looking at getting a new bolt action in 308. would like some opinions on which savage model to get. i was originally thinking about a remington 700, but have changed my mind to the savage as some buddies have savages and had remingtons, they like savage much more. thanks
savage 308 bolt rifle
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What are you going to use it for?
I hear good things on the internet about Savage rifles. I've tried 3 of them over the years. They weren't bad rifles, but I haven't found one that is as accurate as the Remingtons, FN's, Winchesters, Tikka's, or Weatherby's I've owned.
Like I said, I had no complaints, but I already had better rifles, so I let them go.
I hear good things on the internet about Savage rifles. I've tried 3 of them over the years. They weren't bad rifles, but I haven't found one that is as accurate as the Remingtons, FN's, Winchesters, Tikka's, or Weatherby's I've owned.
Like I said, I had no complaints, but I already had better rifles, so I let them go.
bigedp51
member
In the the last 9 months I have purchased one Remington 700 and two Stevens 200s, the Stevens/Savage rifles are much better than the new Remingtons.
Below is the link for Savage shooters web page and you can get your info right from the horses mouth. You can customize the Savage series of rifle very easily and you have a floating bolt head that always contacts equally and aids accuracy.
http://savageshooters.com/SavageForum/
Very roughly made Remington 700 bolt below.
Floating Savage/Stevens bolt head.
Below is the link for Savage shooters web page and you can get your info right from the horses mouth. You can customize the Savage series of rifle very easily and you have a floating bolt head that always contacts equally and aids accuracy.
http://savageshooters.com/SavageForum/
Very roughly made Remington 700 bolt below.
Floating Savage/Stevens bolt head.
dc.fireman
Member
I picked up the model 12 VLP DBM, 1in 7 twist, .223 rem. ( I reload for a lot of .223, so I figured I'd keep it simple).
It's a heavy fluted barrel, 26" in length. I absolutely love the laminated stock. It locks up super tight, and has extremely little play when cycling the bolt. It has the Acc-trigger, which so far I've seen no need to adjust.
I wanted to start practicing some mid to longer range shooting, and figured this was a good way to begin... The rifle so far, has pretty good reviews, and there are several videos to check out on youtube.
My only complaint from Savage rifles - their own synthetic stocks remind me of plastic boat oars - which is why I opted for a laminated wood. Good Luck with whatever you choose.
It's a heavy fluted barrel, 26" in length. I absolutely love the laminated stock. It locks up super tight, and has extremely little play when cycling the bolt. It has the Acc-trigger, which so far I've seen no need to adjust.
I wanted to start practicing some mid to longer range shooting, and figured this was a good way to begin... The rifle so far, has pretty good reviews, and there are several videos to check out on youtube.
My only complaint from Savage rifles - their own synthetic stocks remind me of plastic boat oars - which is why I opted for a laminated wood. Good Luck with whatever you choose.
Four_Speed
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+1 on the Stevens 200 - have the 30-06 and 223. You may be able to adjust the stock triggers to your liking. Have you tried the Marlins?
erict
Member
I have 2 110fp's and I prefer them heavily over any of my Remington rifles. Savage makes an excellent rifle right out of the box. My only complaint is the same as mentioned above about the factory stocks.
what do you think of this model?
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/78524
i'm just kind of looking right now. i want to actually handle some of these at a store and see whih i really like. just looking for some opinions from people who have used them. thanks for all the help
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/78524
i'm just kind of looking right now. i want to actually handle some of these at a store and see whih i really like. just looking for some opinions from people who have used them. thanks for all the help
Polar Express
Member
Last fall, I purchased two rifles, a pair of Savage rifles, that were identically configured, with exception of the caliber chamber.
One was a .308, and the other was a .300 Win Mag.
Here are the specs I chose:
Accu-trigger
Accu-stock
SS metal
Detachable Box magazine
Out of the box, both triggers are exceptional. Crisp, light, just fantastic. Couldn't be happier with my choice to purchase this 'matched' pair.
(yes, the WM has a longer action, and a longer barrel than the .308, but I saw no advantage to paying the extra $$ to custom order same-length barrels)
I agree that the plastic stocks do feel a little different, but I was going for function, not form, and the intended purpose is primairly hunting. The areas that those guns will see are commonly wet and snowy.
Just my two cents.
PE
One was a .308, and the other was a .300 Win Mag.
Here are the specs I chose:
Accu-trigger
Accu-stock
SS metal
Detachable Box magazine
Out of the box, both triggers are exceptional. Crisp, light, just fantastic. Couldn't be happier with my choice to purchase this 'matched' pair.
(yes, the WM has a longer action, and a longer barrel than the .308, but I saw no advantage to paying the extra $$ to custom order same-length barrels)
I agree that the plastic stocks do feel a little different, but I was going for function, not form, and the intended purpose is primairly hunting. The areas that those guns will see are commonly wet and snowy.
Just my two cents.
PE
Skylerbone
Member
I don't recall which poster it was a fee months back whose new Weather Warrior did not fit the listed bases. Seems they changed dimensions and his was not the only one. Several owners came out of the woodwork with their JB Weld build-ups. Just a heads up.
Sav .250
Member
You can find problems with just about any weapon. It`s more a sign of the times then design.
The Savage, along with the others, is as good a choice as any. I`ve had most of the "big" brands and while they have all done the job, I like the Savage. The ones (Sav) I have owned over the years have never let me down. What more can you ask ?
The Savage, along with the others, is as good a choice as any. I`ve had most of the "big" brands and while they have all done the job, I like the Savage. The ones (Sav) I have owned over the years have never let me down. What more can you ask ?
451 Detonics
Member
In 20 years of owning a brick and mortar gun store I think the only out of the box rifle I saw that would consistently shoot as well as the Savage was the Steyr SSG. I know we have a member who is snake bit when it comes to the Savages...I have zero luck with Fords...shrugs...
