The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting American Big Game Hunting Quality of Savage riflesGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| Quality of Savage rifles | Login/Join |
| one of us |
Just curious as to how well made the new Savage rifles are. Ive heard they are accurate but how dependable are they. I have never shot one and neither has my hunting buddy who only shoots Win. Weatherby, and won a remington 375 RUM. I know that one of those fellas on the outdoor channel uses them all the time and swears by them but i cant remember his name at the moment. So are they worth the money? -John | ||
|
one of us |
Define "quality". They shoot well, they are engineered well, they function well, and they are safe. The finish, especially on the package guns, is rough, the design did not focus on maintaining "clean lines", and the stocks tend to be a bit clunky. I have several, and they are good, inexpensive, tools. HTH, Dutch. | |||
|
| one of us |
Know someone who took his hunting in the cold weather and the Barrel lock nut broke. Chuck | |||
|
| one of us |
During a moose hunt in 1999, my hunting partner and our guide went to check out an area about 1/2 mile from were I was glassing. They ran into a small group of moose with a shooter bull at 250 yards and moving towards cover. My friend shot his Savage .30-06 and the moose kept moving showing no sign of injury or even "worry". When he tried to put another round in the chamber, the bolt lifted up but he could not pull it back to extract the empty case. The guide and my partner spent the next two minutes pulling and pounding on the bolt until it finally extracted the round. Fortunately in the mean time the moose had dropped dead being shot through the heart. The gun was less than two years old and he was using factory ammunition. He had shot the gun extensively before and has since the hunt without even a hint of malfunction. Unfortunately in the heat of the moment he didn't think to retain the case of the offending round. We looked long and hard for the piece of brass to no avail. [ 11-12-2003, 20:36: Message edited by: odie401 ] | |||
|
| one of us |
I saw a savage 110 fail about 10 years ago while elk hunting near Helena. It appeared that the firing pin had frozen. He missed the oppurtunity to shoot a 5-point bull at about 80 yards. On the other hand My buddy's ruger 300WM has a problem setting off rounds. I have seen it fail to fire twice. I know he called ruger and they sid they would fix the rifle. There are a lot of savage rifles around so there are bound to be few problems. | |||
|
one of us |
While there can be and are problems with rifles from all manufacturers Savages as ahole tend to be very reliable since the new ownership of a few years ago. Every one I have seen in use in teh field from here in PA to the rockies of Colorado have performed flawlessly. Each and every one of them was a true minute of angle or less gun at 100 yards. That can not be said for many manufacturers today. Yes it is ugly but it will get the job done for far less money than most guns. If you are into custom guns with nice stocks teh Savage is not the rifle for you. If you want a reliable, accurate rifle for a great price then Savage is just right. | |||
|
| one of us |
I agree. I have 2 Savage Rifles: 110E 270 110 30-06 The 270 I used for my "ranch rifle" that went with me in the pickup everywhere I went. I've never had a problem with it and I was constantly pulling it out on hogs or coyotes. It's seen its fair share of abuse. Can't beat it! | |||
|
one of us |
Last year, I bought a Savage 116FSAK in .300 RUM. That gun shoots sub 1/2 MOA groups. I was so happy with it, I recently bought another, this one with a laminate stock and stainless finish in .270 WSM. This gun is finished as nicely as any Remington or Winchester out there. I haven't shot it yet, but I'm more than satisfied with the fit/finish/ You have to remember that rifles are merely a machine, and as such, mechanical things can break. I'm probably willing to bet that people have considerably fewer problems with Savages than they do with Rems and Winchesters. boehuntr | |||
|
| one of us |
quote:That's something that happens frequently on any brand of rifle if too much lube is left in the action in cold weather. bowhuntr | |||
|
| one of us |
AD, Just curious what it is you don't like about the Savage action? Since Savage and Remington (700) use essentially the same design and lock up and the Savage has according to the "experts" a better barrel locking system, Why do you like the Rem. 700 better? As to Savage quality i have had nothing but a great experience with my Savage Scout rifle. It may not be the prettiest on the block but I get all kinds of people asking to shoot it at the range and want to know what it is. Then when they see how easy it carries, how light it is, not to mention how well it shoots, people's opinions turn. | |||
