Can a Savage be made into a competent tactical gun?

[TacosGigante]

It seems the consensus is that Savage actions have issues (extraction, accutrigger) that make them not as well suited to hard use, "in the dirt" tactical use as Remingtons. Obviously some of that is Ford v. Chevy, but you don't seem to see Savages used in PRS, they don't seem compete for .mil contracts etc.

My question is: with the increased amount of aftermarket parts could you turn a savage action into a competent tactical gun, or are there inherent and inescapable weaknesses to the system? If so, what are they? (You know, besides Savage sucking and all.)

Thanks

 

[7magsavage]

Not much left that's Savage except the action and trigger but here is a "tactical" (I guess you could say) savage long action.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N20cAjfVAtE

 

[sav338lapua]

with exception of my 96 mauser (swede) mine are savages- why the military doesnt shoot them well they dont have the greatest record of picking whats best for the soldiers or what they want or need. just look back thru there procurement history. and ther savage 110 series has the fastest lock time of all. period

 

[Hunt4life]

First off, in my opinion, rifles fall into two groups, those that shoot and those that don't. Nothing else even matters. Smithing will account for the reliability in loading more than one action or another with exceptions of systems like AI and some of the custom actions(where smithing is still important). All systems can break down in the field, but I like savages because they can be fixed way easier as everything is basically modular. For competition they also make using a 6mm more practical, as barrel changes are minutes not months.

 

[missed]

I really like my Savage rifles. My favorite one is one that Sharp shooters supply timed and trued and put one of there triggers on it. The accutrigger has been good to me and I really like it on a field rifle but I got the evo trigger for that just a little better as I want to try some f class or tactical shoots. I just could not justify building a $5k rifle when I already have a hobby that keeps me on the edge of bankruptcy!

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[HodgdonExtreme]

The (so far) inescapable weakness of the Savage is, in my opinion, the trigger. The Savage trigger/sear system sucks. No aftermarket trigger that I'm aware of (to include both RifleBasix, the Jard and another I'm forgetting) really addresses the problem. The sear hangs/swings off the action by a pin. Because it's a rough stamping with holes punched through, it's pretty sloppy. That slop translates to inconsistent depth of engagement with the trigger notch.

Coupled with poor geometry between sear and notch, the trigger sucks. That is why Savage band-aided it with the accutrigger, allowing the release weight to be decreased without risk of slamfires. Personally, I think the solution is an aftermarket precision-made sear that will engage the trigger notch consistently.

Anyway, Savages shoot well and can be made "competent", though I think sinking money into a Savage is a big waste. They are great starter rifles, and shoot plenty well for a guy to compete. Once you're there and really get bit hard by the bug, buy or build a sweet rifle.

 

[missed]

And that's where I was at, I can build something that has a greater ability than me. I think I have $2k into one rifle and $1600 in the other. My second one is going for a t&t and evo trigger later this year. I think there real hard to beat fora production gun. I'm torn on losing the accutrigger on my main hunting gun.

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[redneckbmxer24]

Hodgdon hit the nail on the head as far as the trigger issues go. Flat out the triggers sucks. Another issue is the bolt binding. Savage bolts bind extremely bad if you try to run them fast or hard, it's a no go. A little bit of dust in them makes it even worse. The straight bolt handle adds to the binding as well.

I would suggest going and spectating a local LR match that's not a PRS or other major match with mostly sponsored shooters. You'll find plenty of small matches with savages and you'll quickly see why serious competitors don't use them.

 

[fireguyty]

The military, sears, lock up, and all the other stuff mentioned have very little if any thing to do with anything.

The reason Remington or Remington clones (Defiance, Surgeon, and so on) are used in custom guns is very simple. They have not changed the Remington 700 one time in 52 years. That means that if you buy a Remington made in 1962, 1982, or 2014 all of the after market parts work. For this reason, if you want a stock for a Remington you have thousands of choices. Same with trigger, bases and so on. This has effectively made the Remington 700 the small block Chevy 350 of the gun world....everyone makes parts for them. Savage and the other makers problem is that they are constantly changing stuff or making new models. That means that a Savage built in 1962 will use very different parts than a Savage built in 2014. For this reason, it is not attractive for aftermarket companies to spend R&D money developing parts that will have such a small market share.

Further, Remington's are very easy for a smith to machine a new barrel for. There is only lathe work needed. With several of the other makers, milling is required as well.

