Many elements of tactical gear have found their way into the hunting world, so I wondered if a tactical rifle like the Savage Model 10 FCP-SR would serve as a deer rifle. The test hunt was in South Dakota, where shooting distances at deer are often 200 yards or farther. The added accuracy and amenities of a firearm built for accuracy seemed like a great idea.
The rifle was shipped to South Dakota, topped with a Bushnell 4500 Elite scope, and sighted in by a friend who was amazed at the Model 10’s accuracy. “I’ve never before touched bullet holes at 200 yards,” he said which really pumped my excitement about the rifle. I’d be using Federal Premium ammunition tipped with 180-grain soft-point bullets in 308 Winchester.
I arrived in camp late in the day on the eve of the hunt, with a chance for a quick test shot. I hurried to a nearby ranch, where I lay the rifle over my backpack and fired from the prone position. Exactly two inches high at 100 yards, precisely the zero I’d requested. Handling the Model 10 gave me flashbacks to the movie American Sniper. At ten pounds, the rifle was heavier than most sporting rifles I’ve used for deer hunting, yet lighter than some ARs. This rifle is solid, from its semi-bull barrel, which is fluted to reduce weight, to the tactical bolt handle, which makes mishandling a second shot nearly impossible. Aside from the accuracy of the rifle, the smoothness of the action impressed me most. I could literally operate the bolt with my pinky finger.
The hunt lasted three days, and I purposefully pressed the long-range advantage the rifle provided, but the big corn-fed whitetails didn’t get the memo. Instead, half an hour before dark on the last evening, a 10-point buck came racing past at 80 yards, and I had to make a swinging shot on the run. It dropped the buck on the spot.
The Savage Model 10 FCP SR has many more features, among them the adjustable AccuTrigger, which is a huge accuracy enhancement in itself. For the sportsman who hunts from a stand, blin,d or shooting house, the rifle’s extra muscle is a benefit to accuracy, and the sturdy nature of the gun will quickly grow on you. Tactical gear must meet standards well beyond what the sporting market requires, and having this professional quality as your partner in a deer stand provides great satisfaction and confidence.
Here’s a brief summary of the features of the Model 10; it will give you an idea of why I liked it so much.
Features & Benefits
- 10-round detachable box magazine
- One-piece EGW scope mount base
- Black synthetic beavertail AccuStock
- User-adjustable AccuTrigger
- Fluted, matte-blued barrel
- Threaded, suppressor-ready muzzle
- Tactical bolt handle
- Three swivel studs
- Left-hand model available
For more information, visit savagearms.com.
Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
