Savage .338 rifle: With the massive power of the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge, is the recoil of the 110 FCP HS Precision manageable outside the confines of the Lead Sled recoil reduction rest?

I recently had an opportunity to go hands on with a pre-production variant of one of Savage Arms’ newest rifles, the Model 110 FCP HS Precision in .338 Lapua Magnum. On paper, the specifications of this rifle are impressive. It weighs in at 10.7 pounds empty without optic, employs a five-round detachable box magazine and sports a multi-port muzzle brake on the threaded muzzle of its 26-inch fluted barrel.

The obvious questions: How does such a lightweight rifle handle such a powerful cartridge? Is the recoil manageable? How much does it cost? And, for those familiar with the performance of Savage’s rifles, does it live up to the accuracy standards found on other rifles this company produces?

Savage results: This target should give an indication of the accuracy this rifle is capable of providing, but at what distance and with what loading was this tiny group shot?

Check out the Oct. 2011 issue of Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement to find out the results from my day at the range with it—armed with a Caldwell Lead Sled from Battenfeld Technologies and the Razor HD 5-20x50mm optic from Vortex Tactical.