savage 210 slug gun

[redman]

I'm thinking about buying a savage bolt action slug gun for next deer season. Does anyone own one of these and can you tell me how they shoot? I would very thankful for any input.......

[Dragon31]

redman
I live in a state that is slug gun, muzzle loader or any cal hand gun only.  Some years back I purchased a savage 210 so I could have a rifle trigger on my slug gun.  Up to that time I had been using a Mossberg Trophy Sluggester which worked just fine except I didn't like the trigger and the fore stock rattled.  The Savage does and excellent job.  In the past it shot the Barnes Expanders in to one ragged hole at 75 yards.  This year I used the new Remington Ultras and they shot five shots into one ragged hole at 100 yards.  When I bought the gun I adjusted the trigger, put a 6x42 Leupold scope on it and spend $100 + on various slugs to fine what it like.  It liked pretty much all of them.  I understand that someone is now making and after market stock for the 210 that does away with the magazine extension that extends below the factory stock.  I may try one.
I own the Encore 20 ga rifled barrel also and consider the two about as good as you get unless you go custom or spend a lot more money.

[jcchartboy]

(Just some personal notes on the Savage 210 that should be helpful to current or prospective owners)

You can purchase either a new Savage 210 for around 400$, or simply pickup a used gun off Gunbroker for between 250-350$.

Keep in mind that if you want to get the most out of the Savage you should anticipate making two aftermarket accuracy adjustments.

First, get an aftermarket Timney trigger(60$). These are drop in triggers so they will cost you no more than your purchase price. I have my trigger pull at 2-3/4 lbs and the trigger is very crisp and consistent.

Secondly, I would advise purchasing a Beartooth Comb Raising kit(25$), in order to raise the comb height to aid in ideal sight alignment. (The original Savage stocks like those of most rifled shotguns are too low for ideal sight alignment when used with used a scope.)

While clearly neither of these upgrades are mandatory they help to provide the customizable elements necessary to convert any middle end dedicated shotgun into a top of the line shooter.

Savage 210...

[teddy12b]

Redman,
       My advise is BUY ONE!  I bought one over a year ago and it's incredibly accurate!  I really haven't found any sabots that it doesn't like.  Mine really loves the Federal Barnes Expanders in 3".  I've heard some guys complain about feeding the magazine and getting jams extracting empty rounds.  I think it's a little tricky to load the two extra rounds in the magazine, but it's because of the brass on the slug shell.  Took me a couple trys and I was fluid at it.  I can't say enough about how accurate this is.  I've sighted in a lot of 870's with slug barrels for myself and family members and they don't come close on accuracy.  I'll put my shotgun up against anyone rifle at 100 yards!

[jcchartboy]

Just some clarifications...

I understand that someone is now making and after market stock for the 210 that does away with the magazine extension that extends below the factory stock.

Yes, McMillan currently produces the following...however the the stock alone cost 350$, and to have it properly installed is closer to 700$

NEW SAVAGE SLUG HUNTER:
In response to requests for a stock for the Savage 210 slug gun with a higher comb for scope use, we developed this version of our Savage Hunter stock. It is inletted for the Savage 210 slug gun and has a blind magazine that will hold one round, not two like the factory stock. It is completely inletted and fitted as a drop-in stock.




--------------------------

Mine really loves the Federal Barnes Expanders in 3".

While I will be first to agree that everyone is entitled to shoot whatever they feel comfortable, I have to question this slug as a primary recommendation for the Savage.

Most Savage 210 owners I have spoken to have found the Remington Core lokts to be very accurate in their Savage 210's.

Given that fact I would recommend the Core Lokts over the Federales' any time.

First, there is currently no need to shoot three inch shells in the Savages. The 3 inch shells create additional recoil when compared to 2-3/4 offerings, more importantly none of the 3inch shells match the overall ballistics of the better 2-3/4 offerings. (In fact in this Federal shell the 328gr 2-3/4 offering has better far ballistics than 3 inch offering! )

Secondly, the actual ballistics of the 2-3/4 Core Lokts is quite simply the best on the market, (with the possible exception of the SST's). Sighted 2 inches high at 50 yds they stay above the line of sight out to 150 yds! (Compared with  5+ inches low for the 3 inch Barnes at 150 yds!)

I'll put my shotgun up against anyone rifle at 100 yards!

Even being an owner and very strong supporter of the Savage 210 I have to call BS on this one...(I apologize up-front Teddy ). Either the rifle shooters you know have poor skills, very poor guns or both, if you honestly believe this statement.

