Your Opinions and Reviews of Savage Rifles?

[DougD]

While I have a fair amount of experience with Remington tactical rifles, I am seriously considering buying a Savage for long range hunting. I was wondering if you could please give me your opinions of these rifles as a long range shooting foundation. If I did go with a Savage, I would probably alter or replace the factory stock. All advice and opinions are appreciated.

-Model 116FSS (Stainless, internal box magazine)

-Model 116FHSS(Stainless, hinged floorplate)

-Model 116FHSAK (Hinged floorplate, stainless barreled action, Adjustable Muzzle Brake)


Thank you all.

DougD

[Dan B]

I just did load development on a new 116BSS (lam stock, internal box and SS finish). It is chambered in .300RUM and a Holland QD was installed after purchase.

Overall...the mag box was a little tight to push in the loaded cartridges. A little file dressing of the box lips may smooth this. Also would have liked it a little longer to utilize more case capacity. The 180gr TSX was seated pretty deep to feed reliably.

Installed a Timney trigger...NICE!!

LR accuracy was great...at least I think so. Groups were .5 MOA to 500 yards...the longest formal range I have access to. 100yds was not very impressive...MOA...but as the distance increased the shots stayed tight...under 1.25" at 300yds and 2.5" at 500yds.

The load was a stiff charge of RL-25, Fed 215, RP case and 180gr Barnes TSX. Clean up was also fast...JB'ed the barrel before firing a round, cleaned after each of the first five rounds then after each three. When done with load work I fire five to confirm POI at 500yds then cleaned...three patches w/ Sweets and done!

[Charles A]

Doug, Savages are the best shooting guns out of the box for under a grand. The heavy barreld versions with a good scope, cant be beat for long range work.

[hvyw8t]

To each thier own, i personally dislike savages. The savage action is clunky, and the overall quality of the rifle to me seems like a very cheaply made made rifle with very little attention to detail. Savage rifles do have the reputation of being shooters the 2 i tried didnt fall into that catagory. The barrels took for ever to break in and still fouled very quickley. To me they seem poorly made. i went down the path you are looking at and came right back to remington.

[Meister]

I like the savages for a budget LR rig. Accuracy is great right out of the box. If I were going to customize it later I would buy the remington instead, more aftermarket parts. I own both savage and remington, and my savage wears a 20 MOA rail, a Leupold 8.5-25 Mark 4 scope and a Gemtech sound suppressor. $400 gun with $2100 worth of accessories. That should tell you something!

[1doug]

[ QUOTE ]
$400 gun with $2100 worth of accessories. That should tell you something!

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Tells me you like the accessories better than the gun [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

d-a

[Meister]

When I found out how well it shot, I decided to make it into one of my showpieces.

This rifle will shoot, anytime, anywhere....quietly