Savage 110 Reliable? Weaknesses?

[xterran]

Savage haters are only that...haters. My Ultralight experience has been nothing but good and I've shot and hunted hell out of it for three years now. No problems feeding or extracting and balls-on accurate. I've had lemons form every brand of rifle - my latest being a Sako S20 - and as to Bergara - don't make me laugh! They've had major extraction and barrel issues over the years and continue to run fixes on their line. The only reason most people who hate Savage 110s do so, is the fact they shoot too well for their price - and that can be a bit embarrassing when you've dropped a few $k on a gun and the guy next to you is banging the same gongs at 700 yards for $600!

 

[Lee Goodwin]

Rifles are like guitars. You gotta hold it in your hands and play before you know for sure....
The only thing you can order online and believe, in consistency, is Legos.
So sayeth the old man.
Rock on!
Shoot on!
Play on.....

 

[comfisherman]

I've had issues with accutriggers giving up the ghost in extreme temp and at inopportune times. Have replaced both with aftermarket triggers and that solved that. Have a 116 in 375 ruger that had a bolt that must have the wrong threads on the back side as it dismantles its bolt over about 50 rounds. I just re do the thread locker preventatively lately, and that solved that.

Conversely my 12 has been a tank, it's outlived several barrels in front of it and still has a fully functional accutrigger. Savage qc seems to have followed the ethos of whoever was in charge at the time. My belief is Coburn at the helm made the best guns they made.

Savage serves a purpose, they shoot really accurately for price and often offer a very diverse range of configurations. They clearly serve a market segment and for good reason.

Would I ever take a savage topped with a vortex on a once in a lifetime caribou hunt to the wilds of remote alaska.... well no probably not, swore never again. Or at least not without a spare.

 

[DoneNOut]

Savage haters are only that...haters. My Ultralight experience has been nothing but good and I've shot and hunted hell out of it for three years now. No problems feeding or extracting and balls-on accurate. I've had lemons form every brand of rifle - my latest being a Sako S20 - and as to Bergara - don't make me laugh! They've had major extraction and barrel issues over the years and continue to run fixes on their line. The only reason most people who hate Savage 110s do so, is the fact they shoot too well for their price - and that can be a bit embarrassing when you've dropped a few $k on a gun and the guy next to you is banging the same gongs at 700 yards for $600!

I didn't want to like Savages, but Savages liked me! No kidding, every time I get an idea about a particular use for a gun and Savage had something that fit the bill and with a little hobby gunsmithing they smooth operate!

 

[.300 Dakota]

I may as well chime in since I'm known as "Mr. Savage" in these parts. I am NOT a fan of the newer Model 110s. I'm not a fan of ANY of their barrels except MAYBE the Proofs on their UL. That said, I will take an older Accu-Trigger top bolt release Model 10, 11, or 12, rebarrel it myself, change out the trigger springs and bolt handle/knob and confidently go up against anything anyone else wants to build designed as a hunting rifle. I also change the recoil lug and barrel nut to precision ground/squared/parallel parts, and have NEVER trued one of the actions. I'm not crazy about the safeties on them, but there are worse designs. Interestingly, I much prefer the inexpensive Axis II. It's a lighter weight action that does not require epoxy bedding like the older stamped recoil lug models do. The factory "lug" needs to be changed out, but Boyd's supplies one with their stocks when ordered. I am about to get a long-action Axis II Precision and switch the factory barrel to a Carbon 6 Rem Varmint contour 26" pre-fit chambered in .284 Win. I will perform all of my other usual mods. I did recently buy an Axis chambered in 6 ARC, which appears to be junk. It won't eject, and isn't super accurate. Fortunately, I'm changing out the bolt head from Gendel- to .223-size, and switching barrels, stocks, triggers, otherwise I'd be concerned.

My most accurate build to date (including some aftermarket actions) is built off a $350 Axis and chambered in a .27 caliber Creedmoor wildcat with Preferred Barrel Blanks pre-fit. We collaborated on the chamber design. FWIW, I absolutely despise the bottom bolt release design. Another reason I've went to the Axis more. I have converted the BBR variant (current production) to a TBR, but those top sears are hard to come by. I have 1 last one onhand in the event I see a BBR model I can't live without rebuilding.

I will admit, that if gun parts and modifications of factory weapons were outlawed or unavailable, I would not choose a Savage over a Tikka, Sauer, X-Bolt, or higher-end Howa. With Remington or Mossberg, it would be a toss up.

 

[CogburnR]

I have issues with several push feeds from different manufacturers double feeding due to the sharp bolt actuation I tend to use when preparing for a second or third possible shot(I can fan the bolt and put 4 off that sound like a semi-auto going). My Savage will double feed pretty easily. It also is not especially smooth. It is accurate. Leaving 1 cartridge out helps a lot. Slam that bolt back and see if it double feeds.

