Center Feed or Stagger Feed?

[ONE-TEN]

The Savage 110 was originally made as a Stagger Feed rifle. From its inception to around 2007 or so, the Stagger Feed was available. In roughly 2005 the Center Feed began phasing out the Stagger. So there were a few years BOTH were available. ALL the 4.40” Short Actions are Center Feed, and ALL the 4.27” Short Actions are Stagger Feed.

What’s the difference?
It’s the way the Actions staggers & feeds the rounds from the magazine. Whether Box or Blind. It’s not very noticeable at a glance.



Why does it matter?
Well, on a stock rifle, it doesn’t. However, the trouble arises if you want to replace the Stock. ESPECIALLY if you want to go with Chassis or AICS Magazine. While it’s possible to do with both, it’s worlds easier with a Center Feed. The Stagger Feed will not work in a Chassis without some modification. The difference is the Stagger Feed uses a Box Magazine attached directly to the receiver, while the Center Feed is simply an opening


Here is the a Stagger Feed once the Box Magazine is removed. The back portion has sharp edges that can be a problem for an AICS magazine to seat into.

By comparison, the Center Feed Action has a rounded, smooth & beveled edge in the back of the mag well opening.


To make the Stagger Feed work in a Chassis with AICS magazine, the back edge of the magwell must be made more like the Center Feed, either by machining or file/sandpaper. When done, it should basically resemble this one, which was performed by the owner to use in his new Chassis.

 

[Shoots100]

Great info about America's longest continuously produced bolt action rifle.
SJC

 

[Alan]

This is good to know. Thanks for sharing.

 

[K80skeet]

I guess I can never understand why people want to wreck a nice rifle with those awful AICS magazines. They look awful. They are hard to carry. They are awful on the beachrest. I own a couple dozen Savages and would never consider having or buying one or having one with that system. I have AR-15's & AR-10's with it and that's way more than enough.

 

[ONE-TEN]

I guess I can never understand why people want to wreck a nice rifle with those awful AICS magazines. They look awful. They are hard to carry. They are awful on the beachrest. I own a couple dozen Savages and would never consider having or buying one or having one with that system. I have AR-15's & AR-10's with it and that's way more than enough.

Well, aesthetics are 100% opinion. You think they look bad, I think they look great. And each of us is welcome to our own opinion, of course. However, performance is without contestation. And the AISC is by far the best performing magazine system for Bolt Guns. Also, for anyone in any kind of timed competition, a 10rd magazine is a MUST to be competitive. They allow 5 or 10+ rounds to fired then reloaded again very quickly. The AICS is also adaptable to every Bolt Rifle, making things easier. And as far as getting in the way, the 5-round mags have no problem with gun rests or manipulation.

So, with all that, I for one, can very easily understand why people choose them. Just a note: AR 10 & 15 mags aren’t the same as AICS. But I’m guessing you simply meant extended, high capacity mags?

 

[CFJunkie]

I just changed to AICS mags because my 6 MDT chassis use them. The 6.5mm CMs use metal AICS mags to get a slightly longer OAL capacity.
The .223, .308s and the .22-250 use plastic MDT AICS mags.
On the HS Precision stocks on my Savage bolt actions, I still use the Savage metal mags.
In my experience, both the Savage mags and the AICS mags work just fine.

 

[Shoots100]

I guess I can never understand why people want to wreck a nice rifle with those awful AICS magazines. They look awful. They are hard to carry. They are awful on the beachrest. I own a couple dozen Savages and would never consider having or buying one or having one with that system. I have AR-15's & AR-10's with it and that's way more than enough.

Why would anyone want to use a combat tested and proven reliable magazine to feed their rifle ?
Blasphemy I tell you !!!!
SJC

 

[pt-73]

I suppose it really depends on what you are doing. Why worry about a mag when you have single shot actions.

 

[NF1E]

Rather than machine the receiver, on a couple of my stagger feeds in MDT chassis, I trimmed the aft of the mags to accommodate the receiver. Not for everyone, but it does the trick for this bubba. If I get ambitious one day, I will do it right. Until then I only single feed anyway and my solution got me into the new chassis in a hurry. Whatta Hobby!

 

[K80skeet]

I still Stand 100% with what I said. They are ugly & hard to carry. You have to be a AR to like them. And still don't see why anyone would ever want one. Your right everyone has a opinion. Sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings.

 

[NF1E]

I still Stand 100% with what I said. They are ugly & hard to carry. You have to be a AR to like them. And still don't see why anyone would ever want one. Your right everyone has a opinion. Sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings.

