New Savage - Dissappointment!

[LR_Shooter]

Scot, if you call them and provide them with your old serial number they can find you in their data base.

dennisinaz, this year I had 2 Savage rifles and by mistake I did looked down their barrels, I posted my findings previously.
First one just wouldn't group as target rifle would, it was stripping jackets of passing bullets ;D I think it has to do with washboard chatter in the barrel and the latest one had same chatter but in the chamber, so it was striping brass off the shells, I think that one was finished with rattail file ;D to my surprise it was inspected before leaving factory as a replacement for the washboard I had.

 

[bozo699]

There are only two ways to buy a Savage; order one from the custom shop and it will be right and what you want or look through someones in-stock merchandise and find one that satisfies you. With Savage, it's like ordering a bride over the internet, you have no idea what you are getting until it's there!

You are a patient and somewhat trusting man, I would have gotten my money back weeks ago, driven to Phoenix and bought a nice rifle for $900 and driven home. This is exactly what all the guys in SOCAL that I know do. I suspect that Savage is telling you whatever you need to hear to keep you at bay. I will be real surprised if you come out of this whole mess with a smile on your face.

In RE: my first statement. I had a buddy order a custom shop 116 in 7WSM last year. He was able to order the barrel length, contour and rifling twist rate (as long as Savage had a button for it) as well as LOP. It came with the Accustock, Accutrigger and shoots quite well actually. I was impressed with this rifle. Real people had to handle it!

With tax and shipping it was just under $900. One piece of advice- never, ever look into your Savage rifle bore with a bore scope. You will cringe and get dry heaves. It is utterly amazing how many flaws that floating bolt head makes up for!!

Dennis,
Your statement is spot on, if they put as much thought and care into the rest of the junk the rifle is assembled out of there would be no reason for a custom, ugly but great actions and that is where anything great stops at with Savage.
Wayne.

 

[tiny68]

But the beauty of the barrel nut is that for $300 you can get a pre-fit custom in your extra choice of specs that has the same mirror finish as any custom barrel. I have Pre-fit Douglas, PacNor, Shilens, McGowens, and even a Shaw. They all way out perform the factory tubes.

Savages aren't custom actions. But the shot pretty darn good I don't care if it does fill like the bolt is falling out when you cycle a round. For 30 years I bashed Savages are trash guns. I was a true green M700 fan. 6 in my safe currently and have owned dozens. About 6 years I started shooting with a group of guys that all had bone stock 10FPs in 223s and 308s. Cheap plastic blank stocks... But they all shot 0.6-0.7" or significantly better at 100 yds. That is minimum load development. My Remmies would shoot with them, but my Remmies sound like a Johnny Cash song... Its a model 700, jeweled trigger, welded bolt, Sako ejector, blue-printed, bedded, McMillian stocked, Hart barreled...bolt action rifle... I don't own a single Remmy that has had something do to it...

Hope you and Savage get things worked out. All I can stay is I can a believer. Luck, Tim

 

[model 12 toby]

I have two savages. model 12 f/tr in 7mm rem mag. 3.5 inch groups at 770 yards. I love it. also have a 10fcp hs precision stock in 243. it shot 55's and 70's pretty well. not like I thought it should have. took barrel off got a pac nor coming in 6.5x47 lapua. wasn't real happy with the other barrel. both were from custom shop though. don't know how much difference that makes but it looks like it might have a bearing. hope when I get my new rifle complete I'll like it more than the other one. damn that things heavy to carry for miles. ;D that's a whole lot of bang too. well see i guess. had a model 111 without a accutrigger a while back. it suprisingly shot good with that little skinny barrel. sold it to a friend. all guns are 2+ years old. I'm very sorry to hear about them possibly heading down hill. This happens with a lot of things that come in high demand. problem with greed it can sometimes drive ya into the ground and make ya forget what got ya there in the first place. harley did the same thing. harley used to be something now everyones got one. I heard cooper has a year wait. so be it. a cooper is something. If ya gotta wait a year on a high quality savage so be it. it's alright to expand some at times but that needs regulated by self discipline also.