So it is really not a Chevy Vs Ford thing. I don't think anyone who actually shoots will argue that MOST out of the box Savages will out shoot MOST out of the box Remingtons, and you will spend less money to boot. However, if you are not intending to keep your rifle "out of the box" meaning that you intend to upgrade it, you are making a mistake (financially speaking) in upgrading a Savage. If you buy a Jewell trigger for $235 for a Remington, you will be able to use that trigger in different rifles for the rest of your life. If you buy a Jewel trigger for your Savage (which you probably can't) it will be usable in that rifle and a few others, but if you get another Savage you will have to buy another Jewel (which you probably can't).

PRS shooters require a higher level of accuracy, and so we shoot custom guns which are almost exclusively Remington or Remington clones. When I show up with a DTA, I am usually the only guy not running a Rem or clone.

Ty

 

[lte82]

Define competent.

 

[CS223]

I wouldn't say Savage rifles suck. Though I've seen my share of Remington 700's that do, out of the box anyway. I've setup & shot customers Savage rifles, the 10FP, LRPV's Model 10's, 12's every one of them have been impressive shooters out of the box. For the price, I don't think there is anything that can compete. Do they have short comings? Yep they do. Do they lack aftermarket components? Yup no question. The Rem 700 is the AR15 of the bolt guns like the 10/22 is the king of rimfires. The question you have to ask yourself is do you want something that shoots out of the box at the price you're willing to pay or do you want a project rifle that you can dump money into and pimp out to your precise specifications?

Here's a stock, out of the box, mount the scope and zero, Model 12 that I set up for a customer just recently. Note the ammo used.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I wouldn't say Savage rifles suck. Though I've seen my share of Remington 700's that do, out of the box anyway. I've setup & shot customers Savage rifles, the 10FP, LRPV's Model 10's, 12's every one of them have been impressive shooters out of the box. For the price, I don't think there is anything that can compete. Do they have short comings? Yep they do. Do they lack aftermarket components? Yup no question. The Rem 700 is the AR15 of the bolt guns like the 10/22 is the king of rimfires. The question you have to ask yourself is do you want something that shoots out of the box at the price you're willing to pay or do you want a project rifle that you can dump money into and pimp out to your precise specifications?

Here's a stock, out of the box, mount the scope and zero, Model 12 that I set up for a customer just recently. Note the ammo used.

Nobody is denying that savages sometimes are and can be accurate. Fact is you can take a 100 year old action from just about anybody, screw the right tube on it, and driver tacks. What the OP is asking about is from a field use standpoint and in that regard savage does suck.

 

[anthonylapoint]

I actually liked my accutrigger, it was crisp and broke clean at 1.5 lbs. I never had any issues with it at all including in any prs match and my gun shot as accurately (even better some cases) as any custom job. I walk away from prs matches holding my head high as I out shot a lot of rifles way more expensive. A savage will do anything you want it to almost as smoothly but at half the cost.

That's where it stops though. It feels like shit when sliding the bolt, its not a smooth action and it does cost me some time. While I didn't mind the trigger, it isn't my Timney that's on my remington. The quality isn't there to make you feel super confident in your rifle. Parts are only an issue because savage are fucking tards and changed their action like changing underwear. You can buy and sell almost anything like you could for a remington, its just harder.

Look at Team Savage, they kick some ass with stock Savages but that's because they're good shooters, it all comes down to the shooter. That's the same quote you're going to hear time and time again. Gun doesn't make a shooter, the experience and skill does. The Savage is no Lexus, but its the Hyundai with 200,000 miles that just won't fucking die.

 

[Spock]

Easy fixes for extraction issues and if the accutrigger is an issue it can be replaced as well. I think you don't see them as much at bigger matches most are shooting custom rigs.

 

[bunsen27]

Look at Team Savage, they kick some ass with stock Savages but that's because they're good shooters, it all comes down to the shooter. That's the same quote you're going to hear time and time again. Gun doesn't make a shooter, the experience and skill does. The Savage is no Lexus, but its the Hyundai with 200,000 miles that just won't fucking die.

I'm a firm believer in the statement that once you have an accurate enough arrow, it's more the Indian than the arrow. That being said there are a quite a few people that still believe throwing $$$ at a rifle and scope will make THEM shoot better.

