Savage 14 300 WSM

[Kachok]

Basspro is having a clearance sale on Savage 14 and 114 rifles, one has a rather heavy contour barrel in 300 WSM that is the old style with the hinged floor plate rather then the detachable mag (which I prefer) for $510 Great looking rifle for the money. I have been thinking about a 300 mag long ranged rifle for hunting the power lines does anyone have any experience with the Savage 14s? I know the recoil pad needs to be changed out (thin hard rubber) but other then that I think it could work for my purposes if they shoot anywhere near as well as the other Savages I have owned.
Your thoughts?

 

[hoghunting]

A hunting buddy has one in .308 and, not only is it a very nice looking rifle, it is extremely accurate. I have a 300 WSM from a different manufacturer and have been impressed with the accuracy and performance of that round. I handload so I don't have problems finding ammo in that caliber.

 

[HARV6]

I've got a 114 in 7RM. I'd buy one again, especially at that price. I tried 3 different boxes of factory ammo with it, all plane jane Rem/Win/Fed stuff. The best box was about 1.5" at 100 yards for 5 shots. The worst was over 3". So not the legendary Savage accuracy that i had read about. I did however find a hand load in my first ladder test that consistently put 160 Accubonds under an inch for 5 shots. So that's where my testing stopped. I don't think the recoil with the stock pad is that bad when I keep it tight to my shoulder.

 

[Dentite]

I have a Classic 14 in .223 and have no regrets. I handload and found a nice load that put five shots into .4 MOA.