What is Big Green's quality control like these days? I am thinking about a 30-06. My thought is Savage can't be beat as far as accuracy and customer service goes, but I always have liked the 700. The classic lines can't be beat. Maybe Remington fans can tell me what is going on there. Since Marlin moved up to the Remington factory, I haven't heard anything good. But I know the 700 has always been a good rifle. What do you think?

Buy a Browning XBolt.

Look though the blue print thread... 700 seem to be the majority, and 700 clones also. I have always been a 700 fan, although never owned a savage, I think the proof is in the pudding. Too many 700 around here.

+1 for remington here!

It comes down to what you like. If you pick up a savage and cycle the action and you know point it around like a 6 year old playing duck hunter and don't hate it you'll prob be happy with it. Like you mentioned it won't be lacking in the accuracy dept. I just don't really like the "feel" of a savage. I love my remingtons but wouldn't put them against savages for accuracy out of the box.
Anyway another +1 for Remington

Remington or who? ?

Not joking.

Remington quality might be dropping but it's still not at the Savage level. Savage build a fine gun but it has no refinments and it pretty mucha tool.

If you just want a rifle to put in the back of the closet to take out and kill something a couple of times a year, get a Savage. If you want a rifle that you're not ashamed to be seen with, get a Remington.
And from what I've experienced at various factory matches, that myth about Savage accuracy is pretty much that, a myth.

Maybe try a TC venture......

I'm a Remington guy.

If your patient, get a beautiful used 700 from 60's or 70's for even less money. Just got a 30-06 from 1966 for $300. Waaayyyyyy smoother than any Remington today.

In contrast, i've been wheelin and dealin' to get a SS MR in 7-08 from my brother. Different strokes.

.

Here's an early '80's Remington 700 BDL in 7mm Rem Mag. It's been pillared, glassed and floated. Trigger has been set at 3.5 lbs and I've replaced the aluminum bottom metal with steel. I mounted a Leupold scope in Talley rings. It's a great shooter and looks pretty good, too. I wouldn't do that to a Savage.
Bob

I have not seen the drop off in QC that many say they have seen with new Remington 700's, this question is a no-brainer for me I'd take a new Model 700 anyday over a Savage.....Good luck...............Hb

700 are nice and the 30_06 I own is a great shooter. However I now own two savages and they both perform just as well and they both look good. They both have there ups, there would probably be strong arguments for both. I do remember when I bought a savage in the past that I had heard they had a bad rep, but when I picked it up and most importantly when I shot my first one I was very happy and wouldn't trade it for anything. Then again when I bought the 700 it felt good and shot great too so I wouldn't trade it for anything either. Long story short I don't think you will have issues either way. Plus there are lots of aftermarket parts and upgrades for both. Good luck.

+1, I have 4 new Remington rifles, all picked up in the last two months..... I see no quality control issues with them.

That is a great looking rifle! I know the 700 action is the base for the old military sniper rifle as well as many benchrest and target rifles. Thanks for that photo.

Oh goody. A Remington vs Savage debate.....just like old times.......



Casey

Remington 700 hands down.

A better comparison would be the garbage Rem 710.

The new Remingtons look and shoot great to me. I wouldn't own a Savage.

Obviously you fellers haven't handled a Savage American Classic lately, Savage, no contest, ain't even close.

If Savage was my only option in hunting rifles, I would stop hunting with rifles.

Buy a Remington and be merry.

My Dad is an ex USMC Scout Sniper, he once told me that one of the armorers told him that they use 700s 'cause the government is too cheap to buy 'em model 70s.

That does sound like a decision the government would make. lol good times.

That's all fine and dandy, except for the fact that Marines used Winchester Model 70s for sniper rifles.

Easy choice, Get the new Remington with the barrel nut!

Ha ha ha that's some funny chit right there.... ..Probably true too... .....Should have seen the guy shooting my 9.3x62mm yesterday...He was ready to turn his nose up to his remingtons...I knew you of all people would understand ...Just something about shooting that 1 1/4" group (5 shot) from the sitting position that won him over

I love the Chevy vs. ford question

Depends. If I wanted an "out of the boxer" shooter that was a good value for my money, it's Savage. If I wanted a gun I might customize down the road, it's Remington. Both answers to me are "no brainers". These days you have to spend a lot of money to get a really good Remington. They are not the "value" they use to be. Not even close. I have only ever purchased these two brands of guns and the Savages won't win a beauty contest but they ALL shoot. My last Remington cost $1150 and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. To make matter worse, Remington C/S didn't care. It was the last Remington I will ever buy. Having said that though, I recently bought a Savage and it is crazy accurate AND I have just built two custom rifles, both Remington clones.

