My first Savage not as expected

C

cptmclark

New member
I have my new Savage 11 Hunter. I didn't expect too much except for it to be a very good shooter for not very much money.
I expected an accutrigger and didn't get it. 7 pounds plus creep. Not sure about the stock yet but it doesn't appear to be the "accustock".

Those experienced with these,maybe you can tell me what I got into. Don't expect it to please me like my 700s, but to shoot as well.

Do I take it back, or is there a cheapo version without the niceties that shoots equally well?

Can the trigger be made nice?

What should I have ordered differently to get the model 11 with better stock and trigger?

Thank you to all

Mike
 
I have a friend who did a DIY trigger job on one an it worked great. I don't know much about how he did that so I won't say anything but there are many who have done this and I'm sure one can find a demonstration on how to on YouTube. As for the accustock, no experience with it but I have a 111 in .270 that like you said has a cheap stock and a mediocre trigger (not creepy though, just heavy). It shoots pretty great with whatever I have fed it so far, it's not picky and between me and my sister it has taken 10 deer so far without any fuss. Funny enough the most accurate load for mine has not been fancy rounds or even my handloads: my most impressive grouping at some range was shot with winchester super x 150 grain power points! Hope you enjoy your rifle. (Interestingly enough I have a friend with a rem 700 also in 270 and my cheap savage outshoots his gun)
 
I'm not sure why you expected things you didn't get. Every gun Savage sells has a very good description of its features on their web site. In fact, you can use the gun finder feature and plug in the features you want and it will show the guns that they sell with those features. Don't bother messing with the trigger unless you know what you're doing. You could do more harm than good. Just order a drop in Rifle Basics trigger for the gun and follow the directions. They're good triggers for a very reasonable price.
 
I think that you need to get a trophy hunter to get the accu-trigger. I bought a trophyhunter 10 with the accu-trigger and it's been great straight out of box. If you can't take it back to exchange it, maybe you could fix the creep yourself or take it to a smith. If those don't work, you could probably drop in an accutrigger or another aftermarket trigger later to improve the pull..
I'm not sure on your caliber, but I have a 260 Remington; the most accurate thusfar for me has been the Barnes Vortex TTSX 120 gr. that shoot around 2950 fps. Well, at least I stopped shooting other brands when that cartridge started putting holes on top of holes at the range.
 
Which Hunter did you get? The current catalog doesn't show anything that's called simply the Hunter. There's the Trophy Hunter, the Predator Hunter, The Innternational Trophy Hunter, etc.

Generally, every Model 11 since 2004 has had the Accutrigger, and the Accustock came out in 2009. For years, the less expensive Stevens line came without the Accutrigger and in a flimsy tupperware stock, but that line is currently not available. As far as I know, at this point, the only new rifles that Savage sells without the Accutrigger is the Axis Series, and maybe a few rimfire models.

If you bought a NIB Savage 11, it should have had the Accutrigger. I'd be concerned if I got one without it. It's probably not a new rifle.
 
Did you possibly get one that's been "new" on the shelves for a decade?

I'd look over the features of new guns and get very familiar, then go have a good face to face talk with the seller, explain dissatisfaction, and see what their attitude is.
 
I expected an accutrigger and didn't get it. 7 pounds plus creep.
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Savage does not currently make a model 11 without Accu-Trigger. To my knowledge, they do not make any center-fire rifle except the Axis models without Accu-trigger and have not in quite some time.
 
Hmmm . Came sealed in carton from Savage distributer. Maybe old leftover? That would be very old. I too saw nothing in their list about one without the AT.

Anybody have good or bad experience with the pre-accu stuff models? If it will shoot well I can deal with the rest. If that's questionable, I'll replace it.
 
Both Rifle Basix and Timney make excellent triggers for that action.

A couple of thoughts.
1. Look at the receiver. If it has a flat rear base, it was made prior to 2003.
2. Call the Savage customer service number at (413) 568-7001 and have your serial number. They can tell you when the rifle was built and what configuration it left the factory.

You have an interesting conundrum, and I'd be interested to see what you bought. However, if you decide to keep it, a trigger change should get you in the ballpark.
 
Depending on the description as sold, I'd try to get a refund. Unless it was "NIB, old stock" it is reasonable to expect an accu-trigger model. In fact, it would be rather unreasonable to expect one WITHOUT an accu-trigger. Savage came out with accu-trigger in 2002. I don't know when they converted to all accu-trigger but it's been quite a while.

Otherwise, a decent trigger (Rifle Basix) and Boyd's stock (or EABCo for pillar bedded) will set you back $300 or so.
 
The current savage catalog does not list the hunter, which does not have the accu-trigger. However, the very first distributor I looked at still shows the hunter as available, but the cartridge selection is limited. So there still must be a few hunters (only) in the pipeline.

