Savage Model 110
Encyclopedia
The Savage Model 110 is a repeating bolt-action rifle that was developed by Savage Arms
of Westfield, Massachusetts. The Model 110 was designed by Nicholas L. Brewer in 1958 and was patented posthumously in 1963. It has been in continuous production since that time, and with the closing of Winchester's New Haven, Connecticut, plant in 2007, the Model 110 has passed the Winchester Model 70
as the oldest continuously manufactured bolt-action rifle in America. The Model 110 has competed directly with other popular designs such as the Remington Model 700, Ruger M77
, and Winchester Model 70. The Model 110 is known for its accuracy, reliability, and inexpensive price.
and .270 Winchester
. In 1959 a short-action version was introduced, chambered in .243 Winchester
and .308 Winchester
and at that same time, the Model 110 was the first commercial bolt-action rifle to be offered with a left-handed bolt.
The Model 110 was significantly altered in 1966 in order to improve the design and reduce production costs. This included a new adjustable trigger and a new bolt including a plunger-type ejector passing through the bolt face rather than the magazine-mounted, spring-loaded ejector that was part of Brewer's original design. This new ejector allowed the use of a detachable box magazine, which was also introduced in 1966, along with a hinged floorplate model.
When Savage Arms filed for bankruptcy protection in 1988, the company cut its entire product line down to only the most basic Model 110 rifles. The design has since succeeded in bringing the company back to life as one of the top-selling bolt-action rifle makers in the United States.
In 1998, Savage re-engineered the short action Model 110 and adopted a new model numbering scheme to differentiate short action models from the long actions. Thus, the short action Model 110 became the Model 10, while the long action model remained the Model 110. The Model 110 is the basis for the entire line Savage centerfire bolt-action rifles, including the Models 11/111, 12, 14/114, 16/116, and Model 210 bolt-action shotgun
as well as the Stevens Model 200. The series is available in a wide array of chamberings, from .204 Ruger
to .338 Winchester Magnum
, in order to suit the needs of almost any hunter.
Addressing concerns about what was considered by many to be a weak point of the design, Savage introduced the AccuTrigger
for the 110 series in 2003. Those rifles equipped with an AccuTrigger are totally safe and adjustable by the end user through the turning of a single screw, offering a pull weight from one-and-a-half to six pounds. Target and select Varmint model rifles are adjustable down to six ounces.
The barrel is threaded into the receiver and fixed via a large locknut located just ahead of the receiver, with a recoil lug sandwiched between the two. This system allows barrels to be changed or headspace
to be adjusted relatively easily, making for an extremely accurate yet inexpensive rifle.
The bolt is an easily-manufactured assembly, consisting of a tube with a rotating forward baffle and the bolt head (with locking lugs) at one end, a removable handle attached via a threaded bolt and a rotating rear baffle at the rear of the assembly.
A striker assembly is held within.
The receiver and bolt designs make the rifle relatively simple to produce with a left-handed bolt. So, it is popular among budget-minded southpaws.
The bolt head of the Model 110 is a "floating" design: A flat spring located behind the front baffle and bolt head assembly gives the assembly a small amount of free movement lateral to the bore axis. This motion assures that the locking lugs fully contact the receiver and so headspace is held to a minimum every time the bolt is locked. This feature is a major factor contributing to the accuracy of the rifle.
Also, the bolt head is a replaceable part. This means that if the user wishes to re-barrel the rifle for use with a different cartridge, the bolt head can be changed to a new case head diameter. This allows for a much wider range of cartridge interchangeability at less expense.
There are also two different types of bolt heads for the 110 series; a push feed type (standard for the bulk of the 110 series) and a controlled round feed type found on some magnum-chambered rifles.
Each bolt head type includes a different means of cartridge ejection. The push-feed bolt heads utilize a plunger-type ejector mounted in the bolt face.
The controlled-round-feed bolt heads have a relief cut for a receiver-mounted, spring-loaded folding ejector to pass through as the bolt is retracted.
The safety is a three-position type, mounted in an ambidextrous position on the receiver tang, behind the bolt. The forward position is fire, the middle position locks the trigger while allowing the bolt to be opened and the rifle unloaded, and the rear position locks both the trigger and the bolt.
The bolt release lever is located on the right side of the action (on right-handed models) behind the ejection port. Pressing this lever down while pulling the unlocked bolt to the rear allows the bolt to be removed from the rifle for cleaning.
"Law Enforcement" models are offered with high-quality stocks from the manufacturer.