I would take a Savage American Classic over any Remington.

Did the Old Remingtons look like crap and shoot like chitt?

As a general rule, I'd rather play the Remington lottery than buy a Savage. Two exceptions: 6.5x284 Long Range Hunter, and the HS Precision model .338 Lapua Savages. Probably the Savage might shoot better, but I can't get past the looks.

Aw heck, whats wrong with a barrel nut? other than it looks like something My neighbor put together in his shed or My boy made in 9th grade shop class...Lol.................Hb

Actually, it's not even the barrel nut. The back of the receiver is cut too square for my tastes.

But the nut sure don't help any...

Hard for anyone to say this Savage is ugly.



I hate me the barrel nut and the little lever in the Accutrigger but I've spent more time and money customizing Savage actions than any other.
My present Savage build is going to rival any SS/synthetic factory based custom I've seen. Nutless of course and light weight.

If you were able to get your hands on stainless LH 700's, would you still have bought the Savage?

That's a beauty K...All except for that accutrigger thingamagigy

Where did you get that stock nsaqam? It's beautifully proportioned to your Savage!

Savage or Tikka.........or Sako

I'm sorry if I left the impression that this was my Savage. It's not. I just stole the picture from Google Images.
It is however a picture of what is purportedly a stock, factory Savage 14 American Classic.
Savages, at least some of them, can be very good looking rifles.

Except for that Accutrigger thingamajiggy!

Maybe and maybe not. If I could get a SS 700 donor for the same price as a SS Savage donor I may just go the 700 route.

There are however things about the Savage design which I prefer over the 700 design.
Gas handling is one, with the 110 being unparalleled in that regard. I also prefer the three position tang mounted safety on the 110 to all others. The easy and cheap boltface changes on the 110 are also to be commended.
Last but not least is the affinity I feel towards Nick Brewer and Savage for thinking about us lefties since the inception of the design.

For once we agree on something ..However, I was hoping that was your rifle so you'd quit giving me a hard time about owning right handed rifles

Just get a Savage if you want it to shoot & shoot right out of the box w/out having to repair it in the 1st place. Find an older remmy 70s-80s 700 and you will be ok also.

OK...just to muddy the waters a bit...I DO have one customized Savage. It's a 7mm Mag stainless, restocked, glass-bedded, etc. It has a Bushnell 3200 mounted in DNZ rings. Not bad...my "foul weather" rifle. That's a 5-shot group, with factory 154 grainers.
Bob

Those American classic stocks are very nice, I've been thinking about snagging one of them and an old $200 savage beater for a future project...I'm thinking 8mm...either 8x57 or 8mm Gibbs(I already load for one 8mm Gibbs so I have the dies and a few good loads worked up....)

Don't tell my wife, she panics at the though of me planning to spend money...

You can quit hoping L because you can rest assured that I won't spend a penny on a RH bolt gun for my own use.
That's just not how I roll brother.

I have had both and much prefer the Remington.

I like Savage for what they are erector sets that shoot well, that allow me to try unique and uncommon cartridges. If money and gunsmithing fees weren't an option I'd probably run a M700 clone since there are more and better options for stocks. For strictly off the shelf hunting rifles I'd rather have a Winchester or commercial Mauser.

I will agree that is a beautiful stock, but I think it was a nice piece of wood wasted on the rest of the rifle with the Accutrigger, barrel nut and horrid looking bolt shroud(bolt handle with a bolt through it) but hey it might be like a Tikka T3 and shoot like a house afire!! that would be a big plus................Hb

I've owned good and bad examples of both Savage and Remington. To me the Remington is a more refined rifle.

If I'm going to buy either a Remington or a Savage 110 new it's going to be to shoot it, not to drool over it. Savage every time, don't have to dink with anything to make it shoot. And if I do want it to look nice, the model 14's are perfectly nice.

Have a couple of the stevens 200's and like both of them a lot. Have had other 110 rifles in the past and always had good service from them, but if I was to sell em all off but one, I would keep my older 700 mtn rifle w/o a doubt. My 700's have always been solid performers and I must have had 10 or 15 over the years. As a matter of fact I am sort of thinking about doing just that. At my age I am having a hard time coming up with scenarios that I would be much interested in that my 700 in .270 and a 22 rimfire wouldn't handle. Besides even if I do try and sell some off I'm sure I'd keep a few more just because they are worth more to me than they'll bring.

