Savage rifles questions

[blueMug]

what’s the real story with Savage? everyone says they’re the kings of accuracy, but then I keep hearing about how rough their barrels are inside. people talk about tool marks and chatter like they’re standard.
do they just foul up like crazy but somehow still group well? I’m thinking about getting one, but I’m debating if I should just buy a donor rifle for the action and throw a custom barrel on it right away. what do you guys think, is the factory barrel worth keeping?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I bore scoped my AXIS 223. And my 110 Varmint. The Varmint had a nice finish inside. The Axis not so much. I did polish my Axis with mothers.

 

[hdskip]

For me it would depend on my end use of the rifle. If I were going to compete at some level I would have different opinion about my accuracy needs than if I were shooting deer at 100-200 yards. In my case I set a budget on my projects. My first rifle back in mid 70s was for hunting but I also wanted it to shoot well. I didn't have advantage of internet just magazine at best. The Savage worked well for a long time. I also never "invested" in a bore scope, nor have I since. I always try things first before I discard or dismiss things. I find a challenge in finding out for myself. Since you asked, in my opinion I'd try it before I invested $6-700 on a custom barrel unless I was going to compete. If I were going to bench rest compete I'd not choose a Savage action for me.
By the way I have both custom and factory barrels .

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I just scoped my A22 target, both my Mark 2's and 64. They all have nice bores.

 

[Felchmiester]

I must have just been there on the right day at the right time because both my axis in 223 and the just basic mark II from wallymarts shoot amazingly well with just box store ammo the 223 is currently in process of getting accuracy upgrades when done it should be a bit more accurate. As long as the groups are at a half inch or less at 100yds I'm satisfied with that, I know it's not a $15,000 one holer special and I don't expect it to be.
for the record if I had $15,000 I wouldn't be spending it on space gun or transformer looking boom stick.

 

[Txhillbilly]

Since you asked, in my opinion I'd try it before I invested $6-700 on a custom barrel unless I was going to compete.

Where are you spending $600 -$700 on a barrel for a Savage action? Most Pre-fit barrels for a Savage will run $250 - $500 depending on the brand and style. Now, Carbon Fiber barrels can run up there, but I personally wouldn't own one.

To the OP, Most factory barrels don't look good when viewed through a Bore Scope, it comes from being Button Rifled, and then the factory doesn't lap the bores like custom barrel makers do. So the tool marks and chatter marks really show up with factory barrels. It doesn't keep them from shooting great, but most will copper foul worse / faster than custom barrels, and take longer to clean.

 

[Felchmiester]

Jb bore paste and a barrel mop polish it up with some elbow grease and then if you want you can get the next finer jb bore paste and yes more elbow grease but it will look much prettier when you are done

 

[hdskip]

Texhillbilly I apologize but when I hear custom barrel I'm used to blanks and gunsmith work. I'll back out of this conversation .

 

[Felchmiester]

Texhillbilly I apologize but when I hear custom barrel I'm used to blanks and gunsmith work. I'll back out of this conversation .

I guess I'm brain dead cause I didn't see any reason for leaving the conversation...like I said I'm brain dead

 

[Jim0001]

what’s the real story with Savage? everyone says they’re the kings of accuracy, but then I keep hearing about how rough their barrels are inside. people talk about tool marks and chatter like they’re standard.
do they just foul up like crazy but somehow still group well? I’m thinking about getting one, but I’m debating if I should just buy a donor rifle for the action and throw a custom barrel on it right away. what do you guys think, is the factory barrel worth keeping?

Shoot it first....

 

[K9TXS]

I shoot the Savage 110 PCS in .20 Practical & 6 BR. The 20P has a 15" barrel and the 6 BR has an 18" barrel. It started life as a .223 with a 10.5" barrel. Never shot it with the original barrel, but the two barrels I have from X-Caliber are really good. When shooting at the range other shooters seem to be amazed at the accuracy. I've heard several comments referring to, "I didn't know a Savage shot that well, especially a handgun." I only took off the 10.5" barrel since it was not the caliber I wanted.

I'll be buying another one and move one of the barrels over to the new one. It only takes a few tools to make a switch.

When I first got mine, the action had a very gritty feel. Stripped it down and gave it a good cleaning to remove over spray and it really smoothed the action out.

Before I bought the 110, I priced out custom actions, barrels, stocks, etc. and found it was a lot more money to do what I wanted to do. I'm glad I took the 110 PCS route.

 

[SevenFan]

To the OP, Most factory barrels don't look good when viewed through a Bore Scope, it comes from being Button Rifled, and then the factory doesn't lap the bores like custom barrel makers do. So the tool marks and chatter marks really show up with factory barrels. It doesn't keep them from shooting great, but most will copper foul worse / faster than custom barrels, and take longer to clean.

Well said! Once a few boxes of ammo have been run thru the barrel it will settle in, be sure to clean frequently during initial break in.

 

[CFJunkie]

I can't say how all of my 8 Savage factory barrel bores looked when new.
After the first two, that shot really well, (well enough for several of my range buddies to buy Savages) I never worried about how the next 6 barrels looked using a borescope.

All 8 shot accurately out of the box and, I admit, I didn't always break them all in very carefully.
It didn't seem to matter after I had 50 rounds down the barrel.