Savage Mark II BV

[SGW Gunsmith]

Been lookin' at the above version of the Savage Arms Mark II BV .22 bolt action rifle. I don't know anybody that actually has had one for a time long enough to get a review.
Anyone here have this version, and how does it perform for you?

 

[HankC]

It is the heavy barrel with laminated stock. I have one, mine is pre Accu Trigger, change to a lighter spring and it is a wonderful trigger. Very accurate with standard velocity ammo.

 

[12Bravo20]

I have a MkII BTVLSS which is the stainless steal left hand version with a laminate thumbhole stock. I've had it for several years and have never had any problems with it. It is quite accurate. I also have an older 17m2 MkII GLV - blued varmint barrel, left hand, wood stock that is very reliable and accurate too.

 

[BigBL87]

I have the Mark II FV, essentially the same rifle but with a polymer stock. I ended up swapping the stock out for a Boyd's laminate and have been very happy. Topped mine off with a Mueller APV 4.5-14x40. Its more accurate than I'll ever been below is the best group I've shot with it at 50 yards, and I'm no sharpshooter (I've only been shooting for about 7 years). That's using CCI Standard Velocity. Never shot anything else from it, but with performance like that I don't really feel the need to.

I've had two issues with mine, both very minor ultimately. First, when I went to remove and reinstall the scope bases (which I do for every rifle to make sure they're correct) one base had been cross threaded and removing it basically destroyed the threads. I contacted Savage, they had me send it to them and it was back fixed within 2 weeks. The other one I had was probably my fault, I had a small patch of rust pop up on the top of the barrel just forward of the scope. I used the pencil eraser trick and oiled it religiously. Can still see some discoloration in that spot but hasn't gotten worse and it's not a showpiece anyway.

 

[Varminterror]

I have a Mark II BSEV and an FSS. BSEV is a heavy barrel, spiral fluted, which came originally in a Boyd’s Evolution stock, now in a Boyd’s ProVarmint. The FSS is a light Sporter barrel which came in a polymer stock, now a Boyd’s ProVarmint also, with iron sights.

The triggers are accutriggers - great for what they are, and nothing more. The mags tend to run fine for me, although small to load - of course - but I know many folks bemoan Savage rimfire mags (not as easy as a 10/22 mag I suppose, but we can’t think they’d be as easy as an AR mag). The actions aren’t buttery smooth, but they don’t bind (what could?). You certainly feel the bolt wedging for lockup, and I’m not 100% I close to the same position every boltthrow because of it. I expect I could clean that up a bit without much ado, but I’ve been too lazy to do so - the rifles run well enough, even running fast.

I tend to expect an average CZ to outshoot the average Savage, but only slightly, and between fleets of 10 each, not every CZ would outshoot every Savage.

There was a “prove it” thread here a few years ago where we shot 50yrds for score with 22’s, here was my submission with the BSEV rifle shooting Eley Black box.



Considering the cost of the rifles, the accuracy is disproportionately ahead of the price compared to many other models. They’re not a “feel alike” training analogy and they don’t reign supreme on the throne of precision, but for the money, the Mark II’s are very accurate, and run very well.