Long guns: fall is a peak buying time for customers seeking shotguns and rifles

Shooting Industry, Oct, 1994 by Russ Thurman

Savage's Classic Hunter 111 Series has certainly improved with age. The new 111G is built for those shooters who embrace traditional character in their hunting rifles. Fine cut checkering and a vented recoil pad enhance the polished walnut stock. It's also available in left-handed versions. Calibers range from .223 Rem. to .300 Win. Mag. and it weighs from 6 3/8 to 7 pounds.

A unique over-and-under is Savage's Model 24F that combines a lower shotgun barrel and an upper rifle barrel. The caliber/gauge includes .22 LR/20-gauge, .30-30/20-gauge, .22 Hornet/12-gauge, and .223/12-gauge plus others. The Model 24F has 24-inch barrels, a two-way, top-opening lever, a single trigger, a crossbolt safety block, and it's drilled and tapped for scope mounting. It is chambered for 2 3/4- and 3-inch shells.

In development at Savage is a new offering that is a continuation of the 116 Series. The rifle will be chambered in the .425 Express, a cartridge developed by Shooting Industry's Cameron Hopkins.

Springfield

No one offers the M1A rifle series like Springfield. An established leader in highly accurate, high-power rifles, the Springfield name is spoken at competition ranges throughout the country.

The standard M1A from Springfield is chambered in .308 Win., .243 Win. and 7mm-08 Win. It has a .22-inch barrel, a 5- to 6-pound trigger pull, a front square post sight and a rear military aperture with MOA click adjustments.

The Super Match M1A offers sub-MOA accuracy with a 22-inch 1:10 or 1:12 right-hand twist Douglas Premium air-gauged custom match barrel. The trigger pull is set at a snappy 4 1/2 pounds.

Springfield also offers one of the most unique rifles on the market. The M6 Scout is a modern version of the U.S. Air Force Survival Rifle. The over-and-under has a .22 LR or .22 Hornet over a .410. It weighs only 4 pounds and is easily stored. The barrels are 18 1/4 inches long and it is 32 inches long overall. With the stock removed for storage, it measures only 19 inches long.

Stoeger

Fortunately, Stoeger still imports Sako firearms. These rifles have craftsmanship carved all over them. The newest Sako offerings are the Finnfire and new calibers for the TRG-S rifles.

The Finnfire is chambered in .22 LR, has a 22-inch barrel and measures 40 inches overall. The stock is of European walnut with a checkered grip and forend. The front sight is a hooded blade and the rear sight is adjustable. The Finnfire has an adjustable single-stage trigger.

The TRG-S rifle series has three new chamberings: .25-'06, .300 Wthby. Mag. and .338 Lapua Mag. The TRG-S series was introduced from Finland by Stoeger in 1993. It features a resistance-free bolt with a 60-degree lift. The 22- and 24-inch barrels are free-floating and the trigger is fully adjustable.

The IGA shotguns that Stoeger imports from Brazil include the newest addition to the Condor I line. The Condor Supreme is chambered in 12- and 20-gauge and is offered with 26- or 28-inch barrels. The oil-finished hardwood stock has checkering on the pistol grip and forend. It features a manual safety, single trigger and automatic ejectors.