Rimfire rifle ???

[jmr40]

I've owned several Savage rifles, none that I owned shot up to their internet reputation. None were horrible, but nothing about their accuracy impressed me.

I've owned a bunch of Ruger 10/22's over the years and the target versions were pretty decent. I did try one of the Ruger American bolt guns. It was no more accurate than a standard 10/22 and less accurate than the 10/22 target rifles.

I had a CZ 542 American for several years and it was a shooter. But after buying the Tikka T1x I sold the CZ. Both were good, but the CZ was so much better.

Tikka at 50 yards, 5 shots.



Tikka at 250 yards



At 100 yards. Tikka on the left. Ruger 10/22 LVT on the right.

 

[Obturation]

Tough one. If it were between the two mentioned, I'd go savage. I had one years ago in 22lr and it was certainly a nice little rifle. My buddy's dad had the same rifle in 17hmr and it was surprisingly accurate. Most of these type of rifles will shoot well for me it's which has the better trigger, savage is known for their triggers.

That being said, any 22 rifle may surprise you with what it's capable of. A couple years ago I joined an informal 22 competition at my cousins house (I posted a thread about it but um no good at digging up old threads), if I remember correctly there were 10-12 of us and the targets ranged from shotgun primers set in a 2x4 to suckers placed in a row and pencils- that sort of thing. I brought my winchester 250 , it's a cheap rifle I gave no more than $50 for and I brought an actual target rifle just in case. One round was timed and so I chose to use my repeating rifle. Every other shooter had a modern semi auto and most were 10-22s (of course). I won every stage except the one that was timed- there were several guys that were shocked that cheap winchester was that good. I ended up second by only a few points as the guy that actually won was downright serious about the whole game.

Goes to show that a shooter can overcome a lot if they know the rifle and have a steady hand and mind. I'm no rifleman, as you know but I did have a rimfire obsession that lasted a decade . during that time I got what I wanted and several I didn't but as it is now, none of my 22s have a scope and I can still hit what I'm aiming at.

If I'm going to shoot for bullseyes the one I grab is my converted martini cadet with a Remington match master barrel- it doesn't fit your criteria as it's a single shot aperture sighted gun but it's made some guys jaws drop when I stack 10 shots through a ragged hole at 30 yards. It's a beauty and will never leave me but I only bring it out if I feel like I've got something to prove .

Good luck on your quest and I hope you and your grandson have an absolute blast with this endeavor .
All the best

Here's mine-

 

[SwampWolf]

Other than that

Failure to extract, even if "sporadically", is a pretty big "other than that", imo.

 

[Waterboy3313]

Most of these type of rifles will shoot well for me it's which has the better trigger, savage is known for their triggers.

I would say ruger is probably fairly equal. In my opinion if they were really good the aftermarket triggers companies like trigger tech, timney, jard, kidd etc would not be in business. I don't know that I would necessarily put my decision in the factory trigger but more in which one has the most options and cost effective aftermarket support.

That's just me I tend to believe ruger makes a better barrel and action than savage. I've owned both of several models and the rugers have all in my opinion been better. I would plan on at the least doing some trigger work if not a full aftermarket replacement for either one. Watch for sales and use the money you save towards ammo research.

 

[kmw1954]

So I am not certain of my schedule for the week but I am going to try and get out to look at all of them. Am having second thought though that I should be spending this money on my bench rifle.

 

[Obturation]

So I am not certain of my schedule for the week but I am going to try and get out to look at all of them. Am having second thought though that I should be spending this money on my bench rifle.

You should definitely be buying the rimfire, you don't know how many chances you'll have to do this thing with your grandson , you and him will remember doing this together forever. Your benchrest gun will still be there , the memories are priceless

 

[Waterboy3313]

You should definitely be buying the rimfire, you don't know how many chances you'll have to do this thing with your grandson , you and him will remember doing this together forever. Your benchrest gun will still be there , the memories are priceless

That's good advice. I don't have grand kids but I have a 14 year old son. I literally had to bribe him with 2 energy drinks this morning just to go to the range with me. Long gone are those days when he wanted to spend time with his dad. Enjoy it while you can.

 

[RubEric]

Just for info, my CZ 452 Final Edition:

 

[jmorris]

How many .22 LR actions does savage currently make?

Are there just two different styles of magazines for them?

