Older savage with integrated scope bases?

[JeepsAndGuns]

Was at a gun/pawn shop bout 40 min from me over the weekend looking at their used stuff. I noticed a older savage I have never seen before. It appeared to have weaver style scope bases on it, but they appeared they were part of the receiver. I looked closer thinking maybe it had paint covering the seam, but no, they were integrated into the receiver.
The barrel was stamped savage model 111, 30-06. It did not have a accu-trigger and the bolt assembly screw was rounded and had only a slot for a large flat head screwdriver to remove it. The barrel nut was also the rounded slots and not squared like both of my newer rifles. So I assume this is old model?
Just struck me as odd as I have never seen one like this before.
I did not take any pictures and I did not buy it as I do not have a current need for anything like it, just curious about it.

[J.Baker]

That was one of the rare cast receivers that Savage briefly experimented with in 1988 or 89.

[sharpshooter]

That was back in the "dark days" when they were reorganizing. It was an attempt to cut costs that never panned out. Sounded like a good idea at the time, but they had persistent problems with porosity, bad finishes and warping. I'd stay away from any of these models at all cost.

[Frontier Gear]

Are these the same ones that have the recoil lug cast into the action as well?

[sharpshooter]

None of them ever had recoil lugs cast into them. The only receivers that had any kind of recoil lug that was integral is the 210 Shotgun,as they have a flat bottom and as far as I know, they have always been cast.

[Frontier Gear]

None of them ever had recoil lugs cast into them.
This one did. Apparently Savage tried it both ways.

https://i.ibb.co/WnqDBFV/DSC06872.jpg (https://ibb.co/K6RNV7K)
https://i.ibb.co/wdZDQ4d/DSC06874.jpg (https://ibb.co/qDLbgpD)
https://i.ibb.co/gg9Djcx/DSC06871.jpg (https://ibb.co/f0FC1Ts)

[sharpshooter]

That is indeed a rarity, I've never seen before. Looking at that picture jogged my memory about a conversation I had with Bob Greenleaf years ago. We were discussing when they went to casting receivers and he did mention about casting the recoil lug into the receiver, but he also said for some reason it caused a problem interfering with a drill fixture and the lug would not cast square enough, so they ended up turning the lugs off the receiver face, and went back to a stamped lug.This was the very first batch they did in '88. From the way he talked, I guess it was just my assumption that the original version never got out. He also mentioned there were about 4 versions of cast receivers, with one being a "unisex" version that had the high side of the port on both sides, which later could be finish milled to a right or left hand version. I've actually seen one of those raw castings. The main idea behind it was to reduce warpage,by having an equal amount of mass on each side, but the one I saw looked like a banana.
One version had the scope bases silver brazed to the receiver and the last version had the bases spot welded.
Late in '89, they decided that all the problems associated with cast receivers was not saving them any money, so they went back to machining out of billet stock.

[JeepsAndGuns]

Wow, very interesting part of savage history I knew nothing about. From the sound of it, it is a very good thing I passed on it!

The pictures posted by Frontier Gear is exactly how this one looked. While I noticed the slightly rough finish to the receiver, I just thought it was some type of media blasting for a matte finish. Did not even think about it being cast.

[Frontier Gear]

Thanks for the great history lesson. Would you mind if I (or someone else) wrote that up using your words as an article or FAQ for the forum?

[cleatus]

I have one I bought new as Trophy hunter xp package in 300 win mag. Mine has the cast in bases and not the recoil lug. The rifle was bought in 1996 and the receiver and bolt body is about the only thing Savage left on the rifle. Never had any issues with it. It shot great when it was new and shoots great with everything swapped out.

[Frontier Gear]

I have one I bought new as Trophy hunter xp package in 300 win mag. Mine has the cast in bases and not the recoil lug. The rifle was bought in 1996 and the receiver and bolt body is about the only thing Savage left on the rifle. Never had any issues with it. It shot great when it was new and shoots great with everything swapped out.

