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 original 110 used a C-spring extractor surrounding the bolt head, with the bolt face slotted for a mechanical ejector. Around 1966 the bolt was redesigned. Current actions use a sliding wedge extractor built into the right locking lug, and a spring-powered plunger ejector built into the bolt face. Both features are similar to the post-'64 Winchester 70. A guide rib was added to the right locking lug which engaged a groove in the receiver raceway to provide smoother bolt operation.

Opportunity For Improvement

As with all other models, the 110 has its detractors. Probably the most common criticism is of the trigger. The original trigger was adjustable, but the adjustment screws were hard to access and adjustment was not easy. The trigger was changed as part of the 1966 redesign to provide easier and more precise adjustments.

Most Savage triggers I've tried are too heavy at 5 to 6 pounds out of the box -- but then so are the triggers of most mass-produced rifles. With most current production rifles, those who are fussy about triggers should factor the cost of a trigger job or replacement trigger into the purchase price.

For most hunting purposes the standard trigger can be tuned to a satisfactory release. With any firearm, as popularity increases so does the selection of accessories. The current Brownell's catalogue shows three replacement triggers for Savage rifles, from Rifle Basix, Sharp Shooter, and Timney, at prices in the $80 to $90 range.

Some hunters, especially those pursuing dangerous game, feel that controlled-round feeding adds an extra measure of reliability. Most Savage models are of the push-feed design, but interestingly, Savage has adapted the action on one model to controlled feeding.

The 116 SE Safari Express has the bottom of the bolt face opened so that as a round is stripped from the magazine, its rim slips up under the extractor. In addition, the bolt face is slotted to accommodate a fixed mechanical ejector.

The 116 SE extractor is the same spring-loaded sliding wedge design of the regular Savage models. In my experience with both Savage and Winchester rifles this design has proven completely reliable.

Another criticism is that some models were not as well polished and detailed as other makes. On some '80s and early '90s package models there were obvious mold lines on the bolt handle from the investment casting process.

I suspect many buyers were more interested in value than in appearance. At any rate current production models seem to be more nicely detailed, with mold lines polished out even in the economy grade models. On fancier models such as the Safari Express and the handsome Ultra model, metal polishing and overall fit and finish are very nice indeed, certainly equal in quality to other makes in the same price range.

Designed To Protect

The standard 110 action is well designed to protect the shooter. What appear to be a second set of locking lugs (behind the actual lugs) are in fact baffles that block the lug raceways in the receiver when the action is closed. In the event of a case failure, these baffles would prevent most of the escaping gases from coming down the lug raceways. Two escape holes in the receiver ring are intended to vent escaping gases away from the shooter.