Savage 23D and 342 (hornet)

[akodo]

Can anyone tell me anything about these guns? Apparently there is a savage 340 series that includes 22 hornet, 222, 223, 225(?) and 30-30(???) and 342 is the specific 22 hornet number

I put savage 22 hornet into some of the online auction sites, and 23Ds will come up, I am wildly speculating this is an older version of the gun (also, because one in 25-20 came up)

I am intrigued by the 22 hornet round, and a fun gun for about $250, 300 after shipping and transfering in this caliber would be good. However, I don't really know much of anything about the savages of yesteryear, except the leveraction 250-3000! type guns

 

[Jubjub]

There are Model 340s in .22 Hornet. Not sure what the difference is between them and the 342. Savage also made the 340 under many different house brands, including Sears, Western Auto, J.C. Penney, and so on.

My .222 Savage 340 is marked Coast to Coast Hardware, and it's amazing. It doesn't much care for factory ammo, but every handload I've tried so far with Hornady V-Max bullets has grouped under an inch. Now I'm looking for a better scope for it than the 3-9X .22 scope it's currently wearing. It might shoot half an inch if I can see what I'm doing.

 

[fatelk]

A good friend of mine has a 23D that has been in the family for generations, probably since the 30's or earlier. It's not much to look at but it sure shoots straight. I helped him work up a load for it and we easily got 1" groups at 100 yards. Pretty good for an old cheap rifle!

 

[Oohrah]

Yep they came out (D) firing black powder cartridges starting with
the 25-20 and ending with the Hornet. Added 30-30 and a couple
of other smokeless rounds before changing model designation number.
Triggers not target grade, but many owners love the accuracy. The
22 Hornet may have a different barrel twist or bullet diameter, but
I'm not certain.

 

[Dirk_01]

Savage produced the 23 series of rifles between 1923 and 1947. All were of the same construction. The barrel and receiver are one piece. The 23A and 23AA was in 22 RF (88000 produced 1933-42). 23B was in .25-20 (16,500 produced 1933-47) 23C was in .32-20 (14,500 19223-42). 23D was in .22 Hornet (15,000 produced 1933-47).
Model 23's were never chambered in .30-30 (too big physically and too much pressure for the locking system). I hope this clears up any confusion.

*source: Savage Sporting Firearms by D.R. & M.T. Morse 2003