Some new gun releases make you raise your eyebrows, some make you think "I should check that out," and some make you run right to the outdoor store to stock up on ammo to feed it. The release of the Savage 110 Carbon Tactical was of that third type, because I was pretty sure the results of this review would be lighting up my next range session … and hopefully taking it on my next deer hunt too.
Unboxing
One of the first things to catch my attention during unboxing was the pristine carbon fiber-wrapped stainless steel PROOF Research barrel, threaded at the muzzle should you wish to attach a suppressor. The specific 110 Carbon Tactical I had chosen to test was chambered in .308, but if that is not your preferred round you also have the option to order this rifle in 6.5 PRC and the ever-popular 6.5 Creedmoor. If you aren’t a fan of the FDE seen pictured here Savage also offers the 110 Carbon Tactical in black. Regardless of chambering or coloring, the options all weigh under 8 lbs., and have barrel lengths ranging from 22 inches up to 24 inches. Overall rifle length also stays similar among the three options with lengths ranging from 42 inches up to 44.25 inches.
The action fits nice and snug within Savage's patented AccuFit Stock with AccuStock. On both the beavertail forend and on the rear portion of the gun are three sling swivel studs that will fit not only your favorite sling, but also bipod as well. Keeping along the lines of tailoring this rifle specifically to your needs, Savage's iconic AccuTrigger is user-adjustable anywhere from 4 lbs., all the way down to a near-telepathic 1.5 lbs! Of course, Savage doesn't simply stop at a crisp, customizable trigger--you can customize all your points of contact with this rifle. It's simple to adjust for a longer length of pull (LOP) or a lower height on the cheek riser. That means that small-statured shooters need not settle for “good enough” with the 110 Carbon Tactical ... nor must they visit a gunsmith.
Range Day
First, a note on optics. For our testing purposes, we placed a Warne Skyline one-piece mount on top of the included 20 MOA, one-piece rail. Within it we chose to mount an EOTech Vudu 5-25x50 riflescope. The MD3 reticle on this optic would serve any target/tactical shooting application quite well, but I personally was a fan of it as it would allow for quick target acquisition on any medium to large-sized game without causing too much cluttering within the glass, giving me a handful of different uses out of this singular gun/scope combo.
Range day was fairly mild, with temperatures in the mid-60s and a half-value wind coming in from the southwest. The ammunition we tested included Sig Sauer’s Elite Hunter .308 with a 165-gr. bullet/controlled expansion tip combo, Hornady Outfitter .308 with a 165-gr. CX bullet, and last but not least Federal's Non-Typical Whitetail .308 150-gr. soft point. Every round fired fed without issue through the rifle, but that was to be expected.
For hunting purposes, you don't expect the shooter to run the gun hot, but if you're out at the range doing some long-distance shooting with your buddies you may let that barrel get a little toasty, so we made sure to replicate this to the best of our abilities during our testing. Even with the barrel hot enough to fry an egg on, everything ran smoothly with no issues arising. The average group size ranged from 1 MOA – 1.5 MOA between the three brands tested, but I expect those groups will shrink down a bit once the gun has a chance to truly get broken in. At the end of the day, fresh out of the box with some intense testing, the 110 Carbon Tactical easily shoots "minute of whitetail," and I wouldn't hesitate to take it out with me on my next hunt. Savage has yet again produced another top-notch bolt gun that has custom features at DIY prices. For more information on this rifle and everything else, Savage has to offer visit savagearms.com.
Specifications:
Action: Bolt
Barrel Length: 22”
Barrel Material: Carbon Fiber Wrapped Stainless
Chambering: .308 Winchester
Capacity: 10 + 1
Length of Pull: 12.75 - 13.75
Magazine Type: Detachable AICS-Style Box Magazine
Overall Length: 42”
Rate of Twist: 1 in 10”
Receiver Material: Carbon Steel
Stock Material: Synthetic
Weight: 7.65 lbs.
MSRP: $1,789.00
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