Savage Hog Hunter

Slamfire

Slamfire

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In the shadows of the Rockies
I recently picked up one of these rifles on sale in .223 Remington. Features include a heavy 20" barrel, threaded muzzle, Accu-Trigger, 3 position safety, blind magazine and iron sights. I installed a Weaver 1 piece base and sighted in the rifle using the decent iron sights with the intention of using these sometimes since the Weaver set up is QD.

My scope of choice for this rifle: https://www.optics-trade.eu/ca/schmidt-bender-1-8x24-exos.html

But settled on a Bushnell Elite 3200 10x40mm and a Bushnell Banner 1.5-4x20mm instead for about one-tenth the price! (Non-conspicuous consumption :p)

When I bore sighted the rifle (windage and elevation set at adjustment range mid-points) I was surprised there was very little misalignment between the receiver and barrel. Savage quality!

American Eagle .223 factory loads were used (so as not to void the 1 year warranty). Reasonable accuracy. Check out the groups at 100 and 200 meters off the bench rest using the fixed 10x scope. I'm sure I can get tighter groups using handloads.

Nice rifle - I really like it!
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100 meter groups

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200 meter group
 
Trust me, this gun will a lot better with either handload or other ammo. Mine is a .308 and it loves the 165gr GMX from Hornady Superformance, it shoot in a dime at 100yds with a Leupold Vari-X III 2.5-8x 36mm
 
I would pick up one of these in a heart beat if it was detachable AI magazines. Or even more so, the Alaskan Brush Hunter in 338 WM with a detachable mag.

Thanks for posting the groups! Looks like a barrel of fun, I may have to get over my top-loader hate and get one to play with. I really like the 20" heavy profile barrels on those rifles! How is the balance on it?
 
Fine balance isn't one of its attributes in .223 at least. As a range toy however the heavy barrel is a plus.

Maybe the .308 and .338 Federal offerings have better balance with the bigger hole through the barrel.
 
Slamfire said:
Fine balance isn't one of its attributes in .223 at least. As a range toy however the heavy barrel is a plus.

Maybe the .308 and .338 Federal offerings have better balance with the bigger hole through the barrel.
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I've been eyeing one in 338 federal at my local CDN Tire , to be honest , it balances quite well . It is a little muzzle heavy , but not enough to be awkward . It may even help when shooting the heavier bullets in the 338 .
 
anglia2 said:
I've been eyeing one in 338 federal at my local CDN Tire , to be honest , it balances quite well . It is a little muzzle heavy , but not enough to be awkward . It may even help when shooting the heavier bullets in the 338 .
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Apparently the Hog Hunter was available at one time in .338 Win. Mag. -
http://www.guns.com/review/essence-of-swine-savage-hog-hunter/

The Hog Hunter in .338 Federal would make an excellent low cost heavy game working rifle. :cool:
 
Potshot21 said:
I would pick up one of these in a heart beat if it was detachable AI magazines. Or even more so, the Alaskan Brush Hunter in 338 WM with a detachable mag.

Thanks for posting the groups! Looks like a barrel of fun, I may have to get over my top-loader hate and get one to play with. I really like the 20" heavy profile barrels on those rifles! How is the balance on it?
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I have one of these in 338 win mag and part of the blind mag in these is that it impossible to lose the mag or even have the box dumped on the ground if you snag it on a branch. Everything about this gun says rough service from the heavy barrel to the blind mag
 
razorbeck said:
I have one of these in 338 win mag and part of the blind mag in these is that it impossible to lose the mag or even have the box dumped on the ground if you snag it on a branch. Everything about this gun says rough service from the heavy barrel to the blind mag
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Agreed. If I didn't already have other medium bore rifles in my collection I would definitely get one in .338.
 
razorbeck said:
I have one of these in 338 win mag and part of the blind mag in these is that it impossible to lose the mag or even have the box dumped on the ground if you snag it on a branch. Everything about this gun says rough service from the heavy barrel to the blind mag
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I know most guys seem to hate detachable magazines on bolt guns and consider them inferior. While I may not have as many years as some in the woods, I have yet to have had a single incident in which the magazine has come out of my rifle. I prefer them for their ability to quickly and easily unload and load, and more importantly to me, it is much easier to carry a couple mags as opposed to a pocket full or butt-sock full of cartridges. Different strokes for different folks!
 
Slamfire said:
Agreed. If I didn't already have other medium bore rifles in my collection I would definitely get one in .338.
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That's why I haven't picked up the 338 Fed . I just had a short action Savage rebarreled to 358 Win , thanks Rembo , so I can't justify the 338 Fed . I do need a coyote / walking varmint rig though . The hog Hunter in 223 looks about right .
 
Potshot21 said:
I know most guys seem to hate detachable magazines on bolt guns and consider them inferior. While I may not have as many years as some in the woods, I have yet to have had a single incident in which the magazine has come out of my rifle. I prefer them for their ability to quickly and easily unload and load, and more importantly to me, it is much easier to carry a couple mags as opposed to a pocket full or butt-sock full of cartridges. Different strokes for different folks!
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There is an awfuul lot of guys out there missing BLR mags because they got lost in the bush but I agree I have never had it happen to me either. But I think the rifle is built for the very tough conditions that hog hunting may entail, at least from reading articles as I have never seen a wild hog
 
I've found 2 loaded savage 308 mags on logging roads so it does happen. I'm not a fan of the threaded barrel or the sights otherwise I'd have one in 338 fed
 
I have one in .223-my go to coyote gun in the winter-with some practice you can do real well with the iron sights but I have a 3x9 busnell on take off rings if I feel the need. With a stock sock holding spare rounds and some reloading practice the lack of a mag really isn't a issue with me.
 
I love the caliber and don't mind savages I just can't bring myself to like the hog hunter. A threaded barrel is useless to me. The sights aren't of high quality and I'm not a fan of the stock.
I have been thinking of rebarreling a savage with a 16.5" medium contour barrel and adding an mdt chassis. Should make a nice lightweight bear and moose gun. However I may go 358 win instead and then just buy a normal savage trophy in 338 fed. I personally haven't seen one though
 
For the five notes and change I paid for my Hog Hunter it's really an excellent value. I'm not one to favor iron sights but I actually like these. The blind magazine took a while to get used to and I now rather like this minimalist design approach.

The heavy barrel is slow to heat up excessively. Next step is to get some better ammo to see if I can get it to shoot tighter groups which I'm sure it will.

As for the threaded muzzle with thread protector fitting, a flash hider would look pretty cool. :cool:
 
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Potshot21 said:
I know most guys seem to hate detachable magazines on bolt guns and consider them inferior. While I may not have as many years as some in the woods, I have yet to have had a single incident in which the magazine has come out of my rifle. I prefer them for their ability to quickly and easily unload and load, and more importantly to me, it is much easier to carry a couple mags as opposed to a pocket full or butt-sock full of cartridges. Different strokes for different folks!
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Dummy cords..

While trekking in the bush there are certain items that are tied to me no matter what ... knife, fire starter, compass, canteen & cup, flashlight. Once you get a system going it's neat and efficient.

If the rifle has a detachable mag and I've attached a short dummy cord to it and attach it to the rifle. Doesn't happen often, but it has saved a mag once.
 
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