Need new .308 advise - Remington 700 or Savage?

[cat_IT_guy]

I am looking to purchase sometime in the coming month(s) a rifle to be used primarily for killing paper at longer ranges. I am settled on the .308 round due to its inherent accuracy, power and availability.

I will be looking to spend about $1500 total. I figure about $1000ish for a good bolt gun and about $500ish for a Leupold scope.

I just finished perusing Remingtons website and a couple of their heavy barreled 700s caught my attention. Anybody have any experience with these? Is the extra price over, say, a savage worth it? Pics would be appreciated. How about the trigger on these guns (I know, I didnt specify a model, but I have not selected one)? Is it good from the get go (right!) or does it need work or should I just plan on replacing it eventually?

On the other hand, I do like the looks of the Savage 10FP with the McMillan or HS Precision stocks. I could save a little on the rifle by going with Savage, plus get the accutrigger, which I have come to love on my Mark II. How do you guys feel about these? Have one? Pics?

Any other thoughts/opinions/considerations would be appreciated.

 

[jay43]

get the savage with the MacMillan with accutrigger, you'll have more money to spend on optics, bipods, AMMO etc

 

[Hutch]

Either would be fine, I'm sure. I have a 700VS in .308, and it's an honest .5 MOA rifle. Remington seems to have more dress-up and aftermarket parts available. This almost a Lee vs. Dillon kinda question. You're LIKELY to be pleased with a Savage. You're VERY LIKELY to be pleased with a Remington. You are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN to pay more for the Remington.

 

[metalhd9034]

My vote is for FN

How about a FN Patrol Bolt rifle, or FN SPR? I bought my SPR for about $1200 so that it is on the expensive side for the budget. But I have to say I've been really happy with mine, even when compared to the 700 or the models from Savage. Just my .02. Enjoy whatever you purchase!

 

[MCgunner]

I own both brands, prefer Remington. It's a more refined rifle. You get more for the extra cash. Fit, finish, slick action, and I find Remington to be slightly more accurate on the average. I figure there's gotta be a reason so many bench rest actions are built on the 700 and so few, if any, on Savage actions.

Like everyone says, you'll be happy with either. I just think my Remingtons are nicer rifles than my Savage, but then, they oughta be.

BTW, there are lots of other choices, ya know.

 

[MAX100]

Savage because of the trigger. Take a look at the Bell & Carlson Vertical Grip Tactical Medalist Series stock. They are nice stocks for around $199 and have a full length bedding block. Most stocks with Aluminum bedding blocks need skim bedding to be the best they can be.

There are other scopes available that are just as good or better than a Leupold for a lot less money. Burris, Bushnell 4200, Sightron.

Millett TRS-1 4X16X50 ILLUM Mil-dot is worth looking at. It got good review on sniper central. They have been improved since that review


Link to Stocky Stocks with Bell& Carlson stocks:

http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-110/Bell-&-Carlson-Vertical/Detail

 

[Will Learn]

I think the rem 700 might take some trigger tuning to be on par with the Savage. I also read somewhere about savage having a free floating bolt head which might be a plus. I've been thinking about getting a Stevens/Savage model 200($300) and swapping the barrel for a Shilen select stainless match barrel($400), timney trigger($150), and mcmillan stock($500). That would total out around $1350 but could make a great long range competitor with a NF 5.5-20 or something on it, maybe even a super sniper 16x42 mildot to start.

I'd get the Savage 12BVSS (varmint) to start if you just wanted a stock rifle.

 

[RevolverMan567]

700

If I am not mistaken the 700 comes from the factory with a Macmillan stock and all the new ones will have the X mark pro trigger. If you want a 308then you want the VF or VF SS depending on the finish you want. Already Glass bedded with aluminum pillars and EXCELLENT TRIGGER (x Mark pro). Ergonomically shaped Stock with texturing and heavy Fluted barrel. Go Remington and DON'T ever look back.

