I'll address these things individually, based on our experience with having both a Remington 700 and a Savage 10FP in the safe...glock27 wrote:well i went around to a few shops walmart and academy and held a remington 700, very nice, no scope for under $350 (i forgot the exact price. i also held a weatherby which i beleive was the bottom end weatherby and the guy behind the counter told me their is not a lot of aftermarket for weatherby which turned me off to WBY. then i went to walmart and held a savage with scope for $369 3-9X40?, i like the fact that the savage already has a scope VS getting the remington 700 and having to add a scope but from what ive read on this forum factory scopes are nothing to brag about. i dont mind getting a remington 700 then adding a scope. which way would you go? im not sure exactly what "accutrigger" and free float barrel means eigther....
most rifles are eigther 22" or 24" does the extra 2" make any difference? id rather have the 24" as i would imagine it would be more accurate.
remington 700(no scope) VS savage with scope? both under $370
both synthetic stocks i saw a remington wooden 700 for 569$ i tihnk ill stick with the synthetic.
thanks in advance....
G27
Accutrigger:
- The Accutrigger system on Savage rifles is an adjustable trigger system with a built in safety device. The trigger has a "blade" articulated into the trigger face. Picture the trigger on a Glock pistol. Unless the little doohickey on the Glock trigger is pulled back into the trigger, the trigger in turn cannot be pulled to its breaking point. That is how the blade on the Accutrigger functions. The trigger will not fire until the blade is pulled back into the trigger itself. That's the best way I can describe it.
This blade also has the effect of making the trigger feel like a two stage trigger, with a light takeup, and a definite point where it will break. Thus, the trigger pull weight can be set fairly light from the factory, and it can be lightened further yet by the owner, if that's what you want. My son's rifle - a Savage 10FP HS Precision "tactical" rifle in .308 - is extremely accurate and the trigger is light enough from the factory that he felt no need to lighten it further. I have shot this rifle, and the trigger system works as advertised, but having shot traditional trigger systems for years, it took me a little while to get used to the feel of that "blade" in the Savage trigger. I would not let this stop me from purchasing one.
- Longer barrels do NOT add to accuracy. I have a very accurate Remington 700 VSF in .308, and it has a 26" barrel. My son's equally accurate Savage has a 24" barrel.
The length is not what makes it an accurate barrel. The diameter is the dimension that makes it accurate. This is why all varmint/sniper type rifles have fat barrels, regardless of the barrel length. Fatter barrels vibrate less than thinner barrels, thus there is less deviation off the bore axis at the muzzle at the very moment that the bullet exits the muzzle as the muzzle "whips" back and forth under vibration. In fact, the trend in modern sniper rifles is toward shorter barrels, because a short fat barrel vibrates still less amplitude than a long fat barrel. For the sniper in the field, this translates to a lighter rifle.
The barrel's length can have two effects on the ballistics. One effect relates to bullet velocity. Most gunpowders are still burning when the bullet exits the barrel - which contributes to muzzle flash. Given the same cartridge in two otherwise identical rifles of differing barrel lengths, the velocity of the bullet exiting the longer barrel will be higher than the velocity of the bullet exiting the shorter barrel. This is due to powder burn time. The more time inside the barrel for powder to burn, the more velocity can be built up along the bore before the bullet exits the barrel. The higher the muzzle velocity, the greater the range of the rifle/cartridge combination. Modern sniper rifles with shorter barrels depend on cartridges with faster burning powders to make up the velocity loss due to barrel length, and to reduce muzzle flash which is a tactical liability.
The second, and for the most part less important, effect is that of bullet stability. Theoretically, the more bore a barrel has, the more stabilized the bullet will be by the time it exits the barrel. Practically though, this is a non issue.
- This one is simple. In general, a rifle with a free-floated barrel will be more accurate than one that isn't. Free floating means that the only place at which the barrel touches the rest of the rifle is at the point where it is joined to the action. When the barrel is free floated, there is no pressure being exerted by the barrel channel on any part of the barrel itself, which can affect barrel harmonics and throw off the bullet's point of impact.
- Wood is prettier. Synthetic is more stable and resistant to the elements. I'm a guy who admires form that follows function, so I like synthetic stocks.
- They both make excellent rifles. I prefer my Remington. My son prefers his Savage. Good luck with that.
I hope this helps.
