Ok everyone, I am kinda in a pickle here and need some information. I am gonna be buying a new rifle in a couple of weeks and I have still to decide which. I know little of the specifics and/or reputation of either of the rifles as I have never shot or owned either. I will tell what I do know of each rifle and would very much appreciate any info I can get from you all.

1) Savage Model 10FP .308 rifle The heavy precision barrel features a recessed target-style crown Heavy Free-floating and button-rifled 24" barrel Synthetic stock with positive checkering, dual pillar bedding Four round internal box magazine

2) Howa M1500 Varmint .308 rifle (Legacy Sports Catalog number HWR-93202) For heavy barrel precision hunting and pest control 5+1 in Chamber (drop mag) [a real plus for what I want] 24" barrel and synthetic stock 1-12" twist

I know that you can kinda see what I am looking for. Durability and accuracy at long ranges (300 - 600yds +). I want to use this rifle for both hunting and long range paper shooting. Now which of these rifles do you think will do the best job? Price is no problem as I will pay the same price for either rifle. Even if you can just point me to a place where I might gather more info on one or both, that would be awesome. I want to know as much as I can before making this purchase. One more question, though. I have all but decided to get the Savage (mainly cause of their great reputation for accuracy). I know to most of you, this will sound petty, but it really does make a difference to me. One of the things that I really dont like about the Savage is that it has the interior mag instead of the drop mag. If I do get this one, is there anyway that I can have a gunsmith modify this for me or you think I could find another stock for it that has this feature without having to pay an arm and a leg for it? Other than this and the brand name, I dont know of much difference between the two rifles. The main question that I have as far as how these two rifles compare is the barrel of each. Dont know if there is a difference between them (other than the name imprinted on them). If so, what are the differences, and which is better?

-- J.J. Westbrook (jj573@hotmail.com), December 11, 2002

Answers

I have done a lot of research on both guns and found that both are very well respected by individuals that shoot each respectively. My experiences are only with a savage fp10 that I picked up dirt cheap. I have shot under an inch at 100, 200, and 300 yards using reman. black hills ammo. Not too bad for a gun I paid a little over $200 for. In my eyes, can't beat a savage.

-- JBrotz (justin.brotzler@ndsu.nodak.edu), April 24, 2004.

AS A YOUNG BOY AND NOT MUCH MONEY A SAVAGE 22 RIFLE WAS AROUND MY NO MONEY BUDGET. THE GUNS ARE DIRT CHEEP.I HAVE TRIED MANEY SAVAGE RIFLES DUE TO THE CHEEP PRICES. YOU KNOW THE SAYNG YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.THE OLD SALVAGE RIFLE WAS NOT WORTH YOUR MONEY AND MANEY AND MANEY GUN BYERS GROW TO HATE THE SAVAGE RIFLE. WELL MY BANK ACOUNT GROW UP. I HAVE BOUGHT MANEY TOP NAMES AND CUSTOM RIFLES OVER THE YEARS. A 700 MOD REMINGTON IS ONE TOP GUN OUT OF THE BOX. YOU CAN FIND ALL KINDS OF ADD ON FOR THE 700 REM. THE ARMY BASES ONE OF ITS SNIPER RIFLE OFF OF THE 700 REMINGTON BILDT ACTIONS. I HAVE OWNED A FEW OUT OF THE BOX 700 REM MOD AND WAS VEARY HAPPY WITH IT. I HAVE SHOOT THIS MOD IN ALL CALS ON THE SHOOTING RANGE AND IN COMPITION MATCHES. I WAS A SNIPER IN THE SERVICE AND SPENT A LOT OF HOURS WITH A 700 REM CUSTOM MIL SPEC 308 AND 300 RIFFLE IN MY HANDS BASED OFF OF THE 700 REM MODEL. I HAVE A BUDY THAT I SHOOT WITH WHO IS IN LOVE WITH THE SAVAGE RIFLE. I WAS SURPRISED WITH SAVAGE ARMS. THE RIFLES THAT HE HAS LET ME SHOOT WEAR WEAR OF FINE QUALITY AND SHOOT WELL. I GAVE SAVAGE A BETTER LOOK WHEN I WAS LOOKING TO BUY A NOTHER 308 TO COMPETE WITH. THE REMINGTON AND RUGER AND BROWING WEAR MY TOP PICS AT THE GUN STORE. WELL YOU WOUND NOT BELIVE WHAT I LEFT WITH. I WILL SAY SAVAGE ARMS HAS COME A LOUNG WAY IN THE GUN WORLD. I HAVE SEPENT A LOT OF TIME SHOOTING MY SAVAGE ARMS MOD 10FPLE2 308 WIN RIFLE. I DO LIKE THE RIFLE A LOT. I WAS WORIED ABOUT IT .THIS IS THE CHEPEST TARGET GUN I HAVE BOUGHT. THE WORKSMAN SHIP IS GOOD AND THE RIFLE SHOOTS AS WELL AS ANEY OF MY 700 REM. I WILL SAY THAT THE BOLT ACTION IS NOT THE SOFT AS THE 700 REM. IF PRICE IS NOT A ISSUE THAN BY THE 700 REM IT WILL OUT LAST YOUR GRAND KIDS. THE SAVAGE 10FPLE2 308 WIN FROM SAVAGE IS A GOOD GUN OUT OF THE BOX. THIS GUN COULD BE A DREAM IF A GOOD GUN SMITH DOES SOME WORK TO IT. IF YOU WANT A GOOD GUN AT A LOW PRICE THIS ONE IS IT. IF YOU WANT A GUN THATIS TOP NOTCH OUT OF THE BOX THAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE REWORKED BY A GUN SMITH THE 700 MOD REM IS THE GUN. YOU HAVE TO REMENBER THE OLD SAYING YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. I DONT THINK YOU WILL GO WROUNG IF YOU PIC THE SAVAGE 10FPLE2 MOD

