Savage "packages"-good idea?

[Donaldo]

Everyone that slams the Savage Package deal should stop and consider what this package is designed for.  It is for the most part for that first time rifle buyer.  One that does not know "what are the best" rings to buy or "what is the best scope".  Those things will come as he developes some prejudices.  Here is a guy that for a decent amount of money gets a rifle of appropriate caliber with a scope already mounted.  I have a lot of rifles of various makes and have been in this "game" for 35-40 years.  I bought a Savage package from Wallyworld this summer primarily because it was a close out and was super cheap.  Thought I might trade it or just use the action for a project.  Course it has a cheap plastic stock, cheap rings, cheap scope, etc.  Well I finally got around to shooting it this fall.  Thru some handloads together, just picked an average load out of the books.  Went to the range.  Five different loads shot under 1" at 100 yds.  It only took 4 rounds to get the cheap scope sighted in.  Two of the handloads were in the 1/2 to 5/8 inch range.  Brand new barrel, no tuning, just take it out of the box and shoot it.  That my friends is what is called box stock accurate.  I bet none of your Remchestugers will do that.  So laugh at the Savage all you want.  If I want a good shooting rifle with out mega bucks spent on aftermarket parts, etc, I will buy another Savage.  To top it all off, I don't even need it, I have a custom Mauser in the same caliber with a Douglas barrel that is a lot more temperamental than the Savage.  With a lot of work on handloads it will just barely outdo the Savage out of the box.  I guess that makes me a Savage fan.

[bajabill]

I have replaced my rings and scope on a 110 package.  The rings are really bad, the scope is on another gun that I only shoot paper with.  The gun may be traded in soon, for another savage in the same caliber.  I dont like the Monte Carlo stock or the quality of wood.  So I am considering a synthetic stock because there is less difference between a savage synthetic and most other run of the mill synthetics.   IMO, all synthetics are not visually appealing.  But, there are major differences in wood quality.


Also, I dont notice an improvement in accuracy after changing the scope and rings. I now use Weaver 4x4 rings on the bases that came with the gun.

[MGMorden]

I have replaced my rings and scope on a 110 package.  The rings are really bad, the scope is on another gun that I only shoot paper with.  The gun may be traded in soon, for another savage in the same caliber.  I dont like the Monte Carlo stock or the quality of wood.  So I am considering a synthetic stock because there is less difference between a savage synthetic and most other run of the mill synthetics.   IMO, all synthetics are not visually appealing.  But, there are major differences in wood quality.


Also, I dont notice an improvement in accuracy after changing the scope and rings. I now use Weaver 4x4 rings on the bases that came with the gun.

If it's just the stock that's bothering you I'm sure you could probably swap out the stock for pretty cheap.  Ramline Synthetics seem to go for around $80 and Boyds has some really nice looking laminate wood stocks for $70 or so.  Just throwing out some options .

[nipprdog]

IMO, all synthetics are not visually appealing.

B&C Duramaxx stocks for Savages. $90-110.

[poncaguy]

Bought a 270 Win. Savage package gun 4 or 5 years ago. Very, very accurate, killed two deer with it. Gave it to my grandson who got a real nice 10 point with it this year.( Bigger than my 6 point for sure }Same scope  that came with it. If I had kept it , I would have changed the scope. :-)

[VAhuntr]

I bought a Savage package gun chambered in 270 wsm back in December.  The price was cheap and I figured I could put the cheap scope on a .22, so I decided to give it a shot.  I removed the scope bases rings and scope and replaced them with Leupold bases, rings and a Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x40.  Went out today and put 40 rounds through it and I know now I have a keeper.  The accu trigger is just amazing!  It is light years ahead of my Ruger and my Remingtons.  The only complaint I have is the synthetic stock does have some flex in it, although it did not seem to affect the accuracy one bit.

[bajabill]

any of those aftermarket stocks let you operate the bolt from the other side, Lefty here - thats another reason for my support for savage.

[Buckeye33]

After reading all these replies, I have come to notice that is in fact the serious hunters are buying an using the savage package guns.  GB said he wouldn't go out of state without taking a high dollar gun or scope.  Thats fine if I want to look good walking through the woods, but I bought my savages to shoot.  For me hunting means taking the gun off your shoulder and getting in the brush.  Why waste money on a fancy gun, I like em scratched up.  It reminds me I got off my ass and did it.  Can't beat a savage for the way they shoot.  The package gun usually runs the same price as just the gun, so you get a free sling, scope for a 22, mounts for something else.  Or you can hunt shoot kill anything that $2500 will buy you with another mfg.  My biggest like for savages are the models with the clip is the same price as the ones without.  Try getting that with remington.  They want to sell you some higher priced "mountain Rifle" just to get a clip mag.  People who knock savages have most likely never fired one and have more money than sense.  I would argue that those of us who shoot savages are much better shots BECAUSE WE HAVE LOTS OF MONEY LEFT OVER FOR AMMO. :shock:

[Rancher]

I might as well tell my Savage story too.  I got lucky this year and drew a once-in-a-lifetime Orys permit on the WSMR.  I've got both a Winchester model 70 and a Savage model 116 both in 300 Win Mag.  Winchester I topped with a Burris scope and put in a Jewell trigger I got a deal on from Charlie Sisk.  It made perfect sense to me that the Winchester would get the nod to bag my one and only Oryx.  After all, I only picked up the Savage with its junky rings and cheesy Simmons scope for trading material.

So I sit down and load up some trial rounds and head out to my little range behind my house and start working with the Winchester.  The damn thing was all over the paper.  200 grain Nosler Partitions and a near max load of H 4831SC oughta shoot better than that.  I spent a small fortune on 30 caliber bullets and bought powder that'll sit for years before I use it up all trying to make the Winchester shoot a group that I could live with, all to no avail.  So, to make a long story longer, I picked up a box of Winchester 180 grain Accubond factory ammo, crammed it in that damned ugly Savage and shot a 3 group that would damn near touch at 100 yds.  No matter what I did, the Savage outshot the Winny.  The end result is the Savage bagged me a 34" bull Oryx on a one time all or nothing hunt and now I've got a Winny for trading material.  Kinda funny how that works.

[Donaldo]

Buckeye and Rancher,
One of these days these Remchestuger owners will wake up, maybe.  Then they will see what wonderfully engineered tools these Savage rifles are.  Why you can have your big boomer for deer or elk or whatever.  Then in about 30-40 minutes you can change out the bolt head, if you need to, and change out the barrel.  Then you can take your "new" rifle after varmints.  I know.... I just did it.  Bye the way if you look at one of them Remingtons...... Has a barrel recoil lug and round action just like a Savage.  Except it just don't have an Accutrigger.