The reality is, even most of my friends Muzzleloaders will out shoot the average Savage 210.


Sub-MOA Muzzleloading...

[teddy12b]

Hey,
     No offense taken.  I've tryed different sabots from all the manufactures but I haven't tryed any remington core lok sabots.  I'm open to trying them and I'll give them a shot.  I agree that the 2 3/4" sabots look great on paper, but I haven't been able to find any anywhere to buy them.  I check the local stores and the internet.  I'd love to try the barnes expander in 2 3/4" in the 3/4oz. variation but I havn't been able to find them.  As far as putting my shotgun up against peoples rifles any day of the week.  I'm going to have to stick with that statement.  If I do my job all the bullet holes will be touching.  I don't know how it can get more accurate than that.  Maybe with smaller bullet holes?  I think in any case, back to the point of this thread is that people that have these guns love them.  I just got mine back today from the gunsmith.  I had a linbsaver ground to fit it so it'll be more comfortable to shoot.  Maybe I'll get it out to the range this weekend.

[Rscout6945]

Only reason I haven't bought one of these is that the comb is way too low for a mounted scope and the barrel is in the old 1 in 35" twist. If they fixed these two problems(1 in 28"twist and new designed stock) and threw an accu-trigger on it I would have one in a heartbeat.

[jcchartboy]

Only reason I haven't bought one of these is that the comb is way too low for a mounted scope and the barrel is in the old 1 in 35" twist. If they fixed these two problems(1 in 28"twist and new designed stock) and threw an accu-trigger on it I would have one in a heartbeat.

1).The Beartooth comb kit will not only raise the comb, it is also fully customizable to adjust the height to any shooters specific needs....this leaves the shooter with a better alignment than could ever be expected from a standard factory stock...cost 20$

2). The Savage 210 with a 1-35 twist performs as well with most high velocity sabots as do other 1-28 twist barrels. (Not to mention there are few quality guns featuring 1-28 barrels currently being produced in the the same price range.)

[teddy12b]

I recently took my 210F to the range just wanting to see how the 2 3/4 Federal expander rounds worked through it.  They didn't do so hot.  The 3" federal barnes expanders shot around 1 1/2" groups.  For whatever reason the 2 3/4 didn't shoot as well as I'd hoped they would and the 3" didn't quite do what I remembered them doing.  I ended up staying sighted in for the 3" slugs.  It's still the most accurate slug gun I've ever fired so I can't complain too much.

[jy951]

if i'm not mistaken, the 210 is for 3" slugs only.  i know it can shoot 2 3/4" shells, but the barrel states 3", not 2 3/4.

[teddy12b]

All rifled slug guns chambered in 3" can handle 2 3/4".  If they are chambered in 2 3/4" they cannot handle the 3".  Kinda how a 357 mag can shoot a 38 special, or a 44 mag can shoot a 44 special. 

At least that's what I've been told and what I've done, right or wrong.

[jy951]

ok, I might be off on this, but i thought if the gun shot 2 3/4-3" it said so on the barrlel.  maybe not.  i've heard some people have extraction problems with the 2 3/4" shells, but not the 3" shells.  the website says chambered for 3" shells and does not mention 2 3/4" shells anywhere, not sure if that means recommended for 3" only.

[teddy12b]

I talked to a savage customer service rep about the 210F ejecting empty shells and her first question was if I was using 3" or 2 3/4" shells.  I think the 3" shells work better, but it'll still shoot the 2 3/4" shells all the same.

[jwm]

I called Savage about that same problem (ejecting 2 3/4" empties) and spoke to a female CS rep who also immediately pointed out that I shouldn't be using the shorter hulls.  Frankly, I thought that she was a know-nothing talking head who had a list of excuses in front of her to be used for purposes of avoiding any admission of a problem with their product.  I am a big fan of Savage firearms in general, but something about that conversation left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Maybe I should have been more open-minded?

John

[teddy12b]

We probably talked to the same lady.

[SHOOTALL]

I tryed quite a few different slugs and the lightfield were the ticket in my gun my son has one and his likes ( he likes ) winchester slugs ! and the 3 inch works better !
has anyone had the factory scope base shoot loose ? mine did , my gun rides in my truck every day of hunting season ( I hunt on the way home  from work most days ) and either the shooting or the riding caused it to get loose , I pulled it off and there was nothing on the threads , as i recall the base was factory installed for a reason , not sure why though .