Savage, when did it go from the gun to meh?

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Arctic87

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Ive been trying to read up on Savage, They've been around for a 120 years and my lord is it a convoluted history between factory switches, buy outs and bankruptcy.

my question is...when did Savage quality go from the gun to have to meh?

I believe they still do make some great affordable rifles but is it really that hit and miss in QC? or is it just the axis's or is it across the board on all there rifles?

looking to hear what you folks have to say about them
 
Arctic87 said:
curious about the older 110 models and what people have been seeing from them
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Short action/long action? Target or standard? I've got one of the older 10TR's that will keep them under 3/4" for five shot groups at 100 meters (with match ammo) I've owned a few of the Model 10/110's in 308 over the years and I've never had any problem getting MOA out of any of them. That's actually why I've owned a few. Friends/family see how it shoots and then they want it. Sell it to them and go looking for another one.
 
I’ve had a few Savages along the way.

Model 10 Predator - 243Win
Model 10 Predator Max - 22-250
Model 116 - 270Win
FCPK - 223Rem

The Mod 10 243 was finicky on what it wanted. Once I found its’ 1:9.25 twist liked 70gr it become a point n watch holes appear rig.

The Pred Max was an absolute laser with 55gr factory rounds. It’s one I should've kept.

The 116 270win was a brief one season foray, another that shot extremely well out of the box with factory ammo. It got traded for a Tikka T3 300Win.

Finally the FCPK, was another decent rig out of the box. Initially bought as a entry level precision rig, it only turned two boxes of factory ammo. The thing I didnt like about it was the fact Savage had pinned the muzzle brake on and I couldn’t remove it’s uselessness on a 223.. It was traded for a Tikka T3 LSS in 204R after the afore mention two boxes ran through it.

All were shot with cheap’ish factory OTC stuff. They fed & ejected reliably. Solid units, but had the typical Savage clunkiness to their cycling action.

If… I was to be considering a used Savage I’d want to make sure they were of from the same time frame as the above models based on my experience with them. If memory serves me correct these were all around 2013-16 models before the new ownership group took over. Whether that has any bearing or not on their accuracy is out for judgement across the web..
 
Savage bolt action hunting rifles have long been considered "accurate junk"

Not to say they don't have a place or that they won't work. They used to be the king of budget bolt actions but it seems everyone has a budget version these days.
 
I had a Model 10 FCP I think it was called. .308

Would punch 1/4” groups all day with 175smk I loaded. Most accurate rifle I have ever owned. Not bad for $800.
 
I’ve had some 99s in the past, they were never nail drivers. OK for the time and solid, just didn’t do it for me. I found the bolt guns plain and just so so. Never up to Rem or Win standards.
 
Had a old Savage 110 in 7mm rem mag. The model with the side of the stock push button magazine release. Only a 7mag, but the hardest kicking rifle I've ever known. Check your zero, 1st shot bang on, second shot, maybe on paper, third shot miss 4x8 sheet of plywood.

Started me into chasing recoil tolerance. Weatherbys, Rums and other big magnums. At least I'm going with blaming the Savage.
 
Gatehouse said:
Savage bolt action hunting rifles have long been considered "accurate junk"

Not to say they don't have a place or that they won't work. They used to be the king of budget bolt actions but it seems everyone has a budget version these days.
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True, and lets not forget the Axis/Axis II and Stevens 200 craze/frenzy on here a few years back
 
For what it's worth, I used to be VERY against Savage rifles, just because of the constant references to poor finish, clunky operation, extraction/ejection problems, etc. And that's for both the rimfire and centerfire rifles. I couldn't understand why they had such a large aftermarket, or why anyone would be interested at all.

Over the course of about 10 years, I've had:

Savage Axis XP 22-250
Savage Axis XP 223
Savage Axis II 7.62x39

Savage 11 223
Savage 11 VT 308

And a bunch of different Mark II and 93 rimfires.

In summary, you could say that most are a hot mess of cobbled together parts that somehow punch WAY above their weight.

