How is Savage 111 Hunter XP (30-06) as the first hunting rifle?

E

ezmiraldo

New member
Hi all!

I'm planning to take the plunge into hunting, and, having picked my round (30-06), I'm wondering what rifle to get.

Savage 111 Hunter XP seems highly recommended. But, I wonder if this rifle is "good for the money" or "good. period."

Any thoughts on this rifle and its included Nikon scope? What are some negatives about this rifle/scope package? Any experienced hunters use it, or do you prefer something of higher cost/quality? I want to get something good that I can hunt with for the next 10 years without having to buy something else...

Looking forward to reading your replies.
 
Last edited:
Savage rifles are good for the money. Isn't everything that's good really only "for the money" good? I mean, you can always get better for more money.

I hate the black plastic stocks but you can get a nice one from Boyd's for about $100 or a nearly identical one from EABCo that's pillar bedded for $169.
 
They are very good!

For what you pay, and the performance they offer, that is a good choice. As Brian just said, you can get a nice wood stock from Boyd's for it and it dresses up nice. (I'm not a fan of the tupperware stocks either, but thats all personal preference.)

Their accuracy is excellent, and they have the ability to out-perform much higher priced rifles. A 30-06 is a good 'all around cartridge' and is my personal favorite due to its versatility.

As for me personally, I like Winchester Model 70s or a Ruger M77. I like them because of their fit and finish and prefer the Mauser style, claw extraction bolts that they have. They are a few hundred dollars more expensive though :(

My friend Matt out shot me with his Savage 111 (right out of the box w/ the Nikon Prostaff on it) and me using my old Model 70 with a vintage Redfield.

Both of us were shooting 30-06s, and he was able to get just under 1/2" groups at 100 yds and I only managed right around 3/4" at my best. Thats my personal experience with it. (He used Federal 150 gr Powershok ammunition)

As far as you using it for 10 years... heck, it will last the rest of your life! Should you decide you don't like hunting, you aren't going to have as much money tied up in your rifle versus if you spent $1000 + on a Browning or something along those lines. I don't feel you will be disappointed with a Savage 111 as an entry level rifle.
 
YOU can a Savage with a nice wood stock if you will pay the price! I have Savages with 3 different stocks!
 
YOU can a Savage with a nice wood stock if you will pay the price! I have Savages with 3 different stocks. For hunting the fiber stock will be the best that way you will not have to worry about messing it up. The pity wood is for show! I buy a gun to use at hunting and target shooting so I don't care if it get a skin mark on it! Laminated wood. Wood. fiber is the 3 stock that I have. The laminated is one of my target gun.
 
OP a Savage in .30-06 is a very fine choice as a first hunting rifle. But if I was you I'd spring the extra $80 or so and get the Savage 111 TH XP package it will come with a very useable Nikon Prostaff scope and the accutrigger. For a hunting ready package they are very hard to beat.
 
They shoot very well, and some people like the Accutrigger. I have two and they have one advantage over most other brands, it is quite easy to change barrels on a Savage. As you may have guessed that also means you can change to just about any chamber you want (270 ,7mm Mag, 338 Win Mag, etc...).
The one down side, the bolt is stiff, but some folks at the Savage Shooters forum have come up with some ways to soften it up a bit.
 
It's a solid, accurate, cheap rifle.
You could do worse.
Get it; use the money saved to figure out what ammo your rifle likes; practice a lot and have a good hunt.
 
Thats a fine rifle for a first hunting rifle, I dont know much about Nikon scopes but I see them at the range all the time and owners seem to be content.
As far as the plastic stock goes, I prefer them over wood for hunting because they fair better in bad weather. Plastic stocks are simple to fix up and help with accuracy and you can camo paint them, thats part of the fun....sort of a blank canvas.
 
Another vote for the Savage 111. I like mine a lot, and it's my go-to rifle for the whitetail woods. I did drop mine out of a tree, and broke the tupperware stock, so I replaced it with a wood stock. Still, I'd buy Savage again (and I have, several times.)
 
Thanks guys! From your comments it seems this rifle is going to be the ticket for me. Ugly stock isn't really a problem (i used to own couple of glocks and loved 'em :D). As long as it is accurate, durable, and reliable - I'm a happy guy.
 
Ezmiraldo,

Kind sir, life is WAY to short to hunt with ugly plastic stocked rifles.

Change the "111 Trophy Hunter XP", to a "114 Classic" or "111 BTH" or "111 Lightweight Hunter" or "111 Lady Hunter", etc., and I think you'll be much happier.

Wood. Beautiful, durable, aesthetically-pleasing, character-rich wood!

Having said that, if you do get it as a "first hunting rifle", in a way that would be apropros, since you'll likely be longing to upgrade it later to something with more character (with a wood stock)..... so in that sense, the answer is yes.
 
Last edited:
I have the 110 Trophy Hunter (wood stock) in 30-06 - just because I don't like synthetic stocks. Great gun. Came with Nikon scope.

al
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top