 

[12Bravo20]

How many .22 LR actions does savage currently make?

Are there just two different styles of magazines for them?

Savage currently makes 5 22LR actions. There is the Model 62 semi auto, MkI/MkII bolt action, A Series Semi auto, B Series bolt action and Model 42 break action. The MkI is a single shot. The model 42 is an O/U 22LR/410 firearm. The 64 uses it's own magazine which is different from the MkII, A and B Series. The MkII also uses its own unique magazine. The A Series and B Series uses Savage's rotary magazine which is similar to the Ruger 10/22 magazine but not interchangeable.

 

[ThomasT]

Either the Ruger or the Savage will serve the purpose you have in mind. Your biggest quest will be to find what ammo your choice of rifle likes. 22s can be really picky on what they shoot best. And its not always the most expensive ammo. Some guns will love cheap bulk ammo. My Ruger 77/22 will shoot a 5/8"s group at 50 yards with Federal bulk ammo from Walmart. And those are 10 shot groups. Thats with a cheap straight tube 4x Bushnell scope. And do it over and over again until the barrel gets fouled. It will go about 400 rounds before groups start to open. Clean the barrel and you are back in business.

I vote Ruger but admit I am partial to Ruger firearms. I own many of them and they all work and have been 100% reliable. I am certain if you spent the time with the Savage it will shoot ever bit as good as the Ruger. And maybe just as good as the CZ rifles. But never as pretty as a wood stocked CZ. Never.

 

[2ndtimer]

Last Saturday’s .22 match off a rest on the bench at 100 yards with my CZ 455 standard pictured. Each target 10 shots with Norma TAC-22 ammo, Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14x40 scope at 14X. Rifle was $299 at a local Bi-Mart a couple years ago, the ammo acquired direct online from Norma USA for $3.99 per box of 50 (ordered 3 bricks to get free shipping). I reiterate: buy once, cry once. Get a CZ.

 

[ExtremeSquared]

Agree with the people suggesting keeping some budget around for a decent optic. I've been impressed when shooting friends' Savage rimfires.

I have a CZ and a Bergara. CZs are nice. But CZ priced itself out of the entry-level-rimfire space they used to occupy, and there's no reason to try to pretend that's not the case. They moved into the shallower area of the performance to price curve, and it doesn't really sound like that matches the priorities of the person who posted this.

 

[irishlad]

Last Saturday’s .22 match off a rest on the bench at 100 yards with my CZ 455 standard pictured. Each target 10 shots with Norma TAC-22 ammo, Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14x40 scope at 14X. Rifle was $299 at a local Bi-Mart a couple years ago, the ammo acquired direct online from Norma USA for $3.99 per box of 50 (ordered 3 bricks to get free shipping). I reiterate: buy once, cry once. Get a CZ.
View attachment 1151977

The 455 was discontinued in I believe 2018. They are going for 3 times more than what the OP is asking about.

 

[kmw1954]

Guess I have to put it this way. IF anyone can point me in the direction of a CZ, Ruger 77, Bergara or any other fabulous rifle , new or used for around $300.00 then do it. Otherwise don't bother with recommending them.

Can't express this enough but this rifle will be seldomly used as my primary interest is in short range (100/200/300yds.) precision center-fire rifle. So if I am going to spend large sums of money it will be in that direction.

 

[LiveLife]

Guess I have to put it this way. IF anyone can point me in the direction of a ... fabulous rifle, new or used for around $300.00 then do it. Otherwise don't bother with recommending them.

Ruger Talo 10/22 (LVT) LIGHT VARMINT TARGET $333 - https://gun.deals/search/apachesolr_search/736676311675

 

[kmw1954]

That is nice and if it were a bolt rifle I'd be on it. Looking, the shop that has these two I'm looking at is a Ruger dealer only at this time he is out of stock like most others.

 

[LiveLife]

bolt rifle

Savage Mark II BV $350 - https://onlineoutfitters.com/savage-mark-ii-bv-22-lr-black-25700/

Savage Mark II TR $451 - https://battlehawkarmory.com/product/savage-25745-mark-ii-tr-22-lr-51-22-matte-black-right-hand?

 

[Legionnaire]

If those are your only options, I vote Savage. Years ago I had a couple of Savage single shot bolt actions to use for hunter safety classes. I was always impressed by how accurate they were given their comparatively low price. I'm not a Savage guy, but all those I've shot seemed to do very well.

