current savage quality

[rp85]

hello;

owned 3 savage rifles through the years.  2 were model 99 which i sold off.  both rifles were in .308 cal., but just would not handle reloads even with small base dies.  dream rifle is a model 99 in 243/308 that handles reloades with standard sizing dies.

@10 years ago i purchased a savage model 10 (?), basic left handed bolt action in .30/06 cal.  folks, this rifle was the biggest hunk of junk i ever owned.  sent the rifle back to savage to fix the problems.  not only did they not fix the problems, they created even more problems. 

anyone have a 116sflss in .243 win.?  any good?

what is the current state of quality of savage rifles these days?  thanks for any input.

rp

[mountainview]

rp,
Do a search on Savage in this and the bolt rifle forum and you'll likely find that these rifles are reputed to be some of the most accurate shooters OTB. I bought 3 of the bolt guns in the last 3 years, and with the right loads, mine all drive tacks. I'm not hesitant at all to get another one when I amass the necessary shekels.

[omcforever]

OWN A 308/243/22-250 HEAVY/25-06 IN BOTH 110 AND 10 AND THEY ALL SHOOT EITHER GREAT OR DRIVE TACKS. tHE QUALITY SINCE I HAVE BEEN BUYING THEM( 1977 ) IS GREAT. NEVER HEARD OF MANY JUNK SAVAGES???(THEY ARE REPUTED TO HAVE THE MOST ACCURATE FACTORY STOCK BARRELS MADE.

[nomosendero]

I think Sav has done some good things concerning quality & appearance in the last few years. Models like the Low Profile come to mind. I have more tuned Model 700's now than anything, but the Savages are earning my respect, esp. when I see some of the groups.
I believe we have yet to see the best from them as evidenced in Shooting Times recently.

[deerhunter]

I have the 110FPL, its the Tactical version in left hand, and in .3006, with the regular trigger, NOT the accutrigger.  I use it for a target rife at the range.  I get .75 inch groups with me regular relaods.  I cant ask for more than that.  I love it.

I also have a MKIIGL, the left hand bolt in .22LR.  Its a great little rifle, and I shoot that a lot.

[SDS-GEN]

Remember when Savage was going into the crapper?  I think it was about 15 years back.  The guy who bought Savage put all his effort into the model 116, everything else was put on hold.  Prior to Savage turning itself around I heard some horror stories of barrels being drilled off-center, sloppy safeties, mostly just quality control issues that should have been rejected at the factory.  I own three Savage bolt guns, all pre accu-trigger and have no problems with any of them.  I put new stocks on all of them and had the triggers touched up.  Accuracy is second to none, and the guns aren't any uglier than any other synthetic factory rifle.

[MZ5]

I have a model 110 in .270 Winchester that I bought as a package gun somewhere around 12(??) years ago.  It was among the last ones made by the owners of that time (or shortly before).  It never would shoot straight and reliably.  Part of it was the scope which wouldn't return to or hold zero, but I think part of it was the barrel which had an extremely tight spot in it about 1/3 of the way down.  Now it has a heavy .243 Win barrel on it (A&B), and a decent scope and it shoots dandy!  The trigger is also very good now that I've adjusted it (factory adjustable pre-accu-trigger).

I recently bought a used model 16 (stainless synthetic accu-trigger) in .204 Ruger, decided I didn't want a new caliber right now, and took it to my brother.  He's extremely happy with how well it shoots!

[mikedb]

I just got a Stevens 200 in .223 Rem.  For $289 it is the best deal going.  Accuracy has potential (so far just bore sited and got it on paper).  What impressed me was the apparent smoothness of the barel.  I always break in a barrel by the one shot clean for several times then the 3 shot clean for a few times to smooth up the barrel.  You can see the difference in the amount of copper coming out.  I put 12 round thru the Stevens to check the site in before going to the range.  At the range I put 5 shots down range.  Took it home to clean and no copper.  For this to happen that barrel has to be smooth.