage, be happy and use the save $$ for good glass... :eek:

my 0.02
 
Skinewmexico, yea, this is a brand new Savage with accutrigger. I'm personally neutral on long/short actions most of the time. The long action Savage is the exception, however. It is hard to get most of my favorite scopes to fit on them. In a Savage I prefer the short action. I did not mean to infer that this was a bad trait, just providing info.
 
Those are very biased comments on the other board and I would have absolutely no confidence in a gunsmith who did not realize that, should you wish to, the barrel nut can be discarded and a barrel with standard shoulders installed. Yet, to say the barrel nut impedes accuracy is absurd.

Bias-disguised happened to me, once. At Big Buck Sports in Hattiesburg, MS, I asked about getting a Savage 114. They told me they did not sell Savage because they were not very good quality. Yet, they had no problem selling the Remington 710...

In any case, I would certainly not say that the Savage is second rate or not in the same league as the Tikka. Shots fired down range determines league, and as the Tikka is a push-feed bolt action rifle with forward locking lugs and a plunger ejector, it isn't really that different in design from the Savage.

Ash
 
Definitely need extended bases and/or rings on a long action Savage. I'm going to have to go measure one of my short actions now.
 
Many thanks,again,to one and all. This has been very informative.
I like what i've dug upon your Stevens 200 recommendation, the Howe/Hogue rifle looks pretty cool, and the Tikka T3 lite about has me slobbering. I've been googling around trying to find the deals on all these.
I'm thinking, if i can get,say,$1100-1200 outa my Remington/Leupold MKIV ,(with case and bi-pod, i think i can ) then spend $300 or so on the Stevens, and $200,delivered for the Bushnell Elite 3200 10x mil-dot scope, i'd still have a decent heavy caliber rifle for zombies and such, and then bank $500-600 bucks.
Decisions,decisions..........:D
 
Well, I hate to start this , Ruger M77VT MKII, it has an excellent adjustable trigger, weight of pull, sear engagement and over travel, 26" bbl in .308, Boyds Laminate freefloated stock, all stainless hardware, floorplate, trigger guard in Rugers Target Grey.

Mine is an excellent shooter , out of the box , shot my first one ragged hole, 5shot group at 100 yds with this rifle and my handloads,paid $620.00 5 yrs ago.

I'm the owner of 3 Savage rifles all three have the Accutrigger, two are centerfires, the triggers are fine triggers easily adjustable for weight of pull, down to 2 1/2 lbs.
The Ruger is no creep and in all the Savages there is some creep, they break clean if you can put up with the creep and they are all spot on out to farther than I can shoot them.

The Burris line in the Fullfield II fits the short action Savages. I have a 4.5 x 14 x42mm with Warn 1 piece base and Warne Vertical split rings.
The reticule is the ballistic plex, it works well with the Ruger and the .308 Win 150 gr ballistic tip Nosler, out to and beyond 300 yds. The plex reticule is easier for me to compensate than the mil dot system. I have it set fo 100-400 yds.

If there is any draw back of the Ruger, it would be bedding the action, which I have not done as to date. That 45 degree angled stock bolt is something I don't have the courage to try to pillar bed.
 
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