savage lakefield 64 semi auto why no love?
- Thread starter medvedqc
- Start date
I inherited mine from my father, and it's never given me a lick of trouble. It'll digest anything I feed it; even the cheapest Remington garbage ammo that won't work in any other rifles I have. I just wish they had a bunch of aftermarket parts like the Ruger 10-22. I'd love to pimp mine out just for kicks.
My daughter has one of these. New, out of the box was a right royal pita to get it to feed correctly. Once I got a new barrel and the mag feed lip angle correct (shimmed the magwell ). Life got much better. That and finding the right ammo. Now it's fantastic. The part that really bothers me, is the fact I have to remove the barrel to remove the bolt. A design flaw in my opinion.
I bought a A 64f in black synthetic and bull barrel about 7 years ago. Good accuracy and will group well even with cheap ammo. once the barrel gets hot the groups will climb about an inch at 100, but very predictably.
Factory mag would cause weird problem like throwing the group off, tried everything , filing the lips, body, ect , finally gave up and just threw it away. problem went with the mag.
Likes to be run wet though,
Might have got lucky with this one , it has been very good and reliable . Have about 2500 rnds thru it so far,
mostly cheap AE or blazer 40 grain
Factory mag would cause weird problem like throwing the group off, tried everything , filing the lips, body, ect , finally gave up and just threw it away. problem went with the mag.
Likes to be run wet though,
Might have got lucky with this one , it has been very good and reliable . Have about 2500 rnds thru it so far,
mostly cheap AE or blazer 40 grain
You used to(maybe still can) buy the part direct from savage for cheap. I ordered a few parts and a couple extra magazines for like $50 shipped a while back.
Gun comes apart in like a min, removing the barrel is no pain... unless it's 40yrs old and doesn't want to move!
Run a 12ga brush and mop into the action and slap back together.
Its cheap from Western too, $8 or $12. Just shipping and min charge adds up.
I adore the 64.
Why I do is easier to answer than why others may not. They are simple, robust, and [were] affordable. Not much more can be asked of a practical rimfire. I'm guilty of sentiment being a factor too...my first rimfire (over 100 have passed through here), and still my fav. Didn't start that way though...I hated it for the first couple of years. Jammy-jam-jam. An 'ol timer set me straight about a few things (keep it clean, run it dry, find an ammo it likes).
In today's market a Marlin 795 can be found for less $, and I find it as good/better performing for less $ so sentimentality alone keeps it as the fav. Going on 30 years since I acquired that first one, and it'll stay as long as I can keep it.
Thought this thread was a revive, but it isn't:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1342038-Why-so-much-hate-on-the-savage-64!
Why I do is easier to answer than why others may not. They are simple, robust, and [were] affordable. Not much more can be asked of a practical rimfire. I'm guilty of sentiment being a factor too...my first rimfire (over 100 have passed through here), and still my fav. Didn't start that way though...I hated it for the first couple of years. Jammy-jam-jam. An 'ol timer set me straight about a few things (keep it clean, run it dry, find an ammo it likes).
In today's market a Marlin 795 can be found for less $, and I find it as good/better performing for less $ so sentimentality alone keeps it as the fav. Going on 30 years since I acquired that first one, and it'll stay as long as I can keep it.
Thought this thread was a revive, but it isn't:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1342038-Why-so-much-hate-on-the-savage-64!
- Location
- Kingston, Ontario
I just bought my first. Haven't shot it yet as I am on a waiting list for range membership and where I live, backyard plinking is not an option. Nice to hear the barrel cleaning and mag filing tips. Reason I wanted one was that there was one at my CFSC class and I liked the look and feel of it. And being made here in Ontario was another plus for me. I never planned on any upgrading with aftermarket parts as I like the look of it stock anyway. Hope to put some rounds through it soon!
The model 64 is a very viable and reliable design. When they first came out in Canada they were made by or marketed by Cooey. Very nicely finished with different stocks available. The one I purchased over 40 years ago had a nicely finished walnut stock with pressed checkering and a running rabbit on it. It was as accurate as any other semi auto on the market and better than some. Mine had a dovetail cut into the receiver for a scope mount as well as iron sights.
Now for the bad. The magazines were made of a brittle plastic that was overmolded onto some light sheet metal reinforcement. Those magazines were pure crap and led to the system getting a bad name. Replacement magazines were unobtainable from day one. They came out with an Aluminum version that used the same attachment point but it wasn't much better and wore out very quickly and it to would crumble away after a few thousand rounds. Eventually the design was bought up by another maker and the magazine was replaced with a much better model that was still made of sintered metal but seems to be better quality.
I don't know how many companies picked up the permission to manufacture the rifles or if they were all made by Winchester or Savage. Whatever, they are very good rifles and seem to function well with just about any ammunition. They are easy to clean and maintain as well.
They are pretty straight forward in operation as they are blowback actuated. Not much to go wrong with the action.
There is a replacement kit available, if you can find one, to replace the weak system found on the old rifles. It is worth every penny to pick up and install this new kit IMHO. The rifles, if they are in good shape are worth the effort and the expense. All steel receivers with steel bolts in a very slim/sleek design. What's not to like once the gremlin is eliminated??
Now for the bad. The magazines were made of a brittle plastic that was overmolded onto some light sheet metal reinforcement. Those magazines were pure crap and led to the system getting a bad name. Replacement magazines were unobtainable from day one. They came out with an Aluminum version that used the same attachment point but it wasn't much better and wore out very quickly and it to would crumble away after a few thousand rounds. Eventually the design was bought up by another maker and the magazine was replaced with a much better model that was still made of sintered metal but seems to be better quality.
I don't know how many companies picked up the permission to manufacture the rifles or if they were all made by Winchester or Savage. Whatever, they are very good rifles and seem to function well with just about any ammunition. They are easy to clean and maintain as well.
They are pretty straight forward in operation as they are blowback actuated. Not much to go wrong with the action.
There is a replacement kit available, if you can find one, to replace the weak system found on the old rifles. It is worth every penny to pick up and install this new kit IMHO. The rifles, if they are in good shape are worth the effort and the expense. All steel receivers with steel bolts in a very slim/sleek design. What's not to like once the gremlin is eliminated??
buzzmagoo
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- sprucewood Hallows Eastern Townships
Have had one for years( got it second hand ) don't think it has ever been cleaned , will fire any ammo that I have tried in it not a tack driver but can shoot matches at 30 feet for fun. All most afraid to clean it .
