Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
A couple of years ago, Savage jumped into the 300 PRC fold with the release of 4 different 110 bolt action rifles in this big boy .30 caliber. One of these was the Long Range Hunter. I have spent more time with this rifle on the range and in the field than I have with most review guns. Heck, I bought it and added it to my rotation of hunting rifles. Before we get into the nuts and bolts of the Savage 110, let’s take a quick look at the 300 PRC as a cartridge.
300 PRC
.30 Caliber magnum cartridges are not in the least bit a rarity. 300 Winchester Magnum has been around since 1963 and there are probably more rifles chambered in it than any other of the magnums. 300 Weatherby, Holland and Holland, Norma… To name a few others. Most of these, and the other 30 Mags, are older designs that use either a belted case or a larger bolt head. The 300 Precision Rifle Cartridge (PRC) was designed by Hornady to bring modern ballistics engineering and design to the .30 caliber magnum family.
In short, here are the main bullet (pun intended) points that define the 300 PRC:
- Non-belted Case with Head Size of .532-Inch
- 30 Degree Shoulder
- Base of Bullet Seats at Neck and Shoulder Junction, Not in Powder
- Heavy Bullets with High Ballistic Coefficient
- Tight Freebore of Only .3088
All of this adds up to what should be an exceptionally accurate cartridge, at least by the numbers. From my experience, it also delivers.
Speaking of numbers, Hornady claims 2860 fps at the muzzle with the Precision Hunter 212 gr ELD-X. I captured, on average 2,940 fps at 3 feet from the muzzle. Hornady has two other offerings in 300 PRC, a 225 gr ELD in their Match line and a solid copper alloy 190 gr CX Outfitter.
Savage 110 Long Range Hunter Specs
The Savage 110 Long Range Hunter is a straightforward bolt action hunting rifle albeit with a couple of more tactical features. Like almost all of the current offerings from Savage, the Long Range comes with their user-adjustable AccuTrigger and AccuStock. Here are some more Specifications on this Savage
- 26 Inch Button-rifled Barrel
- Detachable 5 Round AICS Magazine
- 1-Piece 20 MOA Rail
- Threaded Barrel with Muzzle Brake
- Weight 8.85 lbs
- Approx. MSRP $1,200
The Savage 110 family of rifles are known for their tried-and-true quality and dependability. This Long Range Hunter is no exception. The synthetic stock is sturdy, well-shaped, and has a rubberized surface along the grip points. The stock is also adjustable to fit a different-size shooter. The AccuTrigger, which in my opinion is one of the best out-of-the-box triggers on the market today, breaks cleanly at just over 4 pounds. The bolt throw is smooth with a good solid feeling lockup.
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Savage 110 Extra Tactical Features
I mentioned above about the rifle having a couple of more tactical features. The Savage 110 Long Range Hunter is kind of an oddball for a bolt-action hunting rifle. When I think of a dedicated hunting rifle, I picture something with an internal or flush-fitting magazine. I’m thinking about a slick and sleek rifle that doesn’t have much other than a sling and scope extending beyond the lines of the rifle. Also, rounded corners and angles for brush and other things to slip off of. But the Savage Long Range Hunter has a five-round steel magazine that extends more than an inch below the trigger guard. The magazine release is also long and has sharp corners and edges. These are all nit-picky observations in reality. But they are something to consider.
Optics Choice
To get the Savage set up for some range time I mounted a Leupold VX-3i 6.5-20x50mm on the factory-mounted rail. This is not exactly a “hunting” optic with the tall turrets, but this was the highest power scope I had available to me at the time. My thought process was that I would use this Leupold for some range time and then swap it out for something a bit sleeker for field use. That was the plan at least. The VX-3 is still sitting on top of the Savage because this ended up being a fantastic combo. That said, if I were to take this rifle on a “western” Elk hunt I would change out the scope for something more streamlined and lighter.
Range Time
Hornady currently offers three different factory loads for the 300 PRC. My choice was the 212 Grain Precision Hunter for two reasons. First, I want to hunt with this rifle so better to do the testing with hunting ammunition. Second, the Precision Hunter were the only rounds I could find in sufficient quantity at the time.
The Savage 110 Long Range Hunter shoots well. The range I have access to is limited to 300 yards. I worked the rifle out to that distance and was very easily able to get less and MOA groups at all distances shooting from a bench. I am far from being a great bench rest shooter. Honestly, I don’t have the patience for it. Waiting 10 or more minutes between shoots for a barrel to cool down is not exactly what I enjoy most about time at the range. I am guilty of rushing and I did so here. However, I am not sure if it would have mattered all that much. My best group at 300 yards measured 2.57 inches. I fired those 3 shots with less than a minute between shots and only about 5 minutes after the first 3 round group.
I was a little concerned about recoil and the fatigue that can come from an extended-range session with a magnum rifle. Either the muzzle brake that Savage shipped the rifle with worked really well or 300 PRC isn’t all that bad. In my experience, I felt that the recoil was a bit milder than a 300 WM in a similar rifle. The nice padding on the stock probably didn’t hurt either.
In The Field With The Savage 110
I took the Savage 110 Long Range Hunter out a few times this past deer season. I live in Western Arkansas and do most of my deer hunting in this area with some trips to the delta part of the state as well. Most of the places I hunt have are 200 yards at maximum. I do have a place that stretches out to 300-350. This is where I carried the 300 PRC. Unfortunately, I didn’t see a legal deer at those distances. I did have a long-nosed doe walk out of the woods about 100 yards away. I did not take the shot on her (she was legal) because of what a 212 gr bullet moving at 2700 fps would have probably done to shoulder meat quality.
In Conclusion
I like the Savage 110 Long Range Hunter in 300 PRC. This cartridge in a well-made rifle, like the 110, is a tack driver that delivers serious energy downrange. A friend of mine calls it the 300 TRC for T-Rex Culler. He is probably right. I imagine you would get some good penetration on a T-Rex. It is for sure overkill at close range on Southern Whitetail but I look forward to reaching out a bit with the Savage this year. I have been scouting some new locations this spring and will have some more options to put this rifle to use doing what it does best.
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