They all have their pros and cons. The AccuTrigger is by far the best trigger among that group. Savage has the most accurate rifle mainly because of that. Marlin has great barrels and are probably a little better made than the Savages. But both should last a very long time in bolt action format. I'm not all that familiar with Mossberg (I have several Marlins and Savages) but from what I hear they're decent rifles. I don't think they rate with either Marlin or Savage. That's why I buy those rifles. The barrel is more responsible for accuracy than anything but a bad trigger can make a good barrel look bad. Savage has good barrels and triggers. Marlin has good barrels and their triggers have improved some in the past few years but they still trail Savage. You can modify a Marlin trigger and get good results. But my Marlin 925 has actually gotten better with use. With a better trigger it would shoot right with my Savage IMO. It's very close as it is. Both are excellent rifles with the right ammo. The Savage is more picky about ammo but to really shoot great the Marlin needs top quality ammo. It will shoot very good with just about any ammo though. But to get those eighth inch groups at 50 yards it needs really good ammo. It may get better as the trigger gets broken in better. I'll just have to wait and see. The funny thing is the trigger on my semi-auto Marlins actually seem to have a lighter pull than the bolt action.

A really good Savage will cost more than a Marlin though. The best shooting Savages have the bull barrels. And their semi-autos don't seem to rate up there with Marlin.

The bottom line is it will be hard to go wrong with any of those rifles. Whatever weakness they come with can be overcome easy enough. I like all my Savages and my Marlins. I have a Mossberg shotgun and I like it too. If I don't like a gun I don't keep it long.

 

Some of the less expensive Savage models have a plastic trigger guard.

Don't know about the other two makes. As far as I'm concerned they are not in the same league as Savage for accuracy. The competition for Savage is CZ.

 

Some of the less expensive Savage models have a plastic trigger guard.

Don't know about the other two makes. As far as I'm concerned they are not in the same league as Savage for accuracy. The competition for Savage is CZ.

+1!
My BV is a great shooter.The only other bolt action RF's I have any interest in are the CZ's.

 

Preference...

All 3 can be great shooters when you find the ammo the rifle likes.

 

Before buying my first Savage (that was three .22's ago), I fired the Marlin that belonged to a friend. I cannot speak for the Mossberg .22, although they build a mean 500 shotgun which I do own. As for the comparison you asked about, in my opinion, having read articles, shot various brands and compared those three manufacturers info, the Savage models have the best accuracy FOR THE MONEY! Like Cedestech said, "find the ammo the rifles likes" best! With that combo, you'd be amazed what the Savage rifles do. That's why I own four Savage rifles, 2 in .22 caliber. I picked up the Savage TR because I love the stock and fired a few of them. After shooting some 120 rds through her (zeroing included), I was testing some Wolf 40 gr Match Target ammo that shot only so so in my Anschutz that costs over $1,000. But in my Savage TR (cost $405), I had to look twice to make sure that I hadn't missed the target because after shooting two five shot groups at 50 yds, those groups measured between 1/8" and 3/8"". To do that in my Anschutz, I have to use Federal Ultra Match (UM22) ammo that runs me $15 a box vs the Wolf Match Target that costs me $4.50 a box. You tell me which was the better deal.

 

Ops...sorry I fogot to mention....the downside of the Savage...in my humble opinion, the "accurtrigger" SUCKS TO NO END! But, there are ways to get around it. The trigger pull is quite nice on my TR model as it came in the box, but probably twice as heavy as in my MKII BV model. You can adjust the trigger pull alright, but if you seek REALLY a light trigger pull under 2.5 lbs, expect to have to have some work done including changing out the trigger to a Rifle Basix trigger to get a truly smooth and light trigger pull. If you can live with the heavier trigger pull like up around 3 lbs, the Savage is very crisp and smooth with the accurtrigger. I just happen to shoot strictly targets and am spoiled to heck with my Anschutz that has a 10 oz trigger pull. But thats just my taste. But overall make no mistake...you cannot go wrong with a Savage.

 

If you can live with the heavier trigger pull like up around 3 lbs, the Savage is very crisp and smooth with the accurtrigger.

Wow... then I guess you wouldn't like my original 1891 Mosin... I can hold the 10-pound gun upside down, with bayonet, off the ground by the trigger and it won't go off (Note: DON'T DO THIS WHILE THE GUN IS LOADED!!!!!!!!!)

Just wrapped a Mark II G yesterday for my mom's Christmas present. Can't wait to get it out to the range (mostly so she'll stop using my JC Higgins 103.6 and my sister's Winny 68). My sister is planning on ordering another one for herself now.

