Gotta Love Those Savages!

[scout3006]

Went to the range last weekend with my latest additions: A Stevens Model 200 in .308, a Stevens Model 200 in .243, and a Savage 112FVSS in .223 Rem.

Here are the results:

That's five shots in one raggedy hole, one flyer that opened the group up to just over 1/2 inch. Scope was a Leupold 1-4x, range 100 yards. Not too shabby for a $319.00 rifle.

This was the FIRST GROUP fired out of the rifle, so the barrel is not broken in yet. Two shots in one hole, a flyer to the left, still shooting 1/2 MOA. Remington factory .243 80gr PSP-CL, 2-7x Bell scope. Again, not complaining with this group. Shot like this all day (about 60 rounds.) It can only get better with handloads?? Cheap rifles my patootie.

This is one of my heavy barrel varminters in .223 - one raggedy hole at 100 yards with 50gr Hornady V-Max handloads and W-748 powder. (The group on the top corner was with 62gr military ball "ka-ka" handloads, 10 shots to warm 'er up.) Was shooting pop cans at 300 yards later on that day. Scope was 6-24x Tasco.

Lessons learned:

[1] Although the Stevens is a cheap rifle, it is by no means a CHEAP rifle; these puppies shoot, though they won't win any beauty contests. Who cares? I don't sleep with the damn things. Yet.

[2] Cheap scopes - with the exception of the Loopy on the .308, the other two rifles have what are classified as "ka-ka" scopes that retail for less than 100 bucks. No, the optics are not stellar nor nearly as "crisp" as their more expensive brethren, but who cares? Are you taking pictures, or shooting with them? They are rugged and reliable enough for what I use them for (not doing airdrops into my hunting area yet) and I can (and have) hit and missed the exact same ratio as my more expensive scopes.

The bottom line - Ya gotta love those Savages!

 

[canuckgunny]

Amen, just bought my second Savage yesterday. I'm in the process of dropping my ka-ka scopes that I used extensively for 'research' and am outfitting with Leupold VXL's. .223 low profile varminter is getting a 20x 56mm VXL and the .17hmr is gonna get a 10x 50mmVXL.
The savages are so good they deserve excellent scopes IMO.

Nice groups.

 

[BIGJ]

Savage

Hey guys.I have never owned a savage and am now looking to get a new varmint rig.What are your opinions on the 12 vlp or a rem vssf II??Thinking either .204 or .223?Any info is greatly appreciated!Thanks!!

 

[prosper]

Agreed, Savages shoot like a damn, and you don't need an expensive scope to shoot itty-bitty groups.

Still, the stevens's are fugly as hell, and cheap scopes are nasty to use.


If you're on a budget and just want a functional no-frills gun, get a Stevens and a Banner. If you want something a little more 'luxurous,' then get a Savage BVSS or rem 700 (or better) and an Elite 3200 (or better) scope.

 

[prosper]

I have a couple rem 700's (and others) and a couple savages & stevens. I honestly couldn't choose between my 12BVSS ('250) and my Rem XR-100 (204). Both are equally accurate, and both are great fun to shoot. The finish and aesthetics on the XR-100 are better, but it's also several hundred dollars more expensive.

The Stevens are much less expensive than either, and aren't quite as accurate but are much lighter and easier to carry around, and don't insipre as much baby-ing as the more expensive varnimters.

So - I have one of each and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[lcq]

I have a 12BVSS in 223 a 10FP in 308 and a 17 HMR. All 1/2 MOA or better.

Damn I love those guns.

Brian

 

[Fall Guy]

That's five shots in one raggedy hole, one flyer that opened the group up to just over 1/2 inch. Scope was a Leupold 1-4x, range 100 yards. Not too shabby for a $319.00 rifle.

That is not to shabby for a 4x scope at 100 yards!

What do you use for a rest?

 

[baldtop]

How are the triggers in the Stevens rifles?

 

[madtrapper143]

Just bought a Savage American Classic model 14 .308 from HunterHenderson. These things are scary accurate and I love the accu trigger. I have two others guys from my camp that have ordered them.

cheers Darryl

 

[prosper]

How are the triggers in the Stevens rifles?

not so great out of the box, but easily adjustable. I'd actually say that they're excellent triggers, if you put 30mins work into them. I've never had one with any creep, which is my #1 annoyance with factory triggers. Otherwise, they have a bit of over travel (like a 2-stage trigger) and a bit of slack after the sear releases. You can adjust the travel with a couple set screws so that it's on a glass edge. Virtually zero travel, crisp release and ~3lb pull.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

I've made mention of it before, but after seeing the accuracy of the son in laws Savage 112BVSS in .22-250, I decided to get one. Mine is in .25-06, with a Leupold 6.5-20 VXIII and I wasn't disappointed. With reloads using 117gr Sierra BT's, one of my first groups, witnessed, is under 1/2" at 185 yds.

 

[savagefan]

Awesome groups Scout 3006, what was your powder charge for the 223?

 

[Mystic Precision]

Great shooting. Bed those Stevens and your flyers will go away. Pay attention to the recoil lug and bed it so that it will not roll. Hard to get bedding in front of the lug (not necessary either). Also pay attention to the pillar areas. You don't want to bend the action when you are bedding it.

For hunting and varminting, the Stevens triggers are very useable. For precision and competition work, too heavy for me. There are now a few great aftermarket triggers that you can swap in for a nice light BR type pull.

If you only want 1 to 2lbs, get the Savage in Accutrigger.

Jerry

 

[wetcoaster]

Those groups you shot with the .308 are impressive! If only I could get my 7mm rem mag to shoot like that.

 

[scout3006]

That is not to shabby for a 4x scope at 100 yards!

What do you use for a rest?

Forgot to mention - group was fired offhand after running 5km and doing 1000 jumping jacks.

I just use a standard bench bag for front and rear, filled with corn cob media.

 

[scout3006]

Awesome groups Scout 3006, what was your powder charge for the 223?

26.0gr of W-748 - good ballistics out of a 26 inch tube (3400 fps avg. chronographed)

 

[billd_697]

that indeed is not bad for $319

 

[canuckgunny]

Bigj

Hey guys.I have never owned a savage and am now looking to get a new varmint rig.What are your opinions on the 12 vlp or a rem vssf II??Thinking either .204 or .223?Any info is greatly appreciated!Thanks!!

Hey bud, I really like the Low Profile stock better than that other goofy more vertical thing they sell... go .204 Heavy Stainless and don't look back.

The adjustable and safe accutrigger is awesome... as a hijack sidenote, I had one that wasn't as light on the light end as I wanted so I clipped off a TINY bif of the large end of the coil. Don't remove much... and you'll still have full adjustment to the heavier end if you so desire.