Hi, I am thinking about picking up a stainless deer rifle in either .308 or 7mm-08. Both Browning and Savage make good quality products. The X bolt and the 16/116 seem to both have good reviews. Which rifle is the better choice? Or are you really paying extra just for the Browning name? Any other recommendations? Thanks!
Savage 16 VS Browning X-Bolt Stainless
- Thread starter NSHUNTNFARM
- Start date
I bought a Browning Xbolt stainless Stalker in .223 for coyotes this winter. My rifles shoots very well with 50 gr Vmax handloads, is light to carry and has metal where metal should be, Im very happy with it. Browning will have an overall better finish and feel. Savage is basically known to be "excellent shooters" with alot of aftermarket support but they're a little rough around the edges. Savage has a nice rebate of up to $100 usa on certain models...thats a good chunk of change.
Cheers!!
Cheers!!
I recently purchased a 116 in 338wm. It has a heavy barrel, stainless. It is very front heavy and unbalanced due to the set up. A lot of guys are weighting the butt, etc.. I will just buy a Boyds stock. Overall its a great rifle.
I do not enjoy the stock, at all. Its just like any other Savage I've owned, but I believe the stainless action and set up deserves more than the cheap plastic it comes with.
I've only handled the x-bolts, never shot one. I think the Browning feels and looks much better for fit and finish.
My opinion, buy the Savage if you want to buy a better stock, or go with the x-bolt if you want to make the purchase and be done.
I do not enjoy the stock, at all. Its just like any other Savage I've owned, but I believe the stainless action and set up deserves more than the cheap plastic it comes with.
I've only handled the x-bolts, never shot one. I think the Browning feels and looks much better for fit and finish.
My opinion, buy the Savage if you want to buy a better stock, or go with the x-bolt if you want to make the purchase and be done.
I've owned and shot both (stainless savage, but regular blued X-bolt) side by side in .308.
I found the savage to be a little heavier (likely from the aluminum in the "accustock" that basically pre beds it for you). Despite the savage being a bit heavier the X-bolt with the newer style buttpad had less felt recoil. The savage buttpad is in no way bad, or insufficient, the browning's is just that much better. The barrel also seems a little thicker on the Savage.
If you shoot left handed i found the savage stock to be more ambidextrous, where the X-bolt was definitely biased to right hand, as i assumed the left hand model would be opposite.
The bolt handle on the X bolt seems quite slim, and the knob on the end is quite small, so with heavy gloves in late season it isn't the easiest to lift and cycle, but the 60 degree throw is nice, and with the smaller size lets it pass by your scope with lots of room. The savage bolt knob and handle are the typical beefy savage type, but it comes at a price. I found it comes a lot closer to your scope, and could require a bit higher ring, depending on the shape of it.
For triggers, the savage has the accutrigger, which i like, some don't, it's functional. The trigger on the X bolt is excellent different from what i am used to. It stays at the very back of the trigger guard, moves very very little before it breaks, and is quite light. I think it's probably the best trigger on any gun that i have. I did get the gun used, so i can't say if all of them will be good, or if this one has had any work done to it.
In terms of accuracy, i don't reload and have only tried blue box federal and nosler accubonds, and i am far from an expert markman, so take this section with a grain of salt. This was done on a bench with bipod on the front, nothing but me and my elbows at the back, and it's always kind of windy around here, so affects things and usually only shoot 3 shot groups. With the savage i average around a 4" group at 100m with the blue box federal, the nosler brought that to about a 3" group. With the X bolt i was getting around 3" with blue box and 2" with accubonds.
I actually think the savage is capable of better, and reading about it i feel like the Inflex Recoil pad on the browning, if it does what the website claims and reduces muzzle lift and all the other good things they claim, is what makes the difference more than anything else. I admit that i have some flinching, and i feel like i notice it pushing the butt up towards my face less helps this.
As for fit and finish, you get what you pay for. The browning is just that little bit nicer, smoother, etc.
If money isn't an issue, i would say go with the X-bolt and you won't regret it. If you plan to modify it, savage seems to have more aftermarket options than browning. And if budget is an issue, the savage will do everything you need it to, but the browning is just that little bit nicer at just about everything(except price tag).