 

[Romulus]

Sorry to hear your troubles, but I have to say my 10 FCP HS shot .3 moa when I got it and 3700 rounds later it still shoots .27-55 MOA. I have a hard time believing it still shoots that good but the paper doesn't lie. I've got a ES of 4 in a certain load with a too-light-for-twist bullet, but I usually get teens with projectiles I actually want to shoot. A 700 that shot like that would cost twice as much.

They are definitely not bench rifles but they are good rifles. Sad to say their recent boom may have caused a lot of barrel QC issues.

I'm going to build a Surgeon in a BR caliber and a Savage in a barrel burning boomer this year. I want one to shoot .25 moa and I'll be satisfied if the other shoots .75 moa OtoO. Different tools for different jobs.

 

[trappst]

Haven't checked on this thread for a while.......don't care to get involved with issues that deal with one person's perspective vs. another, etc. In saying that, I mean no disrespect to anyone here.

To the OP, I hope I can give you something to look forward to:

I got a predator 22-250 a while back and at the same time I also bought a Nikon Coyote special (my local guy is great to deal with). After getting the rifle home, I coated the barreled action with Duracoat Duraclear sealant and waited for everything to cure.

Recently, I took her out to get things dialed in as the crops are coming out and the coyotes are becoming more visible. After a couple shots up close to get on paper, I moved to 100 yards. The three shots outside are scope adjustment (the low one was me). The three inside the ~1" orange circle are shots 7, 8, and 9 through the gun. Ammo was Hornady factory Superformance 50g Vmax. I haven't shot any of my reloads yet!

For those wondering what I'm not telling you, there isn't anything. The rifle only has 9 rounds total through it. Gotta save the box of ammo for live targets! ;D

 

[LR_Shooter]

Yes great rifles, everyone should buy at least 4 of them! That's what I did and 3 of them could not hold 1 minute... They only worth buying because of the action, the rest is plain junk...

 

[dennisinaz]

But the beauty of the barrel nut is that for $300 you can get a pre-fit custom in your extra choice of specs that has the same mirror finish as any custom barrel. I have Pre-fit Douglas, PacNor, Shilens, McGowens, and even a Shaw. They all way out perform the factory tubes.

Savages aren't custom actions. But the shot pretty darn good I don't care if it does fill like the bolt is falling out when you cycle a round. For 30 years I bashed Savages are trash guns. I was a true green M700 fan. 6 in my safe currently and have owned dozens. About 6 years I started shooting with a group of guys that all had bone stock 10FPs in 223s and 308s. Cheap plastic blank stocks... But they all shot 0.6-0.7" or significantly better at 100 yds. That is minimum load development. My Remmies would shoot with them, but my Remmies sound like a Johnny Cash song... Its a model 700, jeweled trigger, welded bolt, Sako ejector, blue-printed, bedded, McMillian stocked, Hart barreled...bolt action rifle... I don't own a single Remmy that has had something do to it...

Hope you and Savage get things worked out. All I can stay is I can a believer. Luck, Tim

You are putting a lot of trust in the theory that $300 will buy a match grade barrel, already threaded and chambered when, for any other make of rifle, $300 will only buy you a blank. Do you think that the barrel factory puts as much emphasis on carefully chambering a barrel for a pre-fit as a good accuracy smith does?? I don't think so.

It allows the average guy to tinker and set headspace without having to own a lathe but does not take the place of quality gunsmithing.

 

[model 12 toby]

it's different views for sure and different tools for different jobs. also, i'm usually very opinionated but with what's going on in the world all this seems to take a back burner. look at the big picture. if the gun you got shoots, cool, if it doesn't, that sucks. . maybe a poll would be a good thing to put together.

 

[coonhunter70]

But the beauty of the barrel nut is that for $300 you can get a pre-fit custom in your extra choice of specs that has the same mirror finish as any custom barrel. I have Pre-fit Douglas, PacNor, Shilens, McGowens, and even a Shaw. They all way out perform the factory tubes.

