Here's my personal experience with a new Savage 16 in .243 Winchester: I handload so I loaded up some cheap Hornady bullets and some very old H4831 I had left over to do a 30 shot breakin. The groups started shrinking about 15 rounds into the breakin and the last few 3 shot groups were 3/4 inch or less at 100 yards (calm air) I loaded hunting ammo with 47 gr. IMR 7828, 100 gr. Nosler partition spitzers and CCI 200 primers. After working up to the 47 gr. load and sighting in, I fired an 8 shot group at 100 yards that could be covered with a quarter. (calm air) When I got to Wyoming for a pronghorn hunt, the guide had me shoot the rifle to be sure it was still on zero. I fired three shots - two touching, the third nearly touching at 100 yards. One shot, one pronghorn. I have done nothing to this rifle but take it out of the box, adjust the accutrigger and mount a scope. I know results vary but I now believe Savage has a well deserved reputation for accuracy. This is my first Savage bolt gun but will not be my last! About my handload: the 47 gr. loading is from an IMR handloading guide. In their rifle with a 22 inch barrel, muzzle velocity was 3050 fps and cup chamber presssure was 47,900 pounds. This load should be reduced by 10 percent and worked up to while checking for pressure signs. In my rifle, it is safe and there are no pressure signs but rifles vary.