One factor being ignored is the date of manufacture. I found a Remington 700 in 270 win made in the 80s. Great gun gives groups under 1" with all ammo I have tried. Looked at some of the new stuff from Remy and quality on low end rifles is not close to the 80s or 90s workmanship. Now if you go to the higher priced line with Remington, I must say it looks like very good quality work.
My lower end Savages will out shoot most current production Remingtons in the lower price ranges. I do not get the "pride of ownership" in NEW lower end Remingtons. The 80s Remington 700 surpasses the Savage 110 in handling and accuracy. Comparing new vs new I would take Savage. Older vs older my choice would be Remington. One thing to consider is that you can be sure of what you get with Savage-accuracy and dependabilty. When comparing guns I think the period of manufacture is important.

haters gonna hate ...

I have savages and remmys. the savages outnumber the remingtons. I do love the remingtons, but I think the reason I've got too many savages is that they make them in unique calibers/configurations. where else are you going to get a .250-3000 sav, or a .22 hornet, or a 6.5 CM or 6mmBR in a factory rifle?

as far as accuracy is concerned, both the Rems and the Savs shoot for me. I will say that I'll take the accu-trigger any day over the "x-mark pro".

Something no one has mentioned:

Should you buy choose one or the other, should it have a problem: Support from the manufacturer.

I have 3 Rem 700's. .280,30-06,7mm mag. All good shooters, and I will nerver get rid of the 280.......But on Thursday, I am picking up the Savage 10 Predator Hunter in 6.5Creedmoor. I will let you know my opinion at a later date. Years ago, I did have a Savage 17 hvy barrel, it was a tack driver but the action was very crappy. My dad passed away and he had a Ruger 77/17 so for sentimental purposes I kept that one, I can't get that thing to shoot a good group.

Yep, that's what interests me about Savage rifles.

I have a 700 ADL .270 bought new in 2002 that is a tack driver. I have a Savage .243 with Accustock and Accutrigger bought new a year ago and it is a tack driver. If buying new today I would buy a Savage. If buying old I would buy a Remington.

I have both rifles and like different qualitys about both...The Remingtons are pretty much bomb proof and very accurate right out of the box, but heavy. The Savages ok shooters,like the triggers and very light weight. Considering the Savage 7.08 if I ever draw my Bighorn tag.

I really blew it, not buying an older Rem 700 in 30-06 a couple months ago. Savage does not seem to be the bargain any more, unless you go for the Stevens or Axis/Edge models. The standard Savage bolt gun probably goes for as much as the Rem 700 SPS. I have a Savage slug gun as well as an old 99 in .300 Savage. Really, I am a little disappointed that Savage never carried through on the plan to bring back the 99, even though that was probably just a pipe dream. I just like the design of the 700 over the Savage and know that 700s are good rifles.

I am a little concerned about the quality of the newer 700s. This includes the barrels on the recent guns. It's not really a problem, though, because there's so many good, used 700s out there (even lefties) from the 70's and early 80's to buy. My older 700s with factory barrels shoot superbly.
Bob

I have a Rem 700 BDL .280 made in the early 90's, and then a Rem 700 ADL/SPS .300 WM I bought last year. The .280 is a lot smoother than the newer ADL (yes, I know ADB vs. BDL), and I have had feeding problems with the ADL/SPS. I also have older Savage 116 .30-06, I have dealt with customer service of both, and Remington was easier to work with, but for a new rifle today, I would opt for a Savage over the Remington. Overall would be a Tikka though.

bought this for my wife last summer. her choice with my input. she says it's the most beautiful thing I've ever bought her and the prettiest rifle she's ever seen. Shoots same hole or shadowed holes repeatedly at 100 yards.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/savagefiles/firearms/models/610/0L2VgAUD6_qOvfrnKji.png
my rifle? for deer it's a 90s model 7-08, the wife's original "for her" rifle that I started using. Even without the better trigger, etc it is so accurate, Savage became "my" rifle choice. A year ago I purchased a weather warrior 300 wsm. Love it. https://s3.amazonaws.com/savagefiles/firearms/models/610/TvOs22fdf_szeVBR1JV.png