Savage firearms quality.

[GTFord1]

Savage makes cheap rifles, granted they shoot ok especially for the money, but I certainly would not claim that Savage makes great rifles by any stretch of the imagination.

I guess one could say that AccuTriggers are good, but that is true only when they are compared to other "lawyer-approved" triggers.

We need to try to keep information about the various firearms discussed here on GT as accurate as possible, I know that is hard to do sometimes because we all can fall victim to the whole "cheerleading fanboyisms" when we are talking shop about a firearm that we really like.

GTFord, I hope you dont think I am picking on you or anything, that is not my intention at all.

Someone in another thread seems to think Savage doesn't make good guns. I disagree. From what I've read here and elsewhere, I don't see that as a consensus, either. The thread wasn't about all Savage guns in particular, so I didn't want to muck the thread up about them.

Savage makes several rifles that are known to be excellent quality, and quite accurate.

Two models right off the bat I can think of, that are widely talked about here and elsewhere.

First, the 10FP, which is routinely called a better gun than the Remington 700 when both are right off the shelf.

I have no affiliation with Gunblast, it's just one of the first links that come up when you type a gun model into Google, and they usually have interesting reviews.

http://www.gunblast.com/Savage10FP-LE2.htm

Second is the MkII .22LR, of which I own one myself. The gun is a tackdriver. It's not cheap in quality.

http://www.gunblast.com/Savage-MarkIIBV22.htm

More than one gun magazine has ran positive reviews for the AccuTrigger, which is apparently "lawyer approved," whatever that's supposed to mean in this context, since you can get them down to quite low pull weights.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/longgun_reviews/savage_0813/

Am I wrong here? I don't see much hatred for Savage. Were they disliked in the 70's or 80's or something?

[WIG19]

Savage's approach has never been one of cosmetics in their stocks, nor making you pay for their horrendous advertising budget or hosting their own television shows. Generally their spokesman were users first, then incorporated the advertising. They are fine rifles, with solid support, and are known to often beat many of the big names out of the box.

In my experience their barrels are finished at a much better quality and don't require the break-in that some feel they need to give. (Remington barrels are, for those of us that nitpick, notorious for being badly finished with visible burrs that should be lapped out.) With a Savage you often shoot a few rounds, clean it, repeat, and then fire for effect.

By way of example, I'm amazed at the consistency of their machining process. Over the years I've had 4 different models of Savage in 22-250, different grades, different stocks & barrel lengths. I have never had to revise my pet load for one of those rifles, that's how consistent their chambers & throats are. When I get one I just try my pet load first. The worst of the four shoots it to 1/2". The one with Accu-Trigger will do .285" if I haven't had too much coffee.

Now that they're setting up their receivers to accept a more common set of bases life is even better. And you can dang near pay for the bases/rings with the cost difference.

:patriot:

[crankbait11]

My savage mkII bv out performs my anschutz 54 on a daily basis along with about every other 22 I own. Sad but true considering it was a $200 rifle. The accutriggers are amazing and with a half coil snipped off, the are even better. 1 3/4 lb pull with absolutely no creep or travel. Just a crisp break. It may not be as pretty as a t-bolt, but it holds its own on paper, and that's what I wanted from it. Very good bargains in my book that you wont be afraid to toss around.

[Hedo1]

The 10FP I have in .308 is the most accurate rifle I ever shot right out of the box. Sub MOA from the day I bought it. Cloverleafs at 100yds.

[boonyrat]

i have a CHEAP...$279.00 out the door stevens 200 made by savage. on a whim i picked it up last year to have a cheap rainy day gun since i had a $800.00 remington cdl in 264 win mag that i was afraid of getting wet:dunno:!
well the stevens is still here...the 264 went bye-bye...the stevens is chambered in 7mm-08 remington and loaded with hornady 139 gr. sst light magnum loads this gun is a shooter. a friend had a custom 98 mauser built last year and we went to sight his in,the under $300 dollar 7-08 out shot the $1000.00 plus 7x57!
i was never a savage person but this little stevens opened my eyes!:wow:

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I never said junk--I said nasty.

I'll never own a Savage because of the cheap nasty looks of them---the action is especially hideous.

[GTFord1]

I was mainly referring to the other guy in that thread.

That being said, I don't think my heavy barrel MkII looks "nasty" at all. There are no flaws on the wood or anything else that I can see.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/4262/savage1sm9.jpg

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7084/savage2zk4.jpg

[BigEd63]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder or gun owner, buy shoot and keep what ever you like.

The Savage I'd like to find when I have the extra cash for one is a 99 in .308Win.

[triggerjerk]

You could ask this question over on snipercentral and get some good responses I'd think.

[ComputerGuy6382]

Here's what I posted in the thread your talking about... my experience with Savage...

You obviously have little to no experience with Savage.

How about this example?

I purchased a Savage 93R17 with an accutrigger and standard profile barrel from Wal Mart for about $130 bucks. I put a Nikon Prostaff 3x9 optic on it.

My wife and I liked the 17HMR and this little tack driving Savage so much that I bought my wife a Marlin 917VS from Sportsmans Warehouse for $310. This gun is stainless and has a bull barrel. We then mounted a Burris Fullfield 3x9.

