Dave, I think you're confusing aftermarket Savage barrels and factory barrels. Savage factory barrels have the taper start right where the threads end, so roughly about an inch from the breech end. The Only exception would be the large shank barrels that have the step-down about an additional 1/8" ahead of the threads. Aftermarket barrels will typically have 1.75 to 2" of no taper at the breech end to allow for setting back the chamber/rechambering in the future as the barrel wears.
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