As I have mentioned in other recent posts, I have a nice LMT MWSE semiauto 308 AR type rifle which I enjoy immensely. I want to expand my enjoyment by also acquiring a bolt action rifle, in either .308 again since I am already set up for 308), or in .338 Lapua (in order to stretch the range and power a bit). The attractions of the bolt rifle to ME are simplicity, easier attainment of precision shooting than with a semiauto, easier / faster maintenance, and, in at least some cases (e.g. Sako TRG series) beauty.
I’ve asked in postings what makes and models I can or should look at, and some names keep coming up:
Accuracy International rifles – because they are designed from the ground up for long range precision tactical shooting and military robustness
Sako TRG series rifles – because unlike their Sako “hunter” fellow models, they too are designed for long range precision tactical shooting and military / LE robustness, but perhaps not quite as robust as the AI rifles
GAP rifles – because they represent good “custom” and limited volume rifles for long range precision shooting, although they do not get mentioned nearly as often as either AI or Sako TRG for military or LE use
Savage 10 BA or 110 BA rifles – because while Savage is a moderately priced rifle company overall, it is known for consistent and superior production rifle accuracy, and the BA models are specifically targeted for the law enforcement market. The 110 BA is also Savage’s first “mouldar” rifle – built more like an AR than like a traditional bolt rifle. And, the price is considerably lower than that of any of the rifles mentioned earlier in this posting.
Custom rifles built on trued Remington 700 actions – because they are considerably less costly than any of the first 3 rifle types mentioned earlier, while delivering much of the functionality.
I had to limit the choices right from the beginning though.
The GAP rifles and Remington 700 based rifles are out for ME because I buy and sell firearms (and cars and motrocycles) frequently (I like to try a lot of things), so I want a rifle that is a “standard production” rifle with a moderate or lower end of high price range, so that market price is readily determinable, resale is fast and easy, accessories are readily available and KNOWN to fit and function on the rifle, and when a repair is required the rifle undergoes a moderately priced, readily available, and rapid “factory” repair instead of a costly, sometimes “unavailable” and lengthy custom-shop repair. The GAP rifles are also quite costly new.
The Accuracy International rifles indeed appear robust, get great reviews, but prices new start at base prices that are pretty high, without accessories essential to me (like a bipod, and a folding stock or other ready means to “break down the rifle for easy transport and storage in my Mustang car and RV home). This means the “as ready to use and shoot” prices are simply way beyond my funding abilities. And that’s for the “economy models”! The models I really like, like the AX, are completely out of the picture financially.
The Sako TRG rifles (Model 22 308 series and model 42 308 series) have a great reputation, discounted base prices that are high but within reach, and are achingly beautiful to my eye. Especially the green stocked ones. I’d probably shoot one better than some other rifles simply because it LOOKS so good to me. Nice shape and very nice finish quality in the photos. I have heard that the bolt action is remarkably smooooth with no “catching”. I also like the 3-lug bolt, since it shortens the bolt rotation required to cycle the action, and helps to minimize the adverse effects of cartridge cases that are not perfectly concentric. I also like the fact that it is buit in Finland. That means that by definition it is designed for adverse weather conditions – “arctic warfare” without the redesign that the Accuracy Intenrantional rifles required to handle really cold adverse conditions.
But, I cannot actually TOUCH one to see if the feel in person supports what the photos imply. And, I cannot assess the ergonomics, whch is important, because the base models do not have a great deal of adjustability to them, compared to my AR type LMT. If it doesn’t fit, it would be much harder to GET it to fit. Then, there’s the fact that the base models can be bought for not that much more than the Savage 110 BA for example, BUT the cost of accessories that would be essential to ME are simply predatory: $250 for a Picatinny rail (that fastens with relatively undersize bolts for a 338), $450 for a bipod inferior to my existing Atlas (with a mount that makes moutning my Pictanny-mount Atlas impossible), and an astonishing $1500 for a foldable stock. This brought to mind immediately all the concerns I mentioned above about “custom” rifles and the costs and inconveniences involved in owning them, and made me start thinking that Sako knows darn well that selling the base rifle for a “reachable” price is a good financial strategy when backed up with rapacious prices on desirable accessories that are PROPRIETARY in design, and therefore unavailable elsewhere.