-- steven m brown (dice@winnemucca.net), March 09, 2004.

Don't know about the savage, never owned one, I've had a Howa 308 for 20 years or so, I keep trying to find a gun to replace it, and can't do it. I will grant that it's sitting in a Bell and Carlson stock, and has been bedded and the trigger has been worked on, it's a sub 1 MOA with any thing I shoot, including 190 gr spitzers.

-- Ron Hansen (Nimrodron@earthlink.net), March 08, 2004.

I believe that the savage would be an overall better deal. They have very accurate rifles. Any one that you ask will say that if they have had experience with Savage rifles. They have greatly improved upon their triggers with the new acu-trigger(1.5-6pounds). I would not stick with their original stock. They now offer versions of their rifle with Choate or McMillan stocks. The Choate is good but the McMillan is much better. With anyone of the stocks you should find that it will shoot sub-moa with a quality scope and ammunition. I would use a leupold scope. They are well made, durable scopes. Mine is a vari-x2 6-18#40 and it very very very rarely becomes off sight.

-- andrew richey (coolguy20060@yahoo.com), December 01, 2003.

just an update i took the new weatherby [howa made] to the range today 11/29/03 fired 2 shots to foul the barrel after cleaning then fired a 3 shot group that scared me the gun shot a 3/8" group from a rest and sandbags i'm very impressed i would recommend this rifle to anyone you cant beat the price i have done nothing to the gun but mount a leupold vx-1 3/9/40 scope.

-- chad malotte (chma816@aol.com), November 29, 2003.

as you have seen i own a savage m-10 fp le-1 in 308 20" barrel it will shoot with any factory rifle around. i just yesterday bought a weatherby vanguard in 308 [howa made] i have only shot a few rounds for sight-in but i am impressed it shoots around 3/4" groups.as to comparing with the savage i think it is a toss up the savage has a heavy barrel and the accu-trigger but the bolt is kind of sloppy and the factory stock needs alot to be desired. the weatherby has an adjustable trigger and the stock to action fit is alot better all in all i think i would prefer the weatherby over the savage. but thats just me opinion.

-- chad malotte (chma816@aol.com), November 27, 2003.

I beleive that you guys that have Savage rifles could have everything you want if you get ahold of Fred at Sharp Shooters 4970 Lehman Rd Delphos, OH 45833 phone number 419-695-3179 I will be having one of there barrels and triggers on my Savage by this fall they have stocks barrels triggers and all the cool stuff for a Savage

-- dan blanchard (becky8161@aol.com), November 23, 2003.

I have owned the savage 110 and found it to be an accurate rifle however, I found the longevity of the firearms components to be questionable. Mine failed after a few years to feed/extract properly.The newer savages have a bolt action that is so tight and rigid I would hate to try to shoot a follow up shot quickly, Also the weight balance of the savage did not suit me very well. I have currently a howa 1500 wich is a better shooter with a lighter smoother action and the rifle seems to be better built overall. I did have to send my bolt in to get re-machined due to a safety recall but the work was done very quickly and at no cost to me, turn around time is very quick. I don't mean to put down the savage but in my experience they are cheaply made guns. the howa is also sold as a weatherby (which should tell you about their quality) and has been for more then 2 decades. A lot of internet information on the howa is put out by people who have never owned one or even shot one..........the rifle is often suspect because it is made in japan..........so was the mark v up until a few years ago. From personal experience the Howa is the deal of the gun world right now and in a few years I would be surprised if this model doesn't become long sought after.