The Savage resale values suck, and the whole multiple versions of actions does as well. However, to answer the OP: yes a Savage actioned rifle can be made into a competent precision/tactical rifle. Some people around here will begrudgingly admit that while other will vehemently spew that Savages are shit.

Truth is Savage rifles are the "fat chicks" or "but-her-faces" of Snipers Hide. They ain't the prettiest high dollar bitch in the stable, and nobody likes to get beat by a guy shooting one, but they do shoot and get the job done.

I affectionately call mine the FUGLY sticks because although I may have put lipstick on a pig. They out shot some very high dollar equipment last year.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Easy fixes for extraction issues and if the accutrigger is an issue it can be replaced as well. I think you don't see them as much at bigger matches most are shooting custom rigs.

Hodgdonextreme pointed out the trigger issues, it goes beyond just the accutrigfer.

As far as people running customs, they can make customs off of a savage the same as anything else. If you look at the data from the PRS finales in 2012 two people ran savages and in 2013 there were none. Compared to Remington there were three in 2012 and five in 2013. An increase of two vs a decrease of two to none for savage.

The truth is they just don't function as well and it's the truth. To the serious competitor when your rifle doesn't feed or your bolt binds or freezes and costs you time on the clock it's a problem. It's not personal preference, it's not Chevy vs Ford, it's not custom vs stock. It's performance.

 

[fireguyty]

As far as people running customs, they can make customs off of a savage the same as anything else. If you look at the data from the PRS finales in 2012 two people ran savages and in 2013 there were none. Compared to Remington there were three in 2012 and five in 2013. An increase of two vs a decrease of two to none for savage.

This really isn't the case. Of the 50 of us at the 2013 PRS Finale, all but 6 were running custom Remingtons. 2 guys ran AI, 2 with Tikka, 1 Badger and my DTA were the only non-Remingtons. Surgeon, Defiance, Big Horn, Stiller and McMillan are all Remington foot print.

Ty

 

[ahhshoot]

First pic = 7 shots at 100 yards FACTORY Hornady 140 Amax
2nd Pic = 200 yard group
3rd Pic = 850 yard group in the wind when the guys with the $5000+ custom rifles were crying (that's 20 rounds of 120Amax factory ammo)
4th Pic is the gun itself.

Yeah, they shoot. This one started out life as a 10FP-SR in .308 that I threw a Shilen SS SM in 6.5 CM 26" onto. Accutrigger with a B&C A2.

You absolutely MUST change the piece of crap stocks they put on them unless you want to shoot from sandbags. Every Savage I've owned would shoot 1/2" from sandbags, out of the box, but throw a bipod on there and you will be lucky to have 1.5".

 

[rrflyer]

I ran one in 260 for a short while.

Yes they can shoot but the reliability isn't there....

If you don't care about the competition stuff then they are great, the sloppy bolt fit caused jams and minimal space between the trigger and rear action screw busted stocks.


For a range gun they're great.... For the amount of money it costs to go shoot a big match it doesn't make sense to skimp on equipment.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

They have not changed the Remington 700 one time in 52 years. That means that if you buy a Remington made in 1962, 1982, or 2014 all of the after market parts work.

That's not an entirely accurate statement, I believe it was in 1974 Remington changed the dimensions on the rear action bridge, raising it up slightly, so modern one-piece bases may not work perfectly on non-prefix receivers.

 

[fireguyty]

I stand corrected.

Ty

 

[D.ID]

The winers circle is not filled with remingtons.
May be filled with custom rifles that started life as a remington but very few true and intact remington rifles could compete bone stock.
Luckily for me: I love my accutriggers,
I couldn't worry about resale unless I decided to quit shooting all together as my 223 can be a 375 or anywhere in between in no time flat.
If your looking down at my sweet heart, I am probably looking down at that stuck-up overpriced under performer on your arm as well so lets just call it square and leave it be.
Love my savages...........There queens name is Veara and she can hold her own against anything.

 

[TacosGigante]

I should say I own two Savages myself, so I am not looking down on them at all. Just never used them in a hard use environment before.

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

I'm a firm believer in the statement that once you have an accurate enough arrow, it's more the Indian than the arrow. That being said there are a quite a few people that still believe throwing $$$ at a rifle and scope will make THEM shoot better.

The Savage resale values suck, and the whole multiple versions of actions does as well. However, to answer the OP: yes a Savage actioned rifle can be made into a competent precision/tactical rifle. Some people around here will begrudgingly admit that while other will vehemently spew that Savages are shit.

