Savage Experts - 110 223 Long Action

[65swede]

I'll preface this by declaring; I have no first hand experience with Savage rifles.

A Savage 110 223 Long Action w/ Heavy 26" barrel is available locally. I'm thinking about picking it up and using it for prairie dog shooting. I like the ease of barrel swaps and reputation for accuracy. I think I can get this for ~$350, slap a scope on it and go to dog town. Upgrade the stock and thread for suppressor in the near future.

I believe it's a 9 twist.

As I understand it, this is a somewhat rare configuration from ~2005. Please correct if need be.

Other than the excessive bolt length; are there any pitfalls I should be aware of in a LA 223 blind mag savage?

Would bolt head swaps be an issue If I wanted to change rim diameter?

...Please post gratuitous pics of Savage PD rifles

 

[std7mag]

I picked up a Savage 110 FP in 223 for my wife a few years ago.

One thing i've noticed is the front & rear of the receiver are not "level". Had to shim the back of the scope base. Tried 3 different brands.

Feeding with the long bolt isn't what i'd call smooth. From the magazine the round just doesn't seem to want to align up with the chamber. And single feeding that small 223 cartridge is a PITA.

Otherwise, it's a Savage 110. With all the Savage benefits & draw backs.

 

[JSH]

Savage only made long actions for quite a while, there are spread sheets with that info around.

I have never had a base issue. Pay attention there are round front and rear actions, then there are flat back actions rear base is flat.

Smooth, ya get what ya pay for is all I will say. I have a dozen or so and I don’t have a complaint.

At $350 for a complete rifle, you can’t go wrong.
Is it an accu trigger or no? I won’t advise a rifle basix trigger, I may be the only one on the planet to say that. Trigger Tech is working on one and JARD is a good option, JARD is a complete trigger replacement. Rifle basics uses stock parts from the original set up.

There is a long action Choate stock in the classifieds, been there a while I bet the center would deal. Yes they are ugly as sin. I have variations of all of Choates Savage offerings, I prefer to add as much lead as I can to them for a dog/bench gun.

 

[jpx2rk]

If feeding is an issue, just get a single shot sled from SSS and shoot some dogs.

 

[SBS]

Not an expert, but have owned a number of Savages for a long time. A lot of these were really good shooters. They came before Accu-Triggers, so some trigger work or replacement would be beneficial. If the bolt is original to the rifle, these have larger firing pins and somewhat different bolt heads that have been discontinued. Current heads won't work without some serious alteration; or you can change to the current body, firing pin, head and bolt head retaining pin. If you want to change the bolt head later, might be looking around for a reasonably priced complete bolt. I don't recall that Savage made a 9 twist on these earlier models; 12 being the standard and will work fine for PD work. Score-Hi makes a single shot adapter for the older stagger feed long action that fits on top of the magazine follower and can easily be put in and taken out. If I remember correctly, SSS only makes them for the later center feed actions. https://scorehi.com/our-products/

 

[timeout]

The only Savage firearm that I currently own is a 220 bolt action slug gun. I formerly owned a Savage bolt action hand cannon in 243. If your intention as stated is to just buy the rifle and shoot it, go for it. If you follow the plan of doing this that and the other thing to it down the road then I would suggest that you put your money into something like a Tikka or a Rem 700.

 

[Hammer]

Have owned a few Savage rifles in 223 including short action repeaters and short action singles shots as well as long action repeaters and long action single shots.

No problems with any of them.

Except sometimes the prairie dogs wouldn't stand still and make me miss.

And sometimes bull prairie dogs would charge and I wished I had a bigger gun.

 

[65swede]

Thanks for all the replies. I believe it pre accutrigger. This is a pic from the seller.



I'm thinking a chunky Laminated stock would do well for dogs. I want to see the impacts.

I currently have two Rem 700s in 222, one Tikka 223, one CZ 527 204 Ruger and a couple AR15s. I'd just be adding the savage to the rotation.

 

[SBS]

Thanks for all the replies. I believe it pre accutrigger. This is a pic from the seller.

View attachment 1369760

I'm thinking a chunky Laminated stock would do well for dogs. I want to see the impacts.

I currently have two Rem 700s in 222, one Tikka 223, one CZ 527 204 Ruger and a couple AR15s. I'd just be adding the savage to the rotation.

