Savage or Remy build- pros vs cons

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BoogieMan

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I have a donner 700adl 30-06 and a donner 110 30-06. I am going to build one and sell the other or just set it to the side for the next project. Planning on buying a prefinished SS barrel, likely a Shilen because they seem to offer the best value. Open to suggestions. I will likely tune the factory trigger for the short term and add a stock to either build. Intended use is out to 600yd range toy maybe a competition starter for me.
Whats the pros and cons to building either?
 
Pro for the Savage is you can do a barrel change yourself without a real action wrench and barrel vise. You do need a few tools but nothing too expensive.
 
Doyle- I have a action wrench and block that fits in my H press. Also have plenty of lathes, mills, etc.. It is just cheaper and easier to get the barrel manufacturer to chamber and thread so I dont have to buy a reamer and build a floating reamer holder.
 
Sell both actions and buy a Remington 700 SPS Long Range in 30'06 and build from there. You'd come out flush on the buy and could use the money you were going to spend on the barrel and add a Timney trigger. Shoot it for a long time then rebarrel.
 
Remington Pros:

1. Greater availability of factory and aftermarket parts.
2. More stock styles and chassis systems available for the actions.
3. Slightly lighter action than the 110.

Savage pros:

1. Modular design, easier to assemble with minimum amount of skills and tools.
2. Floating bolt head means truing of the action is less critical.
 
If it were me I would research stocks prior to choosing. I'm finding with Savage actions your choices are limited depending on which bottom metal you're using.
 
The only aftermarket difference between Remington and Savage are you can buy a better aftermarket trigger for the Remy 700 than what is offered for a Savage 10/110. Jewel is probably the best aftermarket trigger made.
But there are several very good Savage triggers out there.

Stocks? What ever you want for either brand is available in general. If you have an older Savage SA staggered feed style action,you are limited on stocks now since most stock makers only stock the newer center feed style stocks.But,Manners,McMillan,and a few others still make them for staggered feed actions.
Savage LA makes no difference,the spacing for the action screws is the same. I used a 110 Center feed stock on my 110 Staggered feed 6.5-06 build. I just had to open up the mag well of the stock up 1/4" to clear the blind magazine box.

If you want a DBM for it,there are several choices,and PTG even makes bottom metal kits for the older Savage staggered feed actions.

Barrels? If you're wanting a top end barrel like a Hart,Pac-Nor,Bartlein,etc..They don't offer any Pre-fit barrels for a Savage,so it cost the same as a Remington 700.
E.R.Shaw,McGowen,Shilen and a few others offer the Savage Pre-fits,and they do save you money doing it yourself. And in my experience,they will hold their own against most barrels for accuracy when you handload ammo for them.

Criterion barrels makes a RemAge barrel for the Remington,and it uses a barrel nut just like a Savage.But they have a limited number of chamberings that they offer it in.

Either action will work well for a custom build,and IMO,neither brand has any advantage.
 
Txhillbilly said:
Stocks? What ever you want for either brand is available in general. If you have an older Savage SA staggered feed style action,you are limited on stocks now since most stock makers only stock the newer center feed style stocks.But,Manners,McMillan,and a few others still make them for staggered feed actions.
Savage LA makes no difference,the spacing for the action screws is the same. I used a 110 Center feed stock on my 110 Staggered feed 6.5-06 build. I just had to open up the mag well of the stock up 1/4" to clear the blind magazine box.
Click to expand...

Nice thing about the Savage long action never changing the screw spacing like the shorts, that allows most people to modify the center feed stocks to work with the older stagger feeds. However, you don't have the options people with Remington rifles have. Just go to anybody's web page who sells or make stocks, with very few exceptions there are usually double the stock choices available for the M700 vs. Savage 110. That's because the M700 has been virtually unchanged since inception, Savage changes things depending on how the wind blows. The biggest change in Savage long actions though over the last few years has been the relocation of the bolt release to the trigger guard.
 
That's true about the bolt release change,but that is just a simple fix with a dremel tool from what I've heard. All of mine are top bolt release.

I really believe that Savage makes changes every few years just to throw curve balls at those of us that like to build rifles off their actions. I like Remington's,but since I shoot Lefty,I find more choices with Savage.
I do wish Remington would've made the 700 5R Mil-spec in LH,I really like those rifles.
 
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