What utter hogwash. It's simply poorly executed pieces/interfaces. Some of them operate smoothly, some not-so-smoothly, and some poorly. Same with their triggers, bolts, barrels, receivers, and so forth. It's simply the variance that their production processes allow. My latest from them has a crisp yet smooth safety mechanism. //QUOTE=]
I don't have, nor have I ever seen any of these phantom "variances" you speak of in any of my 11 different Savages which span 40 years of manufacturing precision. They were all pretty much the same, a little rough feeling at first and then shortly there after smoothed out with use, just as they should. I've felt the actions & safety's of several new Savage models when shopping for my latest .22-250 and they all felt the same, consistantly slightly gritty but a very positive feel to all of them. This "variance" you refer to is not realistic or as you stated, "hogwash"! They are all made with blueprints and precision machined with the tight tolerances that earned Savage the title of the most accurate out of box rifle on the planet. I don't want to argue about Savages precision built weapons as I believe they are as they say "the most accurate out of box rifle on the planet" they certainly wouldn't have earned that title if they made "poorly executed triggers, barrels, receivers and so fourth" as you stated. If you don't like unbelievably accurate, durable and reliable rifles then maybe Savage's just aren't for you. Enough said.