Rem 700 LTR or Savage 10FP

[mountainpharm]

I've begun the research for a .308 rifle, which is likely to be my next gun purchase. The main use for this gun will likely be long-range plinking (>600 yd) at the wildlife club, but I also wanted to increase the maximum effective range of my collection which is currently 400-500 yd with my AR15. I was initially drawn to the Remington 700 LTR but several folks I've talked to keep mentioning the Savage 10FP. Whichever gun I buy will likely have a Leupold Mark 4 LR scope on it (though I'm always open to recommendations on scopes as well). I would welcome a side-by-side analysis of these two guns from those of you more versed than I. I would also be interested to read any suggestions for recommended modifications to increase performance. Total budget for this is ~$3k (+/-).

 

[paulsoccodato]

When i wanted a bolt action rifle, i looked at the savage 10fp, its a great gun, with an awesome trigger setup, but it was not comfortable to me. I ended up with an Remington 700 Ltr. I dont think you can really go wrong with either. Whatever feels better to you.

 

[hometheaterman]

I'd go with the Savage if it was me.

 

[adobewalls]

I have never shot the Savage, but I have shot a stock LTR out to 600 yds at clay pidgeons using handloads. Awesome.

My understanding is the LTR may be a bit easier to tweak due to its being the rem 700 action, so I would probably choose it because of that. But I also understand the Savage is also a great rifle with a growing following.

 

[Winston_Smith]

I went through this a few years ago. I ended up with a Savage (LE version). It is a great rifle but (like others have mentioned) doesn't have the after market options of the Remington. If I had it to do over again, I would go for the Remington.

If you plan to spend 3K on the rifle I would not buy the Savage.

If you want to save for a little while longer, check out Surgeon rifles

 

[Lightning12]

I was looking at 308's about 2 years ago and I looked at both these rifles.

There are a couple of basic differences.

The first is barrel length. The LTR has a shorter 20" barrel, LTR standing for light tactical rifle. The 10FP currently comes only with a 24" barrel in the basic model. But there is a variation just brought out with a 20" barrel, only with a Choate pistol grip type folding stock.

The second basic difference is the stock. The LTR has a nice HR precision stock with classic lines. Very nice looking in my opinion. With the 10FP, Savage has offered many options. The basic rifle comes with their flimsy plastic stock which looks as bad as it performs. They also offer an HS precision and a McMillan sniper type stock, both of which are good stocks. I personally don't like the lines as much as the LTR. They used to offer another Choate stock, with the skeleton type butt, but I'm not sure if that's still available. There is also a new model 10FP, CK version I think it is. Has a built in muzzle brake, and possibly comes with the new accustock. Not sure about that.

Savage has one more brand new option called the precision carbine. I believe it is the same basic action as the 10 FP, but it does have a detachable magazine. It has a 20 inch barrel and the new accustock. Only thing is the stock comes pre-camouglaged, only the stock, not the barrel and action.

What .308 did I end up getting? I ended up with CZ 550 varmint with HS precision Kevlar stock. The problem I have with choosing a rifle is that you rarely get the chance to see the things in person. Gun stores and gun shows have an extremely limited selection. I went to the NRA convention in Indianapolis just to compare rifles. I had not really been considering the CZ, but after looking at all of them over and over, that's the one I decided I liked best. Haven't regretted it either. Stock is beautiful with classic lines. The rifle has been very accurate.

I have been looking at this Savage precision carbine in .223 recently though.

Chaz

 

[mountainpharm]

Savage Police Package

I found this review of the Savage 10 FPXP-HS. I can't get to the Savage website at work to read the details, so I'll have to check it out at home. On a cursory view, this looks like a nice setup for $1700 or so. That leaves me another $1300 for ammo and mods. Then I consider the greater availability of aftermarket options for the Remington, plus the fact that the 700 is the basis for the M24 sniper system in the military.

Clearly the only reasonable option is to get both, though I would have consider the additional expense of a divorce attorney...

 

[nhm16]

Savages are actually a lot easier to work on than Remingtons, you can change a barrel on a Savage yourself in about 15 minutes.

 

[Winston_Smith]

Hmm, I didn't know that Savage barrels were so easy to change, that is a clear advantage.

I just went to the Savage site and really liked the precision carbine. I have also heard nothing but good things about the accu-stock. For the MSRP of $850 it might be hard to beat for out of the box quality. Is this the only factory bolt gun with a detachable magazine?

 

[9mmepiphany]

Savage is very consumer friendly. how many companies offer rifles in the same calibre with different twist to accommadate different bullet weights? plus rifles set up for competition.

you'd be doing yourself a huge disservice if you don't take a look at the Savage 10 BAT/S-K – with AccuTrigger™ and 3D Bedding System

it has the Accutrigger, an awesome bedding system, detachable mags and multi-rails

the cool thing is that you can change the barrel yourself when you're ready to step up to the .260...or any other 6.5mm...for longer range shooting with less recoil

 

[Uncle Mike]

Save yourself the heartache....get the Savage....

 

[PandaBearBG]

mountainpharm - hahahhaahah Divorce attorney!!!! I say go with the Savage, maybe a few years ago, Remington all the way, but the newer Savage's are on par with any Remmy now a days. Like nhm16 and 9mmephinaney said you can change the barrel yourself. You seem like you are pretty much on the fence either way. You mentioned aftermarket parts and mods, so I would suggest you think ahead about what configuration you would want your rifle to be at in the future (stock, muzzle brake, etc when you can invest more $$ and time into it, since a long range rifle can always keep improvine: maybe moving up in caliber to 338 or whatever you have planned.) and think about whether Savage or Remmy has the aftermarket parts or systems to fit your need.

Or for $3k you could call or order a tuned and precision rifle from a custom rifle maker and basicly have everything specificly tailored to you and your shooting style. Jsut my $.02

 

[LTR shooter]

I own a 4 year old 700LTR and it is the most accurate of all the rifles I have ever owned including my Savage 12BVSS , but they are the .223 versions. Although the 700VS and 700P 700s .308s I owned shot very well.

The LTR today is simply too expensive. I would rather get the 700 SPS Tactical and replace the stock if I were to go with Remington today.

The 10FP properly bedded in a good stock should shoot as well as any other Savage. A 10FP is equipped with the plastic stock which I would replace.

If frequent barrel changing is really of high priority the Savage design is the way to go. I still keep my 12BVSS simply because I can change it too another caliber later or simply upgrade the stock barrel to a match barrel in same caliber.

 

[nwilliams]

I've owned both and the one I regret selling the most was the LTR

 

[diggler1833]

I bought a 20" .308 10FP about 3 years ago and kept it mostly stock. It was a decent enough shooter averaging about 3/4" at 100yds with the factory ammo that it liked. About 2 years ago I traded it on a 700 5R and haven't looked back.

I now also own a 700 .223 SPS Tactical. If you can find one of those I'd say go for that. You can always upgrade later if you want and you will have enough saved to be able to afford a stock swap.