Savage Rimfires? Mark II series/A22

[Axis II]

I have a savage Mark II non accu trigger, wood stock, wearing a cheapo bushnell 4-12. I just seen a local gun shops black Friday ad has Savage Mark II F, G and FV on sale for $150 with a free Savage chaser mug and the A22 for $200. I have the accu trigger on a heavy barrel 223 I use for longer range work but a friend of mine said its not worth the headache of extra $ for 50yards and under so keep what I have.

Here is my questions.

1) Why a heavy barrel on a 22lr? I don't think I've ever gotten my 22 hot enough to need a heavy barrel. Does it increase accuracy? Too heavy to drag around the squirrel woods?

2) Anyone use the A22? I have heard wives tales that semi auto Rimfires aren't accurate like a bolt action. I think that a semi auto would be pretty fun to shoot but accuracy is king! I already have issues making headshots on squirrels in the top of an oak tree and don't need anything inhibiting that! lol.

Any other recommendations welcome.

 

[tallpaul]

I would not be afraid of any savage rimfire... I have a couple of their bolt rimfires- they are 17's thought but if I needed a .22 and did not want to spend the money for a cz savage would be a front runner for sure
the heavy barrel is more for balance and a bit of stiffness than anything else. just like the bigger guns

 

[Creed Bennett]

I have a lot of rimfire rifles and the rifle that I grab almost every time I go shooting is the Savage MkII FVSR. It’s as accurate if not more accurate than anything I have or shoot against. The “stock” stock is junk because the drop on the butt is so much you can’t get a cheek weld while looking through a scope. I replaced it with a Boyd’s that actually makes sense and bought an Apachee Trigger Kit that really makes the Accu Trigger shine. Savage has been bringing out the B series of rimfires for a year or more and the FVSR versions plastic stock makes a lot more sense. As soon as I locate a B series FVSR I’ll not hesitate to put it in my rimfire stable.

 

[Axis II]

I would not be afraid of any savage rimfire... I have a couple of their bolt rimfires- they are 17's thought but if I needed a .22 and did not want to spend the money for a cz savage would be a front runner for sure
the heavy barrel is more for balance and a bit of stiffness than anything else. just like the bigger guns

No cz here.

If it wasn't for the price tags of the savage sale i wouldn't be entertaining the idea.

 

[Axis II]

I have a lot of rimfire rifles and the rifle that I grab almost every time I go shooting is the Savage MkII FVSR. It’s as accurate if not more accurate than anything I have or shoot against. The “stock” stock is junk because the drop on the butt is so much you can’t get a cheek weld while looking through a scope. I replaced it with a Boyd’s that actually makes sense and bought an Apachee Trigger Kit that really makes the Accu Trigger shine. Savage has been bringing out the B series of rimfires for a year or more and the FVSR versions plastic stock makes a lot more sense. As soon as I locate a B series FVSR I’ll not hesitate to put it in my rimfire stable.

I noticed the stock looked a little funny online. My current GXP fits decently but still a bit funky. I don't shoot it that much cause the trigger is terrible so i figured upgrade to the accu trigger.

 

[CraigC]

The MKII is excellent and a much better made rifle than its modest price might suggest. I don't find their heavy barrels at all too heavy for field use.

 

[Demi-human]

I don't think I've ever gotten my 22 hot enough to need a heavy barrel.

All you need to do is bring more ammunition. One of the self healing ball targets and a game of "Three misses and you buy a beer" will have some rounds down range in a hurry...

I have heard wives tales that semi auto Rimfires aren't accurate like a bolt action.

Yup, old husband's tales. But, two bullets fast is not really the best way to hunt, regardless of the accuracy. Especially in the trees. (I know you know that. Just saying it anyway.)

I can mirror Craig's experience with my FVSR Mark II. Though my stock is black.
I say this next bit with a straight face. I bought a Rascal for my son. A Red one. I haven't weighed it but, two, three pounds perchance? With the same ammunition and rest it is every bit as accurate. Maybe more so. The action is smoother and the trigger adjusts lower than both mine and my daughters FVSRs. (See, they are that good. Liked mine so much, bought her one.)
It is a single shot, but while my eyes still work, I'm bringing it out to rabbit hunt this year. A front pocket full of rounds and a Red Rascal.
If a full sized man can scrunch in on the youth stock, I can assure he will have full sized fun. I have a long neck, apparently, and like the little guy a lot.