 

[Will Learn]

I was just on Remington's site and couldn't find what you where talking about Revolver. Do you have a link? I'd be interested in finding out more about that setup.

 

[JWarren]

Can anyone give any information on the bolt-lock-up on the Savage?

I've had a 2 Remington 700's in 30-06 in the past that I LOVED, but I have heard great things about the Savage.

And then there was a gunshop owner that told me that he would NEVER stock a Savage because he knows of a situation where the firearm blew the bolt out of the rifle.

Of course, I KNOW how stories like that go. But it did make me realize that I didn't know much about the mechanics of the Savage. Can anyone give a technical opinion regarding them?


Thanks!


-- John

 

[JWarren]

Wow... I found what I was looking for. I guess I should have tried on my own.


For the benefit of the discussion:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Model_110

The Model 110 was designed to be economical from the start. Thus, many smaller parts are made from investment castings and steel stampings. However, the action and barrel are made from forged steel bar stock. The barrel is threaded into to the receiver and fixed via a large locknut located just ahead of the receiver, with a recoil lug sandwiched between the two. This system allows barrels to be changed or headspace to be adjusted relatively easily, making for an extremely accurate yet inexpensive rifle.

The bolt is an easily-manufactured assembly, consisting of a tube with a rotating forward baffle and the bolt head (with locking lugs) at one end, a removable handle attached via a threaded bolt and a rotating rear baffle at the rear of the assembly, and a striker assembly held within. Due to both the receiver and bolt designs, the rifle is relatively simple to produce with a left-handed bolt, making it a popular choice among budget-minded southpaws.

The bolt head of the Model 110 is of a "floating" design, meaning that a flat spring located behind the front baffle and bolt head assembly gives the assembly small measure of free movement lateral to the bore axis. This insures that the locking lugs have full contact against the receiver and headspace is held to a minimum every time the bolt is locked. This feature is a major factor contributing to the accuracy of the rifle. Also, the bolt head is a replaceable part. This means that if the user wishes to re-barrel the rifle for use with a different cartridge, the bolt head can also be changed to suit a new case head diameter. This allows for a much wider range of cartridge interchangeability at less expense.

There are also two different types of bolt heads for the 110 series; a push feed type (standard for the bulk of the 110 series) and a controlled round feed type found on some magnum-chambered rifles. Each bolt head type includes a different means of cartridge ejection. Push feed bolt heads utilize a plunger-type ejector mounted in the bolt face, while the controlled round feed bolt heads have a relief cut for a receiver-mounted, spring-loaded folding ejector to pass through as the bolt is retracted.

The safety is a three-position type, mounted in an ambidextrous position on the receiver tang, behind the bolt. The forward position is fire, the middle position locks the trigger while allowing the bolt to be opened and the rifle unloaded, and the rear position locks both the trigger and the bolt. The bolt release lever is located on the right side of the action (on right-handed models) behind the ejection port. Pressing this lever down while pulling the unlocked bolt to the rear allows the bolt to be removed from the rifle for cleaning.

There are many different models of the 110 series designed for different purposes. The basic 11/111 "Hunter" (blued carbon steel) models, 16/116 "Weather Warrior" (stainless steel) models, and 10/110FP "Law Enforcement" models include inexpensive wooden or synthetic stocks in order to keep costs down. While the stocks provided with these models are certainly functional, many users have noted a substantial improvement in accuracy after installing a higher quality stock. Other models, such as the 14/114 "Classic" and many of the 12 "Varmint" and 10FP "Law Enforcement" models are offered with high-quality stocks from the manufacturer.

-- John

 

[Hunter0924]

My vote goes for the Savage. Don't think there are not target rifles built off the Savage action. I have heard it said more then once that Savage is the most accurate rifle out the box.

