What if you could gain all the experience and training of shooting your hunting or long range precision rifle, but at shorter ranges and less cost? This is where a full-size, full-weight rimfire trainer comes in, and the Savage 110 RF series delivers three top options.
The 110 RF Core Tactical is a 20-inch gun in Savage’s AccuStock V2. While the stock that’s included with the 110 RF is slightly different from that of the centerfire 110 series (skinny recoil lug slot), this barreled action will fit in effectively any stock or chassis designed for a short action, centerfire Savage 110.
Obviously the first thing I did when this loaner rifle showed up was take it apart. I was very impressed with the aluminum chassis molded into the AccuStock as well as with the material of the AccuStock itself. It’s injection-molded polymer, yes, but it clearly has an insanely high fiber content and it’s as stiff, strong, and dense as I’ve ever felt.
The rubber overmolding is also excellent, and I love how metal M-LOK slots are integrated into the flat-bottom surface of the forend along with an ARCA rail. It’s really well thought-out.
Furthermore, the AccuFit V2 system is awesome. One knob-button controls both cheek rest height adjustment and length of pull adjustment, and the three rubber overmolded grip pieces — S, M, and L are included — are easy to swap and feel great in the hand. This is a fantastic stock.
Probably as good as a polymer stock can possibly get!
The 110 RF series also uses the same Savage AccuTrigger that’s found in the centerfire models, which is user-adjustable from 1.5 to 4 pounds. Even the bolt handle is threaded 5/16×24, making it compatible with the same massive selection of aftermarket and factory bolt knobs as centerfire bolt guns from Savage and many other brands.
A very nice, 10-round, L3i magazine is included with the rifle. It’s a standard AICS short action footprint, but has a different internal structure for feeding 22 LR rounds, of course. A very nice feature is the adjustable magazine catch, allowing the end user to adjust the precise magazine height inside the action to ensure reliable feeding between different ammo types or different models of firearm.
In my book, though, the very coolest feature of the 110 RF is the swappable bolt throw length. In less than 30 seconds and entirely without tools, the user can change the bolt throw between .308-length and .22 LR-length.
If you’re shooting as training for your centerfire rifle, retaining the muscle memory of a .308-length bolt travel makes a ton of sense. Otherwise, you can shoot the 110 RF with the much shorter bolt travel required to cycle .22 LR rounds.
With the insanely great-for-the-price ZeroTech Vengeance 5-25×56 FFP scope mounted up (coupon code SNW20 for an additional 20% off the ZT site HERE) and a bunch of different ammo in tow, I sat down with the 110 RF to test its accuracy.
I shot the 110 RF Core Tactical for groups at 50 yards (okay, it was 51.4) and found it to be acceptable with a few of the ammo loads I brought and stellar with a couple of them. I’d say it’s absolutely capable of fantastic, match-grade accuracy, but that it’s a bit picky on ammo, so you’ll want to find the right load(s) for the rifle.
That will vary depending on what suppressor you have on the 1/2×28-threaded barrel, too, as most ammo sensitivity ultimately comes down to barrel harmonics — getting the bullet to exit the barrel when it’s paused at the top or the bottom of a barrel “whip.”
After accuracy testing I immediately hit the long range area at Copperhead Creek and shot .22 LR out to 500 yards. One of the best things about shooting .22 is that with only 300 yards of range you get the same amount of long range shooting experience that would require over 1,000 yards to experience with, for example, 6.5 Creedmoor. The amount of bullet drop, flight time, wind drift, etc. closely mimics centerfire cartridges, but at a much shorter range.
That’s a true long-range precision shooting experience, but with lower barriers to entry…more places to shoot, far lower cost-per-trigger-pull, at least as much fun factor, and far lower shooter fatigue.
Check out the video at top to see me having way too much fun hitting steel at 200, 300, 400, and even 500 yards, and don’t forget to subscribe to the Shooting News Weekly YouTube channel while you’re there.
As for the Savage 110 RF Core Tactical, I love it. I’m a big fan of full-size rimfire “trainers,” and the 110 RF is a prime example. The new AccuStock is fantastic, I love the swappable bolt travel feature, and the dang thing is incredibly accurate with ammo that it likes. I also had zero failures to feed, extract/eject, or fire aside from a couple of dud primers with super-cheap bulk ammo (literally no priming compound in the rim…not the gun’s fault).
The 110 RF series is a great option for NRL and other PRS-style rimfire competition shooting, for long-range training, general training and new shooter instruction, plinking, varmint hunting, and more. It’s a full-size, full-weight, full-quality rifle that just happens to be chambered in .22 LR.