Choosing a heavy barreled Lefty 22

250_sx

250_sx

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So with tax return season (aka new gun season) coming up I've decided this year I want a new bolt .22. Right now I have an old winchester 150 (lever) and it's a fun little plinker but I want something to train with and put a little work into to make a tack driver. I've thought about a .17 or .22 mag but for the cost and challenge involved I think I want to stick with a .22. Mostly going to be range fun 50-100 yards, mostly 50-75 but might try to stretch it out once I get something working really nice, maybe even try to start doing some competition stuff if it/I'm getting good enough with it.

That said I'm a lefty, pretty stuck on getting a bolt gun, and heavy barrel. I know Savage has the BTVLSS (which I think I'm leaning towards if I can find one in budget), and there's some CZ 452's (pretty sure will all land out of my price range) around with LH HB's, who else has a good shooting heavy barreled lefty bolt? I have a couple half decent bushnell scopes to start with so better optics will come later but budget wise I'm hoping to get into something sub $500 to start.
 
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IMO, Best bang for your buck will be a savage mkii, even in the crappy plastic stock they shoot well. Stainless is a nice option though. I can’t speak for the stainless version but the only con I have with the savage is the sticky bolt, it can be fixed with a little bit of work. They definitely make amazing shooting .22’s for a great price .
 
Thanks. I'm definitely leaning towards the savage. Wish they had more left hand options, though having to buy top of the line isn't necessarily bad, so long as I keep close to the budget
 
Find a heavy barrelled Savage Mk.II with a cheap plastic stock (unfortunately the thumbhole laminate stocks are right handed only), replace the stock with a boyds or some other companies wood stock - and you're good to go.
 
The only Heavy barrel Savages I've been able to find have been the laminate thumbhole BTVLSS, Other than the BTVLSS the only other left hand mkII I can find is the non heavy barrel MkII G. While I like the looks of the Stainless I would be happy with the cost of a blued version heavy in a cheap plastic if I could find one but seems the bottom or top of the line savages are all that are available in LH. I'm guessing the BTVLSS is the only real option savage has that will meet my wants.
 
Looking on Savages website it looks like the BTVLSS is your only option for a heavy barrel lefty mark II.

mark-ii-btvlss-25795-1253135.png

They've got a few other options if you want to get into a 17hmr or 22mag, but you've already said you don't so...

7ECA said:
Find a heavy barrelled Savage Mk.II with a cheap plastic stock (unfortunately the thumbhole laminate stocks are right handed only), replace the stock with a boyds or some other companies wood stock - and you're good to go.
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Negative. Lefty with the thumb hole stock is the only option for a heavy barrel lefty in the mark II line currently. Not sure if they used to sell a plastic stock version in the past or not.
 
I "think" I want to stick with the 22, but I guess it'll depend on what I can find when the funds become available. If there's a deal to be had...

I've heard the CZ 452's are insanely accurate and better build quality than the Savage, though I've never handled one. Price wise they seem like they're out of my budget (possibly the discontinuing of the LH models is driving prices up?).

Seems like a Savage would be the best option/price for a budget build based on what I've read, was really just wondering what other options are out there in a HB LH. Maybe another good starting point gun that's under rated or often overlooked.
 
savagelh said:
I would honestly just bypass a bolt gun and go straight to a 10/22, you will end up there eventually anyway.
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Lol

No. Some people will end up there, but we don't all feel like spending $1000+ to make one shoot like a $300 savage bolt gun does out of the box. Then again my buddies 10/22 is unreliable whereas my mark II runs flawlessly, is more accurate, and cost less, so I'm a bit biased. I'll be buying a Marlin or an old mossberg when I get a semi 22...
 
Nothing against a 10/22, so many of them out there that it's hard to assume they're not good, but it's just not what I'm looking for. I do want a semi 22 someday but not for a budget target gun. Maybe look at one for a tacticool plinker but right now I want a tack driving bolt.
 
Thanks. I hadn't realized they weren't actual a heavy barrel. Don't think I've seen one under $650 so they're above my budget anyways. Think I'll be looking for a savage btvlss.

Might consider a 17 if that's all I can find when the funds come in. Would prefer a 22 just for cost and variety of ammo and the challenge of a tack driving 22 but seems they're not a very common gun so guess I'll take what I can get.
 
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