5 minute Review: Savage Model 11 Lightweight Hunter in .308WIN

Aniest

Aniest

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Edmonton city limits and east
Intent of Post: A fast review for you, the reader, so see the firearm stats and make your own opinions based on the model as tested. It would be awesome to see more reviews like this!!!

I got to try one of these out at my parent's gun range/club. Lots of people including me donated ammo for this test: THANKS!!!

5 minute Product Review:
Savage Model 11 Lightweight Hunter

Image: http://www.savagearms.com/images/firearms/finder/medium/11lh.png

30 second stats: (stats & photos as per Savage Website)
Series, length: Specialty, 40.25"
Sights: Drilled and tapped for scope mounts
Magazine, Capacity: Detachable box, 4 round
Barrel material, length: Carbon Steel, 20"
Barrel finish: Matte
Barrel colour: Black
Handed: Right
AccuTrigger: Yes
AccuStock : No
Stock material: Wood
Stock finish: Matte
Stock colour: Natural
Action: Short

Product Specifications as Reviewed:
Sights: Weaver aluminium mounts and rings, lapped
Scope: Minox 3-9x40mm
Calibre: .308 Winchester (SKU 19209)
Rate of Twist: 1 in 10"
Weight as per Manufacturer: 5.5lbs
Practical Weight Measured: 7lb 3oz
Includes Model 11 with mounts, rings, scope, scope caps, swivels, sling and 4 rounds in the magazine

PROS:
- Lightweight: I would consider this at 7lbs 3oz in the field to be an "Ultralight"
- Short: Use in brush is excellent, short swing and light to move with
- Calibre Selection: Short action also comes in 223REM, 243REM, 7mm-08REM, 260REM, and 6.5 creedmore (Long action, model 111 in .30-06SPFLD, 6.5x284NORMA & 270WIN)
- Accutrigger: Makes the firearm better if you like them

CONS:
- Heating: During test firing the barrel heated quickly; 3 shots and it had to cool; this is NOT a bench gun for sure
- Magazine: Uses the Axis series #55232 magazine; there have been reports of the intergraded release (plastic) breaking and weakening over time
- Accuracy: Factory was poor at best, Reloads better (see below)
- Forearm Hole: I foresee them filling with dirt easily
Image: http://www.savagearms.com/images/firearms/finder/11lhforeend.png
- Fluted Bolt: The fluted bolt is noisy, grinds with little or no dirt and can "bind" on ejection if you pull the bolt open with little or no force
Image: http://www.savagearms.com/images/firearms/finder/11lhreceiver.png

Range Test:
Initial testing: 40rounds of 147gr S&B without cleaning to test for malfunctions, loose parts, loose mounts, etc., of which none were found. Cleaning was done after and then every 12 rounds (3 sets of a 4 shot group)

Round Tested:
Lead sled used, 100 yard distance, 24degrees Celsius, 45% humidity, 5km/hr 90degree to range cross wind, each group was 4 rounds with all 4 rounds counted in group size. Some ammunition tested twice due to fliers. Firing time was 7:30am to 11:30am (@ 11:30 temp was heading to 26C and higher wind)
(sorry, no pictures since about 30 targets and about/approx/close to/etc 110 rounds of test ammo plus above 40 rounds was used over a 4 hr period)

- Fed & Win. 180gr - average group was 3.5 inches (4 types, 20 rounds approx total. Example: Fed Deep Shok, Fed Fusion, Win Silver Tip, Win Power Point)
- Fed, Rem, Win 165-170gr - average group 3.5 inches (5 types, 28 rounds approx total)
- Fed, Rem, Win & S&B 145-155gr - average group 2.75 inches (6 types, 36 rounds approx total)
- Reloaded 150gr Sierra (donated, not reloaded for this model)- average group 1.75 inches (8 rounds total)
- Reloaded Barnes 130gr (donated, not reloaded for this model)- average group 1.25 inches (8 rounds total)

Overall: Factory ammo seemed to be poor concidering the rifle was on a sled. Reloads did better. Overall the .308WIN seemed to get better with lighter bullets: reason unknown.

