Quick Review-Range Report: Savage Mark II BTVS .22lr

eg6ajk

eg6ajk

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
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Location
Mississauga, ON
Basic Specs:
Caliber .22 LR
Overall Length 40"
Barrel Length 21" Heavy Target Style
Weight 7.5 lbs
Magazine Capacity 5 rounds, detachable box
Stock Brown laminate thumbhole
Rifling Rate of Twist 1 in 16"
Trigger : AccuTrigger
Made by Lakefield in Ontario, Canada for Savage
Price ~ $350-$400 CAN

Just picked up the rifle about a week ago, simply mounted a Nikon Buckmaster Scope (6-18x40) on it using Burris rings (mounts are provided by Savage) Shot about 60-100 rounds thru it @ various ranges 25 - 50 - 100yds


The good IMHO:
-Accuracy
-Very ergonomic, well balanced, solid stock
-Excellent light trigger and slick bolt operation
-No muzzle jump
-Barrel cleans quickly

The Bad:
-Magazine, gets the ammo stuck (appears that spring is simply too weak)
-After cleaning the POI seems to shift a little for the first 3 shots (about 1")

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50yds - target (left side = HiVelocity Remington / right side = Target )Remington)
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50yds - 15 shots no cooling
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Did you shoot any offhand with it, or only from the bench? I've thought of getting one for a silhouette gun but wondered if it might be a bit heavy once the scope is mounted.

Not that any are available around here or from the major mail order retailers anyway. Savage is either shipping the bulk of their production elsewhere or else the guns are painstakingly hand built by old world craftsmen who aspire to complete one piece before retirement.
 
As for your experience with the shifting point of impact after cleaning, both of my 22's do that. One is a Lakefield heavy barrel and the other is a CZ 452. There's a large camp that says don't clean.

So it looks like your gun prefers the HV to the Remington Target. My guns are the same for certain brands of HV. CCI mini mags and American Eagle 38gr HV shoot the smallest groups. The Winchester and Remington Target ammo doesn't shoot as well for some reason.
 
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I have the Mako, and recently bedded it and am having a blast with it. Savage definitely hit a home run with this series of rifles. They are awesome, and I just flat out love the Accutrigger! Most sub-sonic and standard velocity ammo shoots excellent. Full roundnose feeds the best for me.
 
JimV said:
Did you shoot any offhand with it, or only from the bench? I've thought of getting one for a silhouette gun but wondered if it might be a bit heavy once the scope is mounted..
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yes, i did few strings off hand, stock is very comfortable and well balanced. Friend of mine had his new 12BV, it was about a 1lbs lighter and had definatly a different balance, but shot just as nice.



As for your experience with the shifting point of impact after cleaning, both of my 22's do that. One is a Lakefield heavy barrel and the other is a CZ 452. There's a large camp that says don't clean.

So it looks like your gun prefers the HV to the Remington Target. My guns are the same for certain brands of HV. CCI mini mags and American Eagle 38gr HV shoot the smallest groups. The Winchester and Remington Target ammo doesn't shoot as well for some reason.
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Found it a little unusal, expected, little less of a change. But I am fine with it. $13.99 for pack of 525 is great deal, but want to try something more exotic, as well, maybe some Lapua or Win Target spec ammo. More to come.
 
KDX said:
You can't go wrong with a Savage rifle.
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Yes, you can go wrong with some Savage rimfires. I have a Mk II heavy barrel, laminated stock pre-accutrigger and it is a terrific shooter, no complaints. But some of the cheaper models are a bit roughly made and not well fitted and finished. The cheaper models should be avoided in my opinion.
 
762shooter said:
Yes, you can go wrong with some Savage rimfires. I have a Mk II heavy barrel, laminated stock pre-accutrigger and it is a terrific shooter, no complaints. But some of the cheaper models are a bit roughly made and not well fitted and finished. The cheaper models should be avoided in my opinion.
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I was referring to the new ones with accutrigger. I should have been a little more specific. The stocks on the cheaper ones are probably the crappiest stocks offered on any new firearm. But they do shoot good.
 
you'll find that your particular rifle will love some brands of ammo... and hate others... and it's hard to predict which ones... some rifles love the expensive Laupa or Eley... and others shoot best with the cheap bulk stuff... look at the online postal matches... Jack M1A usually wins with the federal bulk pack ammo...

The best part is now you have an excellent excuse to get out and try a ton of different ammo (interpret this as you get to shoot alot!!)

I've been told that serious .22 shooters won't clean their barrels for months at a time... my Brno groups poorly for the first 50 rounds after a barrel cleaning... great excuse to be lazy with the cleaning!

Enjoy your new rifle...

EB
 
JimV said:
Did you shoot any offhand with it, or only from the bench? I've thought of getting one for a silhouette gun but wondered if it might be a bit heavy once the scope is mounted.

Not that any are available around here or from the major mail order retailers anyway. Savage is either shipping the bulk of their production elsewhere or else the guns are painstakingly hand built by old world craftsmen who aspire to complete one piece before retirement.
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There have been a ton of them in Island Outfitters in 17HMR, 22LR, and even the jacaranda stocks with blued barrel. They ARE too heavy to shoot offhand for more than five shots to achieve a good group for silhouette. Overall these are great rifles for the price.
 
Thad said:
There have been a ton of them in Island Outfitters in 17HMR, 22LR, and even the jacaranda stocks with blued barrel. They ARE too heavy to shoot offhand for more than five shots to achieve a good group for silhouette. Overall these are great rifles for the price.
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They must be moving them out quickly (not surprising, since it's a great looking gun, particularly with that jacaranda stock.) I was there recently and they only had one - a 17. Back ordering apparently takes months.

Thanks for your comment about the weight. Tends to confirm my suspicion. This would certainly be a nice piece for bench work though.
 
those groups are touch too big, try switching ammo. Lapua does best in my Savage, especially if I give it some time to foul the bore.
I never clean after I sighted in, not bolt guns anyway.
 
The one time you definitely SHOULD clean your 22 is when you're experimenting with different ammunitions. You should clean between different varieties. Fire 5-20 shots to foul the barrel and at the same time zero your sights. Then begin your test shots for that ammo. Before moving to the next brand you should clean your barrel and repeat with the fouling shots before the next test.

[EDIT] I also shoot a 22LR BTVSS. I'd call it a tad too heavy for regular off-hand shooting. I personally use a harris bi-pod and a rear bag for paper punching. I plan to take it out this fall for racoons, squirrels, and bunnies, but I'll probably lose the rear bag and stick with just the bi-pod.
 
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Thad said:
There have been a ton of them in Island Outfitters in 17HMR, 22LR, and even the jacaranda stocks with blued barrel. They ARE too heavy to shoot offhand for more than five shots to achieve a good group for silhouette. Overall these are great rifles for the price.
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In your opinion would the FV make for a better start in Silhouette? I understand there is also and all-up weight including optics limit for certain classes.
Cheers,
Grant
 
Very Nice rifle, not too sure about the thumbhole to this point myself, but after shooting my friends Mark II BTVS at the range I would consider buying it if I was getting another .22
 
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