Savage 110 best-bargain boltgun: the humble savage 110 performs out of all relation to its modest price

Guns Magazine, Dec, 2002 by Dave Anderson

The Savage 110 rifle has been in production for some 45 years. That isn't long in firearm terms. Compared to old timers such as the Colt 1873 revolver, 1911 autopistol, or Winchester '94 rifle, the 110 is practically an infant.

And yet 45 years of continuous production in a tough, competitive market is a noteworthy achievement. During the 110's lifespan many other bolt action models have come and gone. The list includes prestigious models such as the Golden Eagle and Colt-Sauer; economy models such as the Mossberg 800 and Remington 788; middle of the road models such as the Marlin MR-7 and the original Ruger 77.

Without fanfare or ostentation the Savage 110 keeps on going. It may lack the glamour or classic appeal of models such as the Savage 99, pre-'64 Winchester M70 or FN-made Browning. But it is still in production while those classic models are available only on the used-gun racks.

In fact the 110 action is more popular than ever. The current Savage catalogue lists no fewer than 56 model variations built around the basic 110 action. And that's just centerfire rifles. There's also a shotgun slug model, six muzzleloading rifle models, and six bolt-action handgun models that have at least some 110 features.

Value And Performance

No product stays in production year after year, decade after decade, unless it has something special to offer. The Savage 110 has always excelled in two areas. One is value for the money. The 110 is an extremely strong, safe, reliable and durable bolt-action rifle at a moderate cost.

The other area is accuracy. The Savage 110 and its variations have always been notable for their outstanding accuracy. By this I don't mean accurate for the money; I mean accurate, period. Other manufacturers may make rifles with fancier stocks, brighter bluing, better checkering and polishing. But a manufacturer that wants to take on Savage in pure accuracy better bring its "A" game.

Savage's ingenious method of achieving consistent close-tolerance headspace is often cited as the reason for the 110's reputation for accuracy. The key to the system is the heavy barrel nut just ahead of the receiver. After cutting the chamber to minimum dimensions the barrel is turned into the receiver which holds a headspace gauge. Once headspace is correct, the barrel nut is tightened, locking barrel and receiver into one rigid unit.

The system is effective and inexpensive, and no doubt does help ensure that Savage rifles hold chamber dimensions and headspace to tight tolerances. At the same time, though, a properly cut, minimum-tolerance chamber is just one link in the accuracy chain. Fortunately Savage makes the other links in the chain correctly as well.

The Savage 110 action is extremely strong, rigid and concentric. Like the earlier Remington 721/722 and subsequent 700, the action is basically one steel tube (the bolt) operating inside another tube (the receiver). The right-side receiver rail of the 110 action is quite deep and heavy, considerably more so than that of the Mauser 98 pattern, improving the rigidity of the action.

Also like the Remington, the recoil lug is a heavy steel washer sandwiched between the barrel and receiver. The bolt is a conventional design with two large locking lugs at the front of the bolt, while the bolt handle serves as a safety lug.

Barrels And Bedding

Savage barrels are button-rifled. The merits of various rifling methods have been debated for years and arguments will no doubt continue. In fact very fine barrels can be made by cutting the rifling, by hammer forging or by button rifling. More important than the method is the care and skill with which the work is done. Savage has been button-rifling barrels for many decades now, and you can be sure they have the process down pat.

Fitting the barreled action to the stock is another link in the accuracy chain. Savage stocks use a dual pillar bedding system in which two steel pillars are embedded in the stock. Front and rear action screws pass through these pillars into the receiver. When the screws are tightened, the receiver is locked solidly onto the two steel pillars. It's a proven system that works.

The Savage 110 was introduced in 1958. Its design is generally credited to Nicholas Brewer, a long-time Savage employee. In terms of basic operation, the 110 design is quite conventional. The bolt has two forward locking lugs; the magazine is the Mauser-pattern staggered column design that feeds alternately from left and right.

Brewer's great accomplishment was designing the rifle in such a way it could be manufactured and sold at a reasonable price. Gun hobbyists delight in "designing" rifles, by which they mean listing a bunch of features they'd like to see. Almost never does the hobbyist consider the most important step, which is how to actually make their dream rifle.

Production Economics

"They don't make 'em like they used to," is a common complaint. No they don't, and a good thing it is. If they made rifles like they used to you and I couldn't afford to buy them.