If you find a good deal on one on sale, or good used price, neither will dissapoint.
I found the savage to be a little heavier (likely from the aluminum in the "accustock" that basically pre beds it for you). Despite the savage being a bit heavier the X-bolt with the newer style buttpad had less felt recoil. The savage buttpad is in no way bad, or insufficient, the browning's is just that much better. The barrel also seems a little thicker on the Savage.
If you shoot left handed i found the savage stock to be more ambidextrous, where the X-bolt was definitely biased to right hand, as i assumed the left hand model would be opposite.
The bolt handle on the X bolt seems quite slim, and the knob on the end is quite small, so with heavy gloves in late season it isn't the easiest to lift and cycle, but the 60 degree throw is nice, and with the smaller size lets it pass by your scope with lots of room. The savage bolt knob and handle are the typical beefy savage type, but it comes at a price. I found it comes a lot closer to your scope, and could require a bit higher ring, depending on the shape of it.
For triggers, the savage has the accutrigger, which i like, some don't, it's functional. The trigger on the X bolt is excellent different from what i am used to. It stays at the very back of the trigger guard, moves very very little before it breaks, and is quite light. I think it's probably the best trigger on any gun that i have. I did get the gun used, so i can't say if all of them will be good, or if this one has had any work done to it.
In terms of accuracy, i don't reload and have only tried blue box federal and nosler accubonds, and i am far from an expert markman, so take this section with a grain of salt. This was done on a bench with bipod on the front, nothing but me and my elbows at the back, and it's always kind of windy around here, so affects things and usually only shoot 3 shot groups. With the savage i average around a 4" group at 100m with the blue box federal, the nosler brought that to about a 3" group. With the X bolt i was getting around 3" with blue box and 2" with accubonds.
I actually think the savage is capable of better, and reading about it i feel like the Inflex Recoil pad on the browning, if it does what the website claims and reduces muzzle lift and all the other good things they claim, is what makes the difference more than anything else. I admit that i have some flinching, and i feel like i notice it pushing the butt up towards my face less helps this.
As for fit and finish, you get what you pay for. The browning is just that little bit nicer, smoother, etc.
If money isn't an issue, i would say go with the X-bolt and you won't regret it. If you plan to modify it, savage seems to have more aftermarket options than browning. And if budget is an issue, the savage will do everything you need it to, but the browning is just that little bit nicer at just about everything(except price tag).
If you find a good deal on one on sale, or good used price, neither will dissapoint.
Thanks for all the input guys its really appreciated. I believe in the philosophy of doing things right the first time so ill probably end up with the Browning. Plus there is a Browning dealer near my home. Is there any more stainless options that are worth the look?
I own both, savage 16fhss in 260 rem and xbolt white gold 300wsm, both are very accurate shooters, sub moa at 100 with factory ammo, and hold moa out to 400
xbolt has a nicer fit and finish, factory glass bedded, trigger is easily adjustable (I'm very happy with mine, but seem to read occasional bad reviews), recoil pad is great
savage has more aftermarket stuff available, if that's your thing...recoil pad works just fine, almost too soft and mushy though...definitely get the accustock model, the regular Tupperware stock is very flexible...if you hand load, be careful of hot loads, savage has a weak ejector spring/design and didn't take long to get stuck ejector pin, pita to deal with
in the same price bracket, tikka t3, vanguard s2, xbolt and savage are all worth looking at
xbolt has a nicer fit and finish, factory glass bedded, trigger is easily adjustable (I'm very happy with mine, but seem to read occasional bad reviews), recoil pad is great
savage has more aftermarket stuff available, if that's your thing...recoil pad works just fine, almost too soft and mushy though...definitely get the accustock model, the regular Tupperware stock is very flexible...if you hand load, be careful of hot loads, savage has a weak ejector spring/design and didn't take long to get stuck ejector pin, pita to deal with
in the same price bracket, tikka t3, vanguard s2, xbolt and savage are all worth looking at
