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

I have a savage accutrigger 22-250 I bought new approx 8 yrs ago. Came from factory with a non working safety. After reviewing I was able to set it. Will keep this one but will never buy another.
 
The recoil lug on the accustom rifles is different. At least it was a few years ago.

Make sure the recoil lug will fit whatever you find. I got burned on that. Just measure your action to the new stock and make sure it’s all good before you commit.
 
I haven't bought a new Savage in quite some time (10 years maybe), I've got no complaints with the ones I have.

My model 12 varminter low profile 22-250 will shoot sub 1/2 moa 5 shot groups, hardly Meh in my books :)
 
I've always had good luck with savage rifles. They work. Had a 300wm that couldn't really beat a hot loaded 3006 without flattening primers but it still shot good with the loads it liked.
My newest mk11 fvsr has some extraction issues which savage has told me they'd send parts to fix several times but I've never received any
They don't look pretty but they work for a hunting rifle and that is what I bought them for
I wish they'd bring the old Stevens 200 back. The axis is just to ugly to own but some could claim it's a bit embarrassing how well they shoot especially when they were $299 new

I've found the rem 783 to be a bit better than the savage action and have switched to the 783. Still have a savage 110 in 300wm (a great shooter. The slow one got sold) and a Stevens 200 that needs a new barrel and stock upgrade
All in all I'd still buy a savage if I had the need or want they just don't make what I want or chamber a rifle in a cartridge I'm interested in
 
Admittedly I have had very little joy for Savages after experiencing a friend's Axis in 3006, bolt was rough as hell, recoiled badly, meh accuracy and generally felt very cheap.
Couldn't help feeling if he had spent $300 more for something like a low end Sauer 100 he would have had a rifle from a completely different planet in accuracy and quality.
Fast forward to this past week despite my significant trepidation I picked up a 110 precision in 338 Lapua mag. Yes the bolt is still a little gritty but oh my gosh what an awesomely accurate shooter, love the ergo of the MDT stock, nice trigger. Was just going to target shoot with it but now I am seriously considering to actually hunt with it.

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I am getting some extraction issues with my Savage Axis - ordered some parts hopefully it will fix the issue. Other than that it shoots well enough to keep and I like it - it's a nice rifle. I watched some videos on YT and they too had extraction issues with the new Savage Axis precision
 
Not sure exactly when the quality dropped off. I know my 110 I bought in 2013 has been a fantastic rifle. It was 450$ and has its 3rd barrel on it.
I bought a 10TR “target” model around 2019, it was absolute trash. The receiver threads were so crooked it wouldn’t pass for apprentice plumbing quality. I bought a rascal around 2021 and it was also trash. The receiver thread holes were so crooked it was impossible to sight in any optic. A scope would be visibly crooked to the bore, about 200moa of shimming would be required.
 
I got a savage model 11 GCNS in .22-250 1:12 twist, absolute laser beam w/ 55gr bullets. Not every range trip but with reloads I have shot dime sized groups at 300 yards. Nice gun, wood stock, metal magazine and the old Chief logo on it. Probably bought it about 15 years ago or more brand new for around $500.
 
I’m having a hell of a time dialing in my 110 ultralight.
Painful.
That has a Proof CFW barrel right? I had 2 of those on a custom rifle. Both shot like crap. The first barrel was a 2 moa, the second was a 1 moa barrel. They both liked hot loads but neither could put a 5 round group together. I fired lots of tight 3 rounds but 5 just wouldn’t happen. You might be chasing a rainbow
 
That has a Proof CFW barrel right? I had 2 of those on a custom rifle. Both shot like crap. The first barrel was a 2 moa, the second was a 1 moa barrel. They both liked hot loads but neither could put a 5 round group together. I fired lots of tight 3 rounds but 5 just wouldn’t happen. You might be chasing a rainbow
Yes it got a proof barrel.
Couldn’t get H100 to do anything so I’m gonna try RL26, if that don’t work I don’t know what I’m going to do … lol
I think I could live with a MOA rifle, if I can get there.

