First Savage (Pawn Shop 30-06)

I've been wanting to get myself a hunting rifle again for quite a while. I've always liked the 30-06 and have been reading quite a bit about the virtues of the Savage 110 series. So I've been scraping together extra change lately and went pawn shop looking the other day. One shop in particular had half a dozen 110's in 30-06 including this one. Most of them were 110E models with very blonde stocks, this one is a straight 110 with what looks like a slightly nicer stock (don't know if it's Walnut or something else?). It has an old school Weaver K4 60-B that seems bright and clear, barrel is bright and shiny, all in all this rifle just seemed to wink at me and felt good in my hands. It was marked $269 but they took $215 and I took it home. I bought a box of Fusion 180's and headed to the gravel pit with my Dad who was in town with his new Glock 10mm... Well at roughly 60 yards the thing shoots exactly to point of aim and just about touches holes! I know 60 yards isn't much but I didn't want to get too far down range cause it was busy. All in all I'm very happy with this rifle. It's feels like an old friend already, rust freckles and all.

So can anybody tell me things that I might need to know about the rifle and/or scope?
Can you tell from the pics what kind of wood the stock is?
Was the barrel floated from the factory or did somebody work on that?
I didn't know Savage made scope rings.. are they any good?
Can you tell when this rifle was made?
When were the Weaver K4 60-B's made?
Anything I can do to take care of the scope?
How can I protect the rifle when I'm out in the rain/snow?

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2...D720/ry%3D480/
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2...D720/ry%3D480/
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2...D720/ry%3D480/
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2...D720/ry%3D480/

Just the standard wood used in Savage's stocks, don't know specifically what it is. I have 2 of those blonde colored ones, and a handful of darker versions; all the same stuff. My guess is that is pre-bankruptcy years, so mid-late 70's.

If you are "out in the rain and snow" and want to protect it, don't take it out. Seriously though, standard maintenance. When you get done hunting, wipe it dry and wipe with a silicon gun cloth. If you think this thing is an Heirloom, then don't use it. Otherwise, go hunt and stop worrying.

I think you got a great deal. Around here a $269 30-06 would start a fist fight in the store. I will agree with darrker about using the gun.
It was made to use. Take it out - take care of it - don't use it as a tent-pole unless you really have to and enjoy the gun.

Congratulations!

I agree with the silicon-impregnated cloth wipe-down. As an alternative, buy some Johnson's Paste Wax and wax everything; stock and rifle both. Don't mix-and-match the silicon and the Johnson's, though, as they're different products and aren't particularly complimentary.

Sweet deal. Best rifle and caliber on the market. That '06 will drop anything that we need. After years of swapping back and forth, mine is once again, like the original version, a 30-06, and it will stay that way as long as I live. Put a good recoil pad and cheek pad on it (if needed) and enjoy that puppy.

Like Clint said, that price here, would start a bidding war, or a fight.

I'm not sure this is accurate but the ones I have seen with the F prefix on the serial # have been mid to late 1990s manufacture. I would check with Savage to be sure. Just give em a call.

In my opinion you got a good deal on a great rifle. A much better weapon than the new economy offerings from Savage.

Shoot it and enjoy.

My .270, which was a package rifle has the F PREFIX. I called Savage to get some history & was told Oct of 1997.

Good luck with the '06. It's my favorite caliber.... Even if my shoulder can't handle the recoil any longer. I like the round. It's got it all. Accuracy if you reload or buy $50 a box ammo, power, distance and it'll knock over anything you aim it at and hit.

Enjoy. You only go 'round once....

Frank in Fla

Good job. That thing will serve you well.

If it is nailing targets at 50-60 yards, that zero is a great flat zero for trajectory. You should be under 2" high at 100 yds, and be able to hit the kill zone out to 250 yds or so. Most all of my rifles are zeroed at 50 yards.

The stock is probably arctic birch. I use WATCO Danish Oil on birch stocks that do not have a pre-existing finish. Penetrates quickly and does not leave a gloss. Looks like yours already has some kind of factory finish.

If you're going to be in the weather with it, you should epoxy bed the receiver and install pillars (well, it's always a good idea, anyway).
Wood changes dimensionally not only when wet, but just temp and humidity. This can put inconsistent stress points on the receiver and affect accuracy, which is why most commercial hunting-geared offerings are composite stocks these days.

Bedding the receiver in epoxy, and using pillars to establish metal-to-metal contact from the action screws to the receiver mitigates that issue.