-- rber (rber99@yahoo.com), November 11, 2003.

SPENT MANY A DAY AND NIGHT WITH A RIFLE OF SOME SORT IN MY HAND. THE SAVAGE .308 ALONG WITH MOST SAVAGE PRODUCTS WOULD BE MY CHOICE, BUT IT IS ONLY MY OPINION.

-- LRL (klyde19@aol.com), October 25, 2003.

if there is an academy sporting good in your area they carry howa but only in the #2 barrel but the acttion will be the same. i shoot a howa 30.06 sprg and my brother a savage 270 win. the fit on the howa is much better, stocks are of greater quaity mine came with butler creek stock, the action is very smooth with little play the trigger is adjustable and come in at 4.25 lbs. the savage accuracy is very good for off the shelf gun, but the howa is as good with my groups (from bags) at around .65 in. the howa is a .5 gun or better the rest was me. ive shot both accuracy is the same but the fit and finish on the howa is better.

-- j dobb (jddobbin@pclnet.net), October 19, 2003.

the savage f10 is the better of the two.i have used every tactical rifle you can imagine and this is the choice to make.if you want to look pretty at the range buy the howa .for 0 to 600 yards get the savage with the 20 inch barrel. for 600 to 1200 yards get the 26 inch barrel.the longer barrel isnt as accurate at close range and the short barrel isnt as accurate at long range. also when buying a tactical rifle look at the rate of twist in the barrel.compare savage to some of the others.you will find that some of the other rifles have a rate of twist that doesnt allow you to shoot heavy match grade ammo.the are hunting rifles that look like tactical rifles.yes the savage isnt very good looking but i bet if you took them both to the range you would take the howa backto the store.also dont put a crappy scope on it. i use a burris electro dot.ive tried them all .for me this scope does the trick. i use an m40 remington at work and this gun cannot outshoot hte savage!!!!!!!!!

-- master sergant j. crapse usmc (catheadred@hotmail.com), July 16, 2003.

It sounds like you have your heart set on the savage, but have you compared it to the remington 700 models? There is quite a bit of difference in the fit and finish of the two. Just pull the bolt back on both and see what I mean. I have the 700 LTR (Lite Tact. Rifle) and am very pleased with it. Accuracy is sub .5 moa or better depending on ammo. It's just my .02 cents worth but shop around and spend some time getting to know some of the dealers in your area you can learn alot from the ones you grow to trust.

-- Chris Marshburn (chrismarshburn@bellsouth.net), May 19, 2003.

I HAVE RECENTLY BOUGHT A SAVAGE M-10 FP LE-1 20" BARREL SYNTHETIC STOCK THAT I CHANGED TO A BELL&CARLSON FROM CABELAS {ONLY 90$} I MOUNTED A SIMMONS AETEC SCOPE ON THE GUN AND IT SHOOTS 1/2" GROUPS @100 YARDS I WOULD RECOMMEND ONE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS AN ACCURATE RIFLE AT A DIRT CHEAP PRICE..

-- chad malotte (chma816@aol.com), April 11, 2003.

I have heard good things about Howas, but have never shot one. I used to have a Savage, and it shot very well, but, there were a few things I did not like about it. The factory stock, I felt, was garbage. And the amount of vertical travel to open the bolt seemed to me to be excessive. Maybe they have changed it now...don't know. I was always pinching my thumb against the scope. But it did shoot well, though.

-- F. P. (desertsniper308@yahoo.com), January 18, 2003.

I have a Savage FP in .308 W/24 inch heavy barrel like the one you're describing, and it shoots like a dream for the price. I don't know anything about the other rifle, but I like my Savage so much, that I opted to put a Leupold MK4 M3 10x mildot scope mounted with Mounting Solution Plus base and rings. The original stock was a little light for my tastes, but it shot wonderfully. I recently bought a beefier new Bell and Carlson stock that was only $90 and installed it. Now it's perfect. I'd rather have this rifle than the Rem. 700PSS, and it was much cheaper.

-- Handout (fredjarvin@hotmail.com), December 23, 2002.