Some cannot bear the indignity of using a kiddie gun. These same humans glean no enjoyment from my Desert Eagle either...…

But I digress, the Savage FVSR is a nice rifle. I feel the trigger would absolutely be worth the One hundred fifty dollars. I also am looking at the A-Twenty Two to replace the Remington Five..uh, meh, whatever, I have that there is nothing wrong with but I just have no love for. Perhaps Santa might enable me to give you a report on A-Twenty Two after Christmas...

 

[earlthegoat2]

I had a Mk2 with an AccuTrigger, a laminate stock and heavy barrel and it would cloverleaf all day at 50 with MiniMags. That rifle made me think that CZ rimfires were way overrated. (something I still think actually) I did hunt with it but years later I found that sporter rifles are just as accurate on the first shot so I dumped all my heavy contour barrelled rifles and never looked back.

 

[Axis II]

All you need to do is bring more ammunition. One of the self healing ball targets and a game of "Three misses and you buy a beer" will have some rounds down range in a hurry...



Yup, old husband's tales. But, two bullets fast is not really the best way to hunt, regardless of the accuracy. Especially in the trees. (I know you know that. Just saying it anyway.)

I can mirror Craig's experience with my FVSR Mark II. Though my stock is black.
I say this next bit with a straight face. I bought a Rascal for my son. A Red one. I haven't weighed it but, two, three pounds perchance? With the same ammunition and rest it is every bit as accurate. Maybe more so. The action is smoother and the trigger adjusts lower than both mine and my daughters FVSRs. (See, they are that good. Liked mine so much, bought her one.)
It is a single shot, but while my eyes still work, I'm bringing it out to rabbit hunt this year. A front pocket full of rounds and a Red Rascal.
If a full sized man can scrunch in on the youth stock, I can assure he will have full sized fun. I have a long neck, apparently, and like the little guy a lot.

Some cannot bear the indignity of using a kiddie gun. These same humans glean no enjoyment from my Desert Eagle either...…

But I digress, the Savage FVSR is a nice rifle. I feel the trigger would absolutely be worth the One hundred fifty dollars. I also am looking at the A-Twenty Two to replace the Remington Five..uh, meh, whatever, I have that there is nothing wrong with but I just have no love for. Perhaps Santa might enable me to give you a report on A-Twenty Two after Christmas...

I figured the A22 would be fun for shooting the spinner targets or the self healing thingy. I don't carry the 22 loaded when squirrel hunting I keep the mag in my pocket and load it when ready so no rapid fire into the air. I don't even like sending one round into the air but is what is.

 

[Varminterror]

The Savage Mark II heavy barrel isn't really a heavy barrel. It's just heavy enough to balance nicely when shooting offhand. For their cost, the Mark II's are very accurate, and the Accu-triggers are a step in the right direction from the non-accu-trigger models. Not the best system, but I'm not complaining about them at all.

Here's the HBIC shooting her Mark II at 100yrds, practicing a scaled version of the PRS Speed Skills stage:



Fired standing, off-hand, sling supported, at 150yrds. The objective was 10/10 on the 10" plate - they're all there. In this instance, I wish it had about a half pound more in the front end to hang better on the sling:



An example of what it can do from the bench, when fed good ammo, at 50yrds:

 

[12Bravo20]

I have two lefty MkII rifles with the heavy varmint barrel. My 17m2 has the old style receiver without the accu-trigger and my 22 is the newer E receiver with accu-trigger. They both shoot great and have good triggers. The accu-trigger does have a slight edge over the older style trigger. The 17m2 rifle has the solid wood stock. The 22 came with the thumb hole stock that I have since switched out for a Rhineland leopard stock.

 

[dak0ta]

I've been shooting my Mark II FV and it's a great rifle. Stock is alright, I put a cheek riser pack on it with the scope so it's not bad now and helps balance the front end. Decently accurate with bulk ammo getting 2 MOA at 100 meters.

 

[Sistema1927]

I have a Mark II FVT which I upgraded with a Boyd's stock. It will put them into one large hole if I do my part.

 

[doubleh]

The MKII is excellent and a much better made rifle than its modest price might suggest. I don't find their heavy barrels at all too heavy for field use.

View attachment 812623

What model is that rifle? I like it but can't find it on Savages's website unless it's the Rascal version. I bought the FV-SR Gato Camo version and would certainly prefer that stock. Apparently Savage doesn't sell replacement stocks or I'm not smart enough to find where they do.

Edited to add: Letting google do the work I found that Savage does sell replacement stocks and they are quite proud of them. They cost within a few dollars of what I gave for the rifle.

