Maybe more so than any other rifle manufacture, Savage does a great job at diversifying their offerings. By applying sometimes slight and at other times drastic modifications, Savage offers a wide range of rifles over a broad price range. The company currently lists 38 rifle varieties built on their Model 110 action, with suggested retail prices ranging from as low as $639 to as much as $3,299. With a suggested price of $2399, Savage’s new 110 PPR (Professional Pursuit Rifle) falls nearer to the pricier end, but it's a lot of rifle, and it really shoots. The PPR is what you might call a modern hybrid hunting rifle in that it combines traditional and long-range shooting features. I got a chance to put one through it's paces on my home range recently. Here's my full review.
Savage 110 PPR Specifications
Length: 41.5 inches
Weight: 7.25 pounds (as tested)
Barrel: 20-inch, Proof Research carbon fiber wrapped stainless steel, threaded at 5/8x24
Action: Model 110 bolt action
Trigger: Savage AccuTrigger (2.75 pounds as tested)
Capacity: 3+1 detachable magazine
Finish: OD green Cerakote
Stock: Greyboe Phoenix 2 with earth-tone camo
Available Chamberings: 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 270 Winchester, 7mm PRC, 7mm Backcountry, 28 Nosler, 308 Winchester, 300 Winchester Short Magnum, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Winchester Magnum
Price: $2,399
Related: The Best Hunting Rifles, Tested and Reviewed
Savage 110 PPR Overview
As with so many of their rifles, Savage builds the PPR on the Model 110 action, and in this case, they fit the stainless steel action with a 20-inch carbon-fiber-wrapped stainless steel barrel that’s manufactured by Proof Research. The barrel has a Sendero Lite contour, with 5/8x24 threading at the muzzle, and Savage installs a Omniport muzzle brake at the factory that you can remove or replace with a suppressor.
The threaded bolt handle on the PPR’s 110 action has a nearly 1-inch round knob. The knob is knurled around its circumference, and you remove the bolt by pressing on the bolt-release on the right side of the action while also pressing the trigger. The PPR has a tang-mounted, three-position safety that locks the bolt in the “safe” position and allows for safe unloading in the middle position. You must place the safety in the “fire” position to remove the bolt. The two-lug, radially fluted bolt has a 90° throw and utilizes a 90° extractor located in the center of one of the two bolt lugs. Ejection occurs from the force of two spring-loaded plungers located in the bolt’s face.
The PPR feeds from a three-round Savage AICS-style magazine that fits flush with the bottom of the rifle’s stock. To release the magazine, you push an ambidextrous paddle-style release located along the front of the trigger guard. The trigger guard is integral to the PPR’s polymer floor plate, and it surrounds the user-adjustable Savage AccuTrigger.
Aside from the Proof Research barrel and factory installed, 16-slot, 20-MOA scope rail, the primary feature that sets the PPR rifle apart from other Savage 110 rifles is the stock. Savage chose a Greyboe Phoenix 2 stock for the PPR. This stock is adjustable for length-of-pull with spacers between the stock, and it comes with a thick, soft recoil pad. You can raise and lower the comb with one hand using a screw on the right side of the stock that’s fitted with a large polymer head. On the bottom of the flat forend, Greyboe has inserted a four-slot M-Lok rail that also has two sling-swivel cups. Additionally, there are quick-detach sling-swivel cups on each side of the forend, one on the rear belly of the butt stock and one on each side of the butt stock. Currently, the PPR is not available in left-handed models.
Savage 110 PPR Test Results
As with all the rifles we evaluate at Field & Stream, we established the precision of the Savage 110 PPR rifle by firing multiple five-shot groups from a sandbag rest at 100 yards and then averaged the results. With any precision shooting test, the results are somewhat a reflection of the shooter as well as the rifle. I don’t think I shot up to my usual standard during this precision test—I pulled a shot that opened an otherwise sub-half-inch group up to almost 1.5 inches, and I questioned a few of my other shots. My point is, I think this rifle will shoot better than what’s reported here. Still, averaging less than an MOA for multiple five-shot groups with three different hunting loads is outstanding performance. Bottom line: Like so many Savage rifles, the PPR really shoots.
There were only two functional issues with my test rifle. The first was that on a few occasions the empty magazine was a bit cantankerous to remove; it just did not want to drop free. The magazine’s flush fit exaggerated this because it made pulling the magazine out difficult. However, there were no issues with feeding and the flush-fitting magazine was nice for carrying the rifle around in one hand at the balance point. The second issue was with the bolt, which was a bit stubborn. It wasn’t difficult to cycle, but operating it felt a little like shifting gears on a 1975 International Scout with a manual transmission.
You carry a hunting rifle much more than you shoot it, and the multiple QD sling-swivel cups on the Greyboe stock allowed for cozy carry in any method. Also, if you like to use a shooting sling for added shooting support, all those QD cups should allow you to attach a sling in an advantageous and comfortable position. Continuing with the stock, the adjustable comb helped establish a good check weld with proper eye alignment with the scope. However, on more than one occasion I bumped the large adjustment knob, knocking it lose and had to reset. When you get the comb set best for you, you’d probably want to tighten this knob with some vigor to avoid that possibility.
Related: The 10 Most Accurate Rifles We've Ever Tested
Final Thoughts on the Savage 110 PPR
Pros
Three-position safety
Stock adjustability
Excellent precision
M-Lok forend
Cons
Rough bolt
Finicky magazine
The Savage 110 PPR is a good representation of what modern bolt-action hunting rifles have beccome. It is sort of a meld of the features of a precision rifle with the features of a hunting rifle. However, given the PPR’s 7.25-pound heft and target-style stock configuration, I think it leans more toward a precision rifle than a hunting rifle.
We alternated shooting the PPR with and without a suppressor, from the bench and from field-shooting positions. With the 24-ounce Swarovski scope and the Banish 30 suppressor, the rifle was noticeably muzzle heavy, balancing about 2 inches forward of the front guard screw. This helped steady the rifle for static shots and when shooting from the bench.
However, without the suppressor—and with or without the riflescope—the rifle was butt heavy, balancing about an inch behind the front guard screw. It handled well without a suppressor but was more difficult to stabilize on target when shooting offhand. For best all-round performance, in the field and on the range, the 110 PPR will perform better suppressed. And as popular as suppressors are becoming for hunting, Savage deserves a thumbs up for offering the PPR with a 20-inch barrel, regardless of the cartridge the rifle is chambered for.
Savage has a history of offering good-shooting rifles at an affordable price. The 110 PPR clearly shot very well but it costs a bit more than your everyday Savage 110. Part of the reason for the hefty price tag is the Proof Research barrel and Greyboe stock. However, precision is something else that costs money, and in today’s world of rifles, a solid sub-MOA suppressor-friendly rifle that costs less than $2500 (street prices are closer to $2000) represent a solid value.