 

[DoneNOut]

I have issues with several push feeds from different manufacturers double feeding due to the sharp bolt actuation I tend to use when preparing for a second or third possible shot(I can fan the bolt and put 4 off that sound like a semi-auto going). My Savage will double feed pretty easily. It also is not especially smooth. It is accurate. Leaving 1 cartridge out helps a lot. Slam that bolt back and see if it double feeds.

Bevel the ejector with a file 30 degrees towards the flash hole. It will stop all your problems with feeding. It sounds weird, but it works. Did it to all my Savages and they all feed smooth now.

 

[Greyfox]

I've owned/own about a half a dozen Savages….All consistently accurate and quite reliable with one exception. I generally replace the ejector spring/small quide pin. Not sure if it's the case with all generations of Savage 110's but I've had the ejector springs fail…Due to too short of a guide pin which causes the spring to bend and eventually break. The replacement pin/spring available from Midway USA has a longer quide pin which better supports a slightly heavier spring, and is very reliable.

 

[yobuck]

As for the accuracy part, shooting a good group on occaission is one thing, but shooting consistently good groups is quite another.
Especially when your shooting at 1000 yards.
In the now long history of the 1000 yard club at Williamsport, there has only been one guy who ever won the year end aggregate award for smallest average group size over the entire season two different times.
And he did it with rifle built on a standard Savage 110 lefty action.

 

[ARlife4me]

My dad only bought Win's and Rem's so I only had those to learn from. In '15 I bought a ba/le 110 300wm (tbr) and it's accurate. My only problem with the (3 factory built and 2 action) is the accu-triggers. Their like a drop safety and require the bolt to recock before firing. At the suggestion of another member I installed a Rifle Basix sav-2 trigger. End of issue!

 

[Turkeytider]

Couldn`t be more pleased with my Savage 110 Storm in .223. Had it a couple of years, several hundred rounds. With loads it likes, almost boringly accurate ( POA vs. POI ) and precise ( easily groups sub-MOA ) at 100 yards. No functional issues, though the magazines ( a Savage weakness IMO ) were a bit sketchy to start but for whatever reason have smoothed out functionally. I do keep it clean, let it cool between 3 shot groups. Very good on a first shot out of a cold, clean barrel, important for a hunting rifle.

 

[Turkeytider]

I've owned/own about a half a dozen Savages….All consistently accurate and quite reliable with one exception. I generally replace the ejector spring/small quide pin. Not sure if it's the case with all generations of Savage 110's but I've had the ejector springs fail…Due to too short of a guide pin which causes the spring to bend and eventually break. The replacement pin/spring available from Midway USA has a longer quide pin which better supports a slightly heavier spring, and is very reliable.

So far my 110 Storm in .223, which I really enjoy shooting, has not experienced any extraction/ejection issues. However, I`ve only had it a couple of years and only 300-400 rounds or so through it, so who knows what the future may hold. In order to ensure that the original parts do NOT fail, I did buy a spare extractor/ejector kit, just in case!

 

[yobuck]

Well there is no doubt that a big reason for the popularity of Savage is because they are easy to work on by do it yourself gunsmiths. There are numerous companies offering things like pre chambered barrels for them for example.
And the barrel nut setup they have allows for a handy person to install them with a minimal ammount of tools and experience. They have become so popular for that reason alone, that other manufacturers have copied the barrel nut setup, at least for rebarrel purposes.
The big question/argument is are they capable of handling some of the larger cartridges out there today.
There are very qualified people who say they are not.
And also those who will argue with them over it.
I currently have 5 Savages, the largest being a 25/06, and i like and enjoy shooting all of them.
I have in the past owned a few others, the largest being a 300 Win mag, and i grew to hate that gun.

 

[Turkeytider]

Well there is no doubt that a big reason for the popularity of Savage is because they are easy to work on by do it yourself gunsmiths. There are numerous companies offering things like pre chambered barrels for them for example.
And the barrel nut setup they have allows for a handy person to install them with a minimal ammount of tools and experience. They have become so popular for that reason alone, that other manufacturers have copied the barrel nut setup, at least for rebarrel purposes.
The big question/argument is are they capable of handling some of the larger cartridges out there today.
There are very qualified people who say they are not.
And also those who will argue with them over it.
I currently have 5 Savages, the largest being a 25/06, and i like and enjoy shooting all of them.
I have in the past owned a few others, the largest being a 300 Win mag, and i grew to hate that gun.

Just curious. Was there something unique to the Savage brand that led to your dislike of the 300 Win mag?