As others have stated the only real problem with the Savages are the flimsy low end synthetic stocks. I would either plan on replacing it or buy a model with the laminated stock, or a model with the McMillan stock.
As others have stated the only real problem with the Savages are the flimsy low end synthetic stocks. I would either plan on replacing it or buy a model with the laminated stock, or a model with the McMillan stock.
Skylerbone
Member
I'm not bashing Savage or their accuracy, just a heads up as the OP is a rather meticulous shooter and reported his personal findings. The alarming part was that Savage was not aware of the issue or any change in production nor was TPS, the maker of his scope rings.
Here's a link: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=559442&highlight=Weather+warrior+mystery
Here's a link: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=559442&highlight=Weather+warrior+mystery
Skylerbone
Member
I might add that the distance you choose to shoot will also be of relevance to what you choose. Nearly all production rifles can hit 1 MOA at 100 yds. If your chosen yardage is 400 yds. you'll want a heavier, high BC bullet to minimize wind drift. Be sure to check twist rate on the model you choose.
snake284
Member
Savage can be very accurate out of the box. However, so can a Remington. The issue I found with two Remingtons I bought new about 4 years back were their triggers. Once my gun smith worked them over, they shoot like a Savage. Remington really took some hits back in the day on their triggers. This caused them to make their triggers Lawyer triggers. I had a 6MM BDL I bought new back in 1981. It had a nice trigger on it and I adjusted it lower to about 2 pounds pull weight. But these last two 700s I bought in 2006 and 2007. The one I bought in 2006 was an ADL Synthetic in 22-250 and the other was a 30-06 SPS I bought in 2007. Both weren't too bad out of the box, but both had 5+ pound triggers. I tried to adjust them but they both had a lot of creep when I got them down where I wanted them. And this creep was not consistent. One time it would be a crisp let off and the next it would be so sloppy I had no idea when to expect it to go off. My accuracy actually got worse after I lightened the pull weights instead of better. I took them one at a time to my trusted smith and he did a trigger job replacing springs and stoning the trigger and sear and got them both down to about 1.5 pounds with a very consistent, crisp let off. Now both rifles shoot very well. The 22-250 with a proper hand load will shoot less than .5 MOA if I can do my part with these old eyes. The 30-06 is less than MOA with a good load and me at my best. Also, if you ever want to spend some extra cash and really fix it up, the Remington is a very inheritly accurate action due to its rigidity and its super fast lock time. The 700 family of actions, 721, 722, 725, and 700 were all designed by Remington Engineer Mike Walker, who was also a bench rest shooter. Again, don't sell the Remington short because of a lot of media hype and other peoples limited opinions.
Oh Yeah, Forgot to mention, Remington has a new trigger that is safer than their old one and is user friendly for adjustment now. I think it's called the X-Pro. They had problems with them at first and now have improved them.
Oh Yeah, Forgot to mention, Remington has a new trigger that is safer than their old one and is user friendly for adjustment now. I think it's called the X-Pro. They had problems with them at first and now have improved them.
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thanks for all the info. i haven't completely ruled out a remington, but i have heard a lot of bad stuff about the newer rifles from people i know and trust. i would actually have to check one out good for it. the main reason i am mostly interested in a savage is i have heard very little negative about them. and really they are both around the same price range.
Oathkeeper1775
Member
Model 11 FXP3
I don't have a Savage yet;
I've been doing a bit of research, there are a lot of good things about the Model 11 FXP3. You might want to check into them.
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/finder/
I don't have a Savage yet;
I've been doing a bit of research, there are a lot of good things about the Model 11 FXP3. You might want to check into them.
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/finder/
Most problems where barrel related, which yield bad accuracy, the model 11 BTH in 308 just would group, had it accurazied glass bedded stock, target crown down, shooting pattern didn't change a bit, then 12 LRP in 260, it shot groups like this which are not what Target rifle should shoot...
it had bad barrel, lands where unequal size, messing up everything.
then the latest 12 LRPV, it had problems with firing pin which crater primers and puncture them on occasion as well
, then it had problem with its chamber which had machine marks allover so fired brass would be almost impossible to cycle again,
also it has tendency to shoot frequent fliers no matter how I tweak loads...
I fixed firing pin and had help from my friend with its chamber, but fliers remained...
it had bad barrel, lands where unequal size, messing up everything.
then the latest 12 LRPV, it had problems with firing pin which crater primers and puncture them on occasion as well
, then it had problem with its chamber which had machine marks allover so fired brass would be almost impossible to cycle again,
also it has tendency to shoot frequent fliers no matter how I tweak loads...
I fixed firing pin and had help from my friend with its chamber, but fliers remained...
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godale
Member
i have 4 savages all of them are shooters. even my pre accutriger 270. biggest complaint had difficulty with my 114 30-06 getting a scope and base to my liking. i ended up with a a nice egw one piece base and it fits my bushy 3200 elite great. if i can recall when i bought the 114 a few years back every cdl 700 had a very bad stiff bolt.not to mention 90.00 more. guess what? i will take the accutrigger and the smoother bolt and save my 90.00.the 270 was a package deal with a simmons aetec scope on iyt. paid 300.00 for it figured by time i bought the stevens and rebasesd it and rescoped it i would be fauther ahead the other way.the time of remmy has passed it is now the time of savage. that being said i would not pass on a good 700 from the 70s-90s.
Savage offered me new barrel for 160 bucks, but I think I would rather try some other barrel makers, I'll pay more but I might get something that I can trust, like Hart, Pac-Nor or Lilja Precision Rifle Barrels... Maybe whole thing has to do were I leave, I'm always getting very good, accurate and reliable Rem 700, they make them just 90 miles north from me...
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