When I encountered those accessory prices, I darn near dropped Sako TRGs from consideration. But then, someone mentioned in a posting that some supplier makes a Picatinny adaptor that allows fitting the Atlas bipod to the TRGs, someone else can apparently provide a Picatinny for the scope, and a USED versus new TRG might actually be sensible in price, and most people who appreciate and buy one new are unlikely to be stupid enough to abuse it. So, the TRGs are still in the running, but I know I’ll need to be careful in what I get myself into there.
Finally, there is the Savage 110 BA. The street price is the lowest by far ($1800 or so). It is designed like the higher end Sako’s and AI’s strive to be: very adjustable, like an AR. In fact, the 110 BA is built way more like an AR than like any other bolt rifle. Its closest spiritual brothers are the KAC offering (exquisite execution, but correspondingly super expensive) and the Armalite offering (similar in price to the 110 BA but whereas the 110 BA is merely homely, the Armalite is to my eye, well, not pleasing at all. When I see and pick up the Savage, I think “AR”.
The “features” are really there on the 110 BA.
The Magpul stock is very nicely adjustable for length of pull and cheek height, even though it lacks a cant adjustment for either buttplate or cheek piece. The HK-like pistol grip with adjustable shelf is a nice touch. The trigger is not only widely and easily adjustable, it is also superb compared to any other trigger I have personally had the opportunity to try. I was able to get truly “surprise breaks” on it at remarkably low trigger pull weight. The Picatinny rail is built into the rifle. I don’t know if it has any MOA built into it though. The muzzle brake works well, and is apparently readily removable, enabling shorter transport and storage length, and fitting of a suppressor. And when Savage says the barrel is free floated, they aren’t kidding: there’s probably at east a ¼” or more of air around ALL sides of the barrel.
The rifle comes equipped to accept a Harris bipod (which I dislike) but the adaptor I an easy unscrew from a solid alloy surface on the bottom of the handguard, and a short Picatinny to accept my existing Atlas bipod would be inexpensive and easy to install.
The barrel has that desirable 1 in 9 twist rate (better than either the TRG or the AI). The magazine accepts, and the rifle feeds, cartridges up to 3.85” - way beyond the 3.65” SAAMI spec, so load tuning for COAL in a very broad range would be completely possible.
The rfle, being so modular, also offers “break down” opportunities to make it easier to transport, store, and clean. The muzzle brake unscrews, dropping the OAL by 3 to 4 inches (depending on how long the threaded barrel portion is under the 4” brake). The rear end of the stock would unbolt easily via 2 inches to knock several more inches off the rifle’s OAL, and since the proprietary Savage munt for it is rectangular, not round, it would re-install with perfect indexing. It appears that a much longer section of the stock and rear of the file could unbolt fairly quickly as well, shortening the rifle down to potentially as little as 35 ¾ inches.
Here’s the best part: I took measurements on the 110 BA at the LGS, and it PERFECTLY mimics all the key ergonomic metrics of my LMT as I have it set it: buttplate to trigger distance, buttplate to scope eyepiece, height of scope centerline above bore (with my existing Nightforce scope, rings, and Larue QD riser). The rifle is pretty much perfect for me in terms of net cost for rifle and needed accessories, and ergonomic fit.
So, given all the above, I should probably just get the 110 BA.
But . . .
The Savage is not what I’d call “beautiful”. It's "functional" (although several reviewers have called it ugly
)The TRG series on the other hand is just achingly gorgeous to me. Especially in green furniture. The kind of rifle I could look at for hours.
Ok, so the Savage could be mine for around $2k with tax, and I’d have to buy only one accessory: the short Picatinny for the Atlas bipod. Everything else is good to go right out of the box.
The base TRG would cost me a few hundred more than the Savage, but the extra accessories needed would balloon the cost incredibly, unless I found a used one that has the bipod and Pictanny. And, I’d still have no way to break down the rifle for easier transport or storage, as finding a used one with the expensive folding stock, at a price I could handle, is VERY unlikely. And I don’t get the impression that TRGs break down any other way as easily as the Savage does.
So, even though I am attracted to the TRG, I think it’s like being attracted to a European sports car when there is a perfectly capable, highly regarded Mustang Boss available for way less money, that I can get serviced at the local Ford dealer at Ford dealer prices.
