Savage Arms Model 110 rifles were already known for their value and dependability, and that reputation will grow even further after a complete redesign for 2026.
This Hook & Barrel review features the .308 Winchester Savage 110 Carbon Hunter from the Trophy Series. I paired it with an EOTECH Vudu X 2-12x40 SFP scope, Riton 30mm low-height rings and a Savage AccuCan AC30 B.O.B. suppressor, then tested the rifle with 165-grain Remington Core-Lokt Tipped ammunition at 100 and 200 yards.
There are now 10 Savage Arms models in three new series: Trophy, Core, and Ultralite. They come in all of the standard caliber offerings previously available, plus seven new ones. I make no secret of the fact that I'm a fan.
- You want a lightweight carbon-barreled hunting rifle
- You value adjustable fit and suppressor-ready handling
- Its 18-inch barrel favors portability over maximum velocity
- Optics and a suppressor can take the setup beyond eight pounds
Savage 110 Carbon Hunter Carbon-Fiber Barrel and Threaded Muzzle
Right off the bat, the nicest new addition to this Savage Arms redesign is a threaded barrel. It’s 2026, and there’s absolutely no reason for brand-new rifles not to come threaded from the factory.
With a 5/8x24 thread pitch, you can easily attach the muzzle device of your choice.
The barrel is carbon fiber-wrapped stainless steel and measures 18 inches, making it a great choice when you’re pushing through thick brush or trying to keep things as compact as possible on a backcountry hunt.
Savage 110 Carbon Hunter Stock, Length of Pull and Recoil Pad
A new style stock, in this case offered in flat dark grey, features an adjustable length of pull with just the push of the Quick Set Dial on the underside.
Each adjustment is ⅛-inch to make sure you don’t get stuck in between sizes. At the end of the Model 110 buttstock is a Savage-exclusive LimbSaver recoil pad.
Personally, I don’t think recoil from .308 Winchester is a big deal, but I’ve never heard someone say they wish their rifle kicked more.
As such, the LimbSaver pad is a nice addition. They claim it offers up to 50% recoil reduction. I have no way of measuring that, but I can say that the recoil was minimal. One of the things Savage redesigned was the grip angle on the stock. It now sits more vertical than before, and I found it to be very comfortable.
The angle felt natural for my wrist and allowed me to relax more completely into the gun. A relaxed and comfortable shooter makes better shots, so this was a great improvement.
Savage 110 Carbon Hunter Action, Bolt and Cerakote Finish
The heart of any bolt-action rifle is the action, and this one did not disappoint. The bolt has been upgraded to include two ejectors and a new radius extractor design. This improves cartridge connection during feeding and extracting and makes case ejection stronger.
What I liked best about the Savage 110 Carbon Hunter action was the bolt handle. The knob on the end is checkered in just the right spot and with just enough texture that made sure I got a solid grip on it every time.
There is a Blackout Cerakote finish on the action, which helps with corrosion resistance regardless of the environmental conditions in which you may find yourself. Aside from the practical aspect, it looks nice and goes well with the black accents on the stock comb, buttstock, and trigger guard.
Savage 110 Carbon Hunter .308 Range Test at 100 and 200 Yards
If the action is the heart of a rifle, then performance is its soul. To get to the soul, I needed to add a few more things to the Model 110 Carbon Hunter.
I installed an EOTECH Vudu X 2-12x40 SFP scope using 30mm low-height rings from Riton Optics. I also installed a Savage AccuCan AC30 B.O.B. suppressor.
When I first took the Model 110 Carbon Hunter out of the box, I noticed a hang tag on the trigger guard that mentioned Savage Accuracy Assurance, claiming “you can expect sub-MOA 3 shot groups at 100 yards.” A couple days later when I had the rifle all set up and headed to the range, I remembered the tag.
With that on my mind, I loaded four rounds of 165-grain Remington Core-Lokt Tipped ammo into the upgraded polymer magazine. Next, I settled in behind the LimbSaver pad on the stock, which had just the right amount of length of pull thanks to the Quick Set Dial.
Savage 110 Carbon Hunter Test Setup and Accuracy Results
| Category | Details / Test Results |
|---|---|
| Optics Used | EOTECH Vudu X 2-12x40 SFP scope |
| Mounts & Rings | Riton Optics 30mm low-height rings |
| Suppressor Used | Savage AccuCan AC30 B.O.B. (.30 caliber) |
| Ammunition | 165-grain Remington Core-Lokt Tipped |
| Test Distances | 100 yards and 200 yards |
| Savage Accuracy Claim | Sub-MOA 3-shot groups at 100 yards |
| Maximum Group Size | None of the three-shot groups exceeded 1.5 inches |
| Best Group Size | 1 inch in height by 0.5 inches in width |
| Trigger Performance | Crisp and clean break (adjustable from 2 to 6.5 lbs) |
| Sound Level | 133 decibels (measured hearing-safe with the suppressor) |
EOTECH Vudu X 2-12x40 Performance on the Savage 110 Carbon Hunter
After just four shots, the Vudu X scope was right where I wanted it at 100 yards. Adjustments were quick and easy on the capped turrets, and the glass was crystal clear and bright, just as I have come to expect from EOTECH scopes.
