This Savage Model 110 RF Core Tactical review looks at one of the most interesting rifles in Savage’s redesigned Model 110 lineup. After almost 70 years of service to hunters and shooters, the Model 110 family got a major update for 2026, with new rifles divided into the Trophy, Core and Ultralite series.
The Model 110 RF Core Tactical comes from the Core Series and is chambered in .22 Long Rifle. After range time with the rifle, including time behind it with a legally owned rimfire suppressor, my takeaway is simple: this is a serious .22 LR bolt-action rifle built for precision work, training and plain old fun.
Savage Model 110 RF Core Tactical Barrel Details
The carbon steel barrel wears a platinum Cerakote finish, measures 20 inches long and features straight fluting to help shave some weight. That might seem like an odd detail on a rimfire rifle, but the 110 RF Core Tactical isn’t a standard plinker. It’s designed for competition and long-range precision shooting, and it has the weight to prove it.
Without a scope, loaded magazine or suppressor, the 110 RF Core Tactical weighs 8.56 pounds. That’s substantial for a .22 LR, but it also helps the rifle settle nicely on the bench or behind a rest.
The barrel comes threaded from the factory at 1/2x28, which is the common standard for rimfire suppressors and muzzle devices.
For shooters who already own a legal rimfire suppressor, the rifle is a natural host. As this Savage Model 110 RF Core Tactical review made clear on the range, a suppressed .22 bolt-action rifle is hard to beat for low-recoil, low-noise fun.
Savage Model 110 RF Core Tactical Stock and Fit
The rifle’s AccuFit V2 stock is one of its biggest selling points. Offered here in coyote tan with black accents, the stock allows quick adjustment of length of pull using the Quick Set Dial on the underside. Each length-of-pull adjustment moves in 1/8-inch increments, so it’s easy to find a comfortable fit without landing between sizes.
For me, the most comfortable setup came with the stock extended all the way out. That may not be the right fit for every shooter, but that’s exactly the point of the AccuFit system. It gives the rifle enough flexibility to fit different body types and shooting positions without a gunsmith or a pile of tools.
The comb adjustment is just as useful. To clear the included 20 MOA rail with my EOTECH scope, I used rings that were a little taller than I’d normally prefer. That wasn’t a problem because I could raise the comb with the same Quick Set Dial. Comb adjustments move in 1/16-inch increments, with 1/8-inch markings.
At the rear of the stock is a Savage-exclusive LimbSaver recoil pad. You could argue that a rimfire doesn’t really need much of a recoil pad, and you’d be right, but it still adds comfort. It also makes sense if you’re using this rifle as a trainer for a centerfire Model 110. The closer the feel, fit and handling are to your hunting or match rifle, the more useful the training becomes.
Savage also changed the grip angle on the stock. It’s more vertical than before, and I found it comfortable and natural. The grip angle let my wrist relax behind the rifle, which matters when you’re trying to shoot small groups.
The final stock feature worth noting is the interchangeable palm swell system. In addition to the palm swell installed on the rifle, Savage includes two other sizes in the box. The one mounted on the test rifle fit me well, but the extra options are a smart touch. A relaxed shooter is usually a better shooter, and this stock gives you plenty of ways to get comfortable behind the rifle.
READ MORE: Savage Arms Model 110 Carbon Hunter: The Legend Is Reborn
Inside the Savage Model 110 RF Core Tactical Action
The carbon steel receiver matches the barrel with a platinum Cerakote finish. The magwell is large for a rimfire rifle because the 110 RF Core Tactical uses a modified, full-size AICS-style magazine that holds 10 rounds of .22 LR.
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The bolt system is one of the rifle’s more interesting features. A unique front baffle allows the shooter to change the length of the bolt throw from a short rimfire throw to the longer throw of a standard centerfire Model 110.
That makes the 110 RF Core Tactical useful as more than a fun rimfire. If you set it up with the longer bolt throw, you can build muscle memory for a centerfire Model 110 without burning through expensive ammo. If you’re focused only on rimfire shooting, shorten the throw and skip the extra travel. Either way, it’s a clever design.