So, unless I have somehow missed any other alternatives, I am seeing the Savage 110 BA shaping up as the most “sensible” solution if I want to shoot an accurate bolt rifle, preferably in 338 Lapua.
Feedback?
Jim G
I’ve asked in postings what makes and models I can or should look at, and some names keep coming up:
Accuracy International rifles – because they are designed from the ground up for long range precision tactical shooting and military robustness
Sako TRG series rifles – because unlike their Sako “hunter” fellow models, they too are designed for long range precision tactical shooting and military / LE robustness, but perhaps not quite as robust as the AI rifles
GAP rifles – because they represent good “custom” and limited volume rifles for long range precision shooting, although they do not get mentioned nearly as often as either AI or Sako TRG for military or LE use
Savage 10 BA or 110 BA rifles – because while Savage is a moderately priced rifle company overall, it is known for consistent and superior production rifle accuracy, and the BA models are specifically targeted for the law enforcement market. The 110 BA is also Savage’s first “mouldar” rifle – built more like an AR than like a traditional bolt rifle. And, the price is considerably lower than that of any of the rifles mentioned earlier in this posting.
Custom rifles built on trued Remington 700 actions – because they are considerably less costly than any of the first 3 rifle types mentioned earlier, while delivering much of the functionality.
I had to limit the choices right from the beginning though.
The GAP rifles and Remington 700 based rifles are out for ME because I buy and sell firearms (and cars and motrocycles) frequently (I like to try a lot of things), so I want a rifle that is a “standard production” rifle with a moderate or lower end of high price range, so that market price is readily determinable, resale is fast and easy, accessories are readily available and KNOWN to fit and function on the rifle, and when a repair is required the rifle undergoes a moderately priced, readily available, and rapid “factory” repair instead of a costly, sometimes “unavailable” and lengthy custom-shop repair. The GAP rifles are also quite costly new.
The Accuracy International rifles indeed appear robust, get great reviews, but prices new start at base prices that are pretty high, without accessories essential to me (like a bipod, and a folding stock or other ready means to “break down the rifle for easy transport and storage in my Mustang car and RV home). This means the “as ready to use and shoot” prices are simply way beyond my funding abilities. And that’s for the “economy models”! The models I really like, like the AX, are completely out of the picture financially.
The Sako TRG rifles (Model 22 308 series and model 42 308 series) have a great reputation, discounted base prices that are high but within reach, and are achingly beautiful to my eye. Especially the green stocked ones. I’d probably shoot one better than some other rifles simply because it LOOKS so good to me. Nice shape and very nice finish quality in the photos. I have heard that the bolt action is remarkably smooooth with no “catching”. I also like the 3-lug bolt, since it shortens the bolt rotation required to cycle the action, and helps to minimize the adverse effects of cartridge cases that are not perfectly concentric. I also like the fact that it is buit in Finland. That means that by definition it is designed for adverse weather conditions – “arctic warfare” without the redesign that the Accuracy Intenrantional rifles required to handle really cold adverse conditions.
But, I cannot actually TOUCH one to see if the feel in person supports what the photos imply. And, I cannot assess the ergonomics, whch is important, because the base models do not have a great deal of adjustability to them, compared to my AR type LMT. If it doesn’t fit, it would be much harder to GET it to fit. Then, there’s the fact that the base models can be bought for not that much more than the Savage 110 BA for example, BUT the cost of accessories that would be essential to ME are simply predatory: $250 for a Picatinny rail (that fastens with relatively undersize bolts for a 338), $450 for a bipod inferior to my existing Atlas (with a mount that makes moutning my Pictanny-mount Atlas impossible), and an astonishing $1500 for a foldable stock. This brought to mind immediately all the concerns I mentioned above about “custom” rifles and the costs and inconveniences involved in owning them, and made me start thinking that Sako knows darn well that selling the base rifle for a “reachable” price is a good financial strategy when backed up with rapacious prices on desirable accessories that are PROPRIETARY in design, and therefore unavailable elsewhere.
