Scout Shmout..
I'd put my 116 up against any other maker's rifle at 100 yards.. including the overpriced monsteyrosity from Austria.
Invisible, if you want one.. buy one. I have a really NICE LAUGH every time some yahoo shows off his $1500 glass bedded sniper stocked model 700 remington that he STILL can't figure out how to shoot. Buy the savage, get a butt load of ammo and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.. you'll out shoot every armchair expert at the range.
Most people who deride savage rifles have never owned one.. if they DID, they'd shut the heck up an start shooting instead of talking.
I don't share Gale's unenthusiasm for the concept, I have an utter disdain for the prices charged for the steyr.
And if Col. Cooper is STUPID enough to hand a stranger a loaded magazine maybe we should take what he says with a grain of salt ') (really... i like the colonel but wasn't SOMEONE watching what this guy was doing with his rifle?). Oh well even experts make mistakes. Like suggesting a bolt action rifle has any use for close in combat.. sorry colonel.. we have AK's and AR-15's for that.
Even Gale (who makes really groovy stuff btw) would agree with me that NO MATTER how much you spend it does not make up for pratice and good shooting habits. Also ask Gale why SO MANY varmint hunters took up the sport with savage FP tactical rifles.
Cool Things about the Savage (scout) Rifle:
Price (damn its still cheap and WILL shoot moa)
Barrel is free floated at the factory.. the stock should not touch the barrel
Wieght (very light and the use of composites keeps it WAY down)
Durability: I've shot a 70's era 110b savage rifle for 15 years.. still shoots sub moa and its STILL used (by my brother) to hunt deer,elk, antelope in conditions ranging from 90 degrees to -20 degrees here in the high plains and mountains of colorado. The stock is showing wear and the blueing is thinning.. but don't bet it won't shoot.
Oversized bolt handle and true short action: that should be lightning fast to reload, (compared to older savage rifles with a spacer for short action calibers, which made a lot of people frown on them.)
Disadvantages:
Light gathering of LER Scopes is not great.. get a 30mm tube if you can. learning to shoot with both eyes open is a tricky thing.... and ler scopes tend to be low power so longer range shots 300+ will be difficult.
Savage Stocks, while light are TOO Soft IMHO. Its possible to easily overtighten the screws. SOMETIMEs the softer stocks DO touch the barrel.. but i haven't seen a significant loss in accuracy over this.
The trigger on the savage is adjustable, but from the factory its pretty heavy (this can be easily and SAFELY adjusted by a gunsmith)
You will have to put up with 2 bit yahoos riding you about getting a "real" rifle. Shut them up by shooting the ten ring out of the nearest target. They will still swear it was a fluke and there is no way your rifle will outshoot thiers. You'll find you shoot best with what you practice with. If you buy a savage.. you can afford to practice a lot.
(now BY THE WAY, there are winchester and remington rifles available for sale AS inexpensive as a savage, but those 'afficianadoes' don't want you to know that either)
Off my soapbox.. and damn proud of my little savage stainless all weather 116 with compact fluted bull barrel and muzzle brake.
Dr.Rob