Truth is Savage rifles are the "fat chicks" or "but-her-faces" of Snipers Hide. They ain't the prettiest high dollar bitch in the stable, and nobody likes to get beat by a guy shooting one, but they do shoot and get the job done.

I affectionately call mine the FUGLY sticks because although I may have put lipstick on a pig. They out shot some very high dollar equipment last year.

A lot of good points here. Savages seem to shoot great but look ugly.

I would also like to comment regarding investment. Think about it. If you put a bunch of money into a Savage to make it "competent" then at the end of the day you will still have a Savage. The resale value will not net you all of the upgrades you spent good time and money on. On the flip side, if you get a reputable custom rifle from any number of rifle manufacturers, you will then be able to sell it later on for almost as much as you paid for it, if not more in some cases. So thinking in the future is smart because you can never predict your life situation 1,2,5 or 10 years from now.

Once I purchased a seriously competent rifle and scope, now I can concentrate on the shooter in the equation, ME. And boy, do I suck. Hopefully I will not suck as much after shooting many more years and many more competitions.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

This really isn't the case. Of the 50 of us at the 2013 PRS Finale, all but 6 were running custom Remingtons. 2 guys ran AI, 2 with Tikka, 1 Badger and my DTA were the only non-Remingtons. Surgeon, Defiance, Big Horn, Stiller and McMillan are all Remington foot print.

Ty

Info is directly from the PRS blog:

Best Rifle Action ? What The Pros Use | PrecisionRifleBlog.com

Remington actions are highlighted separate from the clones.

 

[fireguyty]

The winers circle is not filled with remingtons.
May be filled with custom rifles that started life as a remington but very few true and intact remington rifles could compete bone stock.
Luckily for me: I love my accutriggers,
I couldn't worry about resale unless I decided to quit shooting all together as my 223 can be a 375 or anywhere in between in no time flat.
If your looking down at my sweet heart, I am probably looking down at that stuck-up overpriced under performer on your arm as well so lets just call it square and leave it be.
Love my savages...........There queens name is Veara and she can hold her own against anything.

I guess this is pointed at me. I have no dog in this fight. I shoot for DTA, Kahles, Barnes, and Delta P Designs. I am not brand loyal to anything except the people who support me. Neither Remington nor Savage support me.

The facts are this. If you want an accurate out of the box rifle with GOOD selection of calibers (such as 6.5 Creedmoor) and intend to leave it as is, you would be very wise to buy a Savage.

If you intend to slowly, or immediately upgrade to a custom or semi custom, you have screwed the pooch monetarily and performance wise if you didn't choose Remington.

Let me put it to you like this. You have limited cash and want to progress to what the best in the world shoot. This is your progression:

Remington SPS Varmint in 308: $500
EGW pic base 20 MOA cant: $60
Burris Extreme rings: $60
What ever scope: $700 for a SWFA 3-15 or up to $7200 for the Hensoldt

Ready to shoot or compete, but lets make it better.

Jewell trigger: $235
What ever chassis from $700 for a Mcree to $1200 for an Ashbury (I have no idea what these run and am pulling this number out of my ass)

Then you have an epiphany and realize that your able to compete with Dustin Morris but need a more competitive caliber, so you find any gunsmith who can re barrel to 6 Creedmoor. At this juncture, you can also choose to take all of the existing parts that you spent money on and put them on a custom action as well with out throwing away all of the money that you invested.


OR

You can buy a Savage, struggle to find good aftermarket parts, realize you can unseat Dustin Morris as the best in the world, and throw away all of the money you put into those sub par parts, and start from scratch with parts that are unfortunately made for the Remington 700.

I am not hating on your Savage. I have the utmost respect for Savage who refuses to let an inaccurate rifle leave the factory. In contrast, Remington has little to no quality control at this point, and sets their barrels with a ridiculous amount of free bore, which leads to inaccuracy. By all rights Savage should be the king of the hill, but as previously mentioned, the aftermarket doesn't support them as well.

Ty

 

[tylerw02]

Some of you guys are down right delusional. I made a challenge for the half MOA box stock savage guys to provide a 5x5 on a single sheet from a single range session that never has been met.

The reality is equipment doesn't win. Shooters do. I haven't ever seen a Savage shooter win, but it can and does happen once in a while. The reality is that Rem, Win, Savage...similar quality at a similar price. Sometimes it seems more value on tikka and Howa anymore.

