thefilmguy Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Hey guys, just want to mention up front, this is a great forum. I've picked up a lot of info prior to getting my first rifle. My question is, what do you guys recommend a Savage or a Remington. Basically I'm looking for a rifle that's a decent shooter out of the box but also something I can build onto. I'll also be hunting so I'm looking at a .308. But long term I'd like to start shooting at some ranges in the Denver area and get more familiar with the long distance shooting sport and enter some competitions. I've seen the cheap start up rifle thread and I'm wondering how important is it to have the detachable magazine option, since Savage has some really nice rifles i.e. http://www.savagearms.com/10fphsprecision.htm Or should I just pick up a remi 700 and start there? Also, remington says they have a short action and a long action in the .308, which one is better for competition? Any and all thoughts are welcome for this newbie to the sport. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 I have this discussion with friends all the time. The big problem(s) with Savages is the trigger and action. With some tweaking, about equalling the price of a stock 700, you can get it to shoot as well as an equally tweaked 700. The action on Savages are long actions though and for some this is an issue. The Remington 700 SPS is a great platform to start. Retail is around $600, which means they can be easily found for around $500. Throw some decent glass and give it to a reputable 'smith to do some tweakin' on the rifle (trigger, smoothing out the action, etc.). Work up loads and just "learn how to shoot the rifle". As your skills come up, you can change out parts/accessories, until maybe sending the whole thing to say George at GA Precision for a full blown rebuild (or better still, just have him build a new rifle). Hope that helps. The GA Precision Crusader is the heat and definitely something to consider. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxshooter Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 I have a bunch of Remington 700s. Out of the box they shoot and require very little work to really shoot ( stock bedding etc). I have been looking at the Savage's lately. A friend has one with the AccuTrigger and it is smooth as glass and very easy to adjust. You can also switch barrels on them yourself. I would like to hear what some Savage owners have to say in responce to the original question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Religious Shooter Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 My question is, what do you guys recommend a Savage or a Remington. Basically I'm looking for a rifle that's a decent shooter out of the box but also something I can build onto. I'd recommend a Rem 700. I've seen the cheap start up rifle thread and I'm wondering how important is it to have the detachable magazine option, since Savage has some really nice rifles It's very important in MOR and the sniper/tactical/field matches. Though I'd say it's less important in the latter. 95% of the time the winner of a sniper/field/tactical "major" match will have one. The last two winners of the USPSA MOR sidematch had DM mags --- AICS type with Moots and HSS with Carlock. If you want to have competitive equipment you need one. If the Savage had a good DM system available for it I would get the Savage 10FP. But they don't. So I'd get a 700. Also, remington says they have a short action and a long action in the .308, which one is better for competition? I'd get the short action unless for your intended game/match will have a a lot of 1000+ yards shots. Very rare. Short actions have... shorter actions. Long actions will have longer throws and will potentially result in the slower manipulation of the bolt when compared to a short action. Most winning cartridges in the "normal" matches (<1000 yards) are native to the short action --- .308, .243, 260, 6 whatever, etc. I'm sure you can make them run in a long action with tweaking but I don't think the potential advantages outweigh the headache. The action on Savages are long actions though and for some this is an issue. Savages come in long or short actions. 10FP series is short. 110FP series is long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M118LR Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 A REM700 would be the way to go. You could find a PSS for under 800 dollars. But there is nothing wrong with a 10FP Savage Tactical. I have two of them. One of them is in 308. It has a McMillian stock, big bolt handle and a Basix trigger. The rifle is very accurate. It would be a good rifle to start with, but if you have the money the REM700 is the way to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefilmguy Posted January 8, 2007 Author Share Posted January 8, 2007 Thanks for the info. I think I'll go with the remington. Still looking for 308 though. Just stopped by local Gander Mountain and they had lots of used 7mm, but no 308. Another question, should I be looking for a remi with a detachable magazine or is that something that I can easily (and affordably) modify on my own later? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codyb Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Another question, should I be looking for a remi with a detachable magazine or is that something that I can easily (and affordably) modify on my own later? Don't get Remmy's DM it doesn't function reliably and in most MOR matches it is not that much of an advantage. If you decidede you just have to have one later Badger Ordinance make bottom metal that will work with the AI mags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milanuk Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 The action on Savages are long actions though and for some this is an issue. Haven't handled many Savage actions lately, have you? Short actions have been out for years now. For MOR where *speed* is an issue, specifically mag reloads, the Remmy may be a better option. Many newer Savage models come w/ a single-stack drop-box magazine now, but I'm not sure that includes the heavy-barrel 'target' or 'tactical' models. There are others out there working on making conversions to use AI mags on the Savage, but there are several existing and tested options for the Remington already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 (edited) The action on Savages are long actions though and for some this is an issue. Haven't handled many Savage actions lately, have you? Short actions have been out for years now. For MOR where *speed* is an issue, specifically mag reloads, the Remmy may be a better option. Many newer Savage models come w/ a single-stack drop-box magazine now, but I'm not sure that includes the heavy-barrel 'target' or 'tactical' models. There are others out there working on making conversions to use AI mags on the Savage, but there are several existing and tested options for the Remington already. Haven't in a long while and have had no need to. Remingtons are better easily available. Rich ETA: That said, if someone made a good detachable mag system for them, I'd probably pick one up as the "anti-expensive tactical rifle". Edited January 11, 2007 by uscbigdawg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cottyw Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 Remington...look at my other posts. I started with a Savage/SS and then took everyones advise and got a remington. I now have a Remington, Leupold and AI chasis. I will soon be putting a custom barrel on it. If you have the money go with the Remington. If not get the Savage/SS combo and you will be very happy. Will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nphd2000 Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 I just faced this dilemma. I was looking for a first accurate rifle to play rifle games. I had a Remington 710 30-06 and everybody said "get .308", so i was going to get a Rem 700. I mentioned to my friend "I think I'm going to try some sniper/accuracy competition" he said "I'm selling a Savage FP-10, 20" .308 w/Leupold VX-III, for you, $600.00" I couldn't pass up that deal. It shoots great but now I'm starting to think about the detachable mag thing which I never considered when making that compulsive purchase. I hope someone will come up with a detachable mag system for the Savage soon, or, I'll just have to buy a Remmy 700 too! By the way, the Remmy 710 30-06 with reduced hand loads, will put a 3 shot group the size of a quarter at 100 yds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefilmguy Posted January 12, 2007 Author Share Posted January 12, 2007 Great advice from everyone, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paraman1 Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 I have owned both and still own both . The Savage is fun because they are easy to work on and you can swap barrels with ease . The Remington has far more parts to customize it and several options for a DBM . My biggest problem with Savages has been getting them to feed correctly which has never been a problem with the Remington . The fit and finish on a new Remington is gong to be twice as nice as the Savage but if you like to tinker and do things yourself the Savage is much more user freindly . I waffle back and forth as to which I like better but if I were having a custom built it would be Remingon all the way via GA Precision in Kansas . The DBM systems I have encountered have been crappy at best and I used to have GA Precision with the Badger DBM . It was hard to cycle and mag changes were a PITA with the Badger and I believe it is the best you can get . The GA Precision portion of the rifle was perfect but if I had it to do over I would ditch the DBM and practice loading 1 at a time . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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