Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Savage Model 10 in .223 - what to expect?

Bought a 99% used one, the "Trophy Hunter XP" in .223 - 1:9 with a decently heavy sporter contour barrel, accu-trigger an birch stock. Newer one with the bolt release in front of the trigger.

I really don't know much about them, so if anyone can speak to their reliability & accuracy I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

Probably will be very accurate like most Savage rifles.

Strange, usually the trophy hunter xp came with a plastic stock. It's also generally a package rifle with scope and mounts. They used cheap bushnell scopes or the like. My suggestion is to pull the scope bases off and blue loctite them, if you use what it came with. My buddy loves the package rifles like the trophy hunter. He always brings them to me and I pull everything apart. Most times throwing away the cheap azzed rings that come on them. Sometimes starting with new bases too. Savage uses weaver style bases and cheap aluminum rings. Accuracy is generally pretty good with these rifles. They do benefit from a trigger adjustment and a quick bedding job. Or you can leave them as is. They generally shoot pretty good in stock form. Sometimes the barrel channel is uneven, or the barrel hits on one side. I usually relieve that and even it out. This is all done before shooting them. Just preliminary stuff to look for. Never saw one in the birch stock. Also, most savage shooters like the top side bolt release. The bottom bolt release is not liked nearly as much. I'd expect 1 moa 3 shot groups out of it. Maybe even better with good ammo. Another buddy had one in 30-06 that did not shoot as well as I had expected. I fought it to get 3 shots into 1" consistently. Most shoot better than that though.

As for your other question about reliability: They are pretty reliable rifles, but can be hit and miss on real positive extraction. Just like most savage bolt guns. An upgraded spring and extractor kit can be bought if need be. Shoot it and see how your rifle does. I've had to replace/upgrade the extractors on some of my Savages. They will never be as positive extracting or ejecting as a Tikka. Just so you know up front. The magazines can sometimes be a pita as well. Good luck with your new to you rifle!!

Put a Vortex scope on it and sight it in....

I would expect it to work as designed and be impressively accurate.

THIS...you'll probably be amazed.

But at the end of the proverbial day, it'll still be a Savage. For the occasional use the vast majority of folks give them, they're great.

I'll be in the occasional use category for sure.

I had an older Philipines mfd Intensity 3.8-12x44 on my "needs a rifle" shelf, so I bought a B Square rail & they made a good match so that's my setup.

Looking forward to sight in day, but it may not be for a while.
Lots of fall chores to do. I'd be happy with a 1 MOA rifle, considering what I'm into it for.

Friend of mine has a Stevens 200, loads his ammo on a cheap Lee kit. Shoots little groups.

Expect clunky stock, action that feels like it has sand in it, boringly accurate, trouble free shooting.

I had one years ago, really liked H4895 and Hornady 75gr BTHP's.

I don't own that exact rifle but I have a few Savages. Tzone pretty well nailed it.

They shoot pretty good.