I am ready to buy my first .375 H&H. I hear all the comments on the W70, etc, but little, or NO comment on the SAVAGE model 116 in stainless steel, with muzzle brake, and plastic stock. WHY should I not buy it??? I am ready to plunk my money down monday, talk me out of it....convincingly. Thank you!

ShondorP

ShondorP,

The reliability of the rifle is suspicious, or at least not proven.

Some shooters have been bringing Savage rifles in .308 to the Gunsite rifle course, and several have broken the pin in the bolt that holds the bolt head to the bolt body. The cure for this from Savage is to use the "magnum" pin.

I don't know what the cure might be if the magnum bolt pin breaks.

So here is your chance to be the pioneer for this rifle!

jim dodd

How much are you paying for this Savage .375? My Browning was $679.00 including tax. I don't think that I would spend as much on a Savage. I said in another post that I worked at a gunshop a few years ago. More Savages were brought back for defects, particularly the bolt malfunctioning, than any other brand. Also, the Savages are not that reliable under adverse weather conditions, particularly high humidity, damp conditions. FWIW.

Thanks for the honest answers,

Never been much of a pioneer...when it comes to rifles with unproven histories. Talked with Savage on Friday and they can build the rifle, but after your comments, and the comments of two friends that have been gunsmiths for quite some time, I will choose the road more highly traveled.
Brno 602(CZ 550) here I come.
The Savage was a good price at $450 plus shipping, for a rifle I found on the internet, but I found the triggers are not some of the best, and I have always liked good triggers....so the single stage/single set trigger of the CZ550 convinces me to choose it.
Thanks again.
ShondorP

I have serveral savage rifles they are very accurate but I would not have one for a DGR. I have had feeding trouble with with all. I have lost extractors on some of them so I always carry A couple along on by p dog trips. Good varmit rifles would not have one for big game or one that my life depended on.

ShondorP,

I have a .375 H&H M602 BRNO, and I bought it with the conventional trigger -- not the set trigger. It is the same trigger assembly, and the trigger blade can be changed to have the conventional or the set trigger. They used to ship the rifle with both trigger blades, but I don't know if Chay Zed does that now.

John Taylor said to distrust the set trigger in Africa, so I followed his advice. I did have a M70 style safety fitted to the bolt after the first hunt. I swore I would "fix" the backwards safety or sell the rifle. The CZ comes with a safety that operates "forward to fire".

You will be happy, they are fine rifles.

jim dodd

ShondorP,

Don't know about the 375, but I bought a left handed 110 some 40 years ago when they first came out. It was chambered for 300 Win. Mag.

I put a very nice Fajen stock on it to improve its looks and shot the crap out of it.

If I did my part, it would shoot 2 inch or less at 200 yards for as long I could hold up. The Fajen stock was nicely grainded but too light for the 300 Win.

Sold that gun to help buy a SW 44 Mag. Wish now I would have kept it.

Roger

Thanks for the replys gentlemen,

I have settled on the BRNO 602....still like the idea that many of the locals shoot the brno, and gunmaker said it is a good action to build heavier rifles from in the future....plus I like the idea of four in the magazine on the brno...
I will change the front sling swivel to a barrel band though....

Thanks again,
ShondorP