Savage Model 745

About the Savage Model 745

The Savage Model 745 is an American long-recoil semi-automatic shotgun produced by Savage Arms from 1941 to 1949. A lightweight derivative of the Savage Model 720, it was closely modeled on John Browning's Auto-5 with the same distinctive humpback receiver, but substituted an aluminum alloy receiver to cut weight and cost, making it an affordable alternative to the steel-framed Browning Auto-5. Chambered in 12 gauge for 2 3/4-inch shells and fitted with a two-shot magazine tube, it was a popular field and sporting gun, though the alloy receivers were prone to cracking at stress points under the hard cycling of the long-recoil action.

By fitting an aluminum alloy receiver to Browning's proven long-recoil design, Savage produced one of the earliest mass-market lightweight autoloading shotguns, though the same weight savings left the receivers prone to fatigue cracking under the gun's punishing recoil cycle.

Savage Model 745 specifications

Sold under both the Savage and Springfield brand names (e.g. Springfield 745B). The reduced two-round magazine gave a total capacity of three shells. Aluminum receivers were noted to wear and crack at stress points over time.