Truth is a 1 MOA rifle is good enough for most PRS style matches if you can do that from all positions.

What matters more is a rifle that cycles cleanly and smooth and always works. Nothing throws you off your game than a gun that doesn't function. And don't kid yourself, you are the weakest link.

What's in the winners circle? In PRS a lot if the time it's a sponsored shooter running a custom from the name on their shirt.

The reality is the best guys can win with a stock Rem with a DBM added. They are that good.


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[fireguyty]

Info is directly from the PRS blog:

Best Rifle Action ? What The Pros Use | PrecisionRifleBlog.com

Remington actions are highlighted separate from the clones.

I know that, I am one of the 50 guys that made that list possible. So what your point? 44 of the other guys rifles are Remington clones. All of the parts are Remington parts. This is exactly what I am talking about.

If Savage, or any other (Ruger, Browning, FN, and so on) had half a brain, they would use the bottom and top foot print of the Remington just like the clones. THEN we would have something! Stop calling it Remington, and start calling it standard bolt action. If I could buy a rifle as accurate as a Savage with any part I desired, I'd buy one right now as would everyone else. Instead they come up with a design and change it in 5 years.

Ty

 

[D.ID]

I guess this is pointed at me. I have no dog in this fight. I shoot for DTA, Kahles, Barnes, and Delta P Designs. I am not brand loyal to anything except the people who support me. Neither Remington nor Savage support me.

The facts are this. If you want an accurate out of the box rifle with GOOD selection of calibers (such as 6.5 Creedmoor) and intend to leave it as is, you would be very wise to buy a Savage.

If you intend to slowly, or immediately upgrade to a custom or semi custom, you have screwed the pooch monetarily and performance wise if you didn't choose Remington.

Let me put it to you like this. You have limited cash and want to progress to what the best in the world shoot. This is your progression:

Remington SPS Varmint in 308: $500
EGW pic base 20 MOA cant: $60
Burris Extreme rings: $60
What ever scope: $700 for a SWFA 3-15 or up to $7200 for the Hensoldt

Ready to shoot or compete, but lets make it better.

Jewell trigger: $235
What ever chassis from $700 for a Mcree to $1200 for an Ashbury (I have no idea what these run and am pulling this number out of my ass)

Then you have an epiphany and realize that your able to compete with Dustin Morris but need a more competitive caliber, so you find any gunsmith who can re barrel to 6 Creedmoor. At this juncture, you can also choose to take all of the existing parts that you spent money on and put them on a custom action as well with out throwing away all of the money that you invested.


OR

You can buy a Savage, struggle to find good aftermarket parts, realize you can unseat Dustin Morris as the best in the world, and throw away all of the money you put into those sub par parts, and start from scratch with parts that are unfortunately made for the Remington 700.

I am not hating on your Savage. I have the utmost respect for Savage who refuses to let an inaccurate rifle leave the factory. In contrast, Remington has little to no quality control at this point, and sets their barrels with a ridiculous amount of free bore, which leads to inaccuracy. By all rights Savage should be the king of the hill, but as previously mentioned, the aftermarket doesn't support them as well.

Ty

No not really pointed at you or anyone, Just pro savage propaganda with some smart ass extra thrown in for flavor.
Luckily for me is the key line hear.
I buy my savage, pull the barrel in the middle of the night in my bath robe all by myself.
Send one email out to any number of sources for a aluminum framed stock, some devcon and scope mount, one more email to one of any number of sources for a barrel, then go to sleep.
A week later I open some boxes slap it all together all by my lonesome, go to the range and shoot 1/4 inch groups working up a load.
Pat myself on the back as if I accomplished something miraculous and take great pride in $1k .25 moa rifle built in a week in my bathrobe.
Or I buy a remington and a spendy trigger and a barrel blank that costs almost the same as a savage prefit. Then a smith, hope he knows what he's doing. Hope he can do it this year. Pay him a tidey some to get my action trued up and and chambered and headspaced etc. etc.
My only real point and target is that the savage has come along way. After market for savage has also.

 

[fireguyty]

My only real point and target is that the savage has come along way. After market for savage has also.

I agree 100% and hope they continue by not changing their action. If they did this the aftermarket would further support them, then eventually someone would create a custom action in a Savage foot print. When it got to that point it would rock!

