What makes Savages accurate?

[pagris]

Hello members:  There seems to be general consensus that Savages are very accurate rifles right out-of-the box.  I would be interested in hearing why you believe this is so.  Is it the pillar bedding of the action?  The accutrigger?  The quality of their barrels?  A combination of all three? As a potential buyer, I am just curious - Thanks.

[fish280]

floating bolt head and barrel nut assembly yield near perfect cartridge/bore alignment and near perect headspace, all other things being equal.

[oneshotonekill]

I would think the biggest contributor to the savage's accuracy is their barrels.  I know the accutrigger can be a great benefit but I have several pre accutrigger savages that all shoot great.

[Grubbs]

It's sure not the craftsmanship/wokmanship of their rifles.  The last 110 my dad bought shoots great, but the clip can't keep the shells in....Savage couldn't fix it either.....now he "single shots" it.

[Lawdog]

Take what "fish280" & "oneshotonekill" had to say and I think that pretty much covers it.  As stated that while the AccuTrigger is a great improvement it doesn't have anything to do with the Savage accuracy as they were getting the reputation for out of the box accuracy before the AccuTrigger was introduced.  Lawdog
 

[Graybeard]

Assuming that they are is an assumption NOT backed up by those I've had experience with. So far I'm batting zero on finding or shooting one that was accurate.

[Savage .250]

I`ve owned a savage 110, .243 since 1961  and that puppy has aways
   shot tight!  Maybe Savage just does it right in their manufacting process.
  All these years and it still puts-um in the same place.  Course as you get older that "same place"  tends to get a slightly larger.  Slightly.
 
  " The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

[cal sibley]

I could be wrong here so someone  may have to help me out.  I understand it has to do with the way Savage fits the barrel to its actions.
Apparently it's not the most solid connection around.  However because there's a certain amount of give and take the barrel is able to self align itself after each shot, promoting very good accuracy.  Feel free to add to this.  Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[t3shooter]

Cal is right on the action.  There's a bit of play in the savage bolt-head to allow the cartridge to align better in the chamber, thereby correcting any minor imperfections in machining.  This greatly aids accuracy.  Also, the way the barrels are mounted, with headspace being set during the mounting, plus the overall quality of the barrel (must be good for my FV to shoot 3/8 out of the box, no?).  Finally the trigger.  I got the Accutrigger when it just barely came out, and I've got to say It's great.  light, crisp pull = consistency = better accuracy downrange.  So, short answer, the combo of many little factors makes for a tackdriving rifle.

[kyhunter308]

if you cant get a savage to shoot with factory ammo,then somthings wrong especialy if you are a hand loader...sounds like someone is knocking savage...must be one of those remington fans..  

[kyhunter308]

i have an old savage 99a lever action that will shoot easaliy under a half inch with winchester power points,and a 308 16fss that shoots consientant 1/2 inch groups with federal 150 nosler bts,i hand load and feel there is no need to on these rifles,...www.savageshooters.com...
will answer any question you have about a savage....i have owned several more expensive rifles remington being a few and others,and my savages seem to shoot factory ammo easier and are one of the my most accurat rifles,if not the most...and the least expensive... :-)

[Slamfire]

It ain't the pillar bedding or the accutrigger, cause mine predates all that stuff. It must be the barrel.  

[Gregory]

Assuming that they are is an assumption NOT backed up by those I've had experience with. So far I'm batting zero on finding or shooting one that was accurate.

My experience has been the opposite of GB.  I've owned 3 Savage rifles.
All accurate.  Two pre-date the accutrigger.  I've owned an older 110DL in .270, a 110FP in 223, and a 11FL in 7mm-08.  

[kyhunter308]

fish280 said the most important,not to mention they have good barrels for a factory rifle...that ugly nut is one of the main keys.... :eek:

[longwinters]

Savage did a good job in finding a cheap way to make a cheaply made rifle shoot good.  From what I have seen in looking at them, their componants are cheap.  The rifles are put together cheaply.  But they seem, according to many evaluations, to shoot well.  The perfect nitch in the rifle world.