Savage Arms
The Savage Arms Company is a firearms manufacturing company based in Westfield, Massachusetts, with a division located in Canada. The company makes a variety of rimfire and centerfire rifles, as well as marketing the Stevens single-shot rifles and shotguns...
of Westfield, Massachusetts. The Model 110 was designed by Nicholas L. Brewer in 1958 and was patented posthumously in 1963. It has been in continuous production since that time, and with the closing of Winchester's New Haven, Connecticut, plant in 2007, the Model 110 has passed the Winchester Model 70
Winchester Model 70
The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt action sporting rifle. It has an iconic place in American sporting culture and has been held in high regard by shooters since it was introduced in 1936, earning the moniker "The Rifleman's Rifle". The action has some design similarities to Mauser designs and it is...
as the oldest continuously manufactured bolt-action rifle in America. The Model 110 has competed directly with other popular designs such as the Remington Model 700, Ruger M77
Ruger M77
The Ruger M77 is a bolt-action rifle produced by Sturm, Ruger & Company. It was designed by Jim Sullivan during his three years with Ruger. The rifle features a traditional Mauser-style two-lugged bolt with a claw extractor.- Design and features :...
, and Winchester Model 70. The Model 110 is known for its accuracy, reliability, and inexpensive price.
History
The Model 110 was developed in order to provide the hunting market with a strong and powerful yet light and economical rifle. Its model number is derived from its initial retail price of $109.95. It was originally produced in .30-06 Springfield.30-06 Springfield
The .30-06 Springfield cartridge or 7.62×63mm in metric notation, was introduced to the United States Army in 1906 and standardized, and was in use until the 1960s and early 1970s. It replaced the .30-03, 6 mm Lee Navy, and .30 US Army...
and .270 Winchester
.270 Winchester
The .270 Winchester was developed by Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1923 and unveiled in 1925 as a chambering for their bolt-action Model 54. The cartridge is based upon the .30-06 Springfield...
. In 1959 a short-action version was introduced, chambered in .243 Winchester
.243 Winchester
The .243 Winchester is a popular sporting rifle cartridge. Initially designed as a varmint round, it is now more frequently used on medium to large game such as whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn, wild hogs, and even black bear and caribou...
and .308 Winchester
.308 Winchester
The .308 Winchester is a rifle cartridge and is the commercial cartridge upon which the military 7.62x51mm NATO centerfire cartridge is based. The .308 Winchester was introduced in 1952, two years prior to the NATO adoption of the 7.62x51mm NATO T65...
and at that same time, the Model 110 was the first commercial bolt-action rifle to be offered with a left-handed bolt.
The Model 110 was significantly altered in 1966 in order to improve the design and reduce production costs. This included a new adjustable trigger and a new bolt including a plunger-type ejector passing through the bolt face rather than the magazine-mounted, spring-loaded ejector that was part of Brewer's original design. This new ejector allowed the use of a detachable box magazine, which was also introduced in 1966, along with a hinged floorplate model.
When Savage Arms filed for bankruptcy protection in 1988, the company cut its entire product line down to only the most basic Model 110 rifles. The design has since succeeded in bringing the company back to life as one of the top-selling bolt-action rifle makers in the United States.
In 1998, Savage re-engineered the short action Model 110 and adopted a new model numbering scheme to differentiate short action models from the long actions. Thus, the short action Model 110 became the Model 10, while the long action model remained the Model 110. The Model 110 is the basis for the entire line Savage centerfire bolt-action rifles, including the Models 11/111, 12, 14/114, 16/116, and Model 210 bolt-action shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
as well as the Stevens Model 200. The series is available in a wide array of chamberings, from .204 Ruger
.204 Ruger
The .204 Ruger is a centerfire rifle cartridge developed by Hornady and Ruger. At the time of its introduction in 2004, the .204 Ruger was the highest velocity commercially produced ammunition, and the only cartridge produced commercially for bullets of .204 inch/5 mm caliber.-Characteristics:The...
to .338 Winchester Magnum
.338 Winchester Magnum
The .338 Winchester Magnum is a .33 caliber belted rimless bottlenecked cartridge introduced in 1958 by Winchester Repeating Arms Company|Winchester. It is based on the blown out, shortened .375 H&H Magnum. The .33 is the caliber at which medium bore cartridges are considered to begin...
, in order to suit the needs of almost any hunter.
Addressing concerns about what was considered by many to be a weak point of the design, Savage introduced the AccuTrigger
AccuTrigger
The AccuTrigger is a trigger developed by the Savage Arms Company in 2002. The trigger was designed for ease of use and the ability for end users to adjust the weight of the pull on the trigger...
for the 110 series in 2003. Those rifles equipped with an AccuTrigger are totally safe and adjustable by the end user through the turning of a single screw, offering a pull weight from one-and-a-half to six pounds. Target and select Varmint model rifles are adjustable down to six ounces.
