Savage or Winchester

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Looking at obtaining the venerable 338 Win Mag as I have a 264, 300 and 458 and am wanting to fill the gap. My dilemma is I have found a Savage 10/110 Storm with 24” barrel and a Winchester Super Grade with 26” barrel, both are new and at reasonable prices in today’s market.

I love and am a sucker for the classic Winchester look and feel of blued steel and walnut, while the Savage is stainless with composite stock.

Question is, is the Winchester worth $400-$500 more in price break and taste versus performance? With all said above, I don’t need either one, just don’t have a 338 to fill the gap.

@TNDave
The chinwester looks good BUT straight out the box the savage will run rings around the chinwester for accuracy every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
The Savage is the Cinderella of rifles, might not be pretty but it is a good performer in all weather's.
Do you want a tolls Royce you keep in the garage or a check track for every day use.
The money you saved w ith the savage buys a lot of ammo.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Pros of the 70 is beauty and legacy. Cons are the weight (8.5lbs) and I dont think very highly of the safety nowadays unless they improved it the last couple years (mushy and gritty).

As to the Savage: I bought the Storm in 338 win mag around Christmas time. I have yet to shoot it and have spent about 3 months trying to lighten it. I believe it weighed around 7.7 pounds bare rifle --- and 9.25 with my scope. I just can't carry that kind of weight anymore due to a shoulder injury so its not a true knock on the rifle. I replaced all the bottom metal with Savage plastic and I am currently down to 8.75 pounds which includes a 18 ounce scope (thinking about swapping the scope for a lighter one).

Pros are the accufit accustock is a good system with a bedding block. They replaced the cheap Axis magazine with a really good magazine in the Storm. And of course the safety is conveniently at the tang.

Cons are its a black/gray stock; not pretty wood. Savages long actions are notorious for needing an extended base or 1 piece to get proper eye relief (not a big deal and I just plan on it). The bolt handle could need to be swapped out if it bloodies your knuckles on the scope (easy $60 fix and I have done that with one of my other savages). The 338 and 375 uses a heavy sporter barrel which adds weight - good and bad I suppose. You will be between 9-9.25 pounds with scope.

Imo the Savage is a hell of a rifle for the price. 9ish pounds ready to go is heavy enough to mitigate recoil and a healthy individual can carry it fairly comfortably with minimal other gear. With the winchester you are looking at least 10 pounds. Seems excessive. My vote is Savage.

@curtism1234
You are a man of taste with a savage.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The price difference is really reflective of the details put into the rifles. I have a new production Winchester (made in Portugal) and the action is butter smooth. The wood stock alone is justified in the +$400 difference. Now I'll be honest: I do own two Savage rifles and hands down, they SHOOT. I consistently get 3/4 MOA or better out of both.

@JKS
Beauty doesn't kill accuracy does.
Yes chinwester in supersede are nice but in the bush you worry about the looks.
The Savage just plain works especially the double stack center feed.
Bob

 

[curtism1234]

To those who haven't seen a Savage in a while, take a look. They are not the Savage of the 80's, 90's, or 2000's. Jeweled bolt, 2.5-3 pound trigger right out of the box, upgraded safety (albeit composite), and the Storm's magazine is top notch.

If you gave me a $500 top grade walnut stock from Boyds to accompany the Savage and then gave me a 70 Supergrade --- I would take the Savage and I wouldn't blink

 

[TNDave]

For years and years I would only buy blued and walnut. As I’ve gotten older I have gone more with stainless and synthetic, mainly because of hunting conditions in TN. I still love the classic look and feel of blued in wood, it’s just that they tend to sit in the safe more than in the field. That’s why I am so torn over this decision

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Truthfully, you are not asking us to compare apples to apples.

The Win M70 Super Grade sells for ~$1400 new, while the Savage 110 is ~$900. Let's call it about $500 of difference. The M70 is a 50% upcharge from the 110, I certainly hope there is a big difference between the two beyond the price. And of course there is. CRF/PF, wood/synthetic...the list goes on and on but those are the big ones.

These rifles are not in the same class and will not vote because of it. It's not even close to a fair comparison.

@BeeMaa
When it comes down to it they is apples v apples they is both rifles.
Problem is Winchester like Kenworth truck's put extra money on just because of the name not the quality. Yes wood is dearer but unless it's exceptional it doesn't justify the cost. Usually the Winny needs some work to get it to shoot so that puts the price difference even higher.
Savage have been plodding along in the background making good quality ACCURATE rifles that are becoming more and more popular due to this accuracy.
When you can pick a production F class rifle out of a production run put a scope on it and go and shoot a 4 inch group at 1,000 yards for a world record they must be doing something right.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have a 375 Ruger and Custom 35 Whelen and love them both. Based on my original post I’m looking at a Winchester and Savage 338 WM and I fully agree with @BeeMaa and @CoElkHunter that the two don’t really compare as apples to apples. I guess what I’m trying to justify/decide is difference between a $900 and $1,300 purchase.

