Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Sporters and Super Sporters

Ok, so I may have a mental defect, but here goes. I checked out the Model 1920 on GB from another post and it got me to thinking of a rifle I'd seen at the local store recently- a Super Sporter in 3006.
As I recall, it was a bit of a goofy looking, inexpensively-made hunting rifle (but much better looking than the 340). So I did a bit of surfing and there are a few on the auction sites. I assume these don't garner much collector interest, but I find them strangely appealing. Did I mention my mental defect?
Does anyone here have any pertinent info to share on these firearms? Any reports of accuracy with the open sights? How they "feel" regarding function? Can they be fitted with a receiver sight?

Thanks for indulgin me.

CAL9

I hate to see this question fade away. I'll give it a bump to see if we can get an 'expert' to bite.

I've never owned or shot a centerfire Sporter. I'm interested in Savage rifles from the 1920's, and intend to own and shoot at least one Sporter someday. I've read about them, and handled them.

>>>Does anyone here have any pertinent info to share on these firearms?<<<
The Sporter was the Model 40, and the Super Sporter was the Model 45. Within models, the features changed slightly over the years it was manufactured. The M45 had stock checkering, and a Lyman receiver sight was standard. The M40 did not. Both were marketed as a replacement for the M20 rifle. Ccontemporary gun pundits criticised the M20 as too light, and not long enough to shoot '06-length cartridges. The M40/45 is in the 7.5-8 lb range. (I think the M40/45 is too heavy, and the action is too long.)

>>>Any reports of accuracy with the open sights?<<< Can't say.

>>>How they "feel" regarding function?<<< Without having fired one, they feel heavy, unbalanced, 'clubby', with smooth bolt travel.

>>>Can they be fitted with a receiver sight?<<< Yes; factory drilled and tapped.

I have a 1928 sporting magazine article reviewing a prototype version of the M40. If you would like a copy, PM your snail mail address. I can also try to scan it, (but no guarantees).

cal9: Have owned and shot Md.40 in 30/30,and Mdl 45 in'06 for some time. Both fitted with receiver sights, and as accurate as aged eyes can shoot Irons. Like 'em enuff that I'M "In the market for the 300 S.and 250 S. ..Lyle

They were probably good guns, but oh so ugly. As men are so visually driven the pretty, sexy guns get all the ...action.
I've never owned any Savage bolts except for a 1904. I'd buy one if it came to me, but, I sure as hell ain't looking for one of them.....

Like RandyS wrote, the Savage 40 was the standard grade rifle with open sights and without checkering. The Savage 45 used the same action, but the rear sight dovetail was omitted and a Lyman #40 receiver sight was factory installed. The 45s also had checkered wood.

Both the 40 and 45 were "Super Sporters". "Sporters" were the Savage 23 series in 22 LR, 25-20, and 32-20.

The Super Sporters in 30-06 had a reputation for setting the rear locking lugs back and causing a headspace problem. I have owned 40s and 45s chambered for all 4 cartridges that were offered; 250-3000, 30/30, 300, and 30-06, as well as a couple of custom rifles in 219 Zipper and 228-250. All shot as well as I could shoot them, given their 1 big deficiency, a terrible trigger.

The 40 and 45 barreled actions remained the same throughout the production run, but there were 2 different styles of stocks and 2 different magazine releases. The early stocks had a rounded "British Style" fore-end, while the later rifles had a schnabled fore-end. The earlier rifles had a magazine release on the bottom of the rifle and to the right of the magazine. The later rifles had a magazine release button on the right side of the stock. 1 note of caution, the magazines are slightly different and will usually not work smoothly in the release system that they weren't designed for.

I had a Savage 45 in 250-3000 that had been d&t for Weaver style bases as a truck gun at 1 time. It was mounted with a 6x Unertl scope and accounted for a number of NH & VT woodchucks, but it was heavy, had a terrible trigger, and found a new home when somebody in PA wanted it more than I did. The 40s and 45s were often scoped, as they didn't require any modification to the bolt handle or safety to allow for a low central over the bore scope placement.

Jeff