|
| one of us |
I own several savage rifles I find that they are some of the most accurate rifles out of the box you can buy. I use my for varmits I would not have a savage for a big game rifle. I just had to much trouble with them feeding extacting ect. I have lost extractors on mine I carry spares when I go p dogging. every trip I have to use a rod to remove one or move cases from the chamber. But they sure do shoot nice little groups. | |||
|
| one of us |
I own a bunch of Remington 700's which give me complete satisfaction. They look great and shoot well. I bought (and promptly sold) one Ruger which was nothing but trouble. I'll never buy another Ruger centerfire, ever. Recently, I bought my first Savage. I bought a 12BVSS varmint gun in .223. It is first class in finish and quality. The accutrigger is great. See my post in small calibers on this rifle and heavy bullets. I'm slowly working up some loads and have gotten several loads that will do 1/2 at 100 yards consistently. On the other hand, some of their cheaper guns look just that way, cheap. The stocks, especially the synthetic ones look blocky and ill fitting. They may shoot well, but I still like some style and grace in my rifles. Personally, I would buy one of the higher end models ie, stainless and/or laminated stock for a big game rifle. The finish looks rough on some of the blued rifles. As far as dependable, my Savage only has about 100 rounds through it with no problems at all. 100 rounds isn't all that many to make a judgement on though. I have one Remington which just passed 3,000 rounds and is as accurate as ever. I've seen guys at my range with all manner of Savages, and they do seem to shoot well and are apparently dependable. For a rifle that may see some abuse in handling and still shoot well, the Savage may be worth a try. "Dependable" is a pretty subjective term. Overall in my experience, I think they are a good buy for the money. I'm happy with the one I've got. | |||
|
| one of us |
I'm curiuos how easy it is to access the safety. It appears to be located forward of the bolt handle? If I could find an 116FCS in 30-06 (mfg # 16560) for around $400, I'd probably buy it. But, I've never seen one for sale, not even new. I'm wondering if any were ever made. It's the stainless composite version with a detachable magazine. Bill | |||
|
| new member |
quote:I had the same thing happen to me and it was not a Savage, but just once and I learned. It turned a 35 yard standing shot into a 100+ yard running one. I purchased my wife a 110/.243 last year. She shoots good groups with it, she likes shooting it, and bagged a whitetail with it last year too. She is looking forward to repeating. this year. | |||
|
| one of us |
Bowhunter, I do realize this occurs in many rifles. It is my only experience with a savage failing to fire. I have never had this happen with my Brownings. Any of them. | |||
|
| one of us |
quote:Allen Day is a world-class snob. Plain and simple. It probably pisses him off to no end that a cheap rifle shoots as accurately and is as reliably as his multi-thousand dollar rifles. | |||
|
one of us |
I have a couple of them, including a 23 year old 110CL in 243 that has just over 3,000 rounds through it. It has taken whitetail, antelope, rabbits and ground squirrels from South Carolina to Idaho to Wyoming and now it lives in Communifornia. It still shoots sub-MOA even with over .250 jump to the worn out lands with my varmint bullets. In the last 23 years, it has never failed. | |||
|
| one of us |
I dont own a Savage bolt, but one of my brother in law's recently purchased the Hunter package in 30-06. Good low cost way to get started. I shoot a Model 700 7mm Rem Mag, and I did notice the lighter Savage in 06 kicked harder than my 700, but any lighter rifle is going to kick harder, we all know that. Was it intolorable, no. I admit, I dont care for their looks, but I would consider owning one. | |||
|
| one of us |
Mr. bill that is the bolt take down the safety is a tang safety. | |||
|
| one of us |
My .223 Savage doesn't feed real well, that's my only complaint. It's machined better than the Remingtons Wal-Mart sells now. | |||
|
| <allen day> |
Orion, you need to consider taking a remedial reading course. None of the factory rifles I named in my post are necessarily expensive guns. Beyond that, you remain the same inexperienced, insulting bag of wind you've always been. I guess in your mind all rifle discussions on these boards have to fit you level of experience, and match your budget. If they don't you're ready to level insults. Bring your lunch..... AD | ||
|
| one of us |
