Heritage & History

Savage Arms is an American firearms manufacturer founded in 1894 by Arthur William Savage and headquartered in Westfield, Massachusetts. The company is best known for bolt-action rifles — particularly the Model 110 series (in production since 1958) — and for pioneering the AccuTrigger system that changed what shooters expect from a factory trigger. Savage is a SAAMI member and currently owned by Vista Outdoor.

:::callout
Savage Arms' contribution to American shooting can be summed up in one word: AccuTrigger. Before 2002, every production hunting rifle came with a heavy, gritty trigger that most serious shooters immediately replaced. Savage's AccuTrigger delivered a crisp, adjustable, user-serviceable trigger on a $400 rifle — and forced every other manufacturer to improve. Ruger developed the Marksman trigger. Tikka refined theirs. The entire industry got better because Savage raised the floor.
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Key milestones:

1894 — Founded in Utica, NY by Arthur Savage
1899 — Model 99 lever-action introduced (produced for nearly 100 years)
1958 — Model 110 bolt-action introduced (still in production)
2002 — AccuTrigger introduced (industry-changing innovation)
2009 — AccuStock bedding system launched
2013 — Acquired by Vista Outdoor
Present — SAAMI member; Westfield, MA + Lakefield, ON; Vista Outdoor

Product Lines

Bolt-action rifles (Savage's core business):

Model	Tier	Caliber Range	Price	Key Feature
110 Hunter	Entry hunting	.243 to .300 WM	~$400-$550	AccuTrigger; synthetic stock; the starter Savage
110 Storm	Weather-resistant	.243 to .338 WM	~$500-$650	Stainless; synthetic; all-weather hunting
110 Timberline	Premium hunting	.270 to .300 WSM	~$900-$1,100	Cerakote; AccuFit stock; OD Green
110 Tactical	Precision/tactical	.308, 6.5 CM, .300 WM	~$700-$800	Heavy barrel; AccuFit; threaded
110 Precision	Long-range precision	6.5 CM, .308, .300 WM, .338 LM	~$1,200-$1,500	MDT chassis; adjustable everything
110 BA Stealth	Tactical chassis	.308, 6.5 CM, .300 WM	~$1,000-$1,300	Drake chassis; competition-ready
110 Magpul Hunter	Modern hunting	6.5 CM, .308, .300 WM	~$800-$900	Magpul Hunter stock; popular config

:::callout
The Savage 110 in 6.5 Creedmoor is the best accuracy-per-dollar rifle in America. AccuTrigger + AccuStock + a good barrel = sub-MOA groups with factory ammo for under $500. No trigger upgrade needed. No bedding job needed. Load some Hornady ELD-M and start hitting steel at 800 yards. The platform Savage has been refining since 1958 is genuinely the best value in bolt-action rifles.
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Rimfire rifles:

Model	Caliber	Price	Notes
Mark II	.22 LR	~$200-$350	AccuTrigger; multiple configs; excellent accuracy
Mark II FV-SR	.22 LR	~$280	Threaded barrel; suppressor-ready; precision rimfire
93R17	.17 HMR	~$250-$350	Varmint; heavy barrel available
A22	.22 LR	~$300-$400	Semi-auto; delayed blowback

Other platforms:

Model	Type	Price	Notes
MSR 15 Recon	AR-15	~$800-$900	Savage's entry into ARs; free-float; adjustable gas
Model 220	Bolt-action shotgun	~$500-$600	20-gauge slug gun; Midwest deer hunting staple
Renegauge	Semi-auto shotgun	~$1,200-$1,400	Competition/field; D.R.I.V. gas system
Stance	Micro-compact pistol	~$400-$450	Savage's first modern handgun; CCW

