Savage Hog Hunter what a Pig! Part 1

randyhub

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Well my .223 Savage Hog Hunter arrived today from SFRC for 479.00 CDN (excluding tax and shipping) and rather quickly I might add via Canada Post thank you!

So I am waiting for my bipod, scope mount, muzzle brake, and bore sight, and while I am waiting thought I would check her out and adjust the trigger.

Was a little disappointed no bases came with it but no worries as I am putting a weaver/picatinny rail on for the QD 30mm scope rings anyways.

What do I like:

1. Heavy, thick barrel and recessed crown.
2. Good heft to the gun.
3. Love the Accutrigger with the little spring winding tool I adjusted the trigger way down very predictable and for a sub 500.00 gun it's a nice plus. :)
4. The backup sights, these are blocky and ugly, but WAY nicer than the gimmicky fiber sights on the Mossberg Patrol.
5. The barrel threading, nice crisp, my AR brake spun on easy, the thread protector is beefy as well.
6. The green stock, all in all while cheap the barrel is free floating and there is ample space so I can't see a bipod causing any issues.
7. Has sling attachments.
8. The overall heft of this rifle it is for the most what I wanted.
9. The bolt action, while not like high end guns it is tried and true and feels a 100 times better than the newly released sloppy Mossberg bolt.
10. The beefy bolt knob and I mean beefy!
11. The cost, I mean for less than 500.00 it is good value.

What I did not like:

1. No scope bases?
2. No detachable mag (but also I do not like the plastic tangs on the Savage mags either) Mossberg Patrol wins here.
3. .223 and not 5.56, Mossberg scores here as well, would have been nice to be able to shoot both as I chose the .223 over the .308 so I could share ammo with my AR and be cheap and enjoyable to shoot.
4. Wish gunmakers would not use Styrofoam stock filler as with Savage.
5. While I like the back up sights they are really high I would imagine to allow for things to be attached to the muzzle.

So why the Hog Hunter over the Tikka, Remington, Mossberg, or Vanguard, well it was price, heavy threaded barrel, gun stock, Accutrigger, and backup sights.

While the Mossberg Patrol was second I just did not like the fragile backup sights and sloppy unproven bolt design, but man Savage should have thought of using AR mags and being .223/5.56......

I know .308 does it better but I wanted a recoil comfortable 300 to 500 yard shooter that would not spook my teenage son to shoot, would be cheap to shoot, and share ammo with my AR.

Should have a 50 yard indoor range report shortly and a 100/300 yard report once it warms up here in Southern Alberta.

So just to be clear this is an ugly, hefty, unrefined truck gun, made to be bounced around it has no place with safe queens, it is PIG and no amount of perfume is going to make it pretty!!! But I love it!

Just hope it shoots as well as many in the States say.

Randy















Mossbergs:
 
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Thanks for the review Im in the market for a cheap .223 and this might just help me make my decision. If it soots decent it should be well worth the money.
 
Thanks should know shortly the Americans are saying sub MOA with the 1 in 9 twist barrel I have 55 and 62 grain cheap ammo to test once broken in I will put some decent ammo thru it.

Randy
 
Thanks for the vent and ammo comments guys just learning about this set up the more i handle it the more I like the no frills all business design.

Randy
 
Put about 700 rounds through mine so far, really like it. I had a brain fart awhile ago and had it posted in the EE (trying to fund another project) but thought better of it.

Tried about half a dozen different factory loads before starting with hand loads, by far the favorite was the American Eagle ar 223.

Hand loads nosler 62 gn with cfe has been good for me.

Changed out those big beefy sights for Williams fire sights, crappy stock for a Boyd's laminate, all just lipstick on a pig. :d
 
Yeah they seem to be sold out everywhere guess the sub 500.00 cost helps empty inventory. :(

Finshied mine, going out this week to shoot some groups. :)





Randy
 
Op, if this is your first savage, the accutrigger doesn't like running at it's softest setting. If you have trouble turn it about a turn and a half out.
 
Funny part is what you dislike about it are actually designed in features.

A Savage 11 or Axis with a replacment bull barrel could have provided the same.

I looked seriously at this rifle and though aside for adding a flash hider I'd only add a nice red dot sight and keep the irons on as backup sights. Anyway congrats and enjoy.
 
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