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Savage M110 Varmint in 204 Ruger

Sorry, no Savages in my safe......never will be.
X2

For me it's not even about how they shoot it is all about how ugly their actions are and to my eyes the Savage action is just flat out fugly, but, I fully understand beauty is in the eye of the beholder so if someone finds beauty in one more power to them.

IMO off the shelf factory rifles are generally a bit of a crap shoot. Sometimes they shoot extremely well while other times not so much. As ole Forrest Gump said you just never know what your gonna get.
 
This brings to mind the great Chevy,Ford, Dodge debate, we really don't need to go down that rabbit hole do we? My Father always said "pay your dollar and take your choice" Variety is the spice of life and this is one of the greatest things about America, we have free choice and lots of them. Speaking of free choice....
I really wish Charlie Kirk was still with us for many many reasons,after all he was very smart and funny too and a hunter, shooter and was on our side with 2A rights as well. I almost can hear him now debating about the pros and cons of a Savage. We have been robbed of a great young man and somehow this puts into perspective for me that we all need to agree to disagree. Sorry y'all im getting off my soapbox now.
P.S. To the OP put me in the Ugly but they shoot well side...:)
Matt
 
Have a Savage 110 action that started life as a hunting rifle in a .223 Storm. Not Tikka smooth ( I’m a card carrying Tikka fan ), but satisfactory with no issues functionally. Hunting opportunities didn’t materialize, so I decided to transform it into a fun range rifle. Dropped it into an MDT field stock and changed the barrel to a 26” Shilen SS bull barrel. Early indications are that it’s going to be a great shooter. Also have a Model 12 LRPV. OEM HR Precision stock and an absolute truck axle for a barrel EXTREMELY accurate and functionally flawless through 2,000 + rounds.
LOL! Have to disagree with Seabee Ken ! NEVER stick a borescope down a Savage barrel! It will have you walking around in circles talking to yourself as you try to decide how a barrel that looks like that can possibly shoot as well they do !
 
I'm a fan of the Savage actions because I can also swap/change out the barrels with ease. All of the factory barrels shot well except for one IIRC, and some are still in use. I tried to burn up a Savage factory 204R barrel out in the rat fields a couple years back, tested it when I got back home and it still shot as well as it did before that trip as I had an aftermarket 204R barrel leaning in the corner. I couldn't stand it any longer and put the aftermarket barrel on anyways. It shoots a little bit better, but is much easier to clean after a session. Never had any issues with my Savages, and I get compliments on 'em when at the range, both for appearances and target results.
 
Have a Savage 110 action that started life as a hunting rifle in a .223 Storm. Not Tikka smooth ( I’m a card carrying Tikka fan ), but satisfactory with no issues functionally. Hunting opportunities didn’t materialize, so I decided to transform it into a fun range rifle. Dropped it into an MDT field stock and changed the barrel to a 26” Shilen SS bull barrel. Early indications are that it’s going to be a great shooter. Also have a Model 12 LRPV. OEM HR Precision stock and an absolute truck axle for a barrel EXTREMELY accurate and functionally flawless through 2,000 + rounds.
LOL! Have to disagree with Seabee Ken ! NEVER stick a borescope down a Savage barrel! It will have you walking around in circles talking to yourself as you try to decide how a barrel that looks like that can possibly shoot as well they do !
You sure will!
I have a Savage take off barrel on a sporter weight rifle in 7mmRM. There is a patch the size of a dime that looks like a gravel pit and very easy to see with the naked eye, no need for a bore scope.

Guess what---it averages about 3/4' three shot groups! ( A B&t%h to clean after-------a virtual copper mine!)

Hip

P.S. Yes they are ugly but all 4 of mine (6BR to .338WM shoot good)!

PPS Not a bench rest shooter, no longer hunt (too old) I am just looking for something to play at the rifle range a couple of times a week and to get away from "The Old Lady" for a couple of hours! Have a lot of rifles, just want something new.
 
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X2

For me it's not even about how they shoot it is all about how ugly their actions are and to my eyes the Savage action is just flat out fugly, but, I fully understand beauty is in the eye of the beholder so if someone finds beauty in one more power to them.

IMO off the shelf factory rifles are generally a bit of a crap shoot. Sometimes they shoot extremely well while other times not so much. As ole Forrest Gump said you just never know what you’re gonna get.
I sometimes wonder if some, perhaps not all, of the folks who are Savage bashers have had some issues with a Savage ( well known extraction/ ejection issues, easy to fix many times ) or when they think of a Savage rifle, they are thinking of the lower end, budget Axis line. Is my 110 action as smooth as the one in my Tikka T3X? No….but it’s surprisingly close. Probably closing in on 3K rounds between my 110 and Model 12 LRPV and neither has failed me. Not once.
 
