Savage 420

[ReadyontheRight]

I picked up my first o/u today. A Savage 420 over under. They were manufactured from 1937 to 1943. It's a bit "clunky", but solid. At $325 out the door I figure it was worth a little pre-research gamble. I love old Savage products. I also figure there will never ever be another U.S. gun called a "420".

Pre/during-war specimans are more and more rare. This shotgun feels solid and right on my shoulder.

It's got a full and modified fixed choke, two triggers, a little bit of worn engraving on both sides of the receiver and a two-bead barrel vent on top.

My major complaint: It takes quite a bit of thumb-muscle to open it up after firing to re-cock the triggers. Also, I have to disengage the safety every time I open up and close the action -- is this common for o/u shotguns?

The top barrel says "proof tested 12 gauge". This is safe for 2.75" shells - correct?

Nice wood, nice metal, solid as heck. Any info to share on this shotgun?

 

[Dave McCracken]

My father's favorite shotgun was a Savage. His had more time in B 24s than some pilots. He bought it when he graduated from OCS. The Air Corps pinpunched the number 14 on the receiver. Stolen around 1970.

A couple things...

The safety is automatic. A good safety feature on a field gun.

Pop's wasn't hard to open. Either yours is near new or there's 60 years of old greease congealed in there, or both. Having a decent smith clean/lube it would be money well spent.

2 3/4" shells only, and I'd avoid non toxic loads except Bismuth. Steel may be too hard for those barrels and tight chokes.

These Savage O/Us were blue collar using guns. Enjoy yours...

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Thanks Dave. This one will be spending most of its time at the trap range, although it may do a little pheasant hunting. Thanks for the advice on "no steel".

I love having a "blue collar" over/under.

 

[Dave McCracken]

You're very welcome. Enjoy....

 

[ReadyontheRight]

I started with saying that this is my first o/u - ever. I did not know much about o/u shotguns.

I took this Savage apart tonight, only to find a strange metal contraption between the forestock and the barrel. I have come to find that if I pull the forestock in a certain way, the shotgun neatly disassembles into three handy pieces! And I was trying to figure out why the forestock was a little loose!

Do all over/under shotguns break down like this? It is SO cool!

Now I've got to spring for a breakdown-sized shotgun case. Blue collar indeed! I am feeling more like Mr. Drysdale than Jed Clampett.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I thought of Ol' Jed more as no collar.

All O/Us that I know of break down. So do SxS shotguns, pretty much the same way.