 

Just the Facts:

I have had a Marlin 980S, and still have a Savage FV. During the break-in period, they were about the same in accuracy. Time warp to about 1 1/2 bricks. The Savage made the 13mm club, and the Marlin got worse. Had the Marlin crown re-done, and shot another brick. Also did the "pen" spring replacement on the trigger, which really did lighten it up a great deal, but didn't help the accuracy. Only used a nylon brush in the Marlin, as they suggested. Cleaning was the least of the problems. Both rifles shot better clean, as to be expected with any bolt action .22 rifle. I really think I ran the gambit on the Marlin, put different sizes of pressure pads from stem to stern, and used the torque screwdriver from 12 to 28 in/lbs with each placement. Checked the head space... within specs. Shimmed the bolt with various sizes, no help. It refused to have a favorite ammo, and the groups were just as inconsistent no matter what I did. I had high hopes for the Marlin 980S, but after a year with it, I really felt as if I was wasting my time and ammo. Don't get me wrong, it did shoot 3/4" groups at 50 yards with Wolf MT and SK+, and I'm sure that will bring home any squirrel you ever met. The bolt on the Marlin is small and lacking in design, when compared to the Savage. The Savage shoots inside 1/2" at 50 yards with same ammo. The Savage FV came from WallyWorld and was $240 + TTL. I really like the accu-trigger, and have adjusted it as low as it will go. I have upgraded the stock on the FV to a Thumber, and also have a BV stock I am working on, with the upgrade bottom metal (see other threads). I also feel I must tell you, there are no Marlin or Mossberg .22 bolt actions in the 13mm game at this time. I can tell you with a Savage HB, you have a great chance to have a .22 that will really shoot. AH

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=308465

 

I think the Accutrigger is just fine. I have a 93 Classic wmr and I have not even bothered to adjust it. Marlin has new bolt guns coming out that may change the game, but that is because they NEEDED new bolt guns because they were losing market share. I hope they are really good. Right now I would tell you to pick a Savage MK II or CZ Trainer, or a Zastava Z5 if they have them in stock at Buds. Last price was $213 shipped and it can not be beat for quality and accuracy for the price. If you care to look at Buds Gun Shop's web page search under USSG, the Zastava importer.
These come with a walnut stock, regardless of the pictures you see on the web. But there are some good pictures on this forum. My 3 cents.
9 fingers

 

I'm using my Savage MKII F for USBR. No accutrigger but some stoning and shimming I have my trigger down less then 3 pounds and crisp. I need to find a lighter spring to get it less.

The MKII definantly likes Wolf MT. 50 yards no wind is a ragged hole.

FWIW though my Marlin 25 is a tiny bit larger with CCI GreenTag at the same distance. The main thing I think is finding the ammo the gun likes. I was
amaized at how different guns react to different ammo.

The only thing that really irratated me on the MKII is it cold fliers BAD.

First shot 2" low, second 1", third 1/2", forth 1/4" then after that, ragged hole.

Would pretty much be useless for hunting. For paper though I just throw a 5 round mag in and burn the first 5 shots then get to work.

 

Comparing my Marlin 880 to my Savage BV E receiver, both with heavy barrels, the savage feels smoother and better made. The savage magazine protrudes less and seems sturdier. Both came with triggers that I consider unacceptable (yes it was an Accutriger,now it isn't) both can be fixed. Accuracy is comparable between the two, just OK. Neither will group as well consistently as my CZs with sporter weight barrels.
Flame on!

p.s. the plastic trigger guard on the savage is pretty cheesy, the plastic stock on my Marlin is also cheesy.

 

Wow! You have a SQ? That's what I wanted when I had to settle for that cotton pickin' 980S. Lets see some 50 yard targets with the SQ and Savage at 50 yards with some Wolf MT or SK+. Do us a favor! :bthumb:

 

I normally do my bench shooting at 75 yards, and I only buy hollowpoint ammo. but if you'd like to ship me some of the afore mentioned ammo I could probably accomodate you.

 

Model60Shooter,
That Timney is a SWEET setup. I've shot a few rifles that have that trigger 'tuned" in and man dies she feel good. And yes I'm spoiled as heck by that 10 oz trigger I use for Target trigger and nothing else. And for the record, I absolutely DO NOT advocate going below 3 - 4 lbs if you use the weapon to hunt. I've seen all sorts of foolishness with "accidental discharges" if there is even such a thing. Some folks I shoot with tell me that if the weapon goes off, you either meant to shoot it or you were negligent.

And RonAKA,
I know you are trying to get me over the hump, but dang I wish you lived closer so I could drag out all my Savage Accurtriggers and put you to work! As it is, I'd have to get a Visa to enter Canada, the TSA would strip me down and poke me you know where if I even tried to carry any of my firepower through their hallowed gates. SO I've gotten most of them turned down as light as I can before that darn Sear Block activates and have learned to live with it. BTW, my 6 Norma Br is the most sensitive to that foolishness. But my Anshutz 64MPR makes up for all the trigger woes with her 10 oz pull....so S W E E T!

And DKSAC2,
Do you have a phone number for Scott at Savage? I hate shipping my rifles anywhere, but if Scott is that good, I'd love for him to work three of my four Savages. Ironically, only my TR feels light enough for my liking (I'm guessing shes at or just a tad over 1 lb) and that still isn't as light as my Anschutz. And that TR is quite capable of duplicating anything the Anschutz has done which is down in the .125 - .200 range. And that is a near guess and measurement with a caliper because the rounds overlap and the spread is under 1/8" for back to back 5 shot groups.
And John, thx for the info on Scott. If you don't have the number for Scott, please advise me how to get hold of him. Thx

 

Scott at Savagegunsmithing ---> 208-313-1570.

Nice guy. Talked to him yesterday.

 

Thx JD! I'm definitely gonna give Scott a call. Outside of not having RonAKA doing the work for me (because he lives so darn far me), I haven't found anyone locally (or within 200 miles)who has the "touch" to work on any of me Savages who can produce the results I'm hearing that Scott can do. If this works out, you guys have REALLY made my day!