Few things about Savage
Everyone "Knows" that they are accurate. What they don't actually know, is why they know that.
At least most recently, just post bankruptcy years, they were cheap; think Stevens/Marlin X7 cheap. For the money spent, they shot VERY well. Fast forward to today, and they still shoot well, but with the exception of the Stevens; they are expensive with little to show for the price.
I have LONG been a Savage dude, Still shoot a 10FP to 1,000 yards with relative ease. However I have turned to Marlin's X7. The Savage synthetic stock has ALWAYS sucked, anyone who thinks otherwise has rocks in their head(JMO). They tried to "fix" it, by adding some sheet metal. Trust me, it didn't fix anything... Help? Well.... MAYBE. The accu-trigger. Cast from the worlds finest deadsoft lead alloy. In my past 3, AND a brothers current; if you "adjust" them light they will half-drop. So if you close the bolt with all the force of a crippled stripper, the trigger drops. At least the sear-catch saves you from a discharge, but then you have to re-cock it. Don't know if this problem exists with the Target version, but VERY common with the standard crap-U-Trigger.
Personally I think that the Bull barrel versions are quite good for a "normally" priced factory gun, the sporters are good for the price of a Stevens; NOT what the Savage name costs. The Stevens is a Pre-Accutrigger gun, albeit with a 2-screw trigger. Easily adjustable, or replaceable with aftermarket parts. For THAT price, the Stevens is a value. The current centerfeed Savages don't have the aftermarket support for stocks, that the staggers do. So stocks are limited somewhat, Also so is the capacity.
The crown is what all "standard" sporters have. The heavy barrels are different, they are a recessed target type. For hunting to 3-400 yards they are about the same as any other sporter. How many times have you seen an F-class shooter wanting to win, get a 22" pencil barrel?
This is just my opinion, many will see it differently I'm sure.