Savage Lightweight Hunter vs Tikka Superlite

[Mtnboy]

I thought I had my mind made up to get a Tikka Superlite in .308. However, I have a buddy who absolutely loves his Savage Lightweight Hunter.

Going off of factory specs, the Savage is lighter, which is important to me for this gun.

It looks like the barrel on the Savage is about 2.5" shorter, will that have much of an affect at 550yds or less?

I don't see much love for the Savage here, anyone have one?

Pros...cons?

What say you Rokslide, Savage or Tikka?

 

[Jon Boy]

If you like a gun with a shorter barrel it would be a tough decision now that the light weight hunters come in a stainless synthetic option.

 

[Eagle]

The savages I've handled have shot really well, clover leaf at 100 yards well, but the actions just feel sloppy compared to a tikka. That's my only issue with the savages, and it really shouldn't be, as accuracy is the most important.

 

[mtswampfox]

Neighbor kid brought over his latest pawn shop find, a savage 116 in 270. The ss synthetic stock with a funky tv look no name scope. It was in like new shape cept for some very light scratches on underside of barrel, that looked like a few minutes with crocus cloth would remove. He had part of box of shells and i had a few That thing just put it all in a nice ragged hole. For 300 bucks think he got a real prize

 

[ST52v]

I just read where they are making a model 116 in a light weight platform. 20" barrel at around 5.5 lbs.

 

[Mtnboy]

The savages I've handled have shot really well, clover leaf at 100 yards well, but the actions just feel sloppy compared to a tikka. That's my only issue with the savages, and it really shouldn't be, as accuracy is the most important.

I feel the same way! However, if I'm being honest with myself, I don't really care because I'm certainly not gonna notice that when it's "game time"

I'm just curious if losing that 2.5" of barrel is going to affect much once I start getting past 400yds...I'm not a ballistics expert by any stretch!

 

[Eagle]

I feel the same way! However, if I'm being honest with myself, I don't really care because I'm certainly not gonna notice that when it's "game time"

I'm just curious if losing that 2.5" of barrel is going to affect much once I start getting past 400yds...I'm not a ballistics expert by any stretch!

You'll certainly lose velocity, but your caliber and powder choice will dictate how much. A shorter barrel is stiffer, and can be more accurate to a point, so I doubt you'll lose much accuracy. The question is whether or not you'll have the needed energy to kill what your shooting at quickly beyond 400 yards, which again, comes down to your caliber and bullet weight choice.

 

[Elkfitness]

Based on this article, looks like inside of 600yds, barrel length doesn't have too much of an impact (down to 16-18"). He started with a 27" barrel on a 6.5 cm and cut it down 1" at a time.

http://rifleshooter.com/2016/02/6-5...el-length-on-velocity-cutting-up-a-creedmoor/

 

[Manosteel]

My son uses the Savage lightweight hunter in 7-08. He loves the dam thing. Very short and handy and points naturally. He took a nice big elk this year with it at 491 yards (ranged). I have shot the gun and really like it other than the above mentioned slopy feel to the action. If I ever buy a another rifle anytime soon I think it would be a tikka light in 7-08 and get a gunsmith to chop off 2"s of barrel, and flute the action(just cuz I like the look)

 

[AK Troutbum]

Very interesting read Elkfitness. Thanks for posting.

 

[Mtnboy]

Based on this article, looks like inside of 600yds, barrel length doesn't have too much of an impact (down to 16-18"). He started with a 27" barrel on a 6.5 cm and cut it down 1" at a time.

http://rifleshooter.com/2016/02/6-5...el-length-on-velocity-cutting-up-a-creedmoor/

Nice! Thanks for sharing!

 

[lcxctf2000]

One benefit of Savage's is that if you are somewhat mechanically proficient, you can pretty easily do a lot of customization including swapping barrels to change calibers.

There are not as many lightweight doo-dads out there for Savage rifles as you may see for Rem or Tikka, but if you are buying a lightweight rifle to begin with that's not a huge issue.

 

[lcxctf2000]

I should mention. I own Savages and my buddy owns a Tikka. Both great rifles for the $.

The Tikka does run smoother out of the box. I think it's stock may be a bit stiffer, but not by much. Both are plastic stocks so won't match a fiberglass for stiffness.

Both have plastic DBM setups.

I think the Tikka includes scope rings that would save you a couple bucks until you decide you don't like them and upgrade.