 

[Waterboy3313]

I have not looked into aftermarket support for the savage 22lr rifles. I would assume if one wanted to shoot a competition even if it's a fun level of competition the need to change out completely or modify certain things is probably fairly important.

My experience with the ruger american has been great and yes I want to change a few things. The problem is the american 22lr unlike the center fire is kind of limited to upgrades. There are several triggers to choose from and the stock selection is somewhat limited. I'm bummed there isn't an easy way to replace the barrel.

If the savage has a good aftermarket support and parts can be had for a reasonable price I would probably go with the savage as well.

 

[Spats McGee]

Let me open with two caveats: (1) I have a soft spot for Rugers, especially Ruger .22s. I have two Ruger American Rimfires that I like very much. Each is (by my standards) accurate for what it is, but the target model is (unsurprisingly) more accurate than the standard 22" barrel. (2) I've never shot a Savage .22. So I can't say anything first hand about them. That said, I've been hanging around here for a long time, and have a pretty good idea of who knows what (I think). So, with those out of the way, here's what I'll say (because a lack of first-hand knowledge has never kept a lawyer from commenting . . . )

...rimfire rifles to be used for a fun rifle league with my grandson. We will be shooting at 25, 50 and 100yd targets,...be shot with a scoped rifle and from a supported bench....

Bench-rested rimfire out to about 100 yards with grandson. Check! And sounds like a great time to be had by all.

For a twist. the shop that has these also has a Savage MKII FVXP with a 21' barrel, $275.00 and a MKII BV 21" barrel with brown laminated stock, $325.00.. Only I am thinking they too have the small short stocks like the one I already have....

I don't know the first thing about Savage stocks, but I think either one of those would serve this purpose very well.

Guess I have to put it this way. IF anyone can point me in the direction of a CZ, Ruger 77, Bergara or any other fabulous rifle , new or used for around $300.00 then do it. Otherwise don't bother with recommending them.

Can't express this enough but this rifle will be seldomly used as my primary interest is in short range (100/200/300yds.) precision center-fire rifle. So if I am going to spend large sums of money it will be in that direction.

The Savage I've had my eye on for a long time is the Mark II FV-SR. It's in your price range, has a bull barrel, and it's threaded. I really enjoy suppressed .22, but that may be less important for you.

I am very happy with my RAR, but the Savages do look a little less expensive. (Not to be confused with "cheap.") Just because we all like pictures, here's the standard:

Here's the target model.

 

[kmw1954]

So were I am at today. Woke this morning to a phone call from work at the range. They has someone call in and need a cover and could I come in. Like the swell guy I am I said sure but it might take an hour to get awake, get dressed and make a lunch. So I worked and didn't get to the shop.

Now I am hoping I can persuade my wife to go with to look. Then I have to work the range again Sunday. Still leaning Savge partly because the Ruger is used and I don't know it's true condition.

 

[gwpercle]

Savage makes some nice rifles ... and I think they are under appreciated .

My advice would be the New Savage .
No question about prior care , cleaning and treatment ... new is nice !
And get a proper 22 LR appropriate scope ... not some monster military hardware that looks like it should be mounted on a cannon ...
Sorry ... it's a pet peeve ... huge military scopes on nice little 22 rifles ... Arrrgh !
Gary

 

[irishlad]

I've have a B17 and a B22 in the basic model.
Neither have a bull barrel. I really like them. Both very accurate.

 

[jmorris]

The two rifles I am looking at; 1. Savage B22 FV with a 21"barrel. new. $295.00 the other is a Ruger American 22" barrel. Used $225.00.. I have not seen the Ruger so I have no clue as to it's condition.

I have no experience with either of these brands, models, so I have again no clue as to their function, reliability or accuracy. Or even which is the better value. So help!

I’ll know more over the next week but neither feel like what I would call a “target rifle”. Got the B22 FV sighted in yesterday will play with it some over the weekend to lay down some lead and try and test both side by side next week.

Thanks, you’re an enabler.



I have loaded 10/22 mags for decades and the savage is a rotary mag but doesn’t use the same technique to load. It’s much easier if you start and push sideways going in (the direction of rotation) where the Ruger mags are more of a straight down and back motion.