Savage 24v

[hso]

A buddy just got a nice Savage 24v .222/20 gauge in his shop for $700 out the door. I've always wanted one of these in 20 g, but I'd rather have a .22 lr or mag or even a .223.



The gun is clean and in nice condition, but ... that .222.

As a gun in the woods I consider the .222 too much for rabbit and not enough for deer. Fine for the turkeys we have in abundance.

I'd hate to pass up being particular about the rifle caliber, but it isn't like I don't already have more guns than I can shoot to just scratch an itch.

 

[troy fairweather]

222/20ga would be nice, I'm not the biggest fan of these but this combo is the one I'd want. I understand people will get mad, you could ream the 222 to 223, I wouldn't tho I really like the triple Deuce.

 

[edwardware]

In my experience (Dad's .22WM/.410-3") they are not fine, elegant, or particularly accurate guns. For that money, I'd pass.

 

[Anchorite]

Truck loads of deer have been taken by the 22 Hornet and it remains a favorite of old timer deer hunters throughout the south.
Therefore the Deuce will be fine for deer at close range. It can be downloaded to be a fine round for wabbits.

The twenty is a bonus.

 

[Johnm1]

As a gun in the woods I consider the .222 too much for rabbit and not enough for deer. Fine for the turkeys we have in abundance.

you could ream the 222 to 223,

Don't get me wrong, I like mine. It's the last model they produced in the Model 24. Can't remember the letter. Hate the composite stock. It is chambered in 222 Rem/12 gauge with a screw in choke. To me it is the ultimate varmint gun. Certainly not a long range affair, but at my age neither am I. It certainly isn't an upland or dove gun. As a shotgun it swings like a 4 x 4. But it aims nicely. Did I mention that I like mine?

The 222 Rem is a decent cartridge for varmint loaded as a 222 Rem. I won't argue its effectiveness on deer but i wouldn't. When I started hunting in Texas one couldn't hunt deer with anything in 22 caliber. I'm prety sure Troy is right and it could be rechambered to 223 but you'll find the rate of twist is 1 in 14", so your standard 223 cartridge isn't going to perform well unless it is loaded to 222 specs. I like the cartridge for what it is and for its its history. I can't confirm this but I understand that the 24's Savage did chamber in 223 still used the 1 in 14" twist.

Better check on the trigger pull because what ever it is now isn't going to change no matter how much money thrown at it. Trigger pulls were notoriously poor and no way to improve it.

 

[mavracer]

As a gun in the woods I consider the .222 too much for rabbit and not enough for deer. Fine for the turkeys we have in abundance.

I'd imagine this is gonna have a slow 1 in 12 or 1 in 14 twist, so I'm inclined to agree on the deer end because you won't stabilize the heavier .224 bullets that I would want to use. In a pinch I'm sure something like a high neck shot would work even with a varmint bullet, but I wouldn't if I had other options.
If you reload you could easily load reduced with a 55gr FMJ and take small game.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I think you've bagged a good variant of the 24V -- if I've interpreting the photo correctly, yours has the full monobloc construction. I'd say you could do worse.

I had a 24V in 223/20ga (don't recall the twist) with soldered or brazed barrels, but I didn't shoot it very much and eventually sold it. It grouped pretty well from the bench for a half-dozen or so shots, but once the barrels heated up a bit shots began to wander. BTW, the 24V has a bit of a rep for breaking firing pin rebound springs on the top barrel -- not a big deal, just FYI.

Since .222 is mostly a handloading proposition these days anyway, you could try downloading to .22 WMR ballistics. That would keep the rifle barrel from heating up for more shots too.

 

[Paul Kersey]

I bought one of those around 1983 I believe. .357mag up top, 20 gauge downstairs. Still a good shooter.

 

[Ks5shooter]

I had one of those exact configueration.Was ok ,accuracy was mediocre.

 

[PapaG]

My favorite non-trap long gun. I have a 24 DL 22/20, and a 24V like the one pictured. Still hoping to find a 24 in 22WMR and 20.
I use mine down at my little farm for varmints and have several tailored hand loads to duplicate 22LR, 22 mag and of course the 52 grain classic 222.

 

[jmorris]

I have several of the .22lr/20 versions, they are my favorite. The optics mount is better on the centerfire ones but these are guns I don’t generally run optics on.

