Savage Police .308s. How are they?

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deadmeat

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I would like to have a "tactical bolt action rifle" to go along with my "tactical m4" and my "tactical shotgun". I know these are around $400-$425 and i like the new accutrigger. Im just curious to how accurate they are. I cant afford to spend a whole lot on one. Sending the wife back to school. Any ideas?
 
in my experience and that of a considerable number of others the savages are pretty much the "best out of the box" production rifles out there accuracy wise. not to mention within it's price category.
they only have two known faults in this realm of usage, a POS stock and poorly timed bolts (rough cocking at times).


IF you do not want, care for, or "have to have" one or more of the follwoing options on the gun... a Choate, or McMillan stock, Matte Vs glossier blued metal, or a barrel length shorter than 26" (this option precludes getting the Mcmillan stock) skip the 10FP (-LE) series and get a 12FV varminter.

the extra swivel stud that is added to the stocks of "Standard" stocked 10FP series does NOT make up for the shortcomings of the stock (flismy, and too prone to shifting, in other words "not a stable platform") that stock is the savage's achilles' heel.

so MY oppinion, and what I personally plan to do soon, is this. Buy a 12FV, a decent scope and mounts (a sightron S-III series, on farrel mounts is my plan) and a whole bunch of good ammo, get teh gn broken in while saving up to upgrade the stock adn a few other things. when money comes available order a New stock (possibly the new "A-5 clone") from Sharpshooter's supply along with anything else that suits your needs (new tactical bolt knob is under development), possibly even sending the rifle to Fred Moreo (owner/gunsmith at SSS) for a complete tuneup etc.

oh well just my buck fifty (keep teh change :D ) good luck
 
Mine, photo attached in full-desert bloom, has been getting three-shot groups ranging from .25 to .55 with very good consistency with handloads, while getting .5 to .75 with Federal and Winchester match blammo.


You'll find the Savage with the new trigger to do just fine, even with the crappy plastic stock. Glass-bed it, properly mount a good scope on it, and find ammo that harmonizes with your barrel. You'll find as I did that the rifle shoots like the proverbial tack driver off of solid rests. Once you prove to yourself that the rifle is accurate off of these same rests, you'll begin to realize that the rifle is maxxed out and it is *you* (or *me*) what needs workin' on. You won't get the same results off of your bipod, never get that same hold using your fist on the buttstock. So you'll need to practice to figure out how to reduce the variability in you. And you'll begin to understand the art of the rifle.

Have fun. I am.

Take some rifle courses while you're at it.

edited to add: I sent my barreled action to Fred to make sure the lugs and action and barrel were true. I also had him install a machined recoil lug while he was at it. I suppose he also timed my cocker too. I already had his SSS trigger installed, and I asked him to set it to his specks. It breaks at just under 16 ounces.

Rick
 
Rifle pic attached here.

Proud papa.

Rick
 

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I got the 10FP-LE2B with the McMillan stock. I am totally satisfied with this purchase. The AccuTrigger is sweet and I haven't even adjusted it yet, wanna lighten it up a bit when I get access to an inch/lb torque wrench. With good ammo and tripod with no back bag (I use my fist) I can shoot MOA @100yds easy.

I chose the Savage over the usually more frequently recommended Remmy 700 because I don't plan major upgrades to the rifle. I liked the 1:10 twist of the Savage over the 1:12 of the Remmy. I prefer button rifling to hammer forged. I like the fact that I can change out a barrel myself. Last but not least, the price was right.

Shabo
 
Most SWAT folks and SWAT snipers I've visited with don't like the Savage bolts. I don't know if it's a holdover from some problem Savage used to have or if it's a design concern that still exists. If somebody wants to play sniper, I believe the Savage would be fine. Top drawer police snipers, however, don't use them. The local department here used to use Steyr's and at least one had 10,000 rounds through it when they traded them off. They currently use custom rifles built on a Remington action. (They Steyr's shot better, by the way.)
 
the savages have really poor bolt timing (does nto effect accuracy, but DOES effect how much effoprt is required to cock/cycle the bolt, THAT maybe the "bolt issue".

and if they already had Steyrs they were alrady spoiled anyway.. :D :D

But for us run of the mill, gotta pay for our toys out of our OWN pockets and not a Department's, a savage and a trip to SSS (or not if you can deal with the small short comings of the savage) will set one in as good a position as any and for considerably less outlay of funds overall.

then again it could have also beena case of "hey we wanted REMINGTONS!!! or better yet some more Steyrs!!"

personally i would not volunteer to be down range of ANY of the three....
 
a savage out of the box will shoot better than you can. without trying i can get better than MOA at 100yds with mine and i have seen it shoot 0.5MOA. you can't go wrong with a savage.
 
deadmeat: My previous response to this thread ended up sounding a lot harsher and more negative than I meant it to. It's my understanding that Savage produces one of the most accurate out-of-the-box rifles available. Just wanted you to be aware of some folks' concern over the bolt. I'd be more than happy to own one.
 
thanks for the answers. I know that the bolts are pretty crappy, but i also know that the accutriggers and barrels are second to none. I think that the savage would do fine. A local range has 200,400,600,1000 yard rifle range. I would like to try and get into long range shooting with it. I feel like once a get it all set up, i should be able to shoot some pretty good groups out to 400 maybe 600. But for the prices, you cant go wrong!
 
i went to the savage home page. The model i think i wouldlike is the LE model 10FP with the 24" barrel. It lso comes with a 26 " barrel, but i think that would be too long. suggested retail is $572.
 
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