The Savage legend proves true with this one

[bikemutt]

I'd always heard Savage rifles were accurate out of the box, figured what the heck, lets give one a shot. I planned a MDT LSS chassis build in .223 and didn't want another Rem 700, figured I'd try a Savage. I found a model 10FP-SR online for $500 and rolled the dice.

I pre-ordered a EGW scope mount for it and mated the two once in-hand. MDT chassis are weeks out so I took her to the range today bone-stock except for the scope rail, she wore a Nikon M-223 pulled from an AR, including the M-223 AR mount just to add some trouble

After break in with gun show reloads at 100 yards, I decided not to alter the scope setting because it's going back on the AR, and I was on paper. That's when I broke out a box of Black Hills 69 grain match king re-manufactured with little to no expectations, I've had no success with that ammo in my other rifles.

With every shot my eyes bugged out a bit more, I was waiting for the choke. But I got through it without soiling my shorts and put up a decent group I think. The rifle apparently likes to eat this stuff.

Anyway, I feel a bright future with this Savage and wanted to share a bit of it with the fine folks here at THR

 

[Hangingrock]

Precession Shooting no longer published had a contributor (?) Bob Greenleaf (?) whom was at one time employed as an engineer at Savage. One of his observations in regards to accuracy of the Savage design was the floating bolt head employed on the 110 series rifles.

 

[Ash]

When I first joined, a decade ago, Savage got no respect. They were often and regularly derided as vastly inferior to the Remington 700. At a sporting goods shop, a local place that was put out of business by Gander Mountain, I was told they did not carry scope mount bases for Savage 110's because the rifle was of such poor quality they could not support it (ironically they had a Remington 710 on the display).

It was boldly declared that no serious precision rifle could be made from the 110.

How ironic is it that Marlin and Remington both make rifles based on the 110.

How refreshing it is that the Savage 110 is acknowledged as the rifle those of us who shot them knew it was.

 

[Txhillbilly]

I've got a safe full of rifles based off a Savage action. Some are factory rifles in aftermarket stocks,and others are rifles that I've built in my shop. They all shoot fantastic,and I have no complaints about them.
I have Remington,Winchester,Ruger,RRA,DPMS,and several other custom rifles,and they don't out shoot the Savages.
Some state that Savage's are ugly,IMO,they look just like any other bolt action to me.

 

[Fremmer]

Yeah she sure does like that ammo, congrats!

Get a good scope just for that rifle!

 

[Ash]

I agree with TX, the action is like any other bolt action. Sure, the bolt squares off on the back kind of suddenly, but that is only because the safety is not on the bolt. Stocks could be plain, but I've seen real ugly wood on 700 ADL's and 1970's Winchester 70's. But like the others, it is a tubular receiver with a sandwiched recoil lug, push-feed and plunger-ejection. And come on, that barrel nut is not even all that noticeable.

 

[Aguila327]

I got my first Savage in 1990, a 110-FP in .308. I've been training and shooting with LE snipers since then and it has never let me down.

The one criticism I had was how the barrel held on to copper fouling. The Remys cleaned a lot quicker.

 

[The_ohmman]

I have 4 Savage rifles and everyone is a tack driver. Three of them are just amazingly accurate. The worst one, a 110 from the early 90's, will shoot clover leaf groups at 100 yards. They make a great product and sell it for a great price. I like Remington rifles too btw. But a lot of people won't give Savage their due. Too bad for them and better for me. It makes the rifles sell cheaper on the used market.

 

[ironworkerwill]

How ironic is it that Marlin/Remington, Ruger, and Shilen all make rifles based on the concepts of the 110.

Fixed And they all shoot well too.

The aftermarket parts are the driving force behind the current success IMO. Yet that was spawned by the exceptional accuracy of the platform.

 

[jmr40]

One of his observations in regards to accuracy of the Savage design was the floating bolt head employed on the 110 series rifles.

This is the key. I've owned and shot quite a few Savage rifles. I've not found them to be any more accurate than any other brand, not any less accurate either. What I have found is that sometimes you get one of the others that is a poor shooter. That almost never happens with Savage. The floating bolt head is the reason.

With conventionally built rifles they all shoot great as long as everything is manufactured and assembled correctly. If something is out of spec you get a poor shooting rifle. The Savage design does not require the same level of precision machining and care at assembly. This results in a less expensive rifle capable of accuracy equaling other brands that cost much more. It probably makes the job of a gunsmith building a custom rifle easier.

I think Savage has lost the edge they once had though. Their claim to fame is producing an accurate rifle at less cost. Today there are other options costing the same or less that are every bit as accurate as they are.

 

[Ash]

But those rifles made by Remington etc to the Savage design are lower-quality in fit and finish compared to a Savage 110. You cannot get a Remington 783 in anything other than basement grade. You can get a 110 with higher polish and stock if you want.

