Final Savage of the Frenzy

[Blitzfike]

I have a 7mag and it isn't too bad. A little more recoil than a 150 grain 30-06, but not as bad to me as shooting a 200 or 220 grain 30-06 load. A good recoil pad is a must on any of the bigger stuff. I have a few 45-70 rifles and they punish with the really heavy bullets. 350 grain in the 45-70 talks, but the 405 grain stuff kicks you in the pants. Shooting the 405 grain 45-70 out of a Sharps with a long barrel isn't too bad. Lots of weight in the rifle to absorb the recoil. The same load in my 95 marlin is painful and in my NEF handi rifle it kills on both ends. I have an Encore barrel in 45-70 and I was surprised at how nice it is to shoot with the 350 grain stuff. It seems to have less felt recoil than the marlin lever gun. I shoot a lot of milsurp rifles and to me the 8mm mauser is the worst for recoil with surplus ammo. I shoot cast bullets out of it with a reduced load and like it pretty well that way, and I get pretty good accuracy as well. My last 300 win mag was a Remington 770. They really cut corners when they built that series. The bolt stop on the one I had was very soft and soon wouldn't retain the bolt when working it quickly. I tried to get a replacement but they only sell to gunsmiths. I ended up welding it up, machining it back to the correct size and heat treating it. My son has it now and is using it for a long range target rifle. Blitzfike

[Roger SS]

I have a 7mag and it isn't too bad. A little more recoil than a 150 grain 30-06, but not as bad to me as shooting a 200 or 220 grain 30-06 load. A good recoil pad is a must on any of the bigger stuff. I have a few 45-70 rifles and they punish with the really heavy bullets. 350 grain in the 45-70 talks, but the 405 grain stuff kicks you in the pants. Shooting the 405 grain 45-70 out of a Sharps with a long barrel isn't too bad. Lots of weight in the rifle to absorb the recoil. The same load in my 95 marlin is painful and in my NEF handi rifle it kills on both ends. I have an Encore barrel in 45-70 and I was surprised at how nice it is to shoot with the 350 grain stuff. It seems to have less felt recoil than the marlin lever gun. I shoot a lot of milsurp rifles and to me the 8mm mauser is the worst for recoil with surplus ammo. I shoot cast bullets out of it with a reduced load and like it pretty well that way, and I get pretty good accuracy as well. My last 300 win mag was a Remington 770. They really cut corners when they built that series. The bolt stop on the one I had was very soft and soon wouldn't retain the bolt when working it quickly. I tried to get a replacement but they only sell to gunsmiths. I ended up welding it up, machining it back to the correct size and heat treating it. My son has it now and is using it for a long range target rifle. Blitzfike

The overall consensus I've gathered thusfar is pretty much to avoid Remington these days. That's one of the many reasons I went with Savage. Also got an X-Bolt Medallion .30-06 and a Ruger American .30-06 Both have really nice recoil pads but are both really light weight. Haven't fired either yet. Glad to hear 7mm Mag generally isn't too punishing. lol

[dnsmith]

The overall consensus I've gathered thusfar is pretty much to avoid Remington these days.

not necessarily. I have a 2011 vintage Remington 700P and it is the most accurate rifle I own. It really is a tackdriver with a wide variety of ammo. that said, it did not feed or extract consistently at all when I got it. I have run some loaded rounds through it about 75-100 times (load up the mag with 3, work the bolt and run them all through the gun, repeat), and this has broken it in to some extent. It seems to be extracting reliably now. But you should see how scarred up the rounds became almost immediately. As far as I can tell, the internal magazine and feed ramp are basically unfinished. I have a 1997 vintage Remington Sendero that has much better finish, it does not scar up rounds that you cycle through it.

So basically what I'm saying is ... yes and no re: Remington quality. they are definitely cutting some corners on production costs these days, but I think that their barrels, at least for the heavy-barrel guns, are actually still as good as they've ever been. The x-mark trigger sux, but if you can get one of their guns with the 40x trigger, it's pretty good.

I did just take delivery of a Savage 110 FCP in .300 mag. Savages have a completely different feel than remingtons, it is somewhat hard to compare them. The Savage was feeding perfectly right out of the box, though. The centerfeed magazine is a good design. Also, the accu-trigger on this one puts remington triggers to shame. But ... the barrel doesn't fit perfectly straight in the stock channel.

long story short ... there's something to be desired in all of the factory rifles these days. But 100% of the Savages I have bought have shot well

[Roger SS]

not necessarily. I have a 2011 vintage Remington 700P and it is the most accurate rifle I own. It really is a tackdriver with a wide variety of ammo. that said, it did not feed or extract consistently at all when I got it. I have run some loaded rounds through it about 75-100 times (load up the mag with 3, work the bolt and run them all through the gun, repeat), and this has broken it in to some extent. It seems to be extracting reliably now. But you should see how scarred up the rounds became almost immediately. As far as I can tell, the internal magazine and feed ramp are basically unfinished. I have a 1997 vintage Remington Sendero that has much better finish, it does not scar up rounds that you cycle through it.

So basically what I'm saying is ... yes and no re: Remington quality. they are definitely cutting some corners on production costs these days, but I think that their barrels, at least for the heavy-barrel guns, are actually still as good as they've ever been. The x-mark trigger sux, but if you can get one of their guns with the 40x trigger, it's pretty good.

I did just take delivery of a Savage 110 FCP in .300 mag. Savages have a completely different feel than remingtons, it is somewhat hard to compare them. The Savage was feeding perfectly right out of the box, though. The centerfeed magazine is a good design. Also, the accu-trigger on this one puts remington triggers to shame. But ... the barrel doesn't fit perfectly straight in the stock channel.

long story short ... there's something to be desired in all of the factory rifles these days. But 100% of the Savages I have bought have shot well

Good info. Thanks. Well, i also have two Marlin XL7 guns and both have weaker extraction compared to my new Savages. Marlin (now owned by Remington) uses MIM parts in critical areas of the bolt and extractor is a MIM part too! Got 3 Savages recently. 2 of them, the stocks afre perfect. My long range hunter 7mm Mag...the stock is touching the barrel. Easy fix though, I believe with some sandpaper and elbow grease. I know what you mean about the "feel" though. Savage vs. Marlin X gun. No comparison.