quote:What do you mean better built. The rifle loads just fine, you pull the trigger and it fires, AND it puts the bullet into the target less than 1" from where you aim it. How can it be better built. It just passed the same test as any other rifle. | |||
|
| one of us |
quote:The safety is on the tang. What you are probably referring to is the bolt release. bowhuntr | |||
|
| one of us |
Allan, usually, when you post, I just smile. This one, though takes the cake: "an older Sako", is not in the same realm, cost wise, as a Savage. I buy Savages somewhere around $175-$225. Last time I checked, an "older Sako", was just a few more bucks than that........ like four to five times. I'd rather have the Sako, as well, but to a working fellow supporting a new family, the Savage will do the same thing for a fourth of the cost..... Having done that, and been there, it makes a HUGE difference. To a LOT of guys, it means the difference between honey-do's and being able to go hunting or shooting. From your posts, though, one would almost deduct that having to make a financial choice like that is foreign to you..... FWIW, Dutch. | |||
|
| one of us |
FWIW a friend of mine has purchased 2 heavy barrel stainless action Savages about a year apart. The first in .308 without the accutrigger and the second in .300 WSM with the accutrigger. Both are incredibly accurate for an out of the box factory rifle. The .308s best is a .375 3 shot group at 100 yards and the .300WSM has shot a sub .300 group at 100 yards and an 1 3/16ths inch 3 shot at 300 yards. Add the best factory trigger available and it is a hard to beat package. BTW, believe it or not, all of the above groups have been shot with factory ammo. My buddy doesn't reload. Certainly among the best values in gundom. | |||
|
| <Savage 99> |
These forums are way more fun than the old Keith/O'Connor stuff! I have to hand it to you guys and thanks to all for the entertainment. The bottom line is that Savage has a market niche and good for them. Remington had that niche once and Tika and Howa are trying to get in on it. Guy's like allen can afford better stuff. I bought a Savage 12fvss on a whim while waiting for a custom rifle to get finished, if ever, and I sold it in a week. It just did not fit in with my other guns. But if it were my only rifle I would use it and make it work. | ||
|
| one of us |
When was the last time any of you saw a custom rifle made on a Savage action? | |||
|
| one of us |
WHEN I WAS WORKING AT THE GUNSTORE FULL TIME I SIGHTED IN A FEW WITH CUSTOMERS AND OUT OF THE BOX THE ONES I SHOT SHOT PRETTY DAMN GOOD, BUT IF YOU KILLED SOMETHING NICE WITH IT YOU WOULD HAVE TO BORROW SOMEONES ELSE'S RIFLE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH IT | |||
|
one of us |
quote:When I closed the door on my gun safe for the last time this year, 23 Jan 03. My .338/378 Weatherby Magnum, "The Wrath of God," a 1500-yard target rifle, was built on a 112BVSS-S action. Also, my .308 Winchester, an accurate 110FP out of the box, was rebuilt into something more... "surgical." Basically, it's totally custom now, too. For the purposes of this discussion, I wouldn't really count my 112BVSS in .22-250 Remington being rechambered for .22-250 Ackley Improved. I nearly had my .338 RUM built on a Savage action... but, instead, went with a P-14 Enfield only because I got an action a lot cheaper. I have four Savage rifles and the Striker pistol. I don't have any problem with any of them. I'm so glad all those failures are happening to other people. ![[Roll Eyes]](images/icons/rolleyes.gif){kind=icon} Russ | |||
|
| one of us |
Good grief, carrying extra extractors into the field to make emergency repairs. I believe that speaks pretty loud to the original question. Owning a rifle that is quality in nature that brings personal satisfaction is a question of priority, plain and simple. I will agree that accuracy as a benchmark for quality is something I get sick of hearing. As I see it, accuracy is a by-product of quality but quality is not a by-product of accuracy. Chuck | |||
|
| one of us |
Thanks guys. As you can tell I've never handled one, only seen photos and read articles about them. This is the first time I've ever seen in print where the safety is located. I prefer a tang safety, like on my Brownings. Now that I know they have a tang safety I'll be looking much harder for a 116FCS. Anyone seen one or know where there's one for sale in 30-06 or 7mm-08? There not listed in this years catalogue. Thanks again. Bill | |||
|
| one of us |