:yingyang: My own opinion: Reserved!!! As post is for just more information for you to add to what is already out there!!! :yingyang: I just wish the temperatures had stayed down on that one dry day to lengthen my time at the range.

edit: Sorry, pictures that worked this morning from Savage's site seem to not be up...
 
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150 rounds over a 4 hour period = fast shooting for such a light barrel. Maybe it needed lots more cool-down time for better accuracy.
 
1899 said:
150 rounds over a 4 hour period = fast shooting for such a light barrel. Maybe it needed lots more cool-down time for better accuracy.
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I was thinking that... Also, I had a dedicated section of range and 10 or so targets up at a time: I had complete range control for my test so there was no waiting to clear the range of other shooters. That is why I did this test at one my parents belong to out in the countryside on a weekday. Plus I had to pick up ammo donations that morning so I didn't get shooting until 7:30am: by 11:30 it started to push my between groups cool down to 5-10 min.

injundon said:
any cleaning between?
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I edited post. Cleaning was done ever 12 rounds: one patch with minimal cleaner twice and one patch dry twice. I used a 270 - 35 cal solid one piece rod with brass cleaning JAG from chamber end with bolt removed.
 
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A 7lb plus short-action is no ultralight, a walnut stocked Kimber 84M classic goes a bit over 6.5lbs scoped with a 22" barrel.
Your review is decent but I'd like a pic of the bare rifle on an accurate scale, I find manufacturers weight claims always err on the light side, and there are always variances in walnut.

So another manufacturer lops 2 inches off a pencil contour barrel, hollows a bolt knob and markets it as a "lightweight" :rolleyes:...move along, nothing to see here folks.
Tikka makes a light push-feed with a standard length barrel, and I think they have this market and price range cornered.
Flame-on!!! :eek:
 
15 different types of ammo and 2 different handloads and 1.25" is the best it could muster!!!??? In .308! From a Savage no-less:rolleyes:

Maybe this is a more honest representation of what Savages are capable of rather than the bug hole groups everyone claims from their Stevens/Savages.

Thanks for your honest review.
 
Thank you for the review. I would consider the rrifle an ultralight as you described and goes further than just hollowing out the bolt knob, but that's ok.

Savage's are generally light rifles but not Kimber light by any means. I believe it is a waste of a walnut stock especially when Svage seems to be using cheaper hardwoods on all of their other rifles save the classic series (14 and 114).

A stainless synthetic would be more up my alley and I think improvements could be made over the kimber montana and tikka models but I think savage fell short on this model.

I appreciate your review and honesty and although I'm sure people will find fault with your methodology I appreciate a non biased view point. Gun magazines are far too positive and all of us gunnutz seem to have our own inherent bias.

I won't buy a savage lightweight, and despite my name I doubt I'll buy another Savage (for awhile). I don't hunt in the mountains although i do a fly in hunt every year but I'll still take a reliable 10 pound gun long before I will cut weight in the name of poor accurancy and potential reliability issues.

Once again great review
 
150 rounds in 4 hrs is ridiculous! Not that I am a fan of Savage, but this is not a fair review. Point of impact with pencil barrels can change with a warm barrel, hot is another story altogether. When I test my hunting rifles for a given caliber, I shoot them no more than ten shots in an hour, and they absolutely never get warm. Also, stick with one type of bullet, and try different weights. You aren't letting the gun tell you anything if you keep jumping all over the place.

Patrick
 
1899 said:
150 rounds over a 4 hour period = fast shooting for such a light barrel. Maybe it needed lots more cool-down time for better accuracy.
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IMO that is way too much shooting out of one rifle for 4 hrs - especially a hunting rifle. I would say the Savage performed very well under those conditions.

I have a couple of lighter/thin barrels and I only shoot 2 shot groups with them - then let the guns cool down completely. This time of year will take at least 20 min or more. Bring a .22 &/or more guns to test and rotate through them while the others cool. You'll still get to shoot a lot and your tests will be more accurate. Remember, that 1st shot when hunting is from a cold barrel - not one that has been 'warmed up'.

