Savage Rascal review

I picked up one of these at a gun show this weekend. I was sold bases that were supposed to work, but they do not. OP, what did you rig up to work? The screw taps on top are right above the bolt for the rear ring. With the rear base installed, it prevents the bolt from coming all the way up. Just by mm's but it doesn't work. I took it into a shop and they tried another set of Weaver (25?) bases with the same result. The gun retailer thought perhaps the screws were going too deep, but assessed it as I did that the rear base was too wide or with an incorrect taper. He looked up another chart on the internet because the Rascal is too new for his books. Told me to try a Weaver 16 base, but they had no stock.

FYI for those interested, the placement of the base holes on the Cub are in front of the bolt so they cause no issues. I was disapointed in the design of the Rascal when I put the Cub beside it. My nephew inherited my first son's Cub, so my younger one needs a youth model now. We stumbled upon a left hand wood stock at the show and could not pass it up.

OP your advice on set up is appreciated.

Thanks,
 
Told me to try a Weaver 16 base, but they had no stock.

Weaver 16s work, though if you look close enough when you're mounting them...you can see that the Rascal's receiver is a slightly smaller diameter than the "cove" cut into the Weaver 16s. That said, I don't think it would be that big of an issue with 2 bases mounted with a scope. I didn't mount the rear base yet, but set it up on there for a look before following through with my silly plans to try a forward-mounted red-dot. Logic being (and I use the word "logic" loosely :) ) that I didn't want to crowd the receiver. The rascal doesn't exactly launch the empties, so the odd one needs to be cleared by hand. Anyhow, the rear base looked like it wouldn't obstruct the bolt, but I did wonder whether or not the bottom of an oversized scope ring (they tend to be bulky) would be an issue.

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While my daughter loves the idea of this red dot i got for the Rascal, I may pull the thing off. It weighs about as much as the gun which kind of defeats the purpose a little I think. Also, it's a cheapie...so unless you're close and the target is big, the dot is obscuring whatever you're trying to shoot at.

And to think I spend all this moohlah on the CZ 452 when this back pocket stuffer
would of sufficed?............ :D

While this is dripping with sarcasm, it raises an interesting point/question that others might have~"get a Rascal, or a CZ Scout for my kid?" I really think you have to see a Rascal first-hand to get a sense of just how small it really is. I also think that if (like me) you've tried to get your kids shooting with full-sized guns as long as I have, you know how discouraging it can be when they can't handle the weight AND length of even a standard, small-ish .22 rifle. I'll readily admit that I simply can't shoot it, but it was an instant hit with my kids and that's good enough. If they ever lose interest...and that's doubtful considering how much ammo they can burn through in a day...I may try to slap a 2"+ spacer on the back end and re-visit the idea.
 
You guys are having way too much fun.
The only things missing are the pictures of your kids getting impatient in the background.

"Dad can I have a turn now???"
:D
 
I compared the rascal to the cub and though i like the peeps on the rascal more i thought that with the mkii reciever i would be able to install one of the many off cast Savage stocks i have for when my boy gets a bit bigger. That and the bases for the MKII fit without issues. Oh yeah i forgot to add it shoots great.
 
Just got my boys hardwood rascal in from epps. Hell...i hate to wait til Christmas to give it to him but I will. Perfect little rifle for him. I'm going to go out and sight it for him....scribe some witness marks in the sights and clean and repackage it. That way if he wants to shoot it boxing week he can without fiddling with the sights in the cold(or rather me fiddling with the sights in the cold). Im sure it will shoot well....and it is the perfect set of features for a starter. Wish they had them when i was a kid....
 
These boy/youth sized Savages can sure shoot.

My grandson's (he has seen it, held it, but his first shot with it will be in three yrs) MKIGY can easily shoot smaller than dime-sized 5-shot groups at 25 meters with the stock notch sights.

These Savages are the perfect training 22s for future marksmen. If the boy can hit it, the rifle will.
 
I bought one with a blue stock for my oldest son for his sixth birthday, and he loves it! He constantly asks if we can go to the range and shoot. I was also impressed with the quality and accuracy in these little guns. I'm also gorilla-like (6'8" / 300lbs), but I confess that I probably shot it more than my son. He's even coming hunting this year, so I hope he can get a grouse or two with it. Fantastic value for a first rifle. I think I may contact Savage and buy a green stock for my second son when he inherits it, and a pink stock for my daughter when she's old enough.
 
Just got back from sighting this lil' rascal in. Cleaned, oiled, rrepacked and ready for Christmas. Quite accurate and the sights...though kind of crude adjustment-wise were not as bad to adjust as people have let on. Quite easy at 30 yards, the longest practicle range for new young shooters they will let me take the center out of a clay pigeon at that range. Good enough for accurate grouse hits. I wouldn't want to try to make a half inch adjustment at 100 yards....but quite manageable. Might order one for me. Lol
 
I just bought one from P-D Enterprises today. (My second gun from them in 2 business days!)What a cool little rifle. I got the last one they had, with a bright blue stock. It's fits my 6 year old perfectly. We are going to get it out to the range tomorrow.
 
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