Long

[bchannell]

Poor ole graybeard, he's had nearly 300 accurate Remingtons and can't seem to find a single accurate Savage. You're just not trying man, take a look over at Savageshooters.com and you'll see your "results are not typical", by any means. Those guys have managed to find some VERY accurate Savages. Try their classifieds if you want to find an accurate Savage. As always, "your milage may vary".

The barrel nut allows Savage to keep headspace adjustments super accurate and easy to manipulate during manufacture. The floating bolt head also helps alignment. Savage has also made a huge effort in making accurate barrels, which goes a long way to help them maintain their long standing moniker as one of the most accurate bolt rifles out of the box. You needn't take my word for it, that's almost a direct quote from several gun rag articles when Savages are compared to others.
I have 4 Savages right now in .260, 7-08, .223 and .270, they are all super accurate for hunting rifles and a couple are amazingly accurate.

Are they the best gun made, heck no, are they good, you bet your rusty old Browning A5 they are, will they outshoot brand x every time, heck no. No rifle can claim that, but Savage can stand up to the test as well as most and better than many.

[kyhunter308]

:lol:  :lol:  :lol: ..could not have said it any better....

[Bart Solo]

Last weekend my son and I took his new Savage 110G 30-06 out to the range.  He doesn't shoot much so I thought it would be good for him to practice. It was bore sighted, but fresh from the box.  In short order it was sighted in, and we began his practice.   After about 2 hours and two boxes of ammo he was beginning to feel comfortable with the rifle. You could see he was improving as the session wore on. The savage shot as well as his experience allowed.  Out of the box, after about the 5th shot no deer would have survived.  For me that meant the rifle was plenty accurate.   I didn't have much of a chance to shoot it myself, but the shots I took told me that I wouldn't turn one down.  I really liked the trigger.  He needs a better scope.  
 
We are going to shoot some more in a few weeks. I want him to be ready for deer season.

[lilabner]

The Savage design is the answer. Because of the way the barrel and action are mated, assembly is precise and quick. Labor costs are reduced. The gun isn't finished as nicely as other makes, which also cuts costs. It is generally considered ugly. Savage decided to emphasize accuracy - it isn't looks, fit or finish that sells them. The barrels are made with care, though, (a top custom barrel maker says Savage barrels are the best American factory barrels) and the bolt head design also contributes. The accu trigger was a stroke of genius which contributes to better groups. Some rifles are bought with the understanding that a trigger job costing 50 - 100 dollars plus will be needed for best shooting.

[rickyp]

I have a savage model 10FP-LE2 with accu-trigger in 308 winchester.
this rifle is the most accurate rifle that i have ever shot. at 100 yards I am shooting the playing card I can take the center diamond out at that distance. I  am using Remington 165 gr cor-loc bulk bullets you know the ones $45.00 for 500. I bet it could shoot way better if i use a match grade bullet.

[Zachary]

Common sense dictates that high quality generally yields good accuracy.   Well, if that's the case, then Savage is clearly an exception.

In my opinion, the quality of Savage rifles is just junk.  However, every Savage that I have shot has shot extremely well.  I just can't figure it out.  Many times when I am at the range with my expensive rifles with expensive scopes, there are shooters next to me with Savages (and some with the cheap combo scopes).  Well, more often than not, their Savages shoot just as tight as my Tikkas, Sakos, Remingtons, etc.

Savage owners tend to make fun of us shooters with our "fancy" rifles and scopes.  I am often asked how much one of my rigs costs.  My rifles with scope range anywhere from about $900 to about $2,500.  Then they kinda laugh at me by saying "You spent that much money for that rifle?  Heck, I only spent $400 for mine and it shoots just as good as yours!"   Dang Savage owners....they kinda have a point.  As far as accuracy is concerned, their Savages generally do shoot as well as my more expensive rifles.

However, accuracy being equal, I still would spend the extra money on a rifle that is of higher quality and better fit and finish.  There is just something to be said about, say, the silky smooth action of a Tikka, versus the clunky feel of a Savage action.  Kinda like closing the door on a new BMW compared to closing the door on an old beat-up pickup.