Innovation & Technology

Innovation	Year	Impact
Model 99 rotary magazine	1899	Allowed pointed bullets in lever-action (safer than tube mags)
Floating bolt head	1958	Self-aligning bolt face; reduces stress; improves accuracy
AccuTrigger	2002	Adjustable 1.5-6 lb trigger with blade safety; industry-changing
AccuStock	2009	Aluminum bedding block in synthetic stock; improved accuracy
AccuFit	2018	Adjustable LOP and comb height via interchangeable spacers/risers
Model 110 platform modularity	Ongoing	Easy barrel swaps; extensive aftermarket

Savage AccuTrigger vs. competitors:

Trigger	Rifle	Pull Weight	Adjustable	User-Serviceable	Quality
Savage AccuTrigger	Model 110	1.5-6 lbs	Yes	Yes (no gunsmith)	Excellent
Ruger Marksman	American	3-5 lbs	Yes	Yes	Good
Tikka T3x	T3x	~2.5-4 lbs	Limited	Gunsmith recommended	Excellent
Howa HACT	Howa 1500	2-4 lbs	Yes	Yes	Good
Remington X-Mark Pro	Model 700	3.5-5 lbs	Yes	Yes	Controversial

Community & Reputation

Segment	Reputation	Notes
Budget hunters	Top recommendation	Best accuracy for the money; AccuTrigger is the reason
Precision shooters	Strong and growing	110 Precision competes in PRS at budget prices
Rimfire enthusiasts	Very good	Mark II is an excellent precision .22
Deer hunters (Midwest)	Staple	Model 220 slug gun is the Midwest deer rifle
Premium/aesthetics crowd	Mixed	Fit and finish is functional, not beautiful

Common praise:

AccuTrigger is the best factory trigger in the industry (and it's adjustable)
Out-of-box accuracy regularly achieves sub-MOA with factory ammo
Model 110 platform has 65+ years of refinement
AccuStock bedding genuinely improves accuracy over standard plastic stocks
Best value in bolt-action rifles — period
AccuFit adjustability is useful for shared family rifles

Common criticism:

Fit and finish is utilitarian (tool marks, rough edges on budget models)
Stock quality on entry-level models feels cheap
QC can be inconsistent (most are great; occasional lemon)
Extraction/ejection issues reported on some models
Savage doesn't do "beautiful" — function over form always
AR-15 and handgun offerings are unremarkable

Buyer's Guide

If You Want...	Get This	Why
Best budget hunting rifle	110 Hunter (~$450)	AccuTrigger + decent accuracy for under $500
All-weather hunter	110 Storm (~$550)	Stainless + synthetic; rain/snow won't faze it
Budget precision rifle	110 Tactical (~$750)	Heavy barrel; AccuFit; threaded; sub-MOA
PRS/competition entry	110 Precision (~$1,300)	MDT chassis; adjustable; competes with RPR
Budget .22 precision	Mark II FV-SR (~$280)	Threaded; heavy barrel; AccuTrigger; suppressor-ready
Midwest deer (slug)	Model 220 (~$550)	Bolt-action 20-gauge; the slug gun standard
Modern hunting rifle	110 Magpul Hunter (~$850)	Magpul stock; threaded; great all-around config

:::callout
Bottom line: Savage Arms makes the best-value bolt-action rifles in America. The AccuTrigger alone is worth the price of admission — it's a genuinely excellent trigger that you'd pay $200 for as an aftermarket upgrade on any other rifle. Combined with the AccuStock and 65 years of Model 110 refinement, Savage delivers sub-MOA accuracy at prices that embarrass the competition. The rifles aren't pretty. The stocks are plastic. But they shoot. If you want a rifle that looks like a showpiece, buy a Browning. If you want a rifle that shoots like one for half the price, buy a Savage.
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References

Savage Arms official site: savagearms.com
Savage Arms corporate history: "Not Your Grandpa's Savage"
Field & Stream: "Behind the Brand: Savage Arms"
Guns & Ammo: Savage Arms five generations of manufacturing
Accurate Shooter forum: Savage Model 110 discussions

Read the original article in The Handbook | By Boise Gun Club Editorial Team

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