Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Savage 14 American Classic - thoughts?

I prefer wood/bluing to synthetic/ss... in catalogue pict's the american classic ones look pretty snazzy to me.

savage 14 american classic

I'm considering a new one in .308... just need to wait until the shop actually gets one for me to see. They were first out in 2004 I think, anybody got one? Happy with it? The accutrigger looks interesting, but until I get one in my hands, I don't know if it will seem too weird.

Also, I know some folks don't like the nut on the back of the bolt of the savages... doesn't bother me too much. But what's the story with having the tip of the sear sticking up out of the stock? Is there some advantage to it being visible? Also the accutrigger models have a 3 position safety, the instructions I saw off the web make it seem a bit strange to use the middle position. If you have one, how have you found it?

They also have a new model... "Euro classic" coming in 2006. It has a different stock (with cheekpiece), an oil finish, and it has iron sights on it... looks like it could be interesting.

Euro Classic

Input would be appreciated.

I think that Savage has FINALLY made a decent looking rifle. There stocks have always been boxy and ugly IMHO. I saw one of these at a store and was quite surprised to see that it was a Savage! Unfortunatly they still put that fugly action in this good looking stock!

You'll like the accutrigger and the safety. Everyone who pulls the trigger on my 11FL has one comment.."Nice."

I've seen them, they look really nice, for a Savage. I like Savages, so that's not a slur. The stock looks pretty darned good, and it handled well. Locally, they were selling in the $489 range..... the new magazine would be an improvement, as well.

Savage has been making some variation of a rifle like that for quite some time. I had one, a .270 stainless in walnut. I believe it was call a classic ultra or ultra classic. I liked it but it's still a Savage. The forend tip on mine was cheesy black plastic that show white if scratched deep. The stock is pregnant like the birch stocks, IMO. I thought the checkering was very good for a factory stock ands it shot very well. I did like it, but a nice winchester still beats it hands down and the prices are about the same.

They are a very nice looking rifle and being a savage you know they'll be accurate.

thanks for the comments... reassuring that the triggers seem to be liked... I don't think I've come across any negative comment about them.

I have an old Savage 99 that I really think is a classic, and also a 60's vintage deluxe model 24... so to me anyway the Savage name doesn't have a stigma connected to it. I will admit I've handled their newer synthetics a coupe times and they didn't turn my crank at all. I agree that these classics are the first savage in a while that look good to me.

Dempsey, in these parts, there is a big price difference between the savage 14 and a winchester (a featherweight in .308 would be nice). A 14 "classic" can be had for <$550 after taxes... A featherweight would be >$900. I could put some decent glass on the savage with the difference.

What about the exposed sear? It seems that it must be exposed for some reason... Otherwise it could be down under the stock and out of sight.

I have a 116 in .338 WM that has a great trigger and is really accurate, but I have to ask; what is it with Savage and blind and detachable magaizines? Why can't we just have a normal hinged floor-plate?

by "sear" do you mean the lil thing sticking up on the right side sticking out of the top by the rear of the reciever? if that is what your talking about its not a sear, its the bolt release.

Duhhh... Knew there had to be an obvious reason, makes sense.... but it looks like the end of the sear... look here.

http://www.savagearms.com/at_pressrelease.htm

also I read an article in rifle shooter lately that mentioned the exposed sear, but didn't say that acted as the bolt release.

I really gotta get out and handle one of these, or at least something with an accutrigger.... then I'll have a bit of a feel for it.

Thanks for the clarification

It also serves as a cocking indicator, letting you know, (when it's in the upwards positon) that the rifle is cocked.

I have been seriously considering the classic in 30-06 or 300 win mag. I have a 16fcss in 308 and LOVE the accutrigger and it is a very accurate gun. I too love the looks of the classic and think Savage has done a very nice job with the new 14's and 114's.

i see what you mean. hadnt looked over the pics of the Accutriger well enough to see they were connected like that. in the Pre Accutriger Savage, its just a bolt release(maybe cocking idicator too, but never paid that close attention to it)

I'll get stoned for this but.........I don't like the accutrigger..
the piece that you push to engage the sear feels like travel-creep to me..once engaged it breaks like glass but you still have that travel ...wheres the improvement here??..personally it think it's to much to worry with...JUST MY OPINION........

I asked for opinions... as I said above, I thought it might feel weird to me too. We'll see. Thanks for the $.02 Just curious, do you have one yourself , or handled someone elses? Maybe it takes some getting used to.

A friend has one ..he likes it I think it felt like to much to do..I perfer a plain trigger..and yes I've shot his many times..

Brent, that is quite a price difference up there. I'd chose the Savage under those circumstances for sure.

RLB i see no reason why you would get stoned. hell thats like getting stoned cause you say you prefer the feel of a straight stock to a monte carlo. its a personal feel thing. as a design i like the accutrigger idea as a good way for Savage to get around its lawyers and keep them happy and give the average joe one heck of an adjustable trigger. there are other ways to get to the same place, but not many major makers are making an effort to do so

As mentioned earlier, Savage has offered a walnut stocked M110 rifle for years. A cousin has one in 30-06, also with detachable box magazine, that's at least 25 years old.

No fore end cap on his or gizmo'd trigger, but it still shoots very well and would probably still look good too, if some ol' cow farmer hadn't owned it all these years. Spent too much time rattlin' around in pickup gun racks, lost what little purty it had long ago.
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Only question I have is, how they can call the thing an American Classic, if it ain't offered in 30-06?

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The Model 14 is a short action. The Model 114 is a long action, and is offered in .30/06.

I'm with RLB on the Accu-Trigger. I haven't actually shot a Savage with the Accu-Trigger, but I've tried them in the gun stores. I just don't like the long take-up with the blade safety on the face of the trigger. It's way too Glock-like for me. I'd much prefer a nicely tuned conventional trigger. Maybe I'm too picky, but all of my bolt action rifles have had their triggers tuned-up, or replaced.

Despite that, I think the 14/114's are the nicest looking rifles Savage has put out in years. I'd say go for it!