I've been buying and shooting Savage Heavy Barrel rifles since the 90's, and they are exactly what you're paying for, good o/o box accuracy at a lowball ticket price.
Are they infallible? No. At their price, they're still a bargain, unlike, ahem, Remington. If I had a buck for each Rem 700P with a barrel pointing out to the left, I'd have no trouble affording pizza.
The Savage bolt operation is not as smooth as more expensive rifles, and the extractors/ejectors also can fudge you up dead in the water.
My 2001 model 10FP has been worked over (blueprinted, cocking force mod applied) and is noticeably the smoothest action I own. The extractor/ejectors have never let me down EXCEPT when overly hot loads resulted in blown primers. I have some trouble blaming that one on Savage, but I also totally believe folks who say they had the problem with normal loads. I just haven't had that experience yet. I just recently blew another primer, and lo, this time the extractor and ejector still work fine.
All in all, going on 30 years worth, I remain pleased with my Savage rifles. My identical 11VT's .223, and .308 are capable (have) of competing on F T/R, and the 2001 10FP has several years worth of 1000yd F Open down its bore (a L-W 28" replacement barrel that is a drop-in, bought to get that extra 4" of bore length; the takeoff barrel ended up being given to another SH Poster). My quirky little 10FCM Scout 7.62x39 shoots .308 diameter handloads (110V-Max) with varmint-capable accuracy.
Rant On...
At 72, I appreciate advice, but Dad's not going to move my hand off the Savages I own. The 2001 10FP is going on a score of years old, and it's still competitive. So my mileage has varied, favorably in every instance. Even putting on a different stock, and adding an inexpensive but capable scope, the pricetag, ready for F T/R, is under $1100 for a reasonably decent beginner's comp rifle.
Does the action glide like a custom, no; but one does get past it rather quickly if they can mange to avoid going full retard. Can it hit sequential X's at 1000yd, you can betcher bippy on that one.
The main issue I have with the negative posters is that they all seem to come out in a feeding frenzy, lambasting Savage rifles and their owners, every single time somebody has the temerity to praise their Savage rifles. It's pack behavior, much like they're addicted to the act. Give it a rest, guys, we got your message years ago, your point is made over and over ad nauseam, and it's getting old and lame now.
Rant Off...
Greg