Somehow I don't think you hurt anyone's feelings. Your opinion, whether educated, or not, is yours and you are the only one that has to live with it. Personally I think they are beautiful. Whatta Hobby!

 

[ONE-TEN]

Indeed!
Any time I look at my rifle I love the style more! In fact, I’m not ashamed to say the sight of this rifle brings me to Half Mast! She is a SEXY Rig! Without the 10rd AICS mag, it wouldn’t be quite the same.



Oh. And no, my feelings aren’t hurt. I wish I could explain things better to help with K80’s comprehension skills. But I just don’t know what else to say, that a person understands why others would prefer the ACIS.

 

[ONE-TEN]

Rather than machine the receiver, on a couple of my stagger feeds in MDT chassis, I trimmed the aft of the mags to accommodate the receiver. Not for everyone, but it does the trick for this bubba. If I get ambitious one day, I will do it right. Until then I only single feed anyway and my solution got me into the new chassis in a hurry. Whatta Hobby!


View attachment 836

Hey that’s great thinking partner

 

[KMW1954]

I guess I can never understand why people want to wreck a nice rifle with those awful AICS magazines. They look awful. They are hard to carry. They are awful on the beachrest. I own a couple dozen Savages and would never consider having or buying one or having one with that system. I have AR-15's & AR-10's with it and that's way more than enough.

I will basically agree with the sentiment, though I would omit the AICS part of it.

I say this as I am basically an originalist. I detest altering anything that can be kept in or restored to original condition. As for altering old Savages, there are plenty of old Savage guns that can be turned into something else. In this case a DBM model be it a Top bolt release or a Bottom bolt release. So why take and old model Stagger feed action and hack it up to use a center feed detachable magazine?

I have an old Model 10 Stager Feed, Blind magazine 223 and I absolutely love it. So much so I have a Richards Microfit Benchmark walnut stock I am building for it. Yes, it still has the 4 round box magazine attached to the receiver. Also, after checking, it will also perfectly feed 6ARC cartridges.

 

[Txhillbilly]

So why take and old model Stagger feed action and hack it up to use a center feed detachable magazine.

If you haven't noticed, Trying to find replacement Blind magazines and followers for the old staggered feed actions can be really tough. If a person wants to change cartridges and they can't find parts, they may just take the easy route and machine the action to use AICS magazines.

Some of us were smart when the center feed actions came out, and bought extra parts for our staggered feed actions.
Personally, AICS style magazines don't bother me. I use them on all of my custom action rifles, and also use 10 round Dark Eagle magazines on my center feed Savage actions.

I still have two staggered feed actions, one long / one short. My 110 FLP was originally a heavy barreled 300 WM that I shot long range for years. When I switched over to 6.5mm cartridges in 2009, I changed this rifle to a 6.5-06. My short action 12 FLVSS is a 223, but I do have bolt heads and magazine boxes / followers for 308 style cartridges. I still use blind magazines on these two rifles.

 

[NF1E]

I enjoy having so many choice. I chose, for the halibut to take a couple of my old stagger feed Savages that I shot factory with for many years and convert them to something that appeals more to me and my desires today. At 78 I ain't telling nobody else what to do with their own stuff. Taking a 1/2 moa rifle and turning it into a 1/4 moa shooter can be a hoot. Whatta Hobby!

 

[KMW1954]

My whole point is that if you have a complete and functional receiver, in this case a Stagger feed, why hack it up into a Center feed when there are so many of those already available and for what use to be more than reasonable costs.

But of course if a magazine system is damaged and parts are nonexistent then there is little choice. Same can be said for vintage cars or boats. For old cars some the bodies are so decayed that turning it into a restomod makes sense. But taking a restorable car and doing the same to me is a waste.

Agree or disagree, that is just my personal view and how I would go about it.

 

[NF1E]

I see most Savage receivers as a base for a good shooter. Never considered Savages even close to a collectable, in my way of thinking, so hacking is acceptable. I didn't hack up my receivers to make them into single feed. I simply modified the mags to fit by nipping a little material off the aft section of the mag feed lips to pass by the receiver. Original rifle could be restored with very little effort and no damage to anything. Whatta Hobby!

 

[CFJunkie]

You don't have to buy 10-round mags if you don't like the mags to stick out so far.

My 6.5 mm CM uses a 5-round metal mag and it is barely visible in the MDT ACC chassis.

 

[ONE-TEN]

Exactly! I mentioned that immediately. The 5-round mags aren’t intrusiveness in any way. Nor do they cause any carry problems. Although, neither do 10rd mags when I think about it.