 

[Cee Zee]

I have had excellent luck with all of my Savage rifles. It's true that they make some outstanding grade rifles based on the 110. The 12's are very accurate and the other rifles are too without being dedicated target / varmint shooters like the 12's. And the LE rifles they make are excellent. The 110 BA is top notch and compares with rifles with much more imposing names. Guns and Ammo has a video of a guy making hits at one mile with a 110 BA. He was always close and he managed 3 in a row at one point. Amazing stuff. i wish I could afford that setup and the ammo that goes with it. But I'm pretty happy with my 12 LRPV.

 

[2ndtimer]

New Savage 10T from Cabelas qualifies on both accuracy, and bargain. ($439 after mail in rebate)
100 yard Hunter's Bencrest Target.

 

[bikemutt]

New Savage 10T from Cabelas qualifies on both accuracy, and bargain. ($439 after mail in rebate)
100 yard Hunter's Bencrest Target.

2ndtimer, that just shows you are a much better shooter than I, I'm green with envy

 

[Bexar]

New Savage 10T from Cabelas qualifies on both accuracy, and bargain. ($439 after mail in rebate)
100 yard Hunter's Bencrest Target.

What caliber? Factory ammo or "reloads"? I almost swooned looking at your targets,

Edit: Looking up the rifle it looks like .308 only.

 

[2ndtimer]

.308 Winchester, SSA brass, 42.5 gr IMR-4064, Fed 210 primers and Nosler 168 gr Custom Competition 2nds from Shooters Pro Shop. The rifle is literally box stock, haven't even had the action out of the stock, nor adjusted the accutrigger. Scope was a Leupold Mark 4 LR/T 4.5-14X40 set at 6X for Hunter's Bench rest. I think the guy shooting next to me paid more for his rest than I paid for my rifle!
Needless to say, I am very happy with my rifle. It features the accustock, accutrigger, heavy 24" 5R rifled barrel, tactical bolt knob (huge), and EGW picatinny rail, detachable 4 round magazine. Really nice for the price!

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

Being able to home swap out barrels is not too bad an option ether.

Best Savage I have is a 1988 Model 10 Sierra 308win. I found that brand new at Wall Mart in 2012. It was on clearance for $299. Who knows how long it had floated around in warehouses before I found it.

Its a Tack driver, I guess it pays to cheek out the Wally World clearance bin once in a while. Never know what you may find.

 

[Ash]

And changing the barrel is pretty easy. I changed my 30-06 to .270 and it was no big deal at all.

 

[GAMEOVER44]

I find myself looking at there webpage a lot. Id love to have customized Savage down the road. If I can find one for the right price I may jump on it. Congrats on your purchase.

 

[AABEN]

Savage all the way! 5 HP and there ML that shoots smokeless powder. All are keepers

 

[Merle1]

I had always thought that the barrel attachment method was a big part of their accuracy.

Having a good price tag sure doesn't hurt either.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

I see this story often, and experienced it myself.

Welcome to the fold Bikemutt!

(Wait until you put on a good drop-in barrel! More happiness, down the road.)

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I got an old Stevens 200 in 7mm-08 (surprised Savage don't make em no more) this cheapo with a Boyds walnut stock is a tack driver....no accutrigger, I am luck enough to own several nice rifles including Ruger No. ones....this Stevens aways goes with me to the deer lease, I always take at least 3 rifles. I know why Savage quit making them, same reason Remington quit making the 788, it outshot the 700. get a Stevens 200 and build from there, if you can still find one, helluva "cheap rifle."

 

[2ndtimer]

MP308, I share your experience with the "lowly" Stevens 200. Ours is chambered in .243 Win. and sports a Hogue recoil pad along with a rifle basics trigger. Even with the flimsy factory stock (which my son sanded down and painted a nice camouflage pattern on), it is a tack driver. A few weeks ago he had 3 of the 70 gr Varmageddons touching at 200 yards. It is his favorite coyote rifle and load, pushing over 3500 fps with Ramshot Big Game. Not bad for a $259 rifle. The original plan was to shoot the barrel out and rebarrel to .260 Rem, but the darn .243 Win just shoots too good! Probably the new plan is to keep shooting it and eventually rebarrel with a medium weight fast twist .243 for long range targets.

 

[Cee Zee]

I got an old Stevens 200 in 7mm-08 (surprised Savage don't make em no more)

The current base model 110 is the same rifle as the Stevens 200. It has been essentially the same rifle for quite a while except the 110 had the AccuTrigger and the 200 didn't. Now they no longer make rifles without the AT. But it's the same rifle just with a better trigger. My older 110 doesn't have the AT and I wish it did. It's not a terrible trigger but the AT's are just better.