When I encountered those accessory prices, I darn near dropped Sako TRGs from consideration. But then, someone mentioned in a posting that some supplier makes a Picatinny adaptor that allows fitting the Atlas bipod to the TRGs, someone else can apparently provide a Picatinny for the scope, and a USED versus new TRG might actually be sensible in price, and most people who appreciate and buy one new are unlikely to be stupid enough to abuse it. So, the TRGs are still in the running, but I know I’ll need to be careful in what I get myself into there.
Finally, there is the Savage 110 BA. The street price is the lowest by far ($1800 or so). It is designed like the higher end Sako’s and AI’s strive to be: very adjustable, like an AR. In fact, the 110 BA is built way more like an AR than like any other bolt rifle. Its closest spiritual brothers are the KAC offering (exquisite execution, but correspondingly super expensive) and the Armalite offering (similar in price to the 110 BA but whereas the 110 BA is merely homely, the Armalite is to my eye, well, not pleasing at all. When I see and pick up the Savage, I think “AR”.
The “features” are really there on the 110 BA.
The Magpul stock is very nicely adjustable for length of pull and cheek height, even though it lacks a cant adjustment for either buttplate or cheek piece. The HK-like pistol grip with adjustable shelf is a nice touch. The trigger is not only widely and easily adjustable, it is also superb compared to any other trigger I have personally had the opportunity to try. I was able to get truly “surprise breaks” on it at remarkably low trigger pull weight. The Picatinny rail is built into the rifle. I don’t know if it has any MOA built into it though. The muzzle brake works well, and is apparently readily removable, enabling shorter transport and storage length, and fitting of a suppressor. And when Savage says the barrel is free floated, they aren’t kidding: there’s probably at east a ¼” or more of air around ALL sides of the barrel.
The rifle comes equipped to accept a Harris bipod (which I dislike) but the adaptor I an easy unscrew from a solid alloy surface on the bottom of the handguard, and a short Picatinny to accept my existing Atlas bipod would be inexpensive and easy to install.
The barrel has that desirable 1 in 9 twist rate (better than either the TRG or the AI). The magazine accepts, and the rifle feeds, cartridges up to 3.85” - way beyond the 3.65” SAAMI spec, so load tuning for COAL in a very broad range would be completely possible.
The rfle, being so modular, also offers “break down” opportunities to make it easier to transport, store, and clean. The muzzle brake unscrews, dropping the OAL by 3 to 4 inches (depending on how long the threaded barrel portion is under the 4” brake). The rear end of the stock would unbolt easily via 2 inches to knock several more inches off the rifle’s OAL, and since the proprietary Savage munt for it is rectangular, not round, it would re-install with perfect indexing. It appears that a much longer section of the stock and rear of the file could unbolt fairly quickly as well, shortening the rifle down to potentially as little as 35 ¾ inches.
Here’s the best part: I took measurements on the 110 BA at the LGS, and it PERFECTLY mimics all the key ergonomic metrics of my LMT as I have it set it: buttplate to trigger distance, buttplate to scope eyepiece, height of scope centerline above bore (with my existing Nightforce scope, rings, and Larue QD riser). The rifle is pretty much perfect for me in terms of net cost for rifle and needed accessories, and ergonomic fit.
So, given all the above, I should probably just get the 110 BA.
But . . .
The Savage is not what I’d call “beautiful”. It's "functional" (although several reviewers have called it ugly
Ok, so the Savage could be mine for around $2k with tax, and I’d have to buy only one accessory: the short Picatinny for the Atlas bipod. Everything else is good to go right out of the box.
The base TRG would cost me a few hundred more than the Savage, but the extra accessories needed would balloon the cost incredibly, unless I found a used one that has the bipod and Pictanny. And, I’d still have no way to break down the rifle for easier transport or storage, as finding a used one with the expensive folding stock, at a price I could handle, is VERY unlikely. And I don’t get the impression that TRGs break down any other way as easily as the Savage does.
So, even though I am attracted to the TRG, I think it’s like being attracted to a European sports car when there is a perfectly capable, highly regarded Mustang Boss available for way less money, that I can get serviced at the local Ford dealer at Ford dealer prices.
So, unless I have somehow missed any other alternatives, I am seeing the Savage 110 BA shaping up as the most “sensible” solution if I want to shoot an accurate bolt rifle, preferably in 338 Lapua.
Feedback?
Jim G