Ty

 

[tylerw02]

DID if you have quarter MOA savage rifles you better take up bench rest and start kicking ass. Hell, you could probably be an FClass champ.


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[Hunt4life]

Frankly people compete for different reasons, not everyone expects to unseat the best of the best that our governments have in one way or another spent tons of money training. Or folks that work in the field in one way or another everyday. Some people just want to go out and enjoy the hobby with something they built. Many that are the best have nice equipment for different reasons, collected it over time, sponsors, etc...

If you are truly looking to compete at the highest level, you will naturally progress through the required equipment. It is expensive but so are $60k bass boats or safaris in Africa. I think a savage can be made into a competent rifle for most getting into the hobby without dropping $5k on a scope and rifle. Then, they can progress as the skills sharpen and you get a better idea what systems you prefer.

 

[shoots100]

Savage Reliability ?
My Family has been shooting/ hunting with a 1967 Left hand savage .270 my grandfather bought NIB for my father after he made it back from Vietnam.
It's been hunted with in several states and in every weather condition possible.
My father hunted in the Adirondack mountains with it for over 30 years.
Now the fourth generation of our family is shooting it.
It's put meat on the table for almost 50 years, which is (in my opinion) the ultimate tactical competition.
That savage is a rifle you can rely on.

 

[tylerw02]

Can a Savage be made into a competent tactical gun?

And how many times has that rifle been fired? How many times has it been dirty as hell and shot 150 rounds in three days?

Hunting and rifle competition are two different things. Hunting isn't nearly as demanding. You shoot one round a year most of the time. One whitetail a year for 50 years is day one in a tactical match....


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[lte82]

https://www.facebook.com/US.Rifle.Team

Think how awesome they would be if they used an REAL rifle and not a Savage.

 

[shoots100]

That rifle is shot more than a couple of times a year. No closet queen either. It was my father's truck rifle, which was used on everything from woodchucks to bear, for almost 50 years.
150 rounds in three days ?
My 3 Brothers and I learned to shoot and reload with it .
150 rounds in three days would've been a relief for that rifle.
It's taken more abuse than shooting in most "tactical" matches for longer than most of the hide members alive here.
Demanding ? I guess you have never been hunting in the Adirondacks mountains ? x 30 years.
It's just a little more demanding than your typical knee pad tactical competition, except hunters don't wear knee pads, or lay on blankets.
So your right in saying their two different things.

 

[fdkay]

This has gone a bit off track.

To the OP, yes, you can have a competent savage tactical rifle, you will be the limiting factor for far longer the the rifle will be.

I began with a Savage that shot and still shoots very well, but have since moved on to the rem 700.

If you want an out of the box competitive rifle, then one of the Savage 10FP series, either in the mcmillan or the hs precision stocks would work very well, the damn things just plain shoot, and shoot very well.
I knew a guy with the hs precision stocked model and it was scary accurate for a factory gun.

BUT, around the same price is the Rem 700P, also normally a very good shooting rifle that comes in a very good HS precision stock. The advantage of the 700P is that it comes with a 40X trigger, which won't need upgraded.
The bolt lift and throw on a remington is better than that of a savage.

Available for around 900 bucks.
Remington 700 Police 308WIN 26 HB $894.00 SHIPS FREE

A weaver extended multi slot rail, decent rings, good scope and bipod and you are ready to go.
No need to buy a new stock, no need to upgrade the trigger.
Of course, you'll end up with a dbm and AICS mags because loading from the top during a match sucks ass.

 

[TacosGigante]

Thanks. I was looking at the 700P LTR, only difficulty is that I am a lefty.

This has gone a bit off track.

To the OP, yes, you can have a competent savage tactical rifle, you will be the limiting factor for far longer the the rifle will be.

I began with a Savage that shot and still shoots very well, but have since moved on to the rem 700.

If you want an out of the box competitive rifle, then one of the Savage 10FP series, either in the mcmillan or the hs precision stocks would work very well, the damn things just plain shoot, and shoot very well.
I knew a guy with the hs precision stocked model and it was scary accurate for a factory gun.

BUT, around the same price is the Rem 700P, also normally a very good shooting rifle that comes in a very good HS precision stock. The advantage of the 700P is that it comes with a 40X trigger, which won't need upgraded.
The bolt lift and throw on a remington is better than that of a savage.