Savages aren't custom actions. But the shot pretty darn good I don't care if it does fill like the bolt is falling out when you cycle a round. For 30 years I bashed Savages are trash guns. I was a true green M700 fan. 6 in my safe currently and have owned dozens. About 6 years I started shooting with a group of guys that all had bone stock 10FPs in 223s and 308s. Cheap plastic blank stocks... But they all shot 0.6-0.7" or significantly better at 100 yds. That is minimum load development. My Remmies would shoot with them, but my Remmies sound like a Johnny Cash song... Its a model 700, jeweled trigger, welded bolt, Sako ejector, blue-printed, bedded, McMillian stocked, Hart barreled...bolt action rifle... I don't own a single Remmy that has had something do to it...

Hope you and Savage get things worked out. All I can stay is I can a believer. Luck, Tim

You are putting a lot of trust in the theory that $300 will buy a match grade barrel, already threaded and chambered when, for any other make of rifle, $300 will only buy you a blank. Do you think that the barrel factory puts as much emphasis on carefully chambering a barrel for a pre-fit as a good accuracy smith does?? I don't think so.

It allows the average guy to tinker and set headspace without having to own a lathe but does not take the place of quality gunsmithing.

My $280 dollar Shilen match (not select match) barrel shoots in the .2's on a Stevens 200 in .204 with 39gr Sierra's.

 

[tiny68]

You are putting a lot of trust in the theory that $300 will buy a match grade barrel, already threaded and chambered when, for any other make of rifle, $300 will only buy you a blank. Do you think that the barrel factory puts as much emphasis on carefully chambering a barrel for a pre-fit as a good accuracy smith does?? I don't think so.

It allows the average guy to tinker and set headspace without having to own a lathe but does not take the place of quality gunsmithing.

I have to disagree with you on that last statement. I have couple barrels that have been fitted - chamber, cut, crowned, and threaded - by gunsmith with Fall of Fame points. Their work is superior and I am lucky to have their work done. However, I personally can achieve similar accuracy with my Savages that have custom tubes. I have never won wood - or plastic today - at a BR match but I have shot in a few because I am always searching for better accuracy. No, I haven't seen any Savage actions in the equipment list from NBRSA matches.

But the barrel factories (Shilen & PacNor) do a good job. You can send them your reamer to have it chambered. At minimum their reamers are SAMMUI minimum and are much tighter specs that factor tubes. No reamer chadder in mine. Are they indexed to the extent of that a BR/precision gunsmith does? No. Maybe it is the floating bolthead that helps make this combo work well. Again I am not staying you will have a rifle that will shoot 1s. But 3s and 4s are absolutely realistic. I have 4 Shilen pre-fit Savage barrels. I live close enoughthat I have been to Ennis a few times. I was also fortunate enough buy my barrels when Shilen first started introducing the pre-fits at an incredible bargin. It cost you $20-30 more for a pre-fit than the blank cost you until this past year. They still are in the $300 range - just a little higher than a blank.

I don't know of another factory platform that allows such flexibility and produces such good results. If you want a dedicated single caliber, nothing wrong with putting a custom tube on that M700, once it has been trued-up. However, my first two custom barrels on M700s I did with so-so gunsmith and the proved to be a waste of time and money. In non-Savage rebarrels, I believe is difinitely in your interest to have a good gunsmith correct flaws in the action and install the barrel.

I don't think most of us need a rifle capable of Shooting short-range BR accuracy. But it sure is nice to have something that will hold 0.5 MOA at 300 yds that isn't a $3000 custom rig.

Again, everyone has their option. This is only mine and it probably isn't worth the time I spend typing it.... but its out there...

Luck to all in the search of better accuracy, Tim

 

[dennisinaz]

But the beauty of the barrel nut is that for $300 you can get a pre-fit custom in your extra choice of specs that has the same mirror finish as any custom barrel. I have Pre-fit Douglas, PacNor, Shilens, McGowens, and even a Shaw. They all way out perform the factory tubes.

You are putting a lot of trust in the theory that $300 will buy a match grade barrel, already threaded and chambered when, for any other make of rifle, $300 will only buy you a blank. Do you think that the barrel factory puts as much emphasis on carefully chambering a barrel for a pre-fit as a good accuracy smith does?? I don't think so.

It allows the average guy to tinker and set headspace without having to own a lathe but does not take the place of quality gunsmithing.

My $280 dollar Shilen match (not select match) barrel shoots in the .2's on a Stevens 200 in .204 with 39gr Sierra's.

Who put that barrel on?

