It’s been almost seven decades since the Savage Model 110 made its debut, and in 2026 the longtime bolt-action rifle received one of the biggest redesigns in its history.
Savage reworked the Model 110 lineup inside and out, updating everything from the stock and ergonomics to the bolt, magazine and available configurations. Earlier this year, I evaluated the Savage Model 110 Carbon Hunter in .308, as well as its family member, the Savage Model 110 RF (rimfire) Core Tactical.
This review focuses on the Savage Model 110 Core Hunter Pro, a member of the new Pro Series chambered here in the tried-and-true .308 Winchester cartridge. We’ll go over the rifle’s major changes, how those features worked in the field and on the range, and what hunters should know before buying one.
- Big-game hunting
- At 7.7 pounds bare, the Core Hunter Pro isn’t especially light.
Savage Model 110 Core Hunter Barrel
Right off the bat, one of the nicest additions to the redesigned Model 110 is a threaded barrel. It’s 2026, and there’s absolutely no excuse for a brand-new hunting rifle not to come threaded from the factory.
With a 5/8x24 thread pitch, you can easily attach the muzzle device of your choice. In my case, it was the EOTECH DCBL 762. More on that later.
The stainless-steel barrel is Cerakoted in Gun Metal Bronze and measures 20 inches. It has a heavy sporter contour with a 1:10 twist, spiral fluting and Savage’s Omniport muzzle brake.
AccuFit V2 Makes the Stock Truly Adjustable
The new stock, offered here in Savage Woodland camo, features adjustable length of pull using the Quick Set Dial on the underside. Adjustments are made in 1/8-inch increments, making it easy to fine-tune the rifle instead of getting stuck between settings.
At the end of the buttstock is a Savage-exclusive LimbSaver recoil pad. Personally, I don’t think recoil from a .308 Winchester is a big deal, but I’ve also never heard anyone say they wished their rifle kicked more.
Savage says the LimbSaver can reduce felt recoil by as much as 50%. I have no way of measuring that myself, but I can say recoil from this rifle was very manageable.
The stock also comes with interchangeable palm swells. The medium comes installed, but swapping them is easy, and I found the large size fit me best with this particular setup.
Savage also redesigned the grip angle. It now sits more vertically than before, and I found it extremely comfortable. The angle felt natural for my wrist and allowed me to relax more completely behind the rifle.
A relaxed, comfortable shooter generally makes better shots, so this is more than a cosmetic improvement.
Savage Upgraded the Model 110 Action
The heart of any bolt-action rifle is the action, and the redesigned Model 110 did not disappoint.
The new bolt uses dual ejectors along with a redesigned radius extractor. The changes increase contact with the cartridge case and are intended to improve feeding, extraction and ejection reliability.
The bolt retains a traditional 90-degree throw, while an oversized carbon-fiber bolt knob gives the Core Hunter Pro a distinctive look and plenty to grab.
Like the barrel, the stainless-steel receiver wears a Gun Metal Bronze Cerakote finish for added corrosion resistance. Aside from the practical benefit, keeping the barrel and receiver the same color gives the rifle a clean, finished appearance.
Savage Model 110 Core Hunter Pro Range Test
If the action is the heart of a rifle, performance is its soul.
To get there, I first needed to add a couple of pieces to the Model 110 Core Hunter Pro.
The rifle comes with a one-piece 20-MOA rail atop the receiver, which soon held an EOTECH Vudu 4-12x36 FFP scope. At the end of the fluted barrel, I mounted an EOTECH DCBL 762 suppressor.
When I unboxed the Core Hunter Pro, I noticed a hang tag on the triggerguard promoting Savage’s Accuracy Assurance. Savage says shooters can expect sub-MOA three-shot groups at 100 yards with premium factory ammunition, a properly mounted optic and the rifle in its original factory configuration under controlled conditions.
A couple of days later, with the rifle set up and ready for the range, I remembered that tag.
I loaded three rounds of 180-grain Federal Fusion Tipped ammunition into the upgraded polymer magazine and settled in behind the rifle on a Lead Sled.
Adjusting the Rifle Around the EOTECH Vudu
The same AccuFit V2 system used to adjust length of pull also allows tool-free comb-height adjustment. I took advantage of it to get my head exactly where I wanted it behind the super-short Vudu scope and the rifle’s 20-MOA rail.
After only a few shots, the Vudu was dialed in.
Adjustments were quick and easy using the capped turrets, and the glass was bright and clear, just as I’ve come to expect from EOTECH scopes.
The MR5 reticle uses a MIL-based layout with a fine floating center dot and integrated holdover grid that allows ranging, elevation and wind corrections without having to dial the turrets. If you’re accustomed to a simpler hunting reticle, the MR5 might look intimidating at first, but it doesn’t take long to figure out.
The Vudu 4-12x36 is water-, fog- and shock-resistant and built from aircraft-grade aluminum. The illuminated reticle offers 10 brightness settings and runs on a CR2032 battery.
