My first Savage arrived after a much too long of wait, but I guess I was never in any hurry to get it either.... 1 year... 3 months... 16 days later...
It's a model 14 American Classic in .223 LH. It's got the new accustock fixings so the bolt release is by the trigger guard and it's got the smooth barrel nut.
Currently mounted on it is a Leupold VX III 3.5-10x40 but I have a used 4.5-14x40 AO that I purchased coming.
This is my first 90 degree bolt throw gun and if their all the same I'll be going back to 60 degree offerings. I like some clearance.
If you can see, their is an air gap between the bolt and side of receiver. Not really a fan of that because water/snow/rain can fall right through into the magazine.
Not a fan of the location of the rear rings. I think there's plenty of room to mount the adjustable windage screws between the two screws. I'll won't be changing them because there's no sense but not much I can do now. I got no clue what the black dots are for. They serve no purpose as far as I can tell besides appearance. Rear ring base had very long screws to screw into the action, a good thing. However the front ring base, the screws are very short. Probably each one only screwed in 3/32" while the rear ones went in 3/16"
Pretty poor wood to metal fit on the underside only. The bolt is really nicely polished. Also the same polishing pattern on the bolt is on the barrel as well. I slid the bolt back and forth probably 200 times and it's a lot smoother already.
What else... The detachable mag takes some getting used to. It snaps in sorta special. Also there is a plastic plug in it. I think they use a standard SA for their .223's.
There is an ugly mold line along the bolt handle
Also when feeding from the mag, the bullet tips rub the feed ramp that pushes them up to the chamber - it is center feed and I think center feed overall is smoother than an offset magazine design. I always complained about the Tikka t3 mags being hard to load the 3rd round. This mag is hard to load the 2nd/3rd/4rth. I guess that's the benefit of a staggered mag, more room to push them in.
The accutrigger I like, the metal peice you have to push in binds if you don't push it straight back, makes for a better smoother trigger pull when you know your pulling it straight. I have already lowered it to the lightest it will go. Really easy and really nice now.
I find after some shots the bolt is quite difficult to cycle, specifically the upstroke to re cock. I've heard you can get your bolts worked over. Perhaps this will be done in the near future.
It's got a 3 position safety that I fail to use. I'm used to the browning bolt 2 position safety.
Accuracy wise it was shooting 1.5 MOA. I was prone on a wagon with my bipod. No rear support besides my arms.
It does feel like a solid rifle overall. It seems as if it's half arsed pillar bedded, I say half arsed because their are metal pillars in which the action screws go through, but the screw/action don't pinch the pillar tight between them and the pillars are not epoxied in. I'll be glass bedding the rifle as well as the recoil lug could use it especially.
What else can I say. Balances nice. Looks pretty good for a Savage. Right now I don't think I'll be getting another, mainly due to the bolt/scope clearance - it it the same for all 90 degree guns? If so I'm never getting another 90 degree gun, I think I said that already.
Really like the cartridge - .223. Plan is to shoot 69 grain matchkings or similar bullet which is why I got the Savage - 1 in 9 twist.
I think it'll be a love hate relation, but I really do like it. For the price, you get what you get. It'll see a lot of use. I know that much and surprisingly all the minor imperfections don't bother me that much! Either way I'm a happy camper.
Savage - The good, the bad, the ugly
Whenever you correct somone's grammar Just remeber that nobody likes you .
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