I am not seeing any question in the OP, if you are looking for someone to say you shouldn’t get a new gun, your probably not looking in the right place.

Be sure to let us know how it shoots.

 

[4v50 Gary]

That looks a lot fancier than the older models.

 

[Rule3]

Nice looking but 222 ??

I have a 22mag/20g

 

[hso]

The bores were good and a bullet test of the muzzle of the .222 was fine so I walked out with the 24v .222/20ga and a box of .222 in hand for $700 total.
I think I'll be quite happy with it.

 

[hso]

BTW, if you're interested in Savage 24s the folks at Savage24.com are extremely knowledgeable.

Here's their ID guide - https://savage24forum.boards.net/thread/192/different-stevens-savage-combo-guns
It tells me that this is a Savage 24V/F Transition because the game scene on the right side of the gun is a grouse instead of a turkey. It is also tapped on top for an optic.

Updated Version 4/18/13
This is a diagnostic tool to determine which Stevens or Savage combination gun you are looking at per factory configurations. Follow the question tree in order to determine which gun you have. Keep in mind someone may have modified the gun after it left the factory, in which case this diagnostic test may not be correct for some guns.

1. Is the configuration of the gun rifle barrel over shotgun barrel? If yes go to #2. If no go to #14.

2. Does the gun have 20 inch or 24 inch barrels? If it has 20 inch barrels go to #3. If it has 24 inch barrels go to #4.

3. Does the gun have a satin nickel finish? If yes go to #3A. If no go to #3B.

3A. Is the gun’s rifle barrel chambered for .22 long rifle or .357 magnum or maximum? If it is chambered for .22 long rifle then the gun is the 24CS Survival model. If it is chambered for either .357 magnum or maximum the gun is the Savage 24VS Survival model.

3B.The gun is a Savage 24C Campers Companion model. If it has a lever mounted on top of the tang to open the breech, it is marked on the right side of the frame as either a Model 24C Series M, 24C Series N, 24C Series P, or 24C Series R. If it has a sliding block in front of the trigger guard then it is marked on the left side of the rifle barrel as a Model 24C Series S.

4. Are the barrels brazed together the entire length (meaning no gap between the barrels)? If yes go to #5. If no go to #8.

5. Does the gun have a lever on the right side of the frame which opens the breech? If yes go to #5A. If no go to #6.

5A. The gun is the Savage 24S Sidelever model. It is marked on the right side of the frame as either the Model 24S, 24S-A, 24S-C, 24S-D, or 24S-E.

6. Does the gun have engraved game scene side plates on the frame? If yes go to #6A. If no go to #7.

6A. The gun is a Savage 24DL De Luxe model. Most of these guns are marked on the right side of the frame as either Model 24-DL, 24B-DL, 24C-DL, 24E-DL, 24H-DL, or 24J-DL. The only exception is the 24B-DL chambered in .22 long rifle or .22 Winchester rimfire magnum over .410 which is marked on the left side of the frame. Most all of these guns have a satin chrome finish on the frames only except for some Model 24J-DL guns which have a black finish frame.

7. Does the gun have a synthetic (tenite) stock? If yes go to #7A. If no go to #7B.

7A. The gun is a Stevens 22-410 Model. It is marked on the left side of the shotgun barrel as Stevens 22-410.

7B. The gun is an early Savage 24 Model. These guns are marked on the right side of the frame as either a Model 24, 24A, 24B, 24E, or 24H.


8. Does the gun have a crossbolt safety near the rear of the frame? If yes go to #9. If no go to #11.

9. Is the stock and forend made from synthetic material and painted camouflage? If yes go to #9A. If no go to #10.

9A. The gun is a Savage 24F-12T Turkey model. It is marked on the left side of the rifle barrel as 24F.

10. Does the gun have engraved side plates? If yes go to #10A. If no go to #10B.

10A. The gun is a Savage 24F Predator model. It is marked on the left side of the rifle barrel as 24F. (Special note: If the gun has a wood stock and forend and/or is marked on the left side of the rifle barrel with 24V go to #13.) Early versions are drilled and tapped for scope mounting on top of the rifle barrel. Later versions are drilled and tapped on the support bar located in between the rifle and shotgun barrels on the right side which used an L-shaped bracket with an integral rail for scope mounting.