Range Testing the Savage Model 110 RF Core Tactical
The rifle comes with a one-piece 20 MOA rail mounted on top of the action, which worked well with my optic setup: an EOTECH Vudu X 2-12x40 SFP in 30mm Riton Optics rings. At the muzzle, I used a legally owned rimfire suppressor for part of the range work.
When I unboxed the rifle, a Savage Accuracy Assurance tag hung from the trigger guard. It said shooters could expect sub-MOA three-shot groups at 100 yards. I didn’t originally plan to make 100 yards the main test distance for this rifle. I zeroed it at 50 yards, which is a very practical distance for a .22 LR, and kept the bullet’s drop in mind when stretching things farther.
On the firing line, the 110 RF Core Tactical was almost comically accurate, which quickly became one of the biggest takeaways from this Savage Model 110 RF Core Tactical review. That’s not a technical term, but it fits. The rifle kept punching tiny groups, and it made precision rimfire shooting feel easy.
I also tested the bolt in both the short and long configurations. Switching between the two is simple, and there was no noticeable difference in smoothness or reliability. The only real difference is the length of the throw, which is exactly how it should be.
If you plan to shoot this rifle regularly at 100 yards or beyond, the 20 MOA rail is a smart inclusion. It gives you more room to dial your optic for longer rimfire work. For competition-style precision shooting, the rifle’s weight and stability make a lot of sense.
Of course, not every .22 LR rifle needs to be used like a match gun. The 110 RF Core Tactical would also be right at home hunting squirrels or rabbits, or just knocking cans around at the range. That’s part of the appeal. It’s built like a serious rifle, but it’s still chambered in the most fun cartridge around.
READ MORE: Savage Revives the Rimfire Lever Gun with the New REVEL Series
Savage AccuTrigger Performance
Most rifles are capable of better accuracy than the shooter behind them can produce. A good trigger helps close that gap, and Savage’s AccuTrigger has been helping shooters do that since 2003.
The AccuTrigger on the Model 110 RF Core Tactical is user-adjustable from 1.5 pounds to 4 pounds, which lets shooters tune the pull weight to their preference and intended use. On my test rifle, the trigger broke cleanly and crisply. It felt more like a quality aftermarket trigger than a factory trigger on a production rifle.
That matters on a rifle like this. When you’re trying to stack .22 LR rounds into tight groups, a clean trigger pull makes a noticeable difference.
My Legal Homemade Suppressor
Given the current political climate, I thought the suppressor I was using deserved a mention. On January 1, 2026, the tax stamp for suppressors went from $200 down to $0. That eased a large part of the financial burden of suppressor ownership for many people, but it also made another type of suppressor incredibly affordable.
The suppressor started life as a “solvent trap,” which, in its legally purchased configuration, is not a suppressor at all. I filed an NFA Form 1 to build a suppressor and when it came back approved, only then did I have the legal information engraved on it first and then modified the design to become a rimfire suppressor.
I own multiple rimfire suppressors, and this one performs equally as well as the others for a fraction of the cost. With stamps down to $0 and wait times greatly reduced, you, too, can have a reliable rimfire suppressor for less than $100. Just some food for thought.
READ MORE: SAAMI Issues First-Ever Suppressor Standards
Final Thoughts on the Savage Model 110 RF Core Tactical
Introduced in 1958, the Model 110 has been Savage’s flagship rifle for nearly 70 years. Savage could have left that legacy alone, but instead the company used the redesign to bring more flexibility and modern features to the platform.
The Model 110 RF Core Tactical is a strong example of that effort, and this Savage Model 110 RF Core Tactical review showed just how much modern rimfire performance Savage packed into the platform. It’s adjustable, stable, accurate and full of useful details.
The ability to tune length of pull, comb height and palm swell gives the shooter a better fit, and the adjustable bolt throw makes the rifle especially appealing as a rimfire trainer for centerfire Model 110 owners.
Simply put, if you’re in the market for a serious rimfire rifle, don’t overlook the Savage Model 110 RF Core Tactical.
Savage Model 110 RF Core Tactical Specifications:
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Action: Bolt
- Barrel: 20 inches
- Overall Length: 40.26 inches
- Weight: 8.56 pounds, empty
- Stock: Synthetic
- Sights: None
- Finish: Cerakote
- Capacity: 10 rounds
- MSRP: $1,099