 

[tiny68]

Who put that barrel on?

I have installed all of my own barrels and several for friends. Just curious why that matters. Tim

 

[coonhunter70]

But the beauty of the barrel nut is that for $300 you can get a pre-fit custom in your extra choice of specs that has the same mirror finish as any custom barrel. I have Pre-fit Douglas, PacNor, Shilens, McGowens, and even a Shaw. They all way out perform the factory tubes.

You are putting a lot of trust in the theory that $300 will buy a match grade barrel, already threaded and chambered when, for any other make of rifle, $300 will only buy you a blank. Do you think that the barrel factory puts as much emphasis on carefully chambering a barrel for a pre-fit as a good accuracy smith does?? I don't think so.

It allows the average guy to tinker and set headspace without having to own a lathe but does not take the place of quality gunsmithing.

My $280 dollar Shilen match (not select match) barrel shoots in the .2's on a Stevens 200 in .204 with 39gr Sierra's.

Who put that barrel on?

I did it myself it was my first one, I bedded it in a Bell&Carlson tactical/varmint stock. I called Jim Briggs at Northland Shooters Supply and he had this barrel in stock so no waiting, needless to say i'm thrilled with this thing and it was enjoyable to be able to build it myself.

 

[LR_Shooter]

I installed few barrels from Jim on my Savage actions, its an easy job once you get that barrel nut loose for the first time ;-) and I admit that them barrels out-shot factory, say 20 vs 60 - 90 seconds

 

[Asynjor]

Yes great rifles, everyone should buy at least 4 of them! That's what I did and 3 of them could not hold 1 minute... They only worth buying because of the action, the rest is plain junk...

I've had 4 different savages and 7 different factory barrels on them. Of the 7 barrel, 6 were good (.75 MOA or better) one was sent back to savage and replaced. I also have one shillen pre-fit that shoots very well. No action, or trigger problems with any of the guns.

6 savages if you count my 22 LRs. That both shot great, there no Anshutz but still did very well.

Completely opposite of what you make out to be the norm.

 

[jonbearman]

I took a short action I bought from a member with a rifle basix 2 trigger and screwed a stock stevens 7-08 sporter tube on it.I then cleaned it vigorously with JB Bore paste and than brushed it.You wouldnt believe the metal chips and garbage that came out of it.Oiled it lightly and found an old bvss stock.(the barrel is really floated) and loaded some ammo and took it to my local range.Sighted it and shot a real group after about 20 breakin shots and cleanings.It shot a ragged hole at 100 and at 200 it shot about 5/8ths of an inch.I just wanted to try this caliber in a rifle(have 7-08 encore) and it shoots so good(for a 45.00 barrel) that I am going to shoot it out before I buy a shilen or mcgowen or a criterion. There is always a lemon out there.With all the hub bub of savage,I would imagine they cant even keep up with orders and quality will suffer do to trying to get it out the door and deal with the problems later.I work for a company known for high quality,close tolerance machinery and when it is the end of the quarter they ship all they can.If the original poster is really mad,it is the dealers fault and he should just get him another the way he wants it and put his replacement in inventory.Thats what I did with my business to keep the customer happy.He should email Ron Coburn the ceo about the delays he is recieving and stir up the pot alittle bit.I did it at bear archery in the 80's and got the vice president on the phone,he took care of it. Dont suffer in silence,the squeaky wheel gets the grease.IMHO

 

[00Scot]

OK guys here is the latest update. The following is a copy of the email I received from Savage yesterday.

Hi Scott
shipping today 3 day select UPS
Target with it ( 100 yrds .6 3 shot group)
Yes:drop free magazine
Have a good night

So I am looking forward to getting her and testing her out. Worst part is that I have to re-register the rifle since it is considered a new receiver. So I will have to wait another 10 days. Savage said they will pay the $35 for the 2nd DROS. We shall see if they send a check in the box with the rifle.

Either way she is finally on her way home to me. Took forever, but it sounds like it will be worth the wait.

 

[bozo699]

Scot,
That's good news

 

[00Scot]

Yep, the only problem is that I will have missed the entire deer season this year. I started this purchase before the season opened and the rifle won't even arrive until after the entire season closes.