Zachary

[Squeeze]

I am just happy that I have the opportunity to decide which I want  
to buy, a BMW or an old Pickup.  I have a couple of Savage centerfires,
and a couple of Tikkas, a couple of Remingtons, a Howa, and a
Browning.  The Savages are definitely the "Old Pickups", but instead
of climbing in a floppy steering, oil burning, rattle trap, pulling the  
trigger on a Savage is like driving a BMW chassis, with an old pickup
body bolted to it.  Which makes buying this "Old Pickup" an easier
decision.  
 
I purchased a Savage 16 FSS, .22-250 Rem. as a truck gun, since
I wanted a rough duty rifle, that I intended to develop serious
character marks on as it banged around the back of my pickup.
This thing came out of the box shooting so accurately, that it
now has moved to the varmint battery, and I am looking for another
"truck gun".  My Ar-15 carbine is substituting, temporarily, but
I have nightmares about my truck being forced open, and my  
Armalite National Match walking off into the night.  I think I  
will buy a Stevens, and if that one shoots very well, I won't  
upgrade the trigger.  That should keep it ugly enough to stay as
the "truck gun".  
 
As for the original question, Savage seems to have found accuracy
in simplicity, and to me that makes this rifle VERY attractive.
I have the deeply polished wood stocked rifles, and they make
great show pieces, but poor companions in the dense brush,
and rugged hunting conditions, of the real world hunting trips,
I take.  If I hunted out of some well built box blind, on some  
carefully managed hunting property, I would probably hunt  
one of those pretty rifles.  But I hunt in the morass of the northern
Great Lakes, and the occasional western hunt.  Give me that  
butt ugly Savage, that shoots itty bitty groups, for these hunts.
I will make a fashion statement, at the range, with the pretty  
rifles :-D  
 
Squeeze

[Lawdog]

Common sense dictates that high quality generally yields good accuracy.

[/color]

Very true in most cases.  Savage is one of the cases.  Looks doesn't mean "high quality" in some cases.  You can take a junk car and add new tires and rims, a new paint job and make it "LOOK" great.  Still a junker though.  Lawdog
 

[rickyp]

thank about it this way:
would you want to take a very nice expensive rifle in the woods hunting with you or would you rather take a cheaper well shooting rifle in the woods?

The savage rifles have a place as a hunting / working rifle. just like the fancy rifles have a place in thegun save collecting dust and showing off

[Bigfoot]

I kinda like my old pickup.

And as a fringe benefit, what other rifle allows you to spend untold hours on the internet and on the loading/ballistic software deciding what other barrels/calibers you need? I figure I need three additional  barrels 'currently', or maybe I should have said 'so far'.

[Zachary]

I keep on hearing several people tell me that they consider the Savage to be ugly.  And when I say several, I mean several.  To me, I really don't consider the Savage to be ugly.  Then again, even if it was (or is), then ugly is what ugly does.  The bottom line is that these guns generally are shooters, and I don't particularly how a gun looks as long as it is of good quality and shoots well.  

I agree with the belief that beautiful wood stocked rifles with high class blueing is not exactly something that I would want in the field.  I have a Sako Deluxe in .308 and it is an exquisite rifle.  Man is it beautiful, but I would hate to take it hunting and get a scratch on  it.  That's why 95% of all my rifles are stainless synthetic.  Will I ever take my Sako Deluxe on a hunt?  Yes, I would.  But it would not be treated like a workhorse like my SS rifles.

