The unspoken model 110. Investment Cast Action

[ONE-TEN]

Not often seen, many Savage fans never haven even heard of these. But Savage did try their hand in Casting some 110 Actions, in the ‘88-‘89 years, coming out of their bankruptcy. They first tried casting them with Integral scope bases & recoil lug, but after problems, the receivers were cast without the scope bases, Savage choosing to braze them on after casting. Some of you out there may have one of these. All Cast Actions received an “F”-marked serial number.
The Actions experienced significant warping problems, and I doubt anyone would feel to safe running any high pressure or Magnum cartridge through them. However, they are an interesting piece of Savage Arms’ history.

 

[CFJunkie]

Another bit of Savage history from a guy who knows a lot of it.

 

[ONE-TEN]

Another bit of Savage history from a guy who knows a lot of it.

Well, I just research & read….. A LOT! But I’d say I know more than the
A-VER-AGE BEAR!

 

[Txhillbilly]

Most of those actions don't even make good hunting rifles. The actions would twist during heat treating, and the scope bases would make it almost impossible to zero a scope with a 1" tube. You would run out of adjustment.
Everyone that I've ever seen were setting in a used gun rack at a store. If you put a straight edge on the scope bases, the scope bases wouldn't come close to lining up with the barrel.

 

[ONE-TEN]

Most of those actions don't even make good hunting rifles. The actions would twist during heat treating, and the scope bases would make it almost impossible to zero a scope with a 1" tube. You would run out of adjustment.
Everyone that I've ever seen were setting in a used gun rack at a store. If you put a straight edge on the scope bases, the scope bases wouldn't come close to lining up with the barrel.

Yeah, I’ve seen nothing but bad with them. Another harebrained Savage idea! At least they were short lived. Still, I wouldn’t mind having one just as a wall hanger. I’m no collector, but I love my Savage 110s!

 

[Creeker]

Thank you, learned something new.

 

[Pirate69]

Maybe I have been lucky, but this is my investment cast action at 500 yards. See bottom group. Shooting a McGowan barrel.

 

[Fjold]

Interesting information. It's weird that there's a caution about using high pressure loads with the cast action, Ruger has been investment casting actions for decades without pressure issues.

 

[Pirate69]

I did an internet search on failures of the Model 110 investment cast actions. The results follow for what it is worth.

I have not found any documented cases of catastrophic pressure-related failures (receiver burst, bolt failure, etc.) that are specifically attributed to the late-1980s investment-cast Savage 110 actions.

What I did find are reports from Savage enthusiasts and gunsmiths describing:

• Receiver warping/twisting during heat treatment. [savageowners.com]
• Scope-base alignment problems severe enough to affect zeroing optics. [savageowners.com]
• General opinions that they were undesirable compared with standard forged/machined 110 actions. [savageowners.com]

Importantly, the source I found includes a user's statement that they "wouldn't feel too safe running any high-pressure or Magnum cartridge through them," but that is presented as an opinion and not evidence of an actual pressure failure. [savageowners.com]

So based on the material I could verify:

• Documented dimensional/manufacturing issues: Yes. [savageowners.com]
• Documented pressure-induced action failures: I could not find any. There may be anecdotes in old gunsmith circles or print magazines, but I did not locate a verifiable report showing a cast 110 action failing from chamber pressure.

 

[ONE-TEN]

Interesting information. It's weird that there's a caution about using high pressure loads with the cast action, Ruger has been investment casting actions for decades without pressure issues.

They are not all the same. For instance, CZ has about the best IC process there is. The CZ 75 is an iconic pistol capable of the same use & abuse of any Forged firearm. They are the standard by which all others are measured! Ruger does a fine job as well. But I’ve some cast pistols I wouldn’t trust putting a 22LR through!

 

[mattri]

Interesting thread

 

[ONE-TEN]

Maybe I have been lucky, but this is my investment cast action at 500 yards. See bottom group. Shooting a McGowan barrel.

Yes, yours seems to be a diamond in the rough! Hey, even a broken clock is right TWICE a day!
So yeah… there are sure to be some decent shooters with the Cast Receivers. And yours is proof!

 

[Detritus]

They are not all the same. For instance, CZ has about the best IC process there is. The CZ 75 is an iconic pistol capable of the same use & abuse of any Forged firearm. They are the standard by which all others are measured! Ruger does a fine job as well. But I’ve some cast pistols I wouldn’t trust putting a 22LR through!

Same here, CZ or Ruger/Pine Tree sourced ICs (many would be surprised how many firearm and non- products out there start with Pine Tree IC parts) I'd trust pretty much without a thought.

others have to prove they're not trash. Just take a look at the cast products from Olympic/Safari Arms back before they abandoned that line. An AR lower isn't a pressure bearing part (the barrel and BCG take all of that), and the cast Oly lowers were still prone to stupid failures.