hoser
I can't vouch for any but the two .308 model 10 FCs (one is a law enforcement model with an internal magazine and the other is similar model with a detachable magazine) that I have actually shot, measured groups for and tabulated the results for. So far our total measured group count is 357 with my rifle and 131 with my buddy's rifle. I initially shot 40 groups of factory ammo and then started hand loading. My buddy has shot mostly factory but also shot 9 groups with my hand loads to see what his rifle liked in terms of seating depth.
We both measure everything and I keep a tally of our results so I guess that I can attest that they both shoot great right out of the box.
They shot so great that several others at our range have bought Savage .308s of the same type after they shot one of ours.
I have gotten so that I put out 1 inch stick on circles on an 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of paper at 100 yards and can put all the rounds in a group in the circle on all 12 circles. Not every group will have all rounds completely within the circle but all will have all rounds touch inside the circle. The two rifles have shot single best groups of 0.107 and 0.140 at 100 yards with their favorite ammos.
I even started reloading seriously to see just what I could get out of my rifle and my buddy got to sample my best results. His rifle and mine both improved the average accuracy by 0.2 inches over factory ammo when we understood their preferences. With the favorites, my rifle improved 0.35 inches in average over the factory averages.
The accu-triggers on both were under 3 lbs from the factory and break clean as a pane of glass.
Trigger adjustments are easy, although you have to take the action out of the stock.
Both of our Savages are low cost models both under $ 700 and one came with a 3-9x40mm scope included.
I too have heard lots of positive feed back from members at our range on their Savages, one who recently bought his in .308 loves his too, but I don't think he is as religious as the two of us in measuring everything we shoot at the range.
The accuracy with both of the guns I am familiar with is great.
I have a CZ 527 in .223, a Remington 700 in 22-250 and a Winchester M70 in .270. The CZ and the 700 shoot as good as the Savage, but not with the variety of ammos that the Savage does and the Winchester is a 1 MOA hunting rifle that does just what it is supposed to do. I like to shoot the Savage more than all the others because it just performs great all the time, has a phenomenal butt pad that lets you shoot it all day, and a trigger that is the best of any that I have used.
For me the Savage reputation is well earned, but I'm sure that there are lots who haven't had the positive experience that the Savage owners that I know have had. All I can say is that finding out how good a rifle can shoot reinvigorated my interest in centerfires and in reloading.
I'm looking for another Savage in .30-06.
My buddy is looking at a Savage in .223.
That just about says it all.