I backed up to 200 yards to test out the Duplex reticle with 2 MOA ballistic holdovers. As you might have guessed, the Core-Lokt Tipped rounds landed exactly where I wanted.
Water-, fog-, and shock-resistant, the Vudu X 2-12x40 is made from aircraft-grade aluminum, features capped turrets to protect your zero, and also comes with a throw lever that you can install for ease of magnification adjustment.
The Duplex reticle is illuminated, allowing for excellent target acquisition in low-light or on dark-colored targets or animals. It is powered by one 2032 battery and has 10 different brightness settings from which to choose.
More important than the placement of the rounds was how they grouped. Remember the Accuracy Assurance? None of my three-shot groups were more than 1.5 inches. One of my best was exactly 1 inch in height from the extreme outer edge of the first shot to the extreme outer edge of the third shot and 0.5 inch in width.
Check Price of EOTECH Vudu XSavage AccuTrigger Adjustment and Range Impressions
I have no doubt that the groups would have been even tighter were they to be shot by someone better than my average self. Savage's AccuTrigger, which has come standard on Model 110 rifles since 2003, certainly helped my groupings.
Safe and easy end-user adjustments from 2 pounds up to 6.5 pounds allow the trigger to be tuned depending on application or preference. Mine broke clean and crisp like what you’d expect from a custom trigger or one that has had gunsmithing work done to it.
Savage AccuCan AC30 B.O.B. Suppressor on the 110 Carbon Hunter
My time on the range with the Savage Model 110 Carbon Hunter was a lot of fun, and it was complemented by the fact that I didn’t have to wear hearing protection.
The Savage AccuCan AC30 B.O.B. took care of that. This .30 caliber suppressor is 8 inches in length, but it adds just half that to your overall setup because it is a back-over-barrel (B.O.B.) design.
This means that the muzzle threads into what is essentially the middle of the suppressor, with the back half of the unit covering part of the barrel. To accommodate barrel clearance and give optimal sound suppression, the AC30 B.O.B. is a sizable 2 inches in diameter. The result is fantastic.
Tests using .308 Winchester ammo from a 20-inch barrel read just 133 decibels. The Model 110 Carbon Hunter’s barrel is 18 inches, but I’m sure the reading was very similar and, of course, still at a level that is considered hearing safe.
Final Thoughts on the Savage Model 110 Redesign
The Model 110 has been Savage’s flagship since it was introduced in 1958. Savage could have easily just kept making Model 110 rifles like they always have, but they chose to give the consumer a lot more with this redesign.
There are a lot of new features and upgrades in this rifle, and here’s the kicker: since the Model 110 Carbon Hunter is part of the Trophy Series, it’s considered to be at the base of a “good, better, best” scale.
Trophy is good, Core is better, and Ultralite is best. Obviously, with what we’ve covered here, there’s a lot of value packed into this Trophy Series rifle. By itself, the Model 110 Carbon Hunter weighs 6.5 pounds.
The Vudu X scope adds 21 ounces and the AC30 B.O.B. adds almost 14 ounces. All told, that’s a complete package that weighs about 8.5 pounds.
If you’re in the market for a new hunting rifle, don’t overlook the new Savage Model 110 rifles. There’s bound to be one in the series and caliber with all of the features you want.
Savage 110 Carbon Hunter: Final Score & Verdict
- No three-shot group exceeded 1.5 inches at 100 yards
- Best group measured 1 inch by 0.5 inches
- Threaded 5/8x24 barrel from the factory
- AccuTrigger adjusts from 2 to 6.5 pounds
- Quick Set Dial sizes the stock in 1/8-inch steps
- 6.5 pounds bare with an 18-inch carbon barrel
- Sub-MOA claim was not matched at 100 yards (writer takes responsibility)
- Climbs from 6.5 to 8.5 pounds once kitted out
- Product Origin
- Manufacturer Sample
- Test Type
- Range — three-shot groups at 100 yards, then holdover work at 200 yards
- Ammunition Tested
- Remington Core-Lokt Tipped 165-grain
- Magazines
- Upgraded polymer, four rounds loaded
- Accessories
- EOTECH Vudu X 2-12x40 SFP scope in Riton Optics 30mm low-height rings; Savage AccuCan AC30 B.O.B. suppressor
- Sound Measurement
- 133 decibels — recorded from a 20-inch barrel, not the 18-inch test rifle
- Tested By
- Logan Metesh
- Series
- Trophy (one of ten models across Trophy, Core and Ultralite)
- Caliber (as tested)
- .308 Winchester
- Action
- Bolt, two ejectors, radius extractor design
- Barrel
- 18 inches, carbon fiber-wrapped stainless steel, threaded 5/8x24
- Action Finish
- Blackout Cerakote
- Stock
- Flat dark grey, Quick Set Dial length-of-pull adjustment in 1/8-inch increments; redesigned vertical grip angle
- Recoil Pad
- Savage-exclusive LimbSaver
- Trigger
- Savage AccuTrigger, user-adjustable 2 to 6.5 pounds
- Magazine
- Upgraded polymer
- Weight
- 6.5 pounds bare; approximately 8.5 pounds as tested with scope and suppressor
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