So back to the Savages, I haven't purchased on because they are considered by many to be ugly.  I just don't buy them because I just hate their lack of quality.  In my opinion, and experience, I would rather spend $100 or $200 more and get a better quality rifle that shoots just as well (if not better).  You don't have to buy a $1000 rifle to get both good quality and great accuracy.  You can have both for about $500 to $600 with, say, a Remington or Tikka - and I use those rifles like a workhorse. :wink:

Zachary

[bchannell]

If you look around, some Savages and Stevens rifles are surprisingly well finished. I don't think Savages are ugly, I think they look fine.
With the AccuTrigger, they have a much better trigger than a Ruger 77 MKII factory trigger, safer than a Remington factory trigger, more adjustable than a Winchester M70 trigger, and on a par with a Tikka/Sako trigger, for a lot less money. I like all of them, but it's hard to deny that Savage is a fine rifle. Have you seen the new Savage 14/114, it has a high quality fit and finish on par with any other rifle, with a select walnut stock. It's getting harder and harder to trash Savage, they are simply addressing the compaints from those who won't buy them one by one. I'm not saying Savage is the best, but it right up there with most of them, and the non believers are running out of arguments. Poor quality you say, when was the last time you saw a Savage fail at the moment of truth, I'd venture to say no more often than a Remington, Winchester, Tikka, Browning or anything else.

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

I guess if a rifle looks ugly but shoots well you can't call it junk.  It's just a fine rifle that looks ugly.

Kind of reminds me of a buddy who was into competitive cycling.  He developed what he called "urban camouflage" for his high-dollar bicycle.  He peeled off all the decals, or put reflective tape over any identifying features.  Painted various patches with flat primer - as if it was in various stages of repair.  At first glance it looked like a beat up old Huffy, not worth the risk of stealing it.  A closer look by the trained eye would reveal that it bore componants found only on four-digit price tag bikes.

Another aquaintance had a cabin along the river.  From the outside it looked like the dumpiest shack on the river.  But from the inside!  Whoa man!  What a posh little hide away.  I asked why the contrast.  He explained that he's not around to guard it.  People pass by and think there's nothing of value inside based on the way it appears from the outside.

Savage.  

"People pass by and think there's nothing of value inside based on the way it appears from the outside."

[riddleofsteel]

Recently I decided to build a new deer rifle for general woods hunting. Over the last few years I have gone from primarly hunting deer over alfalfa and bean fields with 400 to 500 yard views to hunting in the deep woods with 25 to 150 yard shots being more normal. Suddenly my 25-06 Sendero at 11 LBS with scope seemed a liitle bit of an burden.
I have been a Remington man for years but some recent bad apples from the "Big Green" got me looking at the Savage line. In my opinion the Savage bolt actions are ugly but had real potential.
I bought a LH Savage 110 in .270 with wood stock and detachable mag off of Gun Broker for around $250.00. Then I made some mods based on around 30 years of experience building bolt actions for field hunting. In the last steps of mounting the scope base I broke off a base screw in the receiver. I drilled a hole in the sheared off screw and tried to back it out with an E-Z Out. The E-Z Out broke off in the process! I was forced at that point to take the rifle to my local gunsmith. He was unable to remove the screw/E-Z Out combo so he drilled and tapped new holes in the receiver and mounted my scope. While it was in the the shop he also checked the rifle over and made some adjustments to my bedding.
My first trip to the range I fired about a dozen, five shot, sub-inch groups with a variety of factory ammo I had on the shelf. This included 130 grain Remington Core-Lokt, 150 grain Winchester Power Point, 130 grain Hornady Custom Interlock, 130 grain Federal Classic and a handload using 140 grain BTSP Hornady Interlock bullets over H4831. During this session no goups were over 1 inch at 100 yards except for a couple of called flyers (my fault).

I was well pleased with the results of this project and I am glad I chose a Savage to base my efforts on.
 
So far I have converted a LH, wood stock, detachable mag .270 110 to;

Internal blind mag
Stockade Money Saver stock fiberglass with aluminium pillars
custom cammo (by me)
metal trigger guard
SSS Tactical bolt handle
Leupold scope base and rings
Leupold 3.5x10 50mm Vari X III scope
full action bedding
floating barrel



Total I have less than $500.00 in this Savage not counting the mounts, rings and scope. I had these items on the shelf already. For a rig than is light ewnough to pack in the field and is cutting half inch five shot groups at 100 yards that is a real steal.

Make mine a SAVAGE.

 

[longwinters]

Very nice rifle.  Now if they looked that good in the store I might think of getting one.

Long