 

[GTSteve03]

Get the Savage 10FP with the HS Precision stock. Grab the Warne picatinny base and rings, Harris bipod, and scope of your choice. I would stay away from Leupold though, they're overpriced for what you get. I'm a fan of Nikon myself.

 

[browningguy]

Having just picked up a Savage 12FV in .243 today I of course will vote Savage. The Remington action can be good with some work, but out of the box they smply don't appear to me to be as good a gun. The action on mine feels as smooth as any factory Remington I handled, and the trigger is simply in another league. I spent quite a lot of time looking and playing with different rifles, cost wasn't really an issue to me, but the Savage still came out best in my evaluation. A combination of the chambering in .243 with a heavy 26" barrel, easy to change calibers (I'm getting a 28" .260 and .308) for different uses, and that accutrigger. It's really similar to a two stage trigger in feel which I actually prefer, mine seems to be set very low from the factory (the book says varmint/target guns may be set at the lowest setting). It's very crisp and clean with almost no overtravel.

 

[Oohrah]

Choices would tend to go for the Remington and consideration
for additional work if wanted is more readily available by most
smiths. Many improvement options are available if so so desire
them. I'm sure you would be satisfied with either!

 

[Davo]

Go with the Savage, and with what you save by not needing a new trigger and the lower sticker price get the best scope you can-the tactical scope is probably the most important part on a tactical rifle. I do recommend the upgraded stocks (HSP etc).
Another bonus with the Savage is that you can swap barrels easily, say for hunting, f-class, and paper punching.[/QUOTE]

 

[skinewmexico]

And then there was a gunshop owner that told me that he would NEVER stock a Savage because he knows of a situation where the firearm blew the bolt out of the rifle.

Of course, I KNOW how stories like that go. But it did make me realize that I didn't know much about the mechanics of the Savage. Can anyone give a technical opinion regarding them?

Yeah, the gunshop owner is full of crap. The lugs lock on a Savage, just like any other bolt.

 

[f451]

The 700 Varmit, laminated stock (VLMS) with the 26" bull barrel produces exceptional accuracy. I had a 6.5X21 Leuopold Vari-X III and you can shoot 1" MOA at 300 yards, with handloads and very stable rest. I shot the handle off of a 10" frying pan at 325 yards as a stunt but this is common accuracy for the rifle. Change the stock to McMillian, A jewel trigger, and think about the Nikon, I have wanted to try one but have not had the chance yet. Load your own ammo also. 150 grain ballistic tips seem to work pretty good out of that 26" barrel. Good Luck!

 

[Jim Watson]

I HAVE a Savage, a .308 12BVSS-S, their top gun at the time, before the LRPV and factory F-class guns came out. I did NOT get the one you read about in the gunzines and on the internet. The Accutrigger would not go lower than the factory setting of about 2.5 lb and would not reliably sear up even then. The barrel was about a 3/4 MOA job with the best ammo I could load or buy. Not good enough for the F-class target's half-moa X ring.

So now it has a Rifle Basix trigger and a Pac-Nor barrel and does what I thought I was buying to start with, but $500 more invested.

I am TOLD that the newer guns are better, maybe even equal to the advertising. But when I was buying, I'd have been better off with a Remington.

 

[browningguy]

The 10 FP would be a good choice, but the 12 F-TR might just be better. I went with the 12 FV so I could get a .243, but if I wanted a .308 this would be the one.



Trigger adjustable down to 6 oz., I've seen these advertised at $999.

 

[kennedy]

just bought a rem 700 in .308 26 in bull barrel, laminated stock with leupold rings for $525, It was walking around at a gun show, so far have adjusted trigger down to 2.5 lbs, and added a leupold var x-2 3X9, I bought off of auction arms for $189, I have a harris bi-pod coming(bought off the high road) for $45, plus added lower leupold rings for $18. So have just under $800 invested. and it shoots like a dream.

 

[brasskeeper]

I have a friend who has a Reminton LTR that is a tack driver. I have an old 700v that shoots great.