You won' t get any disagreement from me with anything said above. I have never owned the 116 Savage. I do own a 111 Savage chambered for .30-06. It shoots fine, so far has worked well, and I purchased it for a really great price. It is very utilitarian, (nothing wrong with that), but not very pretty. Makes a great working rifle.

A friend of mine in Alaska owned and used a Stainless Steel Savage, with the regular wood stock, chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum. (That was eight or nine years ago and there were no short magnums.) I loaded 180 grain Barnes " X" bullets for him and it was absolutely deadly on game. Through and through penetration with every shot with entrance about nickle to quarter sized and exits about ping-pong ball to tennis ball sized. You could not have pried that rifle from his hands!

I would imagine the .300 WSM would be pretty much the same with any bullet weights of 180 grains or less. If you like the cartridge...I don' t think you' ll have any qualms with the rifle. Inspite of their looks....they tend to work and shoot well.

Good luck and best wishes with your choice!

P.S. It' s amazing how a " homely" rifle can grow on you if it shoots well!