Savage Arms
-
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.
:::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.
:::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.
:::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
Join the Discussion
If you've owned a Savage, what drew you to the brand – was it the reputation for accuracy, price point, or did someone recommend it to you?
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login