I sometimes wonder if some, perhaps not all, of the folks who are Savage bashers have had some issues with a Savage ( well known extraction/ ejection issues, easy to fix many times ) or when they think of a Savage rifle, they are thinking of the lower end, budget Axis line. Is my 110 action as smooth as the one in my Tikka T3X? No….but it’s surprisingly close. Probably closing in on 3K rounds between my 110 and Model 12 LRPV and neither has failed me. Not once.
Speaking only for myself my issue with Savage CF rifles is purely aesthetics. They tend to function fine and generally shoot decent enough but their actions, to my eyes, are just flat out fugly. Back in the early 70's my dad bought a new International pickup. That thing was tough as nails you could beat on it all day long and it would just keep on going but damn was that thing ugly as hell. Savage rifles are like that for me they may be great but they're just not appealing to me at all.
 
Speaking only for myself my issue with Savage CF rifles is purely aesthetics. They tend to function fine and generally shoot decent enough but their actions, to my eyes, are just flat out fugly. Back in the early 70's my dad bought a new International pickup. That thing was tough as nails you could beat on it all day long and it would just keep on going but damn was that thing ugly as hell. Savage rifles are like that for me they may be great but they're just not appealing to me at all.
I guess I’ve never really looked at bolt actions and considered as to whether they were “ pretty “ or “ ugly “. I suppose the fluted bolt in my Tikka Super Varmint is nice looking, but it was certainly not anything approaching a major consideration in the purchasing decision. Perhaps there is something that would be called “ ornate “ when it comes to rifle actions ?
 
Perhaps there is something that would be called “ ornate “ when it comes to rifle actions ?
I see where you are going here, but I'm sure the word your searchin' for is "innate" and not ornate.

Hey, a Geo Metro will get you to the store, but getting there in a nice BMW is just 'better', easier on the eyes, and just more fun. We all have our choices, nuthin' wrong with that.
 
I see where you are going here, but I'm sure the word your searchin' for is "innate" and not ornate.

Hey, a Geo Metro will get you to the store, but getting there in a nice BMW is just 'better', easier on the eyes, and just more fun. We all have our choices, nuthin' wrong with that.
Well, no , not really. If one considers an action in a bolt rifle to be “ fugly “ ( a derivation of “ ugly “ , I suppose) , then I suppose that one would have in mind an action that would be “ pretty “ . I’m just supposing that a rifle bolt and action that would be considered “ pretty “ would be in some way decorative in nature, thus my use of the term “ ornate”. To go full circle, I’ve always just been concerned with functionality in rifle actions as opposed to physical appearance. But as you say , “ to each his own. “
 
Back when you could score a 12 fv for like 250 at bass pro, I would say go for it. These days they have gotten so expensive that I would get something else.
 
Pretty is as pretty does. You guys can keep the psycho super models.

And yes I own Savages as well as customs. End results are all that matter to me.
And they can put metal on target. Even the budget ones. I bet if one had .25 for every pound of meat put in a freezer by an Axis one would be considerably better off financially. They have a niche and have enabled a lot of folks who might not be able to afford a nicer rifle to be able to get in the woods with a functional, accurate rifle.
 
Ordered the Savage from Bud's yesterday----should arrive in 5-7 days.
Around $800 bucks but still have to order another $400 worth of Dies, funnel brass sample bullets, cleaning rod(s) and other gear.
Still wonder how much I will be cursed out when I die and my wife has to get rid of all my junk. Still working on my fishing gear as I don't fish anymore.


Range day today--nice and calm! Usually starts to get windy around here in the fall as I am on an island 20miles by 120 miles.

.223 and 6Br shot good but about time to go to heavier caliber rifles. ( I still think I can hunt!)

Hip
 
X2

For me it's not even about how they shoot it is all about how ugly their actions are and to my eyes the Savage action is just flat out fugly, but, I fully understand beauty is in the eye of the beholder so if someone finds beauty in one more power to them.

IMO off the shelf factory rifles are generally a bit of a crap shoot. Sometimes they shoot extremely well while other times not so much. As ole Forrest Gump said you just never know what your gonna get.
My motto always is "It's better to look good than to be good, but looking good and being good can be the same thing". Savage bolt actions do not meet condition one but meet condition two for me, so I can't get one. Condition one is my must have.

Danny
 
My motto always is "It's better to look good than to be good, but looking good and being good can be the same thing". Savage bolt actions do not meet condition one but meet condition two for me, so I can't get one. Condition one is my must have.

Danny
To each his own, my friend. I have a good friend who’s owned all sorts of rifles through the years and got me started shooting rifles. Doesn’t like Savage rifles because he finds them “ clunky”. He’ s also quick to add, “ but they’re shooters. “
 

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