The long actions didn't change action screw spacing, so ones off later models will work, such as the BVSS laminated stock (which was about as heavy a laminated varmint stock that Savage made).

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I have/had a Savage 223. Shot well enough, but I have changed it to 6mm SLR with a PTG bolt head and Criterion barrel. While this was not the earlier long action, it fed from the blind mag perfectly.
I would look at the availibilty of stocks - do Choate make the Varminter for that action? I rather like that stock on mine.
You may find that careful selection of lighter bullets is required - mine shot best with Sierra HPBT 55g, but was happiest with Nosler Competition or Berger 69g.

 

[uncle fester]

Thanks for all the replies. I believe it pre accutrigger. This is a pic from the seller.

View attachment 1369760

I'm thinking a chunky Laminated stock would do well for dogs. I want to see the impacts.

I currently have two Rem 700s in 222, one Tikka 223, one CZ 527 204 Ruger and a couple AR15s. I'd just be adding the savage to the rotation.

I would get Boyds to make me a "custom" laminated stock in the color and design I like best. They have lots of options to choose from and often have a few pre built stocks on sale.

 

[wbm]

As I understand it, this is a somewhat rare configuration from ~2005. Please correct if need be.

It is.

I had this rifle in the BVSS configuration...the same "everything" as the one above except it came in a laminate stock that looked as if it was carved out of a 4x4. It did not have a black "tactical" bolt body....shot great anyway!

The magazine has a block in the rear and a short action follower. I never had
a feeding issue with that configuration.

Long action? Well if an extra 1/2 inch of pull bothers you well guess it just does. Given a choice between a Savage LA and and SA I would take the LA. More versatile.

Personally, I would get the rifle and put a Boyd's Featherweight Thumb-Hole stock on it. Get the model for target barrel.

Is the rifle worth $350? To me it is. Go for it!!!

 

[moorepower]

The bolt head is an easy swap. I prefer to shoot single shot. I have the RB2 on two rifles and really like them, BUT, most rifles won't go below 10oz. I have a JARD waiting to go on my .284, and it is by far a much safer design, until the TT is released is a superior trigger. As far as screwing on a barrel, there is not easier way to get a premium barrel on a rifle if desired. I would not discount the factory barrel until you try a few bullets from 40-60 grains, as I have only had one Savage barrel out of many that I could not coax into shooting .5 or less from .22H up to 7mm mag.










B2 on

 

[pavementends]

Thanks for all the replies. I believe it pre accutrigger. This is a pic from the seller.

View attachment 1369760

I'm thinking a chunky Laminated stock would do well for dogs. I want to see the impacts.

I currently have two Rem 700s in 222, one Tikka 223, one CZ 527 204 Ruger and a couple AR15s. I'd just be adding the savage to the rotation.

I have had that same rifle for many years. Mine was a 1 in 9 twist. I put it in a Savage laminated stock and it shot very well. It became a 260 foe several years and is now a 6mm BR. Still in the laminated stock and still shoots really well.
Kind regards
pavementends

 

[Ken]

I had one for a while, no problems, shot good. Go for it.

 

[Erk]

Feeding isn’t a problem with any of mine. Ejection is another matter. I believe Savage guarantees their rifles will eject a case sometimes. Edk

 

[Herzo]

I picked up a 110 in 223 with the 26" barrel as the op described. Mounted a Vortex Viper 6-24x scope. Still working on a load for it, thusfar the best I have been able to do is a 0.780"- 5 shot group with the 52 gr SMK ahead of a moderate load of VV-N530 at 200 yards. Wind was variable & the dispersion was 80% horizontal.

 

[65swede]

Gentlemen, thanks again for all the incite. I bought the rifle today. I must say, I am pleasantly surprised with how smooth the bolt operates, trigger is serviceable for now. I'll be putting a 3-9 Nikon on it for the time being, hope to get to the range this weekend and see what potential it shows. Thinking this may turn into a 204 Ruger before too long.

Not pretty but here it is.

 

[65swede]

Bore looks good, bolt seems nice and worn in. It is a 9 twist. It'll be interesting to see how fast I can push a 40-50gr VMAX before they come apart.

 

[6MMsteve]

I have 2 Chaote varmit stocks will sell cheap for the long action, I shot mine single shot removed the mag, cut a pc of thin metal filed the ends and slid it into the slots where the mag used to be, works perfect,