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[This message has been edited by trafgip (edited 04-04-2002).]

I get the feeling that most of the guys buying that combo want a .458 Win. Mag. to play with at the range or do some stateside hunting with. When experienced dangerous game hunters insist on well-tuned, controlled-feed bolt actions, they ain't just a woofin'........

AD

[This message has been edited by allen day (edited 04-04-2002).]

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

I too like these rifles, and wouldn't mind one in 375 H&H (I'm already having a 376 Stery made, so this one will wait, if I finalize my decision to buy) ~~~Suluuq

[This message has been edited by The Old Hunter (edited 04-04-2002).]

Like Allen says, however, if all you want is something to play with out at the range, which is where most 458s are used, then do your thing with the Savage! It will kick, throw big heavy bullets at a target, and generally impress the local ak 47 boys at the local shoot-um-up range!

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

[This message has been edited by sdgunslinger (edited 04-04-2002).]

Savage also missed the boat by making a 458 win rather than a 458 lott.

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Originally posted by 500grains:
Savage makes an accurate rifle for a low price. $900 for a savage is way out of line when the CZ550 sells for $650 and is an inherently more reliable design.

Savage also missed the boat by making a 458 win rather than a 458 lott.

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Thanks for everyone's responses. It's helpful. I did speak with a big game hunting guide and he said his favorite rifle is the 602 Brno in .458 which, I think, is similar or the same as the CZ 550. He has had 3 stocks from that rifle break in three years or so. He finally had to custom reinforce the stock and has had no problems since. He does recommend it highly.
Unfortunately, I would like a rifle that has as few problems, like stocks breaking, out of of the box as possible. Maybe that's not possible in that all non-custom guns may have inherent weaknesses from fit and finish to overall design.
Also, I don't want to spend several thousand dollars for a rifle if I don't need to.
Savage has a "trailor park" image based on my ignorant perception. I have never owned one. Should I avoid a gun because of this image?
I guess my question is does the the Savage have enough quality to shoot the 458 round as well as the other manufacturers. It sure looks well made to me. Maybe if I was more concerned about impressing someone with a real fancy shooter I could cough up several thousand dollars for a custom type.
Will the Savage kill a big game animal reliably as well as the other guns chambered for this caliber is what I'm trying to say. I could get the Winchester or Remington but have heard negative things here also.

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Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!

quote:

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Originally posted by The Old Hunter:
I don't know where you are being quoted the price, but the price form my new in the box 375 Savage 116 SE is (hold on to your hat) $440. With that price I can restock and glass bed and still be well under the $900, eh.

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unfortunately, I shop in Los Angeles County. The price for "common" guns is somewhat competitive.
However,the dealers look at this caliber as "special" compared to other guns they commonly carry. The gun retails for around $1000 so they do not cut much of a break on this seldom carried item.
Also, finding a releaible gunsmith here in Los Angeles might be hard to do and I'm not too interested in shipping one off to someone I don't know without a referral.
Who could I send this gun to, if I bought it, to do some refinements bringing it to the next level of quality?

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Originally posted by GeorgeS:
pigfart,
Based on simple economics, it would cost you less to buy a CZ 550 .458 and have the stock re-bedded and reinforced than it would to buy the Savage 116SE at $900.
You'd have a Mauser-style CRF rifle that holds 5+1, instead of 3+1 just in case you run into some Capstick-esque "mano a mano" battle with a buff.

Don't base your DGR decisions on price or snob appeal. Base it on what works. Few mass-production "DGR" rifles are ready-to-hunt; with some judicious investment in time, money, and labor, most can be turned into a reliable hammer.
A $5000 rifle that won't feed is worthless in the hunting fields. A $600 rifle that is 100% reliable is worth staking your life on.
George

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George, your the only one to pick up on my user name. Now I'm a little embarrased.
I really like the looks and feel of the Savage. I think I'll get it and take your advice on getting this out-of-the-box gun worked on a little eventhough I could do the same thing with the CZ at a lesser cost.
Looks probably should not matter but I guess it does to me.

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Originally posted by sdgunslinger:
If you care to spend $900 on a rifle , why the hell would you even think of a Savage ? There are many more refined designs selling for the same money or less ......

