Savage Summary

[bobgengeskahn]

Hello all,

Its been a long time since I've looked at Savage, and I am in the market for a bolt action before the end of the year. So while I save my couch change I'm trying to read up on everything.

The role that I am looking to fill is a larger cal (.308+, not opposed to 6.5s, but have heard reloading 6.5 is cost prohibitive), long range (want to get into 800-1000yrd shooting) gun that can also be a good project platform, MOA out of the box is not necessary.

Everything I see has directed me toward 700s and Savages. There is more information on 700s than you can shake a stick at, but I have found little to no technical information/reviews on the newer Savage guns (Stevens, Axis etc.).

I have read that the Stevens 200 is a surprisingly good action to work off of, but what I'm looking for is why it is a good platform.

So what are your opinions? Or does anyone know of a place to read up on the Savage line that cuts through the BS?

[CobraRed]

My 6.5 costs about the same to reload as my .308. And most things north of .308 are certainly going to be more expensive than either.

I like both my Remington and Savage. If you're going to do ALL the bells and whistles might as well go custom aftermarket action.

[Whiterabbit]

The savage is a great platform because of cost. The COST to get a 700 (modern one, the ones that "arent as good" as the old ones) shooting as well as a savage WITH accutrigger AND accustock is higher than sticking with the savage.

In my experience, the savage was simply good enough. Right out of the box.

But it gets better. Because of that barrel nut, you can keep your single action and put whatever barrel on and it is very straightforward to headspace. So you can effectively chamber your Savage rifle in any reasonable caliber and some unreasonable ones too (I've even seen 378 weatherby done) very cheaply, and without being a gunsmith.

Pacnor is giving that advantage to the 700's too with the "rem nut" they sell. But it is a compelling advantage for the Savage.

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Still more! The savage boltfaces are replaceable. So what is a 30-06 today, is a 257 roberts tomorrow, becomes a 223 wednesday, then a 375 H&H on Thursday. Even a 300 WSM or RUM.
--------

BTW you will find that 6.5-.323, the cost, basically, is gonna be the same to reload. The primers and powder is all a wash, the brass is a 1 time cost for lots of shooting. So really, the major cost to reload are projectiles.

IME there is a substantial price break starting at .257. Those projectiles and smaller are CHEAP! at 6.5 and up, they get a bit more expensive. and .338 and up, it gets pretty wild, pretty fast.

This assumes rifle bullets (yes, even .358 rifle bullets are spendy, even when the .358 pistol bullets are very reasonable.)

--------------

So your goals:

800-1000 yards (I will assume man sized targets)
platform rifle
easy to work on.

Savage does these very well. AND will do it out of the box, particularly if you find an accutrigger and accustock model. But that wasnt a requirement.

[russ69]

Word to the wise. Nobody shoots a 308 at 1000 yards unless the rules make them use a 308.

[Exodus343]

Savage makes the 6.5 Creedmoor factory rifle
I would choose a 6.5 over a 308 for 1000 yards anyday
My 6.5x55 swede shoots faster than my 308

And flatter too

[infringed711]

Love 6.5x55, reloading components aren't really hard to find and you can get privi ammo for 74 cents around if you shop around

[SMarquez]

Love 6.5x55, reloading components aren't really hard to find and you can get privi ammo for 74 cents around if you shop around

And have pretty good brass left over to reload.

[shooterbill]

Take a look at the Savage Shooters forum. You can build a sweet rifle off of Savage's target action for about $1300.

[nubrun]

You can't go wrong with the savage. As others have mentioned the barrel nut is a huge plus in terms of converting it to other calibers.

Along with the target actions ( which are really nice) you can pick up a used savage for cheap and strip it to the action.

[toby]

Putting a Savage together right now, 243 soon to be Ackerized after about 2-3 hundred rounds, 26" Criterion varmint weight barrel, rifle basix trigger and I will use two different stocks on this one a Composite and a Synthetic for two different applications.

[infringed711]

I will say my first bolt gun was a savage fcp-k in .308 and it was a great gun for the money

[LRShooter]

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_62_974/products_id/71098/Savage+12LRP+260+REM

Or get it in 6.5CM.

You can't build a better rifle this cheap.

[bobgengeskahn]

Thanks for all the info guys!

Along with the target actions ( which are really nice) you can pick up a used savage for cheap and strip it to the action.

Yeah, that was my thinking considering Savage in the first place. I don't really feel the need to get it and shoot immediately (I have other project guns I need to finish up first), but I'd like to pick it up by the end of the year, so ideally I'll be able to find a botched Savage project from someone else that still has a good action I can work off of.