I should’ve kept my Tikka 6.5 PRC
 
when they started putting magazines on the 99 would have been close to the last nail in the coffin

after that, accuracy on some bolt actions the only thing holding them together and the tikka seemed to put off enough 'won't buy foreign' buyers they both enjoyed success...enter the ruger Americans, so long savage, you were always a pig, sometimes with a little lipstick smeared here and there

the perfect example of putting lipstick on a pig is the proof carbon barrel ones, due to my age the nick name for that one would be Porky or Ms. Piggy, but younger guys could nickname them Babe, or even Peppa if it's really young guys, with manbuns, especially if it's in 6.5 CM
 
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when they started putting magazines on the 99 would have been close to the last nail in the coffin

after that, accuracy on some bolt actions the only thing holding them together and the tikka seemed to put off enough 'won't buy foreign' buyers they both enjoyed success...enter the ruger Americans, so long savage, you were always a pig, sometimes with a little lipstick smeared here and there

the perfect example of putting lipstick on a pig is the proof carbon barrel ones, due to my age the nick name for that one would be Porky or Ms. Piggy, but younger guys could nickname them Babe, or even Peppa if it's really young guys, with manbuns, especially if it's in 6.5 CM
Yup, I think I got fuc#ed on that one.
I only bought it because of the proof barrel, didn’t really care what action it was on.
Also it was the cheapest option at the time
 
I think they have a solid market in the first time rifle buyer and budget hunters area. Let’s face it, a lot of people new to the sport don’t want to drop a lot of coin. They get a Salvage, start shooting and for the most part their new rifle is accurate. They learn to shoot a bit and perhaps move on to something nicer. Then there are the 1 week a year deer or moose camp guys who see no reason to spend more than $600-700 on a rifle and scope combo and they get a generally accurate rifle that does the job. Why not, those guys all need rifles. I don’t love the Salvages, but I’ve owned a few over the years and they will generally do the job in an entirely unappealing package! But I’m an enthusiast so my field guns aren’t going to be Salvage. I do like MKII rimfires though. They did a great job there!
 
Yup, I think I got fuc#ed on that one.
I only bought it because of the proof barrel, didn’t really care what action it was on.
Also it was the cheapest option at the time

I had a 24” proof on one of my Grendels and it shot good, 1/2 moa 3 shots at 500 pretty easy with factory hornady 123 eld-m and it was fast too, 2605 fps (ammo rated at 2580), the 24” (actual more like 23.5”) factory Cz barrel was 2552 fps for the same ammo. And it sure did clean up fast. Had to feel as though half the barrel life was gone though with the lapping and that speed etc? Not that I could wear it out with a grendel but my weird mind at play.

If you put a gun to my head and said choose a savage it would be that lightweight stainless. That’s the only one to beat on imo. And it would still be named after a pig.
 
I can’t change optics but I can make almost any rifle shoot well . Some take a bit more work than others . Essentially any cheap bolt gun comes with a complete garbage stock and the machine work done by “ new guys” . Stiffen the stock and bed the action, ensuring it’s free floated - makes a massive difference. Match the twist to the bullet weight . Send it .
 
I can’t change optics but I can make almost any rifle shoot well . Some take a bit more work than others . Essentially any cheap bolt gun comes with a complete garbage stock and the machine work done by “ new guys” . Stiffen the stock and bed the action, ensuring it’s free floated - makes a massive difference. Match the twist to the bullet weight . Send it .

Good point, agree, usually with savage the bedding stuff isn't a question, I should have caveated on my post above that the work was done by Henry Rempel for putting the proof on my cz and of course it shot, when he's done with rifle it will shoot. In Henry we trust.
 
savage is what it is…. obviously theres room for budget guns but in my opinion they are charging way too much for what your getting ! Take $300 or more off the price and your getting closer to what they are worth..
.. poor machining, cheeeeeep rinky dink floating bolt head, soso stocks, poor bluing, crappy magazines etc. ( triggers are good ) are major issues that savage isnt interested in correcting..
There are many better choices for the money !
 
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