Trying to decide Savage vs Browning

[birddog 68]

I purchased a Xbolt synthetic hunter in 280 Remington with a 26" barrel and sent it to my GS to work on the trigger and AI it. Gun shoots great and has taken numerous animals. This route may save you a little bit more $$. That being said there's nothing wrong with the choice of a Savage either but I don't care for the accutrigger. Just my preference.

 

[ButterBean]

Savage gets my vote

 

[Rick Richard]

Either one will work. It just depends if you get lucky with the factory purchase and get a good one.

 

[Betarider]

Yeah I played with the trigger issue myself with too light of setting. The trigger on savages is okay but I HATE browning triggers and the odd way they recoil.
If you could put a Trigger tech on a savage it would be amazing JMO.

I'm curious as to why you don't like the trigger on the Browning's? Now mine is 35years old but has worked fine for me.

 

[Reelamin]

I'm curious as to why you don't like the trigger on the Browning's? Now mine is 35years old but has worked fine for me.

For me the browning suck for being able to adjust compared to Savage even clear back to the 90's. I have a brand new "adjustable" browning won't budge an ounce lower than 3lb 9oz.

 

[Mark37082]

I did not check, but are the twist rates the same. Browning seemed to be a little ahead of other manufacturers with faster twists. I prefer a little faster twist to open up bullet choices. I've owned both, but not in 280ai. I just prefer Browning for feel, look, and consistency. Both produce fine rifles.

 

[Betarider]

For me the browning suck for being able to adjust compared to Savage even clear back to the 90's. I have a brand new "adjustable" browning won't budge an ounce lower than 3lb 9oz.

So other than the spring rate there's no problem? No creep or notchiness or inconsistent pull right? I'll squeeze a tennis ball for the higher trigger pull weight

 

[Buckleman]

put a spring kit in the Brownings. Available at MCARBO

 

[Yakcountry]

Both make a great rifle, but Browning has my vote. I have an X-Bolt and love how it shoots.

 

[Tidus56]

I'm curious as to why you don't like the trigger on the Browning's? Now mine is 35years old but has worked fine for me.

The trigger weight reminds me of shooting a carry pistol…squeeze…squeeze more….why won't it go….holy crap….for the love of….bang. Of course most my triggers are 1#-1.5# pounds with my varmint rifles in the ounces.

 

[Starbuck]

They are both good rifles... My suggestion is Savage if you ever plan to have it as anything other than 280ai. If you are the kind of guy who buys a rifle and doesn't ever mess with rebarreling, the Browning is a fine choice.

I come across the "you can't rebarrel a Browning" statement from time to time, but it's not accurate information. I hear it might have been at one time due to an exopy type thread locker on the action threads. Plenty of gunsmiths will do it. Just peruse Gun Broker for awhile, and you'll see plenty of rebarreled A Bolt 1,2, and X bolts, which disproves the assertion that you can't rebarrel a Browning.

If you like what the X bolt has to offer, I'd buy one, even if you want to mess with it at some point. Nothing against a Savage. I own several Savages and multiple A and X bolts. All have given good service, but, IME, the Brownings offer better feeding and extraction right out of the box and over time.

I'd also give a look at Tikka. They are more robustly built than either option listed, and that's not just an opinion or conformational bias because I own one; it is substantiated through empirical data. The Canadian Rangers tested most extant bolt action rifle designs to determine which offered the lowest failure rates. They also tracked accuracy. Worst conditions imaginable - sand, snow thousands and thousands of rounds. Tikka's proved to be the better mouse trap.

 

[snox801]

The trigger weight reminds me of shooting a carry pistol…squeeze…squeeze more….why won't it go….holy crap….for the love of….bang. Of course most my triggers are 1#-1.5# pounds with my varmint rifles in the ounces.

Lol that's how I feel most the time. I remember shooting trigger and thinking they were good. Now that all mine are great aftermarket when I shoot a accutrigger I feel like it's never gonna go off. Like shooting my glock.

 

[skipglo]

I thought we were going to have a FIRST TIME EVER THREAD! Well done folks, just about everyone stayed on track....just about...lol. My vote goes to Browning and it sounds like I got the only GREAT TRIGGER...pull is 2.5 lbs on my Xbolt hunter, zero creep, beautiful accuracy and just me but I think Browning will hold its value far better if you are someone that resells.

 

[Tim Sharp]

Wanted to order a 280AI custom, but it's out of my budget.
Looked at Christian Arms but I don't like the stock on the Ridgeline which is on the high end of the budget at $2,000.
Looking at a Browning X-bolt Hells Canyon Max Long-range for $1300 and a Savage 110 Long Range Hunter for around $900.
Either would allow me more $ to put into the scope.
Plan to shoot handloads mainly for deer and predators/hogs at ranges out to 750 or so. I am stuck on the 280AI just because.
Any suggestions are appreciated as to the browning or the savage, or something else in my budget and this caliber.
thanks

I would go with the Savage. I have the High Country (270 Win) and it just shoots. I had the same trigger issues as Bomberodevil (the trigger on my rifle was too light from factory). It is easy to adjust; increasing the pull weight corrected the issue. Obviously, one could always swap the Accutrigger for one of the many aftermarket triggers available. The Savage line has button-rifled barrels which I believe is a bonus in a factory rifle. The weight of the Savage is slightly less than the Browning, if that is of any concern. The fit and finish of the Browning will be superior to the Savage and the Browning HCMLR does have a 26" bbl!