Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

[sawcut]

I've recently been taking some friends and family to the range, and will be helping them pick out a basic 308 sporter. I've brought out my 308s: a Savage with factory DBM, an Interarms Mauser, and a Remington SPS. These are all basic models in factory configuration.

I know that there are better options out there when there is more money to spend, but for an entry level 308 in mostly factory configuration, what is the experience out there in terms of what is most reliable and foolproof in field use - in the rain and mud, as if run in a tactical course.

I'm asking because most of my experience is under controlled bench conditions, and I've had had some failures to feed with my Savage, but it's more accurate than my reliable Mauser. In this case reliability trumps a slight increase in accuracy.

I want to recommend the Savage because I like how modular it is. I also know that with more $$$ spent you can get better results, but for a basic, stock rifle, what are your experiences?

I posted a similar question on another site and got some good information. If I were summing up the question in 1 line: what is the most reliable 308 bolt action under $600 (rifle only)?

If you have any experiences to share, please post them. Thanks.

other posting:
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_5/390638_...the_bench_.html

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

What model and caliber Savage do you have now that is having fail-to-feed issues?

 

[Blindeye_03]

Re: Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

This might be limited to the rifle I had but I experienced issues with my 17hmr, where the first round wouldn't strip out of the mag.

 

[sawcut]

Re: Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

My model is a Savage FC 16 Weather warrior (stainless steel) in 308. Its a stainless steel sporter weight rifle with accu-trigger.

The issue I had with it was occasionally the bolt would ride over the round and not chamber it from the magazine. I have not changed out magazines at this point.

Next time I take it out I will be careful to take more notice of issues, if any. Thats why I'm asking of those who have put more rounds through theirs. I cannot say that I have exhaustively tested my rifles. I use them offhand and from the bench at a range and shoot 20 to 60 rounds (max) at a time.

 

[Mattm0812]

Re: Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

Many people who have been in the military or have grown up with military peers will tell you Remington. Depends on the forum you ask the question on. I suspect that this forum will vote more Remington.

I've heard of the SPS's having the base mount holes off center and the bolt handle's breaking off. But those could just have been lemons.

The main reason I didn't go with Remington is because of barrel swapping. Don't like the fact that I have to have sent to a gunsmith to change barrels. Espicially for how much I switch calibers.

I've never had any Savages with any problems. They all went bang when I pulled the trigger. And that's with about 8 different savage actions. I've never worked with their rimfire series though.

In a nutshell, which ever you choose will serve you well. Both factory triggers are...well not that great. Same with the stocks. A little bit of epoxy and steel rods have made my savage's stocks shooters.

As far as rounds per action, my first savage action had a few thousand through it before I sold it off. Never had any problems with it when I let it go.

 

[lead ƒarmer]

Re: Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

Owning both and having zero issues, I can personally recommend both Howa and Savage for accurate, reliable, and affordable entry rifles.

 

[Mattm0812]

Re: Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

I find savages to have a more "bang for your buck" price.

Ex: The Savage FP goes for about 500-550 and has a fat barrel and accutrigger.

Though, their resale value is less compared to remingtons.

 

[stockdoc]

Re: Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

Never met a savage that fed right. No matter what caliber. That said they are decent in the accuracy department out of the box.

Remington has a lot more options and availability for aftermarket stuff. Have had about 30 remingtons and never had an issue.

 

[roggom]

Re: Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

I have a few Remingtons and the BDL (circa 1994) functions flawlessly and has a nice factory trigger.

My current model SPS's are nice, but it took a bit to get them broken in, and had to replace the stocks, triggers, and cycle the bolt a few thousand times to get it smoothed out. They can also be finicky with feeding, especially my 223.

I also have two Tikka's, those rifles are a no BS out of the box performer. Light, accurate , great trigger, and detachable magazine.

 

[hiddenmongoose]

Re: Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

Iv owned remington rifles for the last 12 odd years, I dont baby my guns and I hunt in all weather so im not a fair weather hunter.My guns see mud, dirt, rain,hail.snow and the odd times sun(it is Ireland after all)!!Some people im sure work their guns harder than me and in much worse weather and conditions .Mine have seen everything Ireland can throw (Which is pretty average/non extreeme ) and Iv never had any issues or failures with my remys.Can they fail, of course,could I get a failure next time Im out ..of course. But as of yet I cant complain.On the other hand I have no experience with Savage rifles so cant compare.

 

[Rainier42]

Re: Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

Own both and neither have given me trouble. For out of the box accuracy I would say my Savage PC 10 probably wins out by a shade. However, the Remington has more upgrade options. In the end, I wouldn't trade either ... take my eldest, as she continues to give me trouble even as an adult.

 

[rusty815]

Re: Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

Have two savage rifles and haven't had feeding problems with either, one feeds from a blind mag and the other from Alpha mags. Both are very accurate and have their fair share of aftermaket parts. With that said, there is a place for both in someone's safe.

 

[triceratops3]

Re: Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

I've got two savage's that have never had any feeding problems (except that one time I took the bolt apart and put the boltface back on rotated 180 degrees).

Both feed from AICS Mags.

That said, I think the Savage would give you the best overall bang for your buck out of the box. Also, there are more than plenty of good aftermarket parts for the Savages.

 

[Beef82]

Re: Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

The Remington 700 has a long history with outdoorsman, the military, and LE, I don't think this would be the case if it were known for being unreliable. I've had experience with 20 or so in various calibers, not all are MOA or better shooters, but all the older ones are absolutely reliable unphased by dust, mud, rain, snow, and freezing conditions. The newest, an SPS-V, had some feed issues, but I think they're sorted out.

I had an ER Shaw .308 barreled Interarms Mauser action that would shoot sub MOA, was my favorite hunting rifle, always worked.

No Savage experience

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Reliability during field use: Rem or Savage?

My concern would not be for feeding, but for extraction.

Any rifle can fail to extract, especially one which consumes handloads. The question becomes one of how prone is the given design to disabling extractor failure, and how complex is the extractor replacement process.

Based on personal experience, I see the Savage as superior in both respects.

In general knowledge, the Remington 700 extractor is seen as a weak point in the overall design, and also requires professional knowledge to remedy.

The Savage fails, too, but generally, all my failures are due to blowing primers with excessive chamber pressures from my own overly hot handloads, and replacement was done by a friend in such a short timeframe that I was even able to complete my course of fire despite a highly frustrating repetition of such primer/extractor failures. I have consequently learned to do this replacement myself, and it's not a taxing chore.

BTW, as a standby stopgap, a $.50 Wal-Mart combination paint can opener/bottle opener can serve to engage a cartridge rim and pull the case from the chamber when the bolt extractor has temporarily and very inconveniently gone far South.

Greg