Ruger vs Savage

[15thaf5thbw]

Right now I can get for the same price ($500) a Ruger American with the Redfield scope or (what I believe to be) a Savage Trophy Hunter with the Nikon BDC scope. The Savage is a Youth/Compact model. The fullsize Ruger is not much bigger than the Savage Youth/Compact.

I am partial to Rugers. Never owned a Savage. I handled both today at Sportsmans Warehouse and I like the Nikon scope on the Savage better than the Redfield Scope on the Ruger. But I seem to like the feel of the Ruger better than the Savage.

This rifle would be for my daughter (age 16) who has decided she would like to come deer hunting with me this year! I will let her check out both and pick for herself which one she feels fits her best. But I'm curious, is one of these rifle's THAT much better than the other? Or would it be a wash? They are both black polymer stocked rifles. Nothing special so I am not expecting too much from either. Probably a good first rifle for the girl.

Any advice would be appreciated.

15th

[Divernhunter]

Both are excellent rifles as long as the Savage has the accur-trigger. I have shot a few Savage rifles without the accru-trigger and some had terrible triggers. Both shoot well.
Put a direct replacement Limbsaver recoil pad on either. It helps quite a bit.
Get a 7mm-08 or 260Rem or 308win and she will have a great rifle for hunting. Avoid a 243 for a beginner.
If you hand load then load it down for practice shooting.

[TMB 1]

I'd rather have the Savage.

[E92335i]

Savage vote here

[15thaf5thbw]

Divernhunter, yes, 7mm-08 is the cartridge I was planning on getting for her. I do reload, so I will try that. Noted about the Savage accu-trigger. It does have it.

TMB 1 & E92335i, why do you guys prefer the Savage?

[toby]

Get the Savage.

[Sutcliffe]

Savage has huge aftermarket potential

Although, out of the box, it has quite a reputation for accuracy. The Ruger American is much newer and therefore, unknown.

[lewdogg21]

She will probably like the youth model better b/c it will be shorter and have less weight out over her front arm.

Either one is fine for what you want. I 2nd the limb saver pad for her.

[kcjr1125]

def. get the Ruger. Ruger is known for quality builds and this rifle is a a great hunter. i have the 22LR and 30-06 and both are fantastic. i am planning on getting the predator in 223 as my coyote gun soon. Stick to Ruger.

[tcd511]

This seems sort of like the .270 vs .30-06 debates where you are going to have your brand loyalists. With that said, you definitely want the accu-trigger if you go savage. My friends is a smooth shooter. I have only handled but never shot the Ruger American I do however own several Ruger M77's. M7 .270 has been with me since I was 20 (I'm now 48) and has never let me down. So my vote is for Ruger.

[duckman1]

In that price point they both are good rifles. Have her shoulder both and dry fire a few times to see which fits better. Buy the one that fits and feels right to her liking.

[Bastard]

you mean you are not going to get her the Savage Trophy Hunter in the Muddy Girl camo pattern.

in all seriousness I personally would rather have the Savage - I have heard both good & bad about both, and though I have a bias toward the Savage to start with. the fact that the Ruger is somewhat of a newcomer to the lower end/out of the box market makes me shy away from them... that said I am sure that they are both great guns and will serve the purpose that you are buying for.

[Divernhunter]

Not sure where these folks are getting their info on the Ruger but I have shot a number of them and all have shot extra well. Very, very accurate. All the reviews are also good that I have seen. All the owners have liked them.
I also like the Savage rifles with the accru-trigger and own one in 204Ruger.

As stated above get the one that fits her best. At 16 I would think either would fit her. If she is small then maybe the youth model of either brand would be a better choice. My daughter did very well with a full size Ruger M77 in 257Roberts.

[toby]

I would actually pass on both and get either a Weatherby Vanguard or the Howa version.

[dirtrider04]

when I learned to hunt I was 13 or so.... using a savage 110 chambered in .270.... im gonna vote savage...