I have become impressed with Savage rifles recently. I always thought they were sort of " made in China or Russia" type of look to them. However, looking at them a little more closely, I really think they don't scrap many of them for poor quality. I think what they do, is the nicer finished ones ( high quality control) go to their better distributors. Walmart and Kmarts of the world end up with the lower quality ones. Some of their upscale ones with the laminated stocks and stainless steel are excellent fit and quality. No one who has ever spent much time shooting and hunting will turn his nose at a Savages ability for accuracy. | |||
|
| one of us |
What's the difference between the 110 and the 111 models? I found one of each in -06 with detachable mags but can't seem to find what the difference is. The 111 I found has a composite stock and the 110 has a wood stock. Is that the difference? Still haven't found a 116 with DM. Still looking. Thanks. Bill | |||
|
One of Us |
I like my Mausers, but where todays production rifles are concerned, you wont catch me baggin on Savage. They are commited to giving their customers what they want and that is saying something. | |||
|
| one of us |
quote: | |||
|
| one of us |
quote:What you mentioned is a symptom of over pressure loads. Not a problem with the gun! Don't hold Savage accountable to poor reloading practices. ![[Eek!]](images/icons/shocked.gif){kind=icon} Savage rifles will function as well and reliably as any other mas-produced rifle on the market, and more accurately than most. Savage makes an inovative and highly reliable rifle at a very competitive price. That considered, the Savage is a better buy than most others, regardless of faddish tastes. ![[Big Grin]](images/icons/grin.gif){kind=icon} | |||
|
| one of us |
Russell I am glad that you have had such great experience with Savage rifles. I have had three Savage firearms and had mechanical troubles with two of them. Not a large sample but enough to sour me on them for good. | |||
|
one of us |
The rifle I sold to my brother-in-law, savage 110 7mm-08, can't take factory ammo without flattening the primers(13yr old rifle) sent it back to Savage twice, thet said it was fine, now I just have to download about 7grs. from max to get normal looking primers, but he has killed alot of deer with the rifle, and I've taken a buck at 110 paces loaded with 150gr Bal. tips coming out the barrel at 2300fps. for an instant kill, otherwise, I can't stand Savage rifles, clunky is a kind word when discribing a Savage stock. Jay | |||
|
| one of us |
Guys, I have been shooting prairie dogs for about ten years now. Among other things I have a beautiful cooper VE21 in .223 with awesome wood (you may have seen pics and groups over on the varmint hunting forum) that is benchrest accurate. I have other custom rifles, expensive shotguns, Leica binocs, suppressors, ITT/PVS 14 night vsion, and lots of other good toys. In other words, I can shoot what I want and always considered Savage rifles too cheap and ugly to own. I say this not to brag but to set up 'the rest of the story.' My shooting partner, who is retired SF, has always had to do things on a budget. He bought a savage 10fp when they first came out because he wanted to try and shoot some heavier .223 bullets. We went to shoot it the first time with an amazing hodge podge of relaods (for other rifles--we're talking fireformed brass, all ranges of seating depths, etc.) and mil surplus ammo. With crappy trigger and all, no barrel break in, this thing puts every load we try into less than an inch for five shots at 100 yards with only one exception, some unmarked surplus FMJ's that grouped about 1.5". I now own two Savages, both picked up used. A 10FP in .223 with a SSS trigger and model 12 in 22-250 and a rifle basix trigger. With no load development to speak of (frankly I've been shooting the bullk winchester 40 pack varmint ammo in the 22-250) they both shoot sub MOA. The .223 is a 1/2 moa gun with 75gr. Amax's. These have become my "go to" prairie dog guns. I don't worry about scratches, hot barrels, etc. I just shoot the hell out of them and give them a Wipeout treatment now and then. When I fry the barrels I'll get a couple of them from SSS and put them on myself for less than the price of a remchester. So, say what you will, my extractors are fine, my groups are good and I love em.' Would I pick a Savage to take to Africa for the big six? Nope. But for day in day out work here in the midwest, especially for varmints, they can't be beat for the $$. [ 11-15-2003, 06:54: Message edited by: rogerinneb ] | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata | Page 1 2 |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting American Big Game Hunting Quality of Savage rifles
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia
| View $GS_USERNAME's Public Profile |
| Add $GS_USERNAME to my Buddies |
| Add $GS_USERNAME to my Ignore List |
| Invite $GS_USERNAME to a Private Topic |
| View Recent Posts by $GS_USERNAME |
| Notify me of New Posts by $GS_USERNAME |