Sorry my quote didn't go through.

To be a big game rifle the (lets assume a bolt action) rifle must be adequate in size.....this means almost anything from the 26 calibers and up.

It must have reasonable accuracy.....lets say 1.25" groups or there abouts.

It must extract the fired rounds and toss them freely away from the action so that the next round can be fed into the chamber.

It must reliably feed a new round into the chamber without fail and the bolt must lock it into firing stance.

The trigger must be adjustable or at least in reasonable order...(the new accutrigger does this well)

The safety must work reliably.....it must render the firing pin unattached to the trigger mechanism when on. It must allow the gun to fire when off.

The bolt must open and close reliably.

Folks.....the last two Savage rifles didn't ccome remotely close to matching anything but the accuracy requirements!!!!!...Yes...since then the accutrigger has gained them a lot....but they still have a long ways to go.

I had safeties refuse to render the gun to not fire.....I've had cartridges fly out of the action when trying to chamber a round.....I've had the bolt rotate on me in such a manner it would not close.....now that is not a big game rifle....not for anything I'd hunt here or anywhere on the planet.

I've actually seen folks sit at the range with their Savage and have feeding trouble and actually ignore it....thinking this is normal and expected.....but look at a great group and smile.....the smile that says.....this is a great rifle. Not at all relevant that they must help the feeding when they chamber a new round.....by taking the rifle from the shoulder and watch to insure it's working right....then using the other hand help it out and finally get off the second shot.

In all fairness it's been a while since I've fired a Savage bolt action.....I had a friend that was left handed and we got him a .223 and a .22-250 left hand bolt rifle from Savage for varminting....he used them as single shots as neither of them fed worth a crap!!!.....nor did we care.....accuracy was superb.....and that was we wanted......

Maybe Savage has fixed all these things.......but I post my experiences....if yours is different you should do the same.....but every time I read...they're an accurate gun I think.....ok...but what about the rest of it?.....

As far as I'm concerned.....Savage has a long ways to go as a hunting rifle.....

Now the Savage 99....well...that's another story.....there's a fine gun!!!!

It just plain works for me. But my hands won't handle a lever anymore!!~!

Here's a VZ-24 upper and a 1909 Argentine made to 108 year old designs. Either will function far better than any bolt rifle Savage has today.....

One might think in 108 years that a compasny like Savage would find a way to improve things.....

I would say you needto pick up a new Savage and give them a 2nd look.The new President of 5 years has really gave theguns a new lookk and feel with great features.I own 6 accutrigger guns and have never had any issues ejecting shells, safety switch problems, or feeding and I do a lot of shooting with mine. Accuracy to me is ABOVE all and a lot of people seem to forget this. I know lots of guys that keep a gun because they like the brandname on the bbleven though the guns' trigger sucks or it shoots terrible.One shot is all that you are usually offered as the next shot is running. Look how many Ruger #1's go to Africa in .375HH, .416 Rigby, and .458. Besides you said big game and not dangerous game in your original quote.I would not hesitate to take my .300 wsm big game hunting on a hunt of a lifetime on any animal in NA. I know where my bullet shoots and that iswhat hunting is all aboutin my book.
HCH[/align]

We shall differ there.....sorry friend...it's not at all the most important component.....reliability is and by a long ways.
Re: the Ruger #1s going to Africa.....How many?...can you tell me?..Simply stated it's an incredible few that ever get there. Most are simply toys for folks to play with here.....these are simply not at all serious DG guns...not now or ever...a few maybe....but certainly not more than an extremely few.

A few Shilo Sharps too....but extremely few.

Yes....I said big game....you are correct.....I never said anything about dangerous game.

If you still are of the opinion that accuracy is the number one component then we actually are on totally different wave lengths.

This is the reason so many folks have custom guns made.......extremely few custom guns shoot better than Savage and even Remington factory guns. Pure and simple accuracy is not at all the critical ingredient in a good big game rifle.....it must be good enough....but such things as 1/2" groups aren't at all necessary to be a superb hunting rifle.

Further....Regarding dangerous game rifles.....I don't have the exact numbers but bolt rifle repeaters (mostly mausers and Winchesters) and double rifles are used far far more than any other type of rifle in Africa and further due to the cost of doubles there are only a few of them.

Of the bolt rifles only a few are Remington, Weatherby, and sako and almost none of them (including plains game) are Savages.

I was very unusual to take a Remington 721 to Africa....my PH said it was the first he had ever seen.

From what I have read the #1 hunting rifle in Africa is the CZ Bruno. Great dangerous game rifle, mauser type action and single set trigger and cheap to buy.Till either of us sees, handles, or shoots this .375 H&H Savage we won't know. I do know though that Savage does not have a long way to go as far as building a big game rifle. I own a new Savage .300 wsm with the accutrigger. Buy one or shoot one so you can make an intelligent review. Your statement is like saying that all chevy pickups suck causeyou had one in the70's and it fell apart; so they must still suck. Shoot an accutrigger bigbore Savage and than I willtake your comments to heart. Armchair reviews based on no fact or real life experience.
HCH


[/align]

Iam with Vapodog on this one. I'll take functionability/reliability over accuracy for big game whether it be dangerous or not.

Todays Savage's remind me of Dodge trucks....after being on the bottom of the heap for so long there isnt no way but up^ ....but hey, they are trying!

Savage isn't top of the line. But for the money, they make a good rifle. I guess it depends on your budget and your needs. I sure like mine.

Mark

I started a thread on accurate reloading.com

so far there is 29 votes and not a single one is for Savage.....and only one for Sako/Weatherby

check this out if you wish

go to www.accuratereloading.com and go to forums african hunting and check the dangerous game poll I started.....

Does the word of 29 hunters mean anything???


Seriously....the score is 29 to 0.0