I recieved a Savage super sporter(model 40?) in 3006 yesterday for xmass from my f in law. Ser #9711. Any idea DOM? It has a steel butt(SVC) and sling swivels, no checkering. Someone mounted a scope with see thru mounts. Were these rifles drilled from factory? Has a King rear sight on it, were these factory or special order? She actually cleaned up very well. I can text pictures if anyone is interested. I know these kick like mules. I shot one(model 45? had checkering) years ago in 3006. TY!

I have a 45 in 06 and have shot it with mil spec WWII ammo (2700-fps) and felt the recoil totally managabable. I wouldn't be inclined to shoot hot loads as it is a rear locking action and warmer rounds might end up in a few case failures and eventually head space issues. But 2700-fps is certainly sufficient for getting the job done. The 40/45 was made between the late 20s and WWII, with some possibly being kicked out the factory door right after the war to use up parts and to get something back on the market in the immediate post war economy. They generally were not factory drilled but I suspect Savage would do it if requested; and that likely would have involved a Weaver side mount with a 330 scope. The King sight was likely an owner add on. It sounds like yours is an early Super Sporter with the round tipped forearm. I personally think they are interesting rifles and somewhat underappreciated. I find the weight of mine quite agreeable and it points well with a peep sight.
Can you post pictures?

Nice Xmas present!

You are correct forearm tip is rounded. Ty for the info!

"Ser #9711. Any idea DOM? "

Ruff estimate, around 1931. 1928-1941, around 23,000 made. 3/4 were Model 40's. Yours is a first version.

TY sir!

Your 45 is probably the spittin' image of my Super Sporter. I should also mention I put on a leather lace up kick pad as I found the length of pull a litle short. If you don't like the recoil then I'd suggest you try one of these too. Plus the lace up pads just look right on those guns.

Not factory d&t for scope mounts.

King rear sight is almost certainly a replacement.

SS40s had plain wood, while the SS45s had checkered wood and a Lyman #40 receiver sight installed at the factory.

The first/early models had rounded "English-style" forearm and the magazine release was a tab on the bottom of the stock.

The second/later models had schnabelled forearms and the magazine release was a button on the right side of the stock.

The Super Sporters in 30-06 were reputed to develop headspace issues over time.

Not bad rifles, but not quite up to the competition from the Winchester 54s and 70s.

I will slide a limb saver pad on it. Release tab is on bottom of stock. Gun was fired very little. Funny thing is I have shot many Win 54s and 70s in the 3006 and larger and they never bothered me. I guess i just dont fit the stock?

I think the 40/45 is bit lighter than the 54 and 70. And I wouldn't put it in the same class as the Winchesters are Mauser actions and the 40/45s are really like 22s on steriods. However, keep the loads on the conservative side and you should be okay, and leave the hot rods to the Mauser actions.

I have 2 m40's. one is #422x from 1929-30 in .300 sav. with snable foreend and savage "eyes" for the strap. The other is #1538x from late 1936. It is in 30-06 with a round foreend and replacement sling swivels. Neither is drilled for a scope and both have the magazine release tab on the bottom of the stock. From my research I think the bottom style magazine release is 1936 or older

I have owned several 40/45 Super Sporters in both the early and late configurations and I have all of the catalogs from that period.

As per the catalogs and those that I have owned or seen, they are/were as I have described them.

Although you never say never with a Savage product, I have never personally seen an early 40/45 with a schnabelled forearm, nor have I ever seen any 40/45 with a schnabelled forearm that didn't have the later magazine release style that featured a button inletted into the right side of the stock. Could it be possible that the stock on your early 40 was reworked to have a schnabelled, rather than rounded "English style", forearm tip? Non-cataloged configurations do happen, but generally close to the transition date of a configuration change or close to the end of a run and subsequent discontinuation of a model, when some of the last guns were put together from whatever parts were left in the warehouse without consideration of the then current cataloged configurations.

The last 40/45 that I had contact with was a nearly mint 45 in 30-30. It was of the early configuration style, rounded forearm and bottom magazine release tab, and was SN 295x.

BLR358WIN's SS
sorry took so long.

TY!!

Is the stock all original? swivels?