TarpleyG:
You asked if anyone had any comments on the Savage 10FP.
Yessir, I do.
I'm fresh off an opinionated ragfest in another thread on Remington bolt handles ( I'm the opinionated rag, BTW, and I collect Remingtons...
), BUT, I'd like to share with you my initiation into centerfire rifles.
When I decided to start looking into rifles, I was all over the map.
The experts at work ran the gamut on what brand and caliber to get, just to further confound me.
Long story short is: I got a Remington 700 BDL in 7mm Rem.Mag. and it's my favorite bolt-action rifle.
Even my wife said, in her kindly way, "Just go get a G@dd@m rifle!!!"...
I was glad to have her support!
This decision took almost two years of catalog flogging and putting the money away and listening and reading and, and, and, and...
Now, don't let anyone think I'm trying to steer you immediately to what I chose, as that is not the case.
The reason it took me so long to choose is because when I mentioned the Savage 110FP (as it was called before the new short action came out) in .308, these experts trashed the idea of the brand and caliber, etc.
OK, well, in Guns&Weapons for Law Enforcement, there was an article on this rifle and the Weaver V-16 scope and Weaver rings/base and the Harris bipod...and the gun was good; accurate; reliable and the whole setup was priced right.
I thought I'd get it and be able to use it for:
1) SHTF / Tactical rifle...
cool factor, you know?
2) Hunting, regardless of the hvy.bbl.
I didn't plan on stalking a deer. I was going to stay put and 'snipe' it.
3) Target/Bench shooting... I was going to learn to shoot with this rifle.
TRUTH BE TOLD --- I should have bought this gun right away, just as I wanted it, and learned to shoot!!!
The experts, IMHO, should have encouraged me to get what I wanted and helped me learn to shoot.
I could have decided to change brands/calibers later, if need be.
What I ended up doing is getting confused as hell and waiting too long. I could have been out shooting a LOT sooner. :banghead:
So, that may have taken a little bit of time to explain, but, if you can get a setup such as I was looking at, for all the reasons right or wrong in anybody elses book, GET THE RIFLE and START SHOOTIN NOW. Do NOT wait~!
For the money, you probably could get what I described and be out having the time of your life in short order.
I encourage you to do so.
One last thing. NEVER sell your first gun. Please.
I hope this story helps you get out and start shooting soon.
Don't wait for the experts to confuse you.
ASK them to take you and your new rifle out to get acquainted.
And don't take any crap about your choice, whatever it turns out to be!
HAVE FUN.