As for the trigger, some people have tried modifications, and I remember seeing a few threads about it at the savageshooters.com forum. You may want to try searching there. Personally I don't those kind of trigger tinkerings because you may eliminate one problem but create others and with a trigger that can be dangerous. Your best bet is what pawpaw said. I installed a timney trigger in an older 112 and the difference was light years in magnitude. The installation took, literally, two minutes, and then maybe another 10 or 15 min for adjusting. Midwayusa.com sells the timney's for about 100$.

As for the stock: My model 11 hog hunter, which I recently bought, had the crappy tupperware stock. 92$ got me a boyd's (boydsgunstocks.com) stock and the rifle is now beautiful. I also added a steel trigger guard for about 20$ (midway again).

If it were me, I would keep the rifle and make the upgrades. The savages are worth it, and I would be surprised if your savage hunter does not end up out shooting your remington 700's.
 
Well, If I have to buy a stock and trigger I've no longer got the inexpensive tack driver I wanted. I'd just go a head and get another Rem 700.

Does anyone have experience with accuracy of the pre AT and pre AS models. It looks pretty spartan, but that's ok if she's a shooter. Otherwise, back she goes. I do like a challenge, but want to start with the right basics.

I thought I remembered hearing bragging about Savage accuracy farther back than that. Of course that would be relative because all have improved.

Thanks for the feedback
 
Take the trigger out,Cut 1.5 coils off spring,Do a little buffing an Sear and you now have aboout a 3 or 4 lb trigger. Very simple to do and makes a big difference.
 
Anything disqualifying in the old style stock? Must be some reason they came out with the new and improved. Surely more than just marketing, but what do I know. Looks not very impressive but I haven't taken it appart to see if it looks like it could benefit from bedding and such. the action fits really tight in the plastic stock and barrel is floated.
 
The tupperware stock is perfectly functional, but it was just too flimsy for my taste. The boyds stock really dresses up an inexpensive rifle.

IMG_1613 (640x480).jpg

A bolt handle is not shown in the picture because I'm waiting on the delivery of an oversized handle. The savage bolts can be a bit harder to lift and a longer handle often helps.
 
Measure twice; cut once !!!

My first Savage not as expected
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I would suggest taking it back, getting your money. Take time to do more homework, get a current catalog or to their website, sit back and document the required model number. If you have any follow-up question, call Savage sales/customer service and then give it a second run and order what you really want. .... ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
@cptnmclark: As for the accuracy of the older pre accu trigger and accu stock savages, I have a factory .220 swift with varmint/target barrel which was made in aug 92. The rifle makes near one hole, 3 shot groups at 100 yards. Honestly, I rarely shoot it because its performance is so boring.

I doubt your rifle is very old. As a crude guide to mfg dates based on serial number:
F prefix to F498821 - 1989 to Nov 1995
F prefix from F 498821 - Nov 95 to Dec 2002
G prefix - Jan 2003 to Dec 2009
H prefix - Jan 2010 to Jul 2013
J prefix - Aug 2013 onward
 
Don't know your situation, but here was mine, three years ago...

I ordered an 11 Hunter for my son as an Xmas gift, from the major online retailer.

Current specs for the rifle at that time included the AccuTrigger and AccuStock. It was, as alluded to above, "new old stock"...

Rifle came, without the AccuStock. Retailer said, "you should have checked it before you accepted it from the FFL, no returns".

I replied, "you expected me to remove the barreled action from the stock at the LGS?" followed by "my next call will be to the BATF".

I got a sizeable credit (I forget, $150- $200) back on my C.C., what I determined to be the minimum value of an aftermarket stock upgrade equivalent.

If you got "new, old stock", and that's not what you ordered, stand your ground- and get the current model. Calling the BATF was not a bluff on my part- they would strongly frown on such false advertising.
 
tobnpr said:
Current specs for the rifle at that time included the AccuTrigger and AccuStock. It was, as alluded to above, "new old stock"...

Rifle came, without the AccuStock. Retailer said, "you should have checked it before you accepted it from the FFL, no returns".

I replied, "you expected me to remove the barreled action from the stock at the LGS?" followed by "my next call will be to the BATF".
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That worked for you, and that's great. However, for future reference, Accustock rifles are easy to spot without removing the action from the stock. Accustock rifles have an extra bolt, forward of the front action bolt, and every new Accustock rifle I've seen has a sticker on the stock that says "Accustock".
 
Savage Freak

Well captain, if I were you, Id try to talk to Savage Like PawPaw suggested.
And if your stuck with the rifle, theres plenty of stuf can be done to make it a dandy shootefr. I own two older "flat-top" Savages and I wouldn't take a truckload of any other rifles for them.


Next time when you lay those hard earned dollars downtake a look at what your buyin.
 
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