One of my biggest complaints with some firearms is that it seems like they were designed to fit absolutely no one. The mechanics are great, but the furniture is designed for either Tyrion Lannister or Gregor Clegane. There’s rarely a happy medium. Savage is looking to change that with their new AccuFit, a highly adjustable stock that they’ve now installed on their Model 110 Scout rifle.
Savage’s Model 110 Scout is, as the name says, a “scout” rifle. Championed by Col. Jeff “Four Rules” Cooper in the 1980s, the argument for the scout rifle design is that by placing the scope further forward on the barrel of a lightweight rifle you have better situational awareness, faster target acquisition and quick follow-up shots. In theory.
Savage follows Cooper’s formula with their Model 110 Scout, and while I can’t say I fell in love with the optics I do very much like how everything else goes together.
Starting out at the front of the gun there’s a rather large muzzle brake that does a great job soaking up the recoil of the .308 Winchester round, even when firing the rifle from the standing position. Or, if you want something better, you can always crank it off and slap on the muzzle device of your choice. Options include flash hiders, soda can launchers, and the ever-popular silencer.
Just behind the threading is a nice fixed blade front sight. I’m a fan of including iron sights on working guns — just in case the optics are damaged, you still have an option to finish the mission at hand.
Further up the barrel we start to see the benefits of the new AccuFit. While the stock is synthetic, it still remains stiff enough to allow the barrel to freely float without touching the stock at all. That’s great for improving the accuracy of the firearm, and something you don’t usually see on the lower end synthetic stocks. Good on you, Savage.
On the other side of the chamber is Savage’s stock in trade (pun not necessarily intended). The rifle features their usual action, centerline thumb safety, and their justifiably acclaimed adjustable AccuTrigger. I’m a pretty big fan of their trigger system, as it gives all the feel and accuracy of a two stage trigger with the simplicity and price of a single stage trigger.
The action is designed to take standard detachable AICS magazines. Only a couple years ago this would have meant massively expensive replacements were your only option, but both Magpul and MDT now make replacement polymer mags for pennies on the dollar compared to Accuracy International-made magainzes. One Magpul 10-round magazine is included in the box with the Model 110 Scout.
I really appreciate detachable magazines becoming more common in bolt action rifles. Loading through the ejection port is so 1890’s. And being able to have multiple mags loaded and ready to go just makes me happy.
But let’s get to the new feature being released with this rifle: that AccuFit stock.
The Savage Scout 110 was re-introduced in 2015 with a stock designed to be adjustable for length of pull and cheek rise height. The length of pull adjustment was good, using spacers and different sized screws to provide a solid platform.
The cheek rise, on the other hand, was the same quick adjustment version we’ve seen on other rifles using a polymer panel and some finger adjustable knobs. It had a tendency to shift around and generally be more annoying than useful.
On this latest version, the cheek riser is an integral part the whole. It’s a solid piece of plastic that’s firmly attached to the stock — you need to un-screw the recoil pad, remove any spacers, and then slide in the cheek riser of your choice. Re-attach the recoil pad and you’re go to go
It’s a far more solid and secure method than the old screw-adjustable system. That means it feels solid as a rock and won’t move even under extreme stress.
That’s all great, but how does the 110 Scout work on the range?
In a word: great. The insert panels on the forend and the grip make the gun very comfortable to hold even under recoil, and the adjustable bits all feel extremely solid. The cushy recoil pad combined with the rather massive muzzle brake means there’s only slightly more recoil than a rimfire rifle.
I noticed a bit of an issue when working the rifle’s action — the bolt has a tendency to stick just a lbit when cycling. This could be due to this being factory-fresh rifle that needs some break-in time (or more lube) so your mileage may vary. Even then, that’s a very minor gripe on an otherwise fantastic shooting firearm.
As for accuracy, it’s…okay. I slapped a 2.5x Leupold scope Jeremy had laying around on the gun and after a quick “battlefield zero” I was on paper. The scope never actually made it all the way to a proper zero, bottoming out the turrets an inch from where I needed it, but it was good enough for an accuracy test. The best group I could get out of the Model 110 Scout was this one using Federal Gold Medal Match. A little under 1.5 MoA. That’s not terrible, especially for a cheap low power scope in a budget priced rifle. But it’s nothing to write home about, either.
I’ve never been a big fan of the Scout Rifle concept. It’s just not for me. That said, the Savage Model 110 Scout is a damn solid entry into the field. The newly adjustable AccuFit stock is huge improvement, easily customized and solid in the field.
There are a few other manufacturers that make scout rifles from Steyr to Mossberg, but the only real competitor at this level of price quality is Ruger with their Gunsite Scout Rifle. But that (A) uses a traditional non-adjustable stock, and (B) has an inferior single stage trigger. I’d say Savage wins pretty handily unless you really prefer the Ruger brand.
Specifications: Savage Model 110 Scout Rifle
Caliber: .308 Winchester (also available in .223 Remington, .338 Federal, and .450 Bushmaster)
Overall Length: 37.5 to 38.5 inches
Weight: 7.72 lbs
Barrel Length: 16.5 inches
Twist Rate: 1:10
Capacity: 10 rounds
Trigger Pull Weight: 2.5 lbs to 6 lbs
MSRP: $819
RATINGS (out of five stars):
Reliability * * * * *
Zero malfunctions. Slightly sticky bolt out of the box, but should smooth out over time and certainly not enough to be a reliability issue.
Accuracy * * *
Not outstanding as tested, but it’s possible that with a better scope (and perhaps a better trigger-puller) that could be improved.
Ergonomics * * * * *
Highly adjustable to fit the shooter. All the benefits of an AR-15 with the solid feel and function of a traditional stock.
Overall * * * *
I’m a fan. I might not like the scout rifle setup per se, but on this rifle it just seems to make sense. The gun feels great, balances well in the hand and is a very solidly crafted firearm. Definitely worth the money.