Best of all for a hunting rifle, the scope is compact. It measures just 7.1 inches long and weighs 16.9 ounces.
Once the rifle was zeroed, however, the important question wasn’t where the shots landed. It was how consistently they landed together.
The Core Hunter Pro delivered tight groups from the Lead Sled and continued to shoot well when I moved away from the bench and fired from kneeling positions. Just as important, the rifle’s adjustability made it easy to establish a comfortable, repeatable shooting position.
The Enhanced AccuTrigger
I don’t doubt that someone better than my average self could squeeze even more accuracy from this rifle.
Helping me out was Savage’s AccuTrigger, which has been a defining feature of Model 110 rifles since 2003.
The Core Hunter Pro gets the enhanced version of the AccuTrigger, which is user-adjustable from 1.5 to 4 pounds. That allows hunters to tune the trigger to their preference and intended use without a trip to a gunsmith.
Mine broke cleanly and crisply, with the kind of feel you might expect from a quality aftermarket trigger or one that has received gunsmith work.
MORE FROM SAVAGE and EOTECH:
- Savage Model 110 RF Core Tactical Review: Range-Tested With a Rimfire Suppressor
- Savage 110 Carbon Hunter Review: .308 Tested at 100 and 200 Yards
Shooting the Core Hunter Pro Suppressed
My time on the range with the Savage Model 110 Core Hunter Pro was complemented by the EOTECH DCBL 762 suppressor.
The suppressor body measures 8 inches long, or 8.8 inches with the hub and flash hider installed. The included flash hider is a nice addition because the suppressor can be removed without leaving bare muzzle threads exposed.
Made from Grade 5 titanium and finished in high-temperature Cerakote, the DCBL 762 weighs 22.8 ounces with the hub and flash hider.
EOTECH uses what it calls a Vent-Forward design to reduce back pressure, blowback and carbon buildup. On the range, the combination noticeably reduced the rifle’s report and made the .308 more pleasant to shoot.
I didn’t have a sound meter to measure the exact noise level, so I’m not going to assign it a number based on my ears alone. What I can say is that the DCBL 762 did what I wanted a suppressor to do: tame the rifle’s report and recoil while making extended range sessions more comfortable.
Final Thoughts on the Savage Model 110 Core Hunter Pro
The Model 110 has been a Savage flagship since it was introduced in 1958.
Savage could have kept making incremental changes to a rifle that has been successful for generations. Instead, the company substantially reworked the platform for 2026.
The new Core Hunter Pro reflects that approach. The AccuFit V2 stock, improved bolt design, enhanced AccuTrigger, threaded and fluted barrel, 20-MOA rail, AICS-pattern magazine and factory Cerakote finish combine to make this a much more modern rifle than the Model 110 many hunters probably picture when they hear the name.
The tradeoff is weight.
The rifle itself weighs about 7.7 pounds in this configuration. Add the 16.9-ounce Vudu scope and 22.8-ounce DCBL 762 suppressor, and the rifle, optic and suppressor alone total a little more than 10 pounds before accounting for any additional mounting hardware.
That certainly doesn’t make it the lightest hunting setup available. Hunters covering serious mountain miles may prefer something from Savage’s Ultralite lineup.
But lightweight wasn’t what this setup was built to be.
The Core Hunter Pro offers adjustability, solid ergonomics, a great trigger, suppressor-ready features and the accuracy expected from the Model 110 name in a package that feels thoroughly modern.
The bottom line is simple: Don’t overlook the new Savage Model 110 rifles because you think you already know what a Model 110 is.
These aren’t the same rifles Savage was building when Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House.
- Built on seven decades of dependability of the Model 110 line
- Barrel comes threaded from the factory for muzzle devices
- LOP and comb height are adjustable for perfect fit
- User-adjustable trigger weight lets you fine-tune the rifle’s feel
- Synthetic stock and Cerakote finish can stand up to harsh hunting conditions
- With a scope and suppressor, it’s not a light rifle
- Included 20 MOA rail may be a bit much for certain setups
- Product Origin
- Manufacturer sample
- Tested By
- Logan Metesh
- Test Type
- Range; Bench Rest
- Test Date
- September, 2026
- Test Location
- Central Tennessee
- Duration
- Two range sessions
- Conditions
- Hot and humid
- Consumables
- .308 Win 180-grain Federal Fusion Tipped ammunition
- Usage Volume
- 200 rounds
- Setup and Accessories
- EOTECH Vudu 4-12x36, EOTECH DCBL 762, Caldwell LeadSled Max
- Action
- Bolt-action
- Barrel Length
- 20 inches
- Overall Length
- 41.7 inches
- Caliber
- .308 Win (tested)
- Capacity
- 3+1
- Finish
- Cerakote
- Weight
- 7.7 pounds
- Sights
- None; Picatinny rail included
- Stock
- Synthetic
- MSRP
- $1,049