Not only is the trigger worlds better on my cheapie Savage, my "crappy" Savage with it's STANDARD PROFILE barrel also outshoots the Marlin with it's BULL BARREL. The Savage consistantly shoots groups 1/4" to 1/2" SMALLER than the Marlin.

Yup, Savage must be junk!!!

[MCKNBRD]

I love my Savages; a 110FP (older one, pre-accutrigger) and a 10FCM Scout; both in .308 and both MUCH better shooters than I am.

I don't have much jewelry; likewise, my guns aren't fashion statements that I use to impress folks with. They function as desired; when I put my boogerhook on the bangswitch and press, they put the .30 caliber hole where I want it. They're durable, affordable, practical, and accurate.

Last time I looked, that covers what the average Joe is interested in when it comes to guns. The internet warriors and tacticool sniper wannabes want to decry everything that isn't issued to the military. The Savage isn't a combat weapon but it does everything I realistically need a rifle to do.

JMHO, of course...

[stetson]

Nothing wrong with savage rifles,especially the new ones with the acc-trigger ! They offer excellent bang for the buck.I want one of the police tactical rifles they look awesome and have reasonable price.

[mesteve2]

+1!

The best for my money.

Unless you want a lever-action.

Have been a lot of rifle for a long time!

Remington has the name. But the Savage will always get my dollars if I want a

bolt action rifle.

They are like a Glock!

They do not have show-off qualities.

:cool: bye bye :wavey:

[adamg01]

I have been looking for a new rifle for my new Nikon 3-9x50mm scope. I saw a Savage 10FP with a 20 inch barrel and I must have one. The one I saw was a special order so I went ahead and special ordered me one. I have heard too many stories from experienced shooters about the Savages awesome out of the box accuracy. I don't worry about looks, I worry about performance. I did think that 20 inch heavy barrel was a sexy look with the synthetic stock.

[seamaster]

I have been looking for a new rifle for my new Nikon 3-9x50mm scope. I saw a Savage 10FP with a 20 inch barrel and I must have one. The one I saw was a special order so I went ahead and special ordered me one. I have heard too many stories from experienced shooters about the Savages awesome out of the box accuracy. I don't worry about looks, I worry about performance. I did think that 20 inch heavy barrel was a sexy look with the synthetic stock.

The 20" barrel will be stiffer than the same diameter longer barrel and as a result should be more accurate.

I have a Stevens Model 200 that I trimmed the barrel down to 18.5" and it's a tack driver producing clovers at 100 yards. It consistantly shoots the 8" plates at 300 yards and thats with a Weaver K4 fixed power scope. I put an old Savage 3 screw trigger on it that I adjusted to break at exactly 2.5 lbs and I replaced the trigger guard with a steel one. This is one of those rifles that outferforms just about everything else when you consider how cheap they are to buy.

I also love the savage 3 postition tang safety.

[billorights]

Without looking at any statistics I would guess that Savage and Savage/Stevens has probably produced more firearms than any other major firearms maker. I'm sure Marlin and Mossberg would be in the running also. I have seen many "gun snobs" in my 50+ years of owning guns that say silly things like "Mossbergs/Savage/Marlins are cheap junk, I wouldn't have one". It's what you can do with what you have, and what you can afford that's important. Sure, if you have the money you may want a Lexus, not a Hundai. But Hundais are well made cars that will take you anywhere the Lexus can go. If having that ultra expensive gun makes you feel better and confirms your status, ok for you. It won't make you hit your target if you don't have the skill. All that said, money or not, I will take a Savage 110 any day over most of the $1000+ rifles I see on the market. Sure there is satisfaction in stroking that beautifully finished piece, but I am talking about performance not esthetics. I will leave you with this, I have a nephew who bought a Ruger 10-22 , basic model. Did nothing to it, and took it to a match at his gun club. As he was kidded, cajoled and laughed at by several super tricked out Ruger owners( can you say $1000 worth of customizing) he proceded to outshoot them all and win the match. Nuff said.

[d-rex]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder or gun owner, buy shoot and keep what ever you like.

The Savage I'd like to find when I have the extra cash for one is a 99 in .308Win.

i've got a 99 in .308, great gun. i challenge anyone that questions the action on savages to try the model 99, smoothest lever i've gripped. i have a model 110fp tactical in .300 win mag, several model 99s, and a mark II. i've shot and owned a lot of top dollar rifles, but even if money wasn't a factor i would still own the savages i have over many others.

[JayAK]

I was mainly referring to the other guy in that thread.

That being said, I don't think my heavy barrel MkII looks "nasty" at all. There are no flaws on the wood or anything else that I can see.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/4262/savage1sm9.jpg

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7084/savage2zk4.jpg

Hey I have that gun!......I still have not shot it though.... how do you like it? I got mine at Dicks on a whim.....

[GTFord1]

Hey I have that gun!......I still have not shot it though.... how do you like it? I got mine at Dicks on a whim.....

I've only shot it a few times myself.

It was extremely accurate at 50 yards. I used to have a picture of the target of when I was sighting it in, I'll try to dig it up.

I bought it at Dick's on a whim too, more or less. I had no intentions of buying anything, went to Dick's, asked to look at it, and said what the hell, since I didn't have a bolt action .22 anyway.