Love 6.5x55, reloading components aren't really hard to find and you can get privi ammo for 74 cents around if you shop around

Yeah, I have been reading that 6.5 is the magic number for BC. I just haven't spent much time reading up on the different types of 6.5. Recently got distracted researching/drooling over .45-70s, but that's an investment for later in life

The savage is a great platform because of cost. The COST to get a 700 (modern one, the ones that "arent as good" as the old ones) shooting as well as a savage WITH accutrigger AND accustock is higher than sticking with the savage.

In my experience, the savage was simply good enough. Right out of the box.

But it gets better. Because of that barrel nut, you can keep your single action and put whatever barrel on and it is very straightforward to headspace. So you can effectively chamber your Savage rifle in any reasonable caliber and some unreasonable ones too (I've even seen 378 weatherby done) very cheaply, and without being a gunsmith.

Pacnor is giving that advantage to the 700's too with the "rem nut" they sell. But it is a compelling advantage for the Savage.

---------
Still more! The savage boltfaces are replaceable. So what is a 30-06 today, is a 257 roberts tomorrow, becomes a 223 wednesday, then a 375 H&H on Thursday. Even a 300 WSM or RUM.
--------

BTW you will find that 6.5-.323, the cost, basically, is gonna be the same to reload. The primers and powder is all a wash, the brass is a 1 time cost for lots of shooting. So really, the major cost to reload are projectiles.

IME there is a substantial price break starting at .257. Those projectiles and smaller are CHEAP! at 6.5 and up, they get a bit more expensive. and .338 and up, it gets pretty wild, pretty fast.

This assumes rifle bullets (yes, even .358 rifle bullets are spendy, even when the .358 pistol bullets are very reasonable.)

--------------

So your goals:

800-1000 yards (I will assume man sized targets)
platform rifle
easy to work on.

Savage does these very well. AND will do it out of the box, particularly if you find an accutrigger and accustock model. But that wasnt a requirement.

Yeah, I have heard mixed opinions on the Savage bolt design. Conceptually I get it, and it makes sense to me. And like you and others have said, I like how simple they are to work on with a little know-how and understanding.

I lurk over on Savageshooters from time to time since I hear stripped actions pop up from time to time, but they go FAST. Maybe I'll get lucky

Although I do like having a few rounds capacity, which is the only thing keeping me from just picking up one of the single-shot actions to pick up and work off of.

[ar15barrels]

Everything I see has directed me toward 700s and Savages. There is more information on 700s than you can shake a stick at, but I have found little to no technical information/reviews on the newer Savage guns (Stevens, Axis etc.).

I have read that the Stevens 200 is a surprisingly good action to work off of, but what I'm looking for is why it is a good platform.

So what are your opinions? Or does anyone know of a place to read up on the Savage line that cuts through the BS?

In a Savage build, you are trading the ease of assembly for a less-refined end product.
So, it's easier to assemble a savage, but you end up with a less refined weapon.
It's little things that don't get noticed by casual shooters.
Poor bolt lift.
Poor extraction with hot loads.
Barrels wont hold a zero as they heat up.
Ugly barrel nut.

If you want the nicest gun to actually USE, you will eventually upgrade to something other than a savage.
Just ask every guy that started with a savage and then left the savage behind.
Lots of people leave savage to other makes, but almost nobody leaves other makes to go to a savage.
You gotta wonder why that is, but you would not understand it unless you shoot them enough to feel and see all the differences.

The Savage are great entry-level guns.
They shoot tight groups.
Just don't expect them to run trouble-free for a few hundred rounds at a weekend training class.

We see problems with savage rifles on almost every one of our new precision rifle shooter clinics.

[bobgengeskahn]

In a Savage build, you are trading the ease of assembly for a less-refined end product.
So, it's easier to assemble a savage, but you end up with a less refined weapon.
It's little things that don't get noticed by casual shooters.
Poor bolt lift.
Poor extraction with hot loads.
Barrels wont hold a zero as they heat up.
Ugly barrel nut.

If you want the nicest gun to actually USE, you will eventually upgrade to something other than a savage.
Just ask every guy that started with a savage and then left the savage behind.
Lots of people leave savage to other makes, but almost nobody leaves other makes to go to a savage.
You gotta wonder why that is, but you would not understand it unless you shoot them enough to feel and see all the differences.

The Savage are great entry-level guns.
They shoot tight groups.
Just don't expect them to run trouble-free for a few hundred rounds at a weekend training class.

We see problems with savage rifles on almost every one of our new precision rifle shooter clinics.

Thank you for the succinct reply!

Since you work with 700s, what would you say is the determining factor when purchasing a new or used 700? I have heard that there is a difference between the "old" 700s and the newer productions, is there a definite model or date to look for when looking for one these days?

I have just spent the last several hours reading about various 6.5 rounds based on the recommendations from others in this thread, particularly the 6.5x55 and 6.5x284. Are there any models that are currently in production that you know of (I just looked through their website and couldn't find any, but its set up terribly if you're looking for a particular caliber); or is there a particular 700 platform that would lend itself to a caliber change down the road?