I’d say if I go with the Winchester, I’ll be carrying 2 of them in a couple of years on my retirement Safari!

@TNDave
Mate PROBLEM SOLVED VERY EASY. Load the WHELEN PROPERLY with 225s at up to 2,950 fps and the 250s at 2,700 fps and it will do everything and more than the 338 and you can put the money you saved towards your next safari.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

For years and years I would only buy blued and walnut. As I’ve gotten older I have gone more with stainless and synthetic, mainly because of hunting conditions in TN. I still love the classic look and feel of blued in wood, it’s just that they tend to sit in the safe more than in the field. That’s why I am so torn over this decision

@TNDave

Savage looks good to me and a good rifle for HUNTING not sitting in a,safe
Bob

 

[sureshot375]

Savage makes really accurate rifles out of the box. I had always kind of looked down on them, but they focused all their design energy into making accurate rifles at an affordable price.

I have a .308 savage 110 and the thing shoots half inch groups at 100yds with factory ammo. It won’t win any beauty contest, but for a $500.00 rifle it outperforms its price.

 

[Velo Dog]

The only complaints I have ever had, in regards to the full length Mauser-like claw extractor versions of Winchester’s Model 70, are that they always made / make them with the bolt handle swept backwards, toward the shooter’s trigger finger, instead of straight downward, like original 1898 Mausers were.
And now days, Winchester insists on checkering the bolt knob.
The bolt knob should be smoothe, like the dreaded Pre-64 version was.

Also, Winchester should have made them in miniature for cartridges like .22 Rim Fire Magnum, .22 Hornet, .30 US Carbine, .25-20, .32-20, .357 Magnum and so forth.
Last but not least, a true magnum size version, (complete with a proportionately deep enough magazine), for cartridges up to and including the .505 Gibbs would have been well received IMO.

Having said all that, I do however like the current trend in Model 70 Winchesters.
I have recommended this rifle in caliber .375 H&H to more than one or two fellows, looking for a general purpose and Africa worthy rifle.

Regarding Savage Arms Company, my rifle grump opinion is that, Savage quit making decent rifles sometime around the late 1950’s or perhaps early 1960’s.

 

[Alaska Luke]

I had a 338 Savage for a while then sold it. I didn't see the point. It kicked as bad as my 375 Ruger without offering any real advantage over it. I personally don't see the need for anything bigger than a 300 Mag until you step up to big bears or African DG. Then you might as well have a 375.

My suggestion is neither. Use your current rifles and put the money away for a hunt.

 

[sgt_zim]

maybe 1 of these years winchester will start making LH rifles. until that day comes, Savage (and Tikka) will continue to get my business in that market space.

 

[gbflyer]

I have a couple Savage flat - backs, being a lefty. There are about 30 different configurations these days, Savage doesn’t even know what they are. . I’m not sure what the magazine situation is with the Storm, not familiar with that one. Their detachable mags are decent, center feed and 2 rounds I think. That Accustock is floppy but they shoot good. Bolt lift is heavy. I’ve never been a fan of their extractor, I have a drawer full of spares along with the little ball bearings and springs. I’ve had them leave before.

They used to be a good $200 rifle. In my opinion they are still a decent $200 rifle but now cost a lot more.

No experience with the new Winchester. I’ve had 3 New Haven Classics (hit and miss) and we have a pre-64.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

maybe 1 of these years winchester will start making LH rifles. until that day comes, Savage (and Tikka) will continue to get my business in that market space.

@Sgt Zim
Winchester will start making left hand rifles the same time as others make left hand screwdrivers and striped paint. The good thing is the new savage straight pull can be either left or
Bob

 

[375Fox]

The Savage is the Cinderella of rifles

New motto for Savage?

 

[sgt_zim]

New motto for Savage?

Something along the lines of "She may not be the prettiest girl at the dance, but you don't have to be pretty to be the best dancer at the ball."

Also a thumb in the eye to the wokerati and other SJWs.

 

[Velo Dog]

Also a thumb in the eye to the wokerati and other SJWs.

You’d only hurt your thumb.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

My proposition Winchester.

 

[Viral_SIGness]

I heart my Ruger m77 Mk II in .338, it is the last rifle I would part with. I call it my "business rifle" from the time I carried it guiding. Cut the barrel to 20", opened the bolt face for CRF, kept the same extractor so you can push feed if empty and bead blasted to a dull medium gray finish.
I would feel as comfortable with this rifle as any facing any living creature on this planet.
Except crawling into an alder patch after a grizzly. Then I druther have my Marlin .45-70.
I have heard people I respect heap praise on the Savage bolt guns. But personally, I'd find a Ruger.

M77 MkII's are controlled Round Feed. I'm not understanding what you did here? Mine also push feed just fine as well, so I'm confused.

 

[freefall]

I bought one of the first run of them when they were push feeders. Milled out the bottom of the bolt face so the round could slip up under the extractor rather than popping up in front of it.
I was unaware that the later issues push fed happily.
Thought I had something unique.