Savage 10 .308 Tactical Feedback & Advice

[mikelj]

As a righty who shoots lefty I have wanted a LH rifle for a long time so at 43 I decided I'd waited long enough. I got this used Savage Model 10 Tactical .308 at auction this weekend for $500 and have researched what I could online, but always like the info I get here. Here are my questions, etc. and any help or feedback is welcome:

I can't find any serial # info online and don't know exactly what year or version I have.

It has an internal 4 rd mag, but I can't find a manual for anything but a box mag.

It looks to be missing the third swivel stud (for a bi-pod as I understand it) so should I replace that and if so, how hard is that to do?

What about ammo and scope recommendations to get me started and not break the bank?

I'll be shooting at a range mostly but have "plans" to take a deer and/or boar hunting trip in a couple of years when my sons are older. Is this the right gun?

I could probably keep rattling off questions, but I'll quit for now and see what wisdom comes my way before I ask more.

 

[JDGray]

Hey, that bolts on the wrong side!

To find out if its a new Centerfeed, measure the action screw spacing. 4.40" = new centerfeed, 4.25"= old stagger feed mag. Does it have an Accutrigger, with the blade in the center? If your hunting with it, I'd go with a 3-9 power scope. Nikon, Bushnell Elite 3200, wont break the bank. My Savage .308 likes Fed 168gr GMM ammo, but that stuff will break the bank, and not recommended for hunting. It will show you the accuracy potential of your rifle. I reload for mine, so I can't help you on hunting ammo. These Savages are great shooters! And if you got an accutrigger model, you won't need an aftermarket trigger

Those slign studs just screw in, but if you remove the stock, you'll be able to see how the one behind it is mounted.

 

[Txhillbilly]

What you have there is an early-Pre Accutrigger Savage 10FLP.It should be a Staggered feed internal blind box magazine.

The factory stocks aren't very good,and flex pretty easily. Choate makes a couple different styles of stocks for lefties,and they are decent stocks for the price.B&C also make several Savage stocks,but none are for lefties,you'd have to cut a bolt handle notch into it yourself.

The trigger should be adjustable on your rifle,just be careful not to lighten the pull too much,or it will be unsafe and the trigger can go off just by bumping the gun or by closing the bolt handle.

You can shoot just about any ammo out of it for a 308 or 7.62.But the surplus ammo will probably not shoot as good as factory ammo or handloads.

As far as scopes go,you will just have to decide that yourself.You'll get all kinds of advice here,and most will vary on every opinion about scopes.
If your not going to shoot really long ranges,a 3-9,4-12,or 4-14/16 power scope will work fine.I will suggest buying a nice scope though,these rifles shoot really good,and a nice scope will be to your advantage.

I have 3 Savage Tactical rifles,2 LH-25/06 and 300WM and a RH 308,they don't offer this particular rifle in LH or it would be LH also.
Both the 25/06 and 308 have Choate Tactical stocks and Ken Farrell bases,Burris Zee rings,and Sightron SIII 6-24x50 scopes.The 300WM has a Choate Ultimate Varminter stock,and a Swarovski PH 4-16x50 scope also in Burris Zee rings on Weaver bases.It will be getting a Ken Farrell base also in the near future.
All 3 will should sub-moa with good ammo.

 

[rozziboy18]

first off, congrads on the lefty savage.
i had that same modle in a right hand version and it shot great with 168, and 175 smk's

in the order you asked

1. you can contact savage for year of info

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_10FP

3. very easy fix, you should be able to get swivel studs at wal-mart. be shure to check if its course thred or fine thred

4. ammo= federal gmm in 168-175, mil-surp m118lr, and (my fav) hornady match 168-175g for target. hornaday gmx superformance in 165 if a fantastic round for hunting. controld expantion with a huge chrush/tear factor with match grade accuracy! as far as the scope, 5-15 bushnell elite 3200 tactical/non tactical for hunting and you cant go wrong with just about any 9x powered or higher leupold or the new redfield scopes (leupold makes them too!!!)

5. she's a little heavy for "stalking" but stand/blind hunting it will be fine. but if you fall out of the boat that thing might just drag you to the bottom

hope this helps in some way!
brandon

ps be shure to post pic's of the group's on your first day out with her!!!!

 

[redbullitt]

I think that rifle will do anything you want it to. Great for the range and will do a number on pretty much anything you will find in the woods.

All my savages have been great shooters. Good luck!