[This message has been edited by sdgunslinger (edited 04-04-2002).]

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I know about the CZ, thanks to this Forum. What other rifles are there that you would recommend for less $ that woulbe adequate?

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Originally posted by allen day:
I have a hard time envisioning someone with the financial wherewithal to hunt Africa's "Big-Five" plus hippo (legitimate .458 territory) with a Savage bolt rifle. It just doesn't make sense - sort of like wearing rubber bottomed packboots to a fancy cocktail party.

I get the feeling that most of the guys buying that combo want a .458 Win. Mag. to play with at the range or do some stateside hunting with. When experienced dangerous game hunters insist on well-tuned, controlled-feed bolt actions, they ain't just a woofin'........

AD

[This message has been edited by allen day (edited 04-04-2002).]

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I appreciate your response, thanks. I don't want to look like a buffoon.

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Phil- Life Member NRA & SCI

quote:

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Originally posted by allen day:
I have a hard time envisioning someone with the financial wherewithal to hunt Africa's "Big-Five" plus hippo (legitimate .458 territory) with a Savage bolt rifle. It just doesn't make sense - sort of like wearing rubber bottomed packboots to a fancy cocktail party.

I get the feeling that most of the guys buying that combo want a .458 Win. Mag. to play with at the range or do some stateside hunting with. When experienced dangerous game hunters insist on well-tuned, controlled-feed bolt actions, they ain't just a woofin'........

AD

[This message has been edited by allen day (edited 04-04-2002).]

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Allen, it sounds as though a 458 cartridge fired out of a Savage will not do what a 458 will do out of another maker's gun. Will I be laughed at or something if I show up at a hunt with the Savage?

quote:

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Originally posted by trafgip:
Also, finding a releaible gunsmith here in Los Angeles might be hard to do and I'm not too interested in shipping one off to someone I don't know without a referral.
Who could I send this gun to, if I bought it, to do some refinements bringing it to the next level of quality?

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You could try Ray Riganian over in Glendale.
If he doesn't do the sort of work you need, he may be able to refer you to someone capable.

George

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Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!

He had several .375s, .416s, doubles, etc., and most (all of the doubles were) were highly refined custom jobs. Stupidly, I asked him why he bothered to spend such important money on that kind of armament. His answer was simple and straight to the point: "It's a matter of your money or your life........ Your money or your life...... Just what's your life worth to you, anyway?"

It's like Mac said, if your ass is worth at least $900, then you'd better insure it with at least a $900 rifle!

Let's face it, it's not hard to spend $40K on quality elephant hunts these days, not to mention mixed bag hunts that include members of the other Big Five.

Now what sort of logic is there in ensuring the security of that kind of investment, not to mention your precious backside, with a gun that was design fundamentally as a bargain basement cookie cutter rifle in the first place?

Is that the very best mechanical insurance policy that you can come up with, or has the illusion of false economy clouded all other logic?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Truly great rifles do more than shoot tight groups on a piece of paper off the bench, and there's more to sensible economics than the act of saving mere money.

AD

The Savage is a good action designed to be reasonable to manufacture and it makes sense in a ulitarian rifle at around $350 to $450 . A $900 Savage is kind of like gold plating a corn cob ........

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Originally posted by trafgip:
[b][/b]

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Thanks everyone for your help!

[This message has been edited by trafgip (edited 04-05-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Rusty Gunn (edited 04-05-2002).]

[This message has been edited by judgeg (edited 04-06-2002).]

quote:

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Originally posted by judgeg:
I just sold an unfired .458 Win Mag Savage through this forum's classifieds for $500 if I remember correctly. I think it was well worth the little money the buyer spent. I had never shot it, but I worked dozens of rounds of different bullet types through it, and it fed flawlessly. I do agree that due to the reputation of Savage for inexpensive (not cheap) rifles, that paying more that five to six hundred bucks for one is like buying a Ford with all the add-ons, boosting the price to what a BMW cost with the same features standard. It's a choice, but not one that I'd make, especially if I planned to sell the rifle some day.

[This message has been edited by judgeg (edited 04-06-2002).]

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Thanks, Judgeg. Maybe It's best that I go a different route with this purchase.
I have some homework to do before I decide.

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Hunt Smart, Hunt Safe