Available for around 900 bucks.
Remington 700 Police 308WIN 26 HB $894.00 SHIPS FREE

A weaver extended multi slot rail, decent rings, good scope and bipod and you are ready to go.
No need to buy a new stock, no need to upgrade the trigger.
Of course, you'll end up with a dbm and AICS mags because loading from the top during a match sucks ass.

 

[MontanaMarine]

Thanks. I was looking at the 700P LTR, only difficulty is that I am a lefty.

There are some lefty LTRs out there, but you have to look hard for them,

Remington 700 Police LTR Left-Hand Rifle .308 Win 20in 4rd Black for sale - 86457

 

[TacosGigante]

Yeah, I saw that, and even they are out of stock.

There are some lefty LTRs out there, but you have to look hard for them,

Remington 700 Police LTR Left-Hand Rifle .308 Win 20in 4rd Black for sale - 86457

 

[tylerw02]

SHOOTS100, you must be on like barrel 25 by now, right?


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[BoilerUP]

I've got four Savage centerfires in my safe.

The two I built, which I greatly enjoy shooting and are far more accurate than I am (never would make a claim like they are 0.25MOA rifles or even 0.5MOA rifles because I wouldn't know, I'm not a 0.25 or 0.5moa shooter), are not 100% reliable. My 223AI long action has occasional issues feeding from an AI 223 magazine which have largely been remedied thanks to Jeff @ CDI Precision, but that is a rather odd configuration and a 'fun gun' so I don't mind an occasional hiccup. My 10FP with 260 barrel demonstrated the aforementioned 'binding bolt' for the first time this past week. Now that very well could have been the technique I was using while shooting off a (too high) bench since I've never noticed it before...but it was annoying and in a match would likely result in dropped points.

There are intangible benefits to a Savage rifle, or Savage-action based build. Factory rifles are generally quite accurate and reasonably priced in a variety of desirable configurations that require no or minimal 'upgrades' and using a Savage action allows one to DIY barrel/bolt head swaps and build a rifle to one's specs for a very reasonable expense, typically the same or a slight premium to factory rifles. The downside is poor resale value (parts are often worth more separate than the complete rifle) and the known deficiencies of the action design due to sloppy bolt fit, stiff bolt lift, etc.

I don't think there is any 'shame' whatsoever in owning and shooting Savages, but there's also no need to be defensive about it, either. The 700 isn't the pinnacle of action design...its just the small-block Chevy of the rifle world and there's nothing wrong with that.

To the OP's overriding question, I would say absolutely YES it can - but the bigger question is probably if it is worth one's time and money to do so, when potentially better-suited (if more expensive) options exist.

In the end, run what 'ya brung because its better than nothing and don't give two shits what some interwebs chat board guy says about your rig.

 

[ahhshoot]

And how many times has that rifle been fired? How many times has it been dirty as hell and shot 150 rounds in three days?

Hunting and rifle competition are two different things. Hunting isn't nearly as demanding. You shoot one round a year most of the time. One whitetail a year for 50 years is day one in a tactical match....


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Tyler,

Check out my post in this thread from earlier. .5" @200 is .25 MOA. My savage shot .25 MOA with factory amax ammo and a bit better with handloads. Check out the pics I posted. Those weren't flukes but a common occurrence. I now have a custom Remmy in 338 lapua with shilen ss sm bbl and aics 2.0, and no I wouldn't give it up for another savage, but that doesn't mean savages don't shoot. They do. The floating bolt face design has served them well.





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[ahhshoot]

DID if you have quarter MOA savage rifles you better take up bench rest and start kicking ass. Hell, you could probably be an FClass champ.


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Sorry, this was the quote I was responding to. Check out my pics from earlier in the thread. I can't speak to reliability because I never used it for a tactical match. But the rifle was a .25 MOA stick with factory ammo from a bipod.

 

[tylerw02]

Can a Savage be made into a competent tactical gun?

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Sorry, this was the quote I was responding to. Check out my pics from earlier in the thread. I can't speak to reliability because I never used it for a tactical match. But the rifle was a .25 MOA stick with factory ammo from a bipod.

That was directed to somebody else, but all is well. Cherry pick a group doesn't mean a lot. I shot a .0x group out of my AI at 200 last week. Doesn't mean I'm going to claim the gun is that accurate. It was a single tagged hole barely larger than bullet diameter. I didn't cut it out and stick it in my wallet or take pictures to post all over the internet as if I'm proving something with it.