Design
The Model 110 was designed to be economical from the start. Thus, many smaller parts are made from investment castings and steel stampings. However, the action and barrel are made from forged steel bar stock.The barrel is threaded into the receiver and fixed via a large locknut located just ahead of the receiver, with a recoil lug sandwiched between the two. This system allows barrels to be changed or headspace
Headspace
In firearms, headspace is the distance measured from the part of the chamber that stops forward motion of the cartridge to the face of the bolt. Used as a verb, headspace refers to the interference created between this part of the chamber and the feature of the cartridge that achieves the correct...
to be adjusted relatively easily, making for an extremely accurate yet inexpensive rifle.
The bolt is an easily-manufactured assembly, consisting of a tube with a rotating forward baffle and the bolt head (with locking lugs) at one end, a removable handle attached via a threaded bolt and a rotating rear baffle at the rear of the assembly.
A striker assembly is held within.
The receiver and bolt designs make the rifle relatively simple to produce with a left-handed bolt. So, it is popular among budget-minded southpaws.
The bolt head of the Model 110 is a "floating" design: A flat spring located behind the front baffle and bolt head assembly gives the assembly a small amount of free movement lateral to the bore axis. This motion assures that the locking lugs fully contact the receiver and so headspace is held to a minimum every time the bolt is locked. This feature is a major factor contributing to the accuracy of the rifle.
Also, the bolt head is a replaceable part. This means that if the user wishes to re-barrel the rifle for use with a different cartridge, the bolt head can be changed to a new case head diameter. This allows for a much wider range of cartridge interchangeability at less expense.
There are also two different types of bolt heads for the 110 series; a push feed type (standard for the bulk of the 110 series) and a controlled round feed type found on some magnum-chambered rifles.
Each bolt head type includes a different means of cartridge ejection. The push-feed bolt heads utilize a plunger-type ejector mounted in the bolt face.
The controlled-round-feed bolt heads have a relief cut for a receiver-mounted, spring-loaded folding ejector to pass through as the bolt is retracted.
The safety is a three-position type, mounted in an ambidextrous position on the receiver tang, behind the bolt. The forward position is fire, the middle position locks the trigger while allowing the bolt to be opened and the rifle unloaded, and the rear position locks both the trigger and the bolt.
The bolt release lever is located on the right side of the action (on right-handed models) behind the ejection port. Pressing this lever down while pulling the unlocked bolt to the rear allows the bolt to be removed from the rifle for cleaning.
Patents
Bolt-Action Rifle with Gas Deflecting Means, Oct. 24, 1961, Inv. N.L Brewer Bolt-Action Rifle with Ejector Housing on Magazine Box, Sep, 17, 1963, Inv. N.L Brewer Firing Mechanism With Sear Safety Indicator, Oct. 9, 1963, Inv. N.L. Brewer Trigger Safety for Bolt-Action Rifle, June 30, 1964, Inv. N.L Brewer Trigger Assembly Having A Secondary Sear [i.e. Accutrigger], April 29, 2003, Inv. Gancarz et. Al.Variants
There are many different models of the 110 series designed for different purposes. The basic 11/111 "Hunter" (blued carbon steel) models, 16/116 "Weather Warrior" (stainless steel) models, and 10/110FP "Law Enforcement" models include inexpensive wooden or synthetic stocks in order to keep costs down. While the stocks provided with these models are certainly functional, many users have noted a substantial improvement in accuracy after installing a higher quality stock. Other models, such as the 14/114 "Classic" and many of the 12 "Varmint" and 10FPSavage 10FP
The Savage 10FP is a bolt-action sniper/tactical rifle manufactured by the Savage Arms Company and based on the Savage Model 110 rifle. There are seven variants of this rifle, each designated with an "LE" code signifying that it is part of the Law Enforcement Series...
"Law Enforcement" models are offered with high-quality stocks from the manufacturer.
See also
- Savage Model 10FPSavage 10FPThe Savage 10FP is a bolt-action sniper/tactical rifle manufactured by the Savage Arms Company and based on the Savage Model 110 rifle. There are seven variants of this rifle, each designated with an "LE" code signifying that it is part of the Law Enforcement Series...
- Savage Model 110 BASavage 110 BAThe Savage 110 BA is a bolt-action sniper/tactical rifle manufactured by the Savage Arms Company. The rifle is designated with an "LE" code; "Law Enforcement"...
- List of firearms