10B. The gun is a Savage 42 model.

11. Is the gun chambered for a centerfire cartridge (e.g. .22 Hornet, .222Remington, .223 Remington, .30-30 Winchester, .357 Smith & Wesson Magnum, or .357 Remington Maximum)? If yes go to #11A. If no go to #12.

11A. The gun is a Savage 24V Varmint model. Some guns are marked on the right side of the frame as either the Model 24V or 24V-A. The others or marked of the left side of the rifle barrel as either the Model 24V Series B, 24V Series C, or 24V Series D. (Special note: If the game scene on the right side of the gun is a grouse and not a turkey go to #13)

12. Does the gun have a plain, non-checkered stock? If yes got to #12A. If no go to #12B.

12A. The gun is a Savage 24 Field Grade model. Some guns are marked on the right side of the frame as either Model 24 Series M, 24 Series N, or 24 Series P. Other guns are marked on the right side of the shotgun barrel Model 24 Series P. Another variety is marked on the left side of the rifle barrel Model 24 Series S.

12B. The gun is a Savage 24D Deluxe model. Some guns are marked on the right side of the frame as either Model 24D Series M, 24D Series N, or 24D Series P. Another variety is marked on the left side of the rifle barrel as Model 24 Series S.

13. This class of gun is known as the Savage 24V/F Transition. All of these guns are marked 24V on the left side of the rifle barrel, but contain a variety of different parts and/or features of both the 24V Varmint and either 24F-12T Turkey or 24F Predator models.

14. Does the gun have 1 trigger? If yes go to #14A. If no go to #14B.

14A. The gun is the Savage Model 2400 made by Valmet.

14B. The gun is the Savage Model 389 made by Mariocchi.

 

[Elkins45]

My first gun, a Christmas gift in 7th grade, was a Savage 24D in 22LR/20 gauge. I still have it but haven’t shot it in years. Like any tool designed to do more than one thing, it doesn’t do anything particularly well. My regard for it is almost entirely sentimental because I never really had much success with it as a hunting gun.

 

[hso]

And it goes BOOM/BANG with a very nice trigger and no significant recoil.

 

[Rubone]

I've got a 24V series D in .223/20go. I bought it because I liked the combo and had plenty of ammo around for it. It came to me with that Charles Daly scope mounted. I also have a 24 "Campers Companion in .22 over 20ga. It is light , easy to carry, and has questionable use, the 20ga barrel is cylinder bore.
Have fun with yours.

 

[Condor]

I have a different model in .22WMR over 20 gauge. It was well used when I bought it. It is great for small game hunting. I have a soft spot for these…it was a dream gun of my youth, so when I recently had a chance to buy one, and was cashed up, I jumped at the chance.

before…

after…
10 coats of Danish oil followed by polyurethane for the stock and several coats of Duracoat on the metal…

 

[DM~]

I've had five Savage 24's over the years, not one of them was regulated to shoot both bbls. to the sights.

Accuracy was acceptable, but regulation is everything in a combo gun!

I finally moved UP to the Savage 2400, now that combo gun is a HUGE improvement over the 24's.

DM

 

[loadedround]

Have owned a Savage 24 in 22LR/410 ga for over 50 years now and it is one of my favorite ''go to '' firearms when the property has o be rid of a small problem like a Copperhead in my wife's garden. Probably it would be one of the last guns to go when the time comes. Right before my GI 1911A1 pistol.

 

[hso]

moved UP to the Savage 2400

I'd love to find one of the Finns!

 

[MacAR]

I wouldn't mind having that for a truck gun, since I already load for .222. But I'd rather have it over a 12 or 16 gauge, and at about half the price! A 22 mag over 20 has been on my wish list for quite a while, but since prices have gotten so high it looks like I'll be waiting quite a while for one.

Mac

 

[gunmechanic]

I have one in 22lr over 20ga it is from the 50s .It was the gun i used it alot for small game when i was a kid .It was my fathers he had it for ever .I think you will like it ,buy it you only live once!

 

[Johnm1]

with a very nice trigger

I'm glad yours has a good trigger. That isn't a guarantee. I really like the concept. And yours is a looker to boot.