 

[CraigC]

Don't remember the model number, it's the 16" threaded heavy barrel that came with the black plastic stock. I replaced it with a Boyd's tacticool.

 

[Dill]

I would stick to the A22/B22 and variants, the stocks are better, and the flush fit rotary magazines are preferred over the single stack banana mags that stick out the bottom of the Mark II series.

 

[doubleh]

Don't remember the model number, it's the 16" threaded heavy barrel that came with the black plastic stock. I replaced it with a Boyd's tacticool.

Thanks. I may do what I usually do. Glue up some wood, fire up the mill, and whittle one out like I want although I'm going to check out Boyd's first.

 

[Demi-human]

...and whittle one out like I want although I'm going to check out Boyd's first.

The stock I received from Boyd's was an exact, press fit to the action. I highly recommend them for a rimfire rifle.
But I did not get to spend the day in the shop. That may be a negative in some circles. My excuse is I had no pressure glued laminate that thick...

 

[doubleh]

Well, I spent some time on Boyd's website after my post. I didn't find exactly what I have in mind although one is pretty close and another isn't bad. I also spent some time looking at what is available in domestic hardwood boards to glue up my own home made blank. Decisions, decisions. I have a couple of Boyd's stocks and they are good stocks although I wound up doing some modifications to each.

Honestly I enjoy making shooting stuff about as much as actually shooting. I'll probably wind up with some wood in a bunch of clamps instead of taking the easy way out and buying one.

 

[Demi-human]

In that case may I suggest Bell Forest Products. There are many luthier wood suppliers, but they are very nice, FAST service and local to Michigan. I may be partial to that last part, but they are very good.
Any wood imaginable, for a nice figured stock.

 

[doubleh]

In that case may I suggest Bell Forest Products. There are many luthier wood suppliers, but they are very nice, FAST service and local to Michigan. I may be partial to that last part, but they are very good.
Any wood imaginable, for a nice figured stock.

Having someone local would be great. Living in the rather sparsely settled southwest if Home Depot, Lowes, or Ace Hardware doesn't have it we are out of luck. I'm not complaining as I prefer sparsely settled. I gave Bell Forest and Rocklers a quick look on the internet yesterday. I'm going to do a deeper look today while waiting on the Thanksgiving company to arrive. There is an outfit over in Lubbock, TX that sells this type of wood and it's only a little over a hundred miles away which isn't too bad a drive and I could pick the board I want. If I remember correctly from a previous project of this type their prices are rather steep compared to other wood suppliers and I ruled them out on that particular build.

 

[Axis II]

I really hate black Friday!

I just found the Mark II FV heavy barrel on sale, no tax for $125!!! Still trying to decide if the 1lbs difference is worth spending the extra $25-50 on the sporter barrel?

I also found a few other items such as range finders for a very good deal!

 

[Demi-human]

I'm going to do a deeper look today while waiting on the Thanksgiving company to arrive.

Oh, do! They have a picture front and back of each hand picked board. And book-matched sets for knives and handgun grips.

Sorry, I sound like a commercial for them, but they have very competitive prices. Something I like, for three times I will make it wrong just to get it perfect.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[BigBL87]

I really hate black Friday!

I just found the Mark II FV heavy barrel on sale, no tax for $125!!! Still trying to decide if the 1lbs difference is worth spending the extra $25-50 on the sporter barrel?

I also found a few other items such as range finders for a very good deal!

Personally, I prefer the way the heavy barrel balances and I find it easier to hold steady. I think the heavy barrel does help with heat dissipation and barrel harmonics as well, as far as the measurable real world effect I can't say though. I will say even my air rifle will start to string shots after enough rounds in quick succession though, so I fully believe it can happen with a 22.

I got the FV and dropped it in a Boyd's stock. Had to sand the barrel channel a little bit to get it to free float via the dollar bill test, otherwise no modifications needed.

 

[Axis II]

Personally, I prefer the way the heavy barrel balances and I find it easier to hold steady. I think the heavy barrel does help with heat dissipation and barrel harmonics as well, as far as the measurable real world effect I can't say though. I will say even my air rifle will start to string shots after enough rounds in quick succession though, so I fully believe it can happen with a 22.

I got the FV and dropped it in a Boyd's stock. Had to sand the barrel channel a little bit to get it to free float via the dollar bill test, otherwise no modifications needed.

View attachment 812928

Do you find it too heavy to be slung and carried for say 2-3hrs?