The Axis rifles all have several similar characteristics. The magazines don't always feed properly. They feel light and flimsy. They sometimes have ejection issues, which can be fixed by replacing the extractor ball bearing with one of 9/64" diameter. Works every time. AND they shoot incredibly well. My 223 gave me an all time personal best of a 1/2" 3 shot group at 200 yards with my handloads. Can't fault that. A friend with a Tikka Tactical 223 was constantly frustrated that my cheap, used 223 Axis would shoot group for group with his Tikka. I splurged for a $30 MCarbo trigger kit one day....even better.

The 11's are noticeably more substantial in feel, but almost identical design. The Axis is essentially a 11/110 'engineered' for cost savings. Both developed the extraction/ejection issue as above, and fixed just as easily. Both consistently shoot sub-3/4" three shot groups at 100 yards with handloads. Never had any feeding issues with either. The accutrigger is pretty good too, and a very simple design.

A couple other things to say in Savage's favor. Their customer service is very good. I've contacted them several times about issues with used rifles, and they have never balked at sending parts out. Another plus is that their bolt designs are standardized, so the extractor/ejector bits are identical (don't quote me on that, but I think so) and a kit for one will work on the other rifles. Finally, they have to be the most productive manufacturer ever. It seems only during the biggest sales that any model or chambering isn't available and even then it's temporary. It's common to get either Axis or 11/110s on a very reasonable sale price.

In the end, it depends what you're looking for. If you need ooohs and aaaahs at the range when you open your rifle case, they may not be for you. If you like ooohs and aaaahs when you check your targets, and don't want to spend too much, maybe they are.
 
Arctic87 said:
Ive been trying to read up on Savage, They've been around for a 120 years and my lord is it a convoluted history between factory switches, buy outs and bankruptcy.

my question is...when did Savage quality go from the gun to have to meh?

I believe they still do make some great affordable rifles but is it really that hit and miss in QC? or is it just the axis's or is it across the board on all there rifles?

looking to hear what you folks have to say about them
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Huh?? What did I miss? When was Savage ever considered the gun to have!?
 
Besides the Savage 64 and the Mark II they really don't have anything IMO worth owning. I guess they have the popular rifled bolt shotguns the 220 and 212. But the quality of those isn't great either. But the 64 and Mark II are timely classics and are extremely affordable. Hell even the stock on those two rifles is better then the one on their modern semi the A22. Everything else I would pass on. Most companies trying to come in under the sub $1000 range these days have various issues with quality. Everything can shoot well these days, simply being able to post good numbers on paper doesn't mean it's quality. Finish, Stock and general reliability are all things that should be taken into consideration.
 
KePet said:
Short action/long action? Target or standard? I've got one of the older 10TR's that will keep them under 3/4" for five shot groups at 100 meters (with match ammo) I've owned a few of the Model 10/110's in 308 over the years and I've never had any problem getting MOA out of any of them. That's actually why I've owned a few. Friends/family see how it shoots and then they want it. Sell it to them and go looking for another one.
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Around 1960.
 
Never had any of the Axis models, just a 11 and a 111 accutrigger in 7 08 and 338 and a conventional 111, had problems with both accutrigger models, both purchased new, sold the plain 111, I dealt with their parts counter for MKll parts and they were very helpful, very unlikely I will ever buy another Savage centre fire rifle, too many good rifles that are just as accurate and better built for not much more money. Last year I was looking at and thinking about an older Savage bolt action in 7x57 but I passed on it just because it was a Savage. My recollection is they have always been lower end rifles. The very first Savage I ever owned was a semi 22 with a fold down forestock, I was working for a sporting goods wholesaler, it jammed on about the third shot and would not empty a magazine without jamming once or twice.
 
I have 2 110s in 223
one is light contour, the other medium
both shoot beautifully (as in 0.5-0.75 MOA) with 75gr match bullets. Different loads though.

those 55gr Nosler black tip only shot well with H4198

what do I do with 2000 Hornady 55gr BTSP ? :)
 
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