I am looking at buying a used savage 110 .243 for a varmint rifle as a base to build a target/ varmint rifle. It is a base model wood stock pencil barrel. My question is will this be a good starter rifle to build off of or is it not of good enough quality to waste my time on? my end goal is to get the action trued add a new barrel and stock and glass bed it so as to eventually make an accurate Target/Varmint rifle. My skill level is novice to average in the accuracy and fundamentals side of things. I have a 22LR and savage .17HMR that I am using as trainers right now to practice fundamentals with so I don't need a custom top of the line rig cause my ability isn't there yet but I want a descent rifle I can pick up cheap and use it to practice like crazy and then gradually upgrade it.
Used Savage 110 .243?
- Thread starter Civilian Sniper
- Start date
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
Good base to start a build from. Good chambered barrel in your choice of calibers and a Rifle Basix trigger and you're on your way. 8) IMHO, I'd pass on the action true. $$ better spent on barrel, trigger, stock and ammo. 
just found out it is 10 years old and pre accutrigger. still a good idea?
It's still a good base, there are some very fine triggers available for an add on, barrels can be changed out even by the ham fisted like me. Mine is in .243 also but started out with an accutrigger (which it still has. I've added a Sharpshooter Supply LVT stock and just installed a Lothar Walther 28", 8 twist barrel on it.
Depends on the price whether or not it is a good deal. You might want to compare the cost of a new action, with accu trigger, against the price of this used rifle.
You should find out if it's a long action or a short action.
While there is not thing wrong with the long action, if this rifle is such, do you really want to tote around that much more receiver when you could do even better with a short action?
I don't remember what year they went to short actions for the .308 and .223 based cartridges but it seems it was the mid-90's ......... ????
I own long actions and short actions and they each have their place. But if the rifle you are looking at has a blocker in the magazine and it's a long action chambering a .243 then you are looking at an older rifle than 10 years of age. Also, it's more receiver than is necessary.
Besides weight issues you are better off with the shortest action possible for any given cartridge so long as you can "swing" the bullets at the seating depths you care to, everything else being equal.
The reason for wanting the shortest action practical for any given cartridge is that the longer any receiver is .... the less vibration resistant it is. The more it vibrates ........ the less accurate it is.
That's on top of added weight and more length with any given barrel length.
The more desirable models for you would be the two digit models such as 10, 12, 14 and 16 as opposed to 110, 111 112 114 and 116.
The .243 works most fine in the two digits. The three digits are long action.
Best regards
Three 44s
While there is not thing wrong with the long action, if this rifle is such, do you really want to tote around that much more receiver when you could do even better with a short action?
I don't remember what year they went to short actions for the .308 and .223 based cartridges but it seems it was the mid-90's ......... ????
I own long actions and short actions and they each have their place. But if the rifle you are looking at has a blocker in the magazine and it's a long action chambering a .243 then you are looking at an older rifle than 10 years of age. Also, it's more receiver than is necessary.
Besides weight issues you are better off with the shortest action possible for any given cartridge so long as you can "swing" the bullets at the seating depths you care to, everything else being equal.
The reason for wanting the shortest action practical for any given cartridge is that the longer any receiver is .... the less vibration resistant it is. The more it vibrates ........ the less accurate it is.
That's on top of added weight and more length with any given barrel length.
The more desirable models for you would be the two digit models such as 10, 12, 14 and 16 as opposed to 110, 111 112 114 and 116.
The .243 works most fine in the two digits. The three digits are long action.
Best regards
Three 44s
well i bought the rifle today and as i see what y'all were saying about it being a long action on a shorter cartridge ( it really does seem weird) i couldn't pass up the price for only $300. i am looking for some loads to start working with to start to get to know this rifle. any suggestions would be appreciated also i plan to install pillars and bed the action on the factory stock and barrel for now till i can afford to upgrade some equipment, what advice could you give me on how to do this? as this would be my first time.
10ys new, it should already have pillars in it.
Good base to start with, I shoot nothing but savages and they are all very accurate.
Pass on the timed/trued action, not needed IMO at all in the Savage for your usage.
You can get barrels here or from the Savage site vendors, Midwayusa or other site that will meet or exceed your wants.
All my Savages are in standard plastic stocks and they all shoot sub moas to 500 yards.
I dont need a 1 hole gun (but 3 of the 5 I built can do that) since all I do is pop off p-dogs and coyotes year round.
My last buy was the .243 also.
The basix Savage #2 trigger or the SSS trigger would be the ones Id get, both about the same $.
My .243 powders are H414/W760...(same), varget, blc2.
Good base to start with, I shoot nothing but savages and they are all very accurate.
Pass on the timed/trued action, not needed IMO at all in the Savage for your usage.
You can get barrels here or from the Savage site vendors, Midwayusa or other site that will meet or exceed your wants.
All my Savages are in standard plastic stocks and they all shoot sub moas to 500 yards.
I dont need a 1 hole gun (but 3 of the 5 I built can do that) since all I do is pop off p-dogs and coyotes year round.
My last buy was the .243 also.
The basix Savage #2 trigger or the SSS trigger would be the ones Id get, both about the same $.
My .243 powders are H414/W760...(same), varget, blc2.
ttfreestyle
Silver $$ Contributor
The old three screw trigger is a pretty good trigger in itself. My daughter has used a 20 plus year old long action that i put a 6br barrel on, original three screw trigger with spring changed and has done pretty well in F class. Her gun will average half moa out to 600 yards , these are good actions.
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