Do you have any pictures of it to share?

[RustyShackle]

I have one I bought new as Trophy hunter xp package in 300 win mag. Mine has the cast in bases and not the recoil lug. The rifle was bought in 1996 and the receiver and bolt body is about the only thing Savage left on the rifle. Never had any issues with it. It shot great when it was new and shoots great with everything swapped out.


Quite impressive. A new member who joined in 15’!!! First time poster too! Was your rifle new old stock in 1996?

[stomp442]

I have one of these actions. It is currently wearing a 26" Criterion sporter barrel chambered in .25-06 sat in a 114 classic walnut stock and shoots amazingly well. In fact its one of the best shooters I own. My wife calls it "her" .25-06. She kind of took possession of it when we got married and has become her go to big game rifle. She has successfully taken a few deer with it, with the most impressive being a small Coues Deer at 824 Yards.

[J.Baker]

I have one I bought new as Trophy hunter xp package in 300 win mag. Mine has the cast in bases and not the recoil lug. The rifle was bought in 1996 and the receiver and bolt body is about the only thing Savage left on the rifle. Never had any issues with it. It shot great when it was new and shoots great with everything swapped out.

Couldn't be a Trophy Hunter package, those didn't come out until the late 2012. My guess is it's just a standard old Package Series rifle which preceded the Trophy Hunter line and usually came with a 3-9x40 Simmons scope.

What's the serial number minus the last two digits? We can pinpoint when it was made with that.

[cleatus]

https://i.ibb.co/7jf7cPW/20151212-075710-2.jpghttps://i.ibb.co/QDBPqtt/20151212-075710.jpghttps://ibb.co/SfTt1GG


Well it was what ever they called it when I bought it at Walmart in 1996. A black synthetic stock, 3x9 scope, blind magazine, package gun in 300 Winchester Magnum. I believe it was around $320 or $340. The rifle now looks nothing like it did when I got it. I always liked the weaver mounts cast in the receiver. No loose base screws. I'm at work but I'll take some photos. I used to have some pics on the site but i'm having trouble finding them with the search function. This is an old pic on my phone.

[J.Baker]

If you bought it in 1996 then it either sat on a shelf in a warehouse for several years or Savage was cleaning out obsolete spare parts in the warranty/service area and found a batch that they made into guns and pawned off on Walmart.

Never under estimate Savage's ability to throw something together from leftover parts that will leave you scratching your head.

[twarren]

Very interesting post, enjoyed it.

[cleatus]

I actually ordered from the Walmart's " gun book" or catalog in the sporting goods department. It didn't stay stock long. I bought it for a elk hunt I was going to go on. I swapped the glass at the time with a Baush and lomb elite 4000 I had. I didn't keep the pencil barrel long, A little later 26 inch Montana Rifleman barrel, Sharp Shooter Supply competition trigger, Harris bipod and a choate tactical stock. Now has all those and an Athlon Midas BTR 4.5-27 x 50. It shoots well and has taken quite a few deer and other critters. About to convert to AICS mags and CDI dbm.

[NCHuntr]

This thread was shared with me so I thought I would post here to see if anyone could shed some light on my gun I just stumbled upon. I know it’s been awhile.. anyone seen a receiver like this? Same integral mounts but look at this odd cutout. Should I keep, continue with build, or try to sell and get my $$ out of it. Got it off GB for $250. Never fired.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201116/cfb23746fa84cc99d9cd0313b3b8ada3.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201116/aef3c03b9a2d8ce6b95cc2212163a8f4.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201116/fbf4da6dceee0152487bab4ab0aa9e89.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201116/357b4fda0c0ba85d974480478cf8e840.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201116/1835b287adeb4ff184d71f5b05a59234.jpg


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[stomp442]

The .25-06 I mentioned above looked exactly like that in its original form. I haven't had any issues with mine, I say go ahead with your plans.