Finally Savageless

[Raythemanroe]

Back in the earlier days of br when a accurized Remington was standard why wasn't an accurized Savage standard?

Probably because Mike Walker (RIP) worked for Remington. He helped develop benchrest-winning shooting systems -- action, trigger, barrel, cartridge design, bullet design/manufacture.

There's nothing magic about a Remington action. They are light (to help meet the LV weight limit with a max heavy barrel) and round (easily sleeved), with a good ignition system. But, as you point out, none of those characteristics are unique to Remington. Mike Walker was unique, though.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2013/03/mike-walker-remington-gun-designer-passes-at-age-101/

Remington worked a lot with Earl Hart I believe.

 

[LHSmith]

Back in the earlier days of br when a accurized Remington was standard why wasn't an accurized Savage standard?

There's nothing magic about a Remington action. They are light (to help meet the LV weight limit with a max heavy barrel) and round (easily sleeved), with a good ignition system. But, as you point out, none of those characteristics are unique to Remington. Mike Walker was unique, though.

And yet they apparently were unique enough to be the overwhelming predominant factory based action used in 100-300 Registered BR in the 70's thru to today. I do not buy into the "lemmings" theory since other factory based actions were used quite successfully before the large influx of custom actions as used today. Factory based actions such as the Rem. 788, Rem. XP-100, Rem. 600, and Sako (occassionally).
Peruse through old and recent point-blank match reports and the use of Savage actions is virtually non-existent in REGISTERED group and score contests (not counting Factory Class which draws a minimum of contestants)
The customs : Hart, Stolle, Bat, Borden, Hall, RFD, Stiller, Farley, and Nesika share more of the Remington 700 design characteristics than Savage or Winchester bolt actions.