- Location
- Thunder Bay ON Canada
Hi, I took my Savage FVT to the range today, and this is my report.
I got it slightly used from Ellwood Epps. It cost $239.00, only 50 bucks more than my used ruger 10/22. The only thing wrong with it, is that it didn’t come with the accutrigger adjustment tool, or the full card of replaceable front apertures. I will buy those later, as the post style front aperture that came in the front globe sight is very coarse, and at 25 and 50 yards distance is like trying to dot a big thick capital letter I, with a teeny tiny period.
The front post aperture is for hunting, I think. I hate it, and will buy a card of the assorted apertures, that comes with the rifle when you buy it new, very soon.
On the down sides, this gun has a synthetic stock, kind of a nylonish black plastic.
This guns magwell is very cheap stamped steel, the mag release is very thin, very cheap stamped steel. The magazines, are like 16 bucks each, and are made of cheap flimsy steel stampings. They feel like if I squeeze them too hard, they’ll crush. The bluing was nice, but came off easily when I scraped the bolt against something, almost like cold bluing. The stock was too short for my six foot 3 inch frame, so I felt cramped shooting, until I made a two inch spacer out of pine. I might make another spacer, and add that one on too.
The good things about this rifle are the action, the sights, and the barrel.
This guns bore looks like it was carved, then polished. I wish I could have taken a picture. The action feels surgical in its precision. The chamber is very tight, with every brand of ammo I’ve tried in it. I really have to push every round in, with noticeable effort. Not mashing effort, but definite effort.
The Williams micrometer peep sights are very crisp, and well made, highly polished. They have a lockdown screw which locks the adjustments into place, and that gave me no end of confusion, as it was locked down when I got the rifle, and didn’t know it’s purpose. I just couldn’t adjust the sight. I thought it was broken at first.
On the down side, the micrometer clicks on the Williams site were kinda gritty feeling, compared to other micrometer sights I’ve used.
I amused my gf by cutting single strands of timothy hay at about 7 yards, and was able to print ragged holes like clockwork at ten yards, and usually did at twenty-five yards with cheapo American Eagle brand ammo, bulk pack.
When I taped targets to the fifty yard backstop though, that damned post front sight insert really showed its weakness, as it was almost impossible to get a good sight picture. I shot two, five shot groups with the cheapo American Eagle, and this was the better one. (I don't have a rest, so I lay the rifle across the crook of my left arm on the bench, while sitting in my wheelchair).
I need more time with this rifle, and an aperture card. I think I’m capable of turning in some very good groups with a proper small hole type front target aperture. But, all excuses aside, my overall picture so far, is that Savage has built a surprisingly cheap, legitimate target rifle by skimping on the niceties, like stock, magwell, and magazines, outsourcing the micrometer sights, and spending all the in-house money on the barrel, and the action and using the standard accutrigger.
I’m poor right now, (univ. student) but I believe accuracy trumps everything else, so I appreciate this rifle, and feel I got very good value for my (her) money. I should also mention my very nice girlfriend Pamela bought me this rifle to celebrate two years together, and she’s awesome too! Two anniversaries, two nice rifles (last year was a lovely flintlock).
I got it slightly used from Ellwood Epps. It cost $239.00, only 50 bucks more than my used ruger 10/22. The only thing wrong with it, is that it didn’t come with the accutrigger adjustment tool, or the full card of replaceable front apertures. I will buy those later, as the post style front aperture that came in the front globe sight is very coarse, and at 25 and 50 yards distance is like trying to dot a big thick capital letter I, with a teeny tiny period.
The front post aperture is for hunting, I think. I hate it, and will buy a card of the assorted apertures, that comes with the rifle when you buy it new, very soon.
On the down sides, this gun has a synthetic stock, kind of a nylonish black plastic.
This guns magwell is very cheap stamped steel, the mag release is very thin, very cheap stamped steel. The magazines, are like 16 bucks each, and are made of cheap flimsy steel stampings. They feel like if I squeeze them too hard, they’ll crush. The bluing was nice, but came off easily when I scraped the bolt against something, almost like cold bluing. The stock was too short for my six foot 3 inch frame, so I felt cramped shooting, until I made a two inch spacer out of pine. I might make another spacer, and add that one on too.
The good things about this rifle are the action, the sights, and the barrel.
This guns bore looks like it was carved, then polished. I wish I could have taken a picture. The action feels surgical in its precision. The chamber is very tight, with every brand of ammo I’ve tried in it. I really have to push every round in, with noticeable effort. Not mashing effort, but definite effort.
The Williams micrometer peep sights are very crisp, and well made, highly polished. They have a lockdown screw which locks the adjustments into place, and that gave me no end of confusion, as it was locked down when I got the rifle, and didn’t know it’s purpose. I just couldn’t adjust the sight. I thought it was broken at first.
On the down side, the micrometer clicks on the Williams site were kinda gritty feeling, compared to other micrometer sights I’ve used.
I amused my gf by cutting single strands of timothy hay at about 7 yards, and was able to print ragged holes like clockwork at ten yards, and usually did at twenty-five yards with cheapo American Eagle brand ammo, bulk pack.
When I taped targets to the fifty yard backstop though, that damned post front sight insert really showed its weakness, as it was almost impossible to get a good sight picture. I shot two, five shot groups with the cheapo American Eagle, and this was the better one. (I don't have a rest, so I lay the rifle across the crook of my left arm on the bench, while sitting in my wheelchair).
I need more time with this rifle, and an aperture card. I think I’m capable of turning in some very good groups with a proper small hole type front target aperture. But, all excuses aside, my overall picture so far, is that Savage has built a surprisingly cheap, legitimate target rifle by skimping on the niceties, like stock, magwell, and magazines, outsourcing the micrometer sights, and spending all the in-house money on the barrel, and the action and using the standard accutrigger.
I’m poor right now, (univ. student) but I believe accuracy trumps everything else, so I appreciate this rifle, and feel I got very good value for my (her) money. I should also mention my very nice girlfriend Pamela bought me this rifle to celebrate two years together, and she’s awesome too! Two anniversaries, two nice rifles (last year was a lovely flintlock).
