New Rifle

Hunter Customs

New member
I have the hot's to purchase a new rifle.
The model that seems to be tripping my trigger (no pun intended) is the Savage model 10 Predator Hunter, the one with the camo stock and black fluted barrel.
There's two calibers I've been considering, 22-250 and 223, catalog numbers 18888 and 18886.

Does anyone have any first hand experience with this model and the calibers I'm considering?
If so what's your thoughts?

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com
 
I do not know about that rifle.

I have owned and shot both the 22-250 and the 223. Between them, I prefer the 223. Brass is less expensive, and barrel life is typically longer than the 22-250. Once you have your come-ups and drift figures, the 223 will do anything the 22-250 can do for a little bit less powder.

I have only heard good things about the Savage, and I have contemplated one as my next purchase, and am not sure whether the Savage or the Remington 700 in 243 Winchester. --I would prefer a Winchester Model 70, but I don't see that they make the heavier barrel anymore.
 
I took a quick look at them both, and I love your problem. The rifle looks good to me. The only problem I see is twist. 22-250 has 12:1, and the 223 has the 9:1. (Assume I'm looking at the right rifles)

The 223 will shoot a heavier bullet not quite as far or fast as the 22-250 will shoot a lighter bullet.

If winds are a problem, I wouldn't pick either. If you're shooting farther than 500 yards, I wouldn't pick either. If you're shooting something bigger than a yote. Yea, you guessed it, I wouldn't pick either.

These are the good times...
 
I'd opt for the .223 because ammo is substantially cheaper. The high end ammo may no be much cheaper but it will be easier to find. .223 will take anything up to and including a small whitetail deer.

It won't do as well on whitetail as the 250 will but if white tail were what I was after I'd be looking at something bigger anyway. My choice for a varmint gun is a .223.
 
I have the 308 Savage Model 10 FCP-K . It appears to be very close to the same gun . Mine has the heavy fluted barrel , accu stock and accu trigger . Mine comes with a muzzle brake but the chambering the Predator Hunter comes in a muzzle brake is not needed . My rifle is amazingly accurate . I can shoot sub 1/2 moa out to 300 yards when shooting well and sub moa is a peace of cake .

The accu-stock's butt stock is hollow and that make the rifle feel top or front end heavy when shooting off hand . I use a bipod on a bench or prone so that is not an issue . It's also not an issue cus I filled the butt stock with bondo and BBs to add some weight . The rifle is much more balanced now but weighs 13lbs .

I don't know if you have used the accu-trigger but it is a very nice target trigger IMO . I have mine set at just under 2lbs and it breaks clean .

Bottom line , You will like the rifle
 
Right now there is no cheap ammunition in .223 IMO so I'd say it is a wash for purchasing ammo vs. .22-250. That is unless you want to give your rifle a steady diet of cheap Russian steel cased FMJ ammunition. For the guy rolling his own ammunition then I'd say advantage .223 Rem.

.22-250 is going to go through barrels faster than the .223 Rem, just a simple fact of life. .22-250 is more impressive in the FPS category but more limited on bullets usually because of a slower twist usually around 1:14 or 1:12 making 55 grain bullets about the top end on average for what will shoot well. .223 isn't as impressive in killing power on varmints but still handles the job well and can use a wider array of bullets.

As far as the predator hunter goes for a rifle it is the same old rifle as any synthetic stocked Savage, just paying more for the camo stock and fluted barrel. Since it isn't an Accustock rifle you're getting the regular Savage "Tupperware" stock, and that would be the first thing I replaced as soon as I could. Fluted barrels look cool but realistically they do nothing. I'd probably just buy the model 11 Trophy hunter and save a few bucks.
 
This was the model I was looking at , but I can't find it looking on there website . I found this with a google search
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/10PREDATORHUNTERMAX1

taylorce1 Your write the PH you find on there website does not have the accu-stock and it does not look fluted either . The one above has longer barrel , it's flutted and comes in a bunch more calibers .

@ OP , what rifle are you looking at ? do you have a link ? The one above I would say is a great rifle but they may no longer sell it .
 
MG you and I were looking at the same rifle, the Max 1. I was wrong it does have an Accustock. Savage used to list an Accustock in the stock description, I guess they don't anymore. I used the gunfinder search on Savage's web page so I could search for Accustock models and the PH Max 1 poped up.
 
Hey Bob, I have owned their model 10 Predator, Max1 in .243 win for several years. It's a great shooter. Been a solid moa gun with inexpensive hunting ammo, such as Fed PP and Rem Core Lokt. With some of the more premium type hunting ammo (seirra gameking, nosler partition) I've gotten .75 moa.

Have not shot it past 440 yds, but within that range it will hold at least moa accuracy.
 
First and foremost I want to thank everyone for your responses and thoughts.

I do own rifles in both 22-250 and 223 and handload for both, so I do have some experience with these calibers.

I do own one Savage rifle with an accu-trigger, it's what Savage called their 4x4 truck gun.
It has the accu-trigger as I mentioned, 20 inch heavy barrel, 1in9 twist, extra large bolt handle and synthetic stock.
This rifle is a solid performer, shooting 5/16 inch groups using my handloads.
It took me a little time to get used to the trigger, but with a little shooting I've grown quite fond of it.

The Savage rifle I'm considering is the model 10 Predator Hunter Max1, accu-trigger, accu-stock, fluted barrel.
The 22-250 is a 24 inch barrel 1in12 twist, the 223 is a 22 inch barrel 1in9 twist.
I was really curious if anyone owned a model 10 Predator Hunter Max1 in either of the two calibers I listed, if so what kind of accuracy they were experiencing.

The rifle will be used as a varmint rifle shooting mostly coyotes.
For my use I'm leaning toward the 223, I'm very fond of the caliber, the 223 model has a shorter barrel which is better suited for my intended use, it's super easy to work up accurate loads using less powder, which in this day and age is a plus.

I guess I'll have to do a little more head scratching and decide if I want more velocity and performance or more efficiency with less performance.

Thanks again to everyone for your responses.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com
 
I think your answer really lies with have you ever heard anybody say . Man I'd like that Savage if it was more accurate or the quality was a little better . Ok we all have on there low end models but not so much on there higher end stuff .

I have 2 savages and when looking to buy my next rifle I find it hard to say rifle x is way better so I'll go with that brand . Yes there are better out there but at that price range how many are better compared to how many are worse . IMHO there are all kinds of $800 to $1k rifles out there that Savage just crushes at the same price range . Now if I wanted beauty with quality then maybe a model 70 or some CZ model .

But I'm a Savage guy so take it FWIW :)
 
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