Good report though - good level of detail.


James
 
I know not everyone has to take follow up shots when hunting but if you had to this test would be fairly representative of that given the barrel was cold on the first shot. But I do understand where these boys are coming from.
 
OldSavage said:
I know not everyone has to take follow up shots when hunting but if you had to this test would be fairly representative of that given the barrel was cold on the first shot. But I do understand where these boys are coming from.
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Yes, you can do a 3 shot group if you must, but then let it cool down completely before the next group. IMO +3" groups out of a lead-sled = something seriously out of whack.

Thanks for the report, and doing all that "work" - I was really interested because I like that little rifle.
 
OldSavage said:
I appreciate your review and honesty and although I'm sure people will find fault with your methodology I appreciate a non biased view point.
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My intent was to provide information, not an opinion, and let anyone who wants to decipher it. I often read reviews and ask myself, "Why did they decide that?" and I didn't want anyone reading this to.

stanway said:
IMO that is way too much shooting out of one rifle for 4 hrs - especially a hunting rifle. I would say the Savage performed very well under those conditions.
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That was the time frame I had for a range all to myself... and being a work day I still had to make a evening shift. :yingyang:

I let anyone make any opinion they want. (and as someone said, Flame ON!! :yingyang:)
 
imo a gun should shoot the same weither it is hot or not.. within .5 to 3/4 inch.. if it doesn't something is wrong. and should be fixed. free floating isn't always the answer. i have never owned a rifle that shoots noticalby worse from freezing cold to hot.

on the topic of this rifle. if that is the greatest accracty achieved from this rifle if will never sit on my shelf.

i haven't had much luck with blued chrome moly savage barrel but very good with stainless anyone else have these results?
 
Someone took no pity on my group measuring technique

I was asked how did I measure the groups so here is what I do, much to their dismay...:yingyang:

After shooting the four shot group I take four sharpened pencils calipered at 0.290 to 0.295 of an inch (since it is 0.308 tips they go in the hole nice) and insert them throught the holes in the paper and the double boxboard backing as centered in the hole as humanly possible. I caliper them tight to the paper outside of one to outside of the second and find the largest distance measured between two (in other words, the distance between the farthest apart two shots). That one measurement becomes the group size.

If I get a group with a flier I try one re-shoot. I count the smaller of the two (example: one with a flier of 6" and one without at 3" I count the 3" group; or a 6" with flier and a 5.5" with flier I count the 5.5") because it was a firearm test, not a benchrest competition.

I know I will get massive flak for measuring outside to outside but that is the way I have always done it for 20 years because I want to know where a bullet is going in an animal, not what the score on paper is. Heck, I've never shot a competition in my life. That's OK... I'm pretty flame resistant (but not proof, so keep the temp below 1000 degrees Celcius please :D :D )
 
tylerjwitty said:
imo a gun should shoot the same weither it is hot or not.. within .5 to 3/4 inch.. if it doesn't something is wrong. and should be fixed. free floating isn't always the answer. i have never owned a rifle that shoots noticalby worse from freezing cold to hot.
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Lots of sporting guns shoot poorly with a hot bbl as compared to the first two or three shots, esp with a thin bbl. I don't even bother shooting them after three shots at the range. Just set them aside to cool and go on to the next rifle.

I've never fired more than three while hunting anyways, so don't need that kind of info.

.
 
Sun_and_Steel_77 said:
A 7lb plus short-action is no ultralight, a walnut stocked Kimber 84M classic goes a bit over 6.5lbs scoped with a 22" barrel.
Your review is decent but I'd like a pic of the bare rifle on an accurate scale, I find manufacturers weight claims always err on the light side, and there are always variances in walnut.

So another manufacturer lops 2 inches off a pencil contour barrel, hollows a bolt knob and markets it as a "lightweight" :rolleyes:...move along, nothing to see here folks.
Tikka makes a light push-feed with a standard length barrel, and I think they have this market and price range cornered.
Flame-on!!! :eek:
Click to expand...

You must have woke up on the wrong side of the bed Buddy.Try sleeping on the other side tonite.Good luck with this...
 
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