If you want to claim your savage is .25 MOA at 200, shoot five targets on a single piece of paper with five rounds each. If they are all .25 MOA or under, then your Savage is a .25 MOA gun. If not, you've cherry-picked a group.

So the challenge is still out there, let's see a factory savage shoot a 5x5 under half MOA or in your case, .25 MOA.

Five groups of five on a single sheet of paper, no "called flyers" or any of that business.

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[ahhshoot]

Cherry pick a group doesn't mean a lot. I shot a .0x group out of my AI at 200 last week. Doesn't mean I'm going to claim the gun is that accurate.

If you want to claim your savage is .25 MOA at 200, shoot five targets on a single piece of paper with five rounds each. If they are all .25 MOA or under, then your Savage is a .26 MOA gun. If not, you've cherry-picked a group.



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Not cherry picked, that was as I noted before a common occurrence. I've shot it against guys with ais and custom remmys and have outshot most of them. With handloads, if I still had the rifle, I would go out and give you 10 groups of 5 shots that were under .25. Don't be mad because savages are accurate lol. They just are. I have other customs too, bighorns, truee remingtons, but that doesn't mean th savage isn't accurate. It is.





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[tylerw02]

Not cherry picked, that was as I noted before a common occurrence. I've shot it against guys with ais and custom remmys and have outshot most of them. With handloads, if I still had the rifle, I would go out and give you 10 groups of 5 shots that were under .25. Don't be mad because savages are accurate lol. They just are. I have other customs too, bighorns, truee remingtons, but that doesn't mean th savage isn't accurate. It is.





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The myth of the .25 MOA Savage eludes us just like Bigfoot. One day we will actually get photographic evidence and capture one of these fine Savages.

Another coulda woulda should. Not asking for five groups, but five on a single range session on one sheet. If you show five random groups, they are cherry picked.

I don't care how accurate you say yours ways. It's only as accurate as you can prove. Furthermore any rifle is only as accurate as the shooter. If you say your savage beat custom Remingtons, your head is already screwed in backwards. Rifles don't shoot themselves. Read my other posts in this thread.

Funny, Savage shooters always compare their rifles to Remington rifles and brag like they have something to prove.

People don't choose Savage for reasons listed above.

It's the Indian, not the arrow.





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[ahhshoot]

The myth of the .25 MOA Savage eludes us just like Bigfoot. One day we will actually get photographic evidence and capture one of these fine Savages.

Another coulda woulda should. Not asking for five groups, but five on a single range session on one sheet. If you show five random groups, they are cherry picked.

I don't care how accurate you say yours ways. It's only as accurate as you can prove. Furthermore any rifle is only as accurate as the shooter. If you say your savage beat custom Remingtons, your head is already screwed in backwards. Rifles don't shoot themselves. Read my other posts in this thread.

Funny, Savage shooters always compare their rifles to Remington rifles and brag like they have something to prove.

People don't choose Savage for reasons listed above.

It's the Indian, not the arrow.





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I lold at your bigfoot remark... Yes maybe not all savages were as accurate as mine. I did have a heavy shilen sm on there and other fine components. I am not a 'savage shooter.' just a dude who had a savage. And u may be right because I've shot guns and bows since I was a little kid and was an archery instructor for a couple of years for junior Olympians. So I know fundamentals that go into all shooting principles. But if I had the gun and my handloads I could throw down 5 or more groups in one session without a problem. But I think we've hijacked the thread. The op wanted to know if savages could be competent tactical rifles, not whether they are .25 MOA shooters. And I understand durability is a factor there, as well as reliability. However, to say that there are no .25 moa savages, is just plain not true. We must agree to disagree. Good day friend.



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[missed]

I have shot a 0.748 5 group 5 shot average with a 0.193 best group. But for the bench rest one jagged hole over and over again is a whole other class of shooter and equipment. The fact that I'm a lefty took me to the Savage since it was that or custom action.

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[tylerw02]

Can a Savage be made into a competent tactical gun?

So yours had a custom barrel? How many tactical matches did you shoot your savage in? Was it reliable?

So far we have hunters equating hunting to tac matches. And your experience with accuracy after changing to a custom barrel. Let's put it all in context of this thread.

Who in the thread currently runs a savage in tactical matches? Why?

They aren't cheaper, any more accurate, and parts support isn't as good. Why pick savage other than an emotional connection Savages guys have to their guns? Why aren't the top shooters using them?




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