Logged in a 3rd day with my Savage MkII and am really starting to like it.
The stock is basic plastic though heavy duty enough I don't notice any flex when I load the bipod or utilize a loop sling. Though I do not like shooting from the prone with this stock. Definitely not prone friendly, I feel like I barely get the stock in my shoulder and I barely have any cheek weld. I plan on using a stock pack and build up a comb with some closed cell foam in the future.
For an out of the box 22 the bolt is very smooth and does not offer a lot of slop. From most positions I find the safety a bit awkward to manipulate.
The rifle came with the accu-trigger and this was not a huge selling point with me. I never understood the "need" for an accutrigger but after training with it I don't see it necessarily as a bad or good thing. I guess I am neutral on it though I am happy with how the trigger breaks.
The magazine on most weapon systems tend to be the weak link, this one is no different. I really wish companies would spend more time and effort on building a good magazine. More on this later.
The barrel is 16 inches and threaded. I am in the process of buying a Gemtech Outback II specifically for this and my Ruger MkII. I don't think the barrel is anything too special but considering the accuracy I am seeing Savage must be doing something right.
I researched bases pretty hard and went with Evolution Gun Works (EGW) 20MOA Tactical Picatinny Mount ($39.99). Something I found interesting it not all MkII rifles are the same. To get the right base you need to measure the ejection port. Mine for instance is 1 5/8 inch and takes the Model 93 mount and not the typical MkII mount. The mount arrived and I was pleased with how it fit and the machining. I did not measure anything on the mount but it seems to be machined very accurate as far as the pic rails and holes.
The rings are Leupold Mk 4.... They were laying around the workshop and were the lowest rings I own. Paired up with some Delrin ring reducers (30mm to 1inch), again they were laying around.
The optic was something I put a lot of thought into. I am a firm believer of buy once, cry once. I wanted a solid optic, 3-10, around 40mm, mildot reticle that I could use on most of the rifles I own as a back up if need be. I considered several and it came down to the Super Sniper and the Weaver Grand Slam Tactical. I own a SS variable mil/mil and love it. Though I still questioned dropping that much money for a 22. After talking with Low Light he told me I wouldn't go wrong with the Weaver. So I paid $299 for a Weaver Grand Slam Tactical from Midway and really like it. I had one small hiccup with zeroing out the elevation but I think I have worked that out.
I'll post detailed pics later but one mod I did was drill the fore end of the stock and place two T-Nuts in a bed of Marine Tex and mounted a BT15 rail from Accushot. I did this so I can use an Atlas bipod and flush cup sling attachments. I plan on installing another flushcup near the toe of the stock and remove the swivel stud.
The rifle is zeroed at 50 yards and with most ammo will hold 1 inch groups or better. With 22's I get frustrated with ammo. It seems like each 22 likes certain ammo and hates others, my savage is no different. I was very surprised to find CCI minimag HV was accurate but I had numerous feeding issues. Primarily the last round of each magazine would fail to feed properly. CCIminimag has always been a go to ammo for most 22s I have owned. I thought for sure the magazine on my MkII was the problem but after trying several different types of ammo I realized it was the ammo and not the weapon. I logged over 300 rounds of various ammo and so far like Remington Thunderbolt the best which is funny since it is one of the least expensive I tried. I do have a few more ammo selections to test but I like knowing the Thunderbolt works so well, at least at 50 yards and in.
Today I finished up with a drill where I fired 5 round groups at 10 different 1 inch dots at 50 yards. After each group I got off the rifle, reloaded and started over again. Some of the misses are ammo and some are fundamentals but in the end I am very happy. I did a bunch more shooting at 25 and 50 from various positions but I think this target says a lot about the accuracy/potential of this rimfire.
More to come.....
The stock is basic plastic though heavy duty enough I don't notice any flex when I load the bipod or utilize a loop sling. Though I do not like shooting from the prone with this stock. Definitely not prone friendly, I feel like I barely get the stock in my shoulder and I barely have any cheek weld. I plan on using a stock pack and build up a comb with some closed cell foam in the future.
For an out of the box 22 the bolt is very smooth and does not offer a lot of slop. From most positions I find the safety a bit awkward to manipulate.
The rifle came with the accu-trigger and this was not a huge selling point with me. I never understood the "need" for an accutrigger but after training with it I don't see it necessarily as a bad or good thing. I guess I am neutral on it though I am happy with how the trigger breaks.
The magazine on most weapon systems tend to be the weak link, this one is no different. I really wish companies would spend more time and effort on building a good magazine. More on this later.
The barrel is 16 inches and threaded. I am in the process of buying a Gemtech Outback II specifically for this and my Ruger MkII. I don't think the barrel is anything too special but considering the accuracy I am seeing Savage must be doing something right.
I researched bases pretty hard and went with Evolution Gun Works (EGW) 20MOA Tactical Picatinny Mount ($39.99). Something I found interesting it not all MkII rifles are the same. To get the right base you need to measure the ejection port. Mine for instance is 1 5/8 inch and takes the Model 93 mount and not the typical MkII mount. The mount arrived and I was pleased with how it fit and the machining. I did not measure anything on the mount but it seems to be machined very accurate as far as the pic rails and holes.
The rings are Leupold Mk 4.... They were laying around the workshop and were the lowest rings I own. Paired up with some Delrin ring reducers (30mm to 1inch), again they were laying around.
The optic was something I put a lot of thought into. I am a firm believer of buy once, cry once. I wanted a solid optic, 3-10, around 40mm, mildot reticle that I could use on most of the rifles I own as a back up if need be. I considered several and it came down to the Super Sniper and the Weaver Grand Slam Tactical. I own a SS variable mil/mil and love it. Though I still questioned dropping that much money for a 22. After talking with Low Light he told me I wouldn't go wrong with the Weaver. So I paid $299 for a Weaver Grand Slam Tactical from Midway and really like it. I had one small hiccup with zeroing out the elevation but I think I have worked that out.
I'll post detailed pics later but one mod I did was drill the fore end of the stock and place two T-Nuts in a bed of Marine Tex and mounted a BT15 rail from Accushot. I did this so I can use an Atlas bipod and flush cup sling attachments. I plan on installing another flushcup near the toe of the stock and remove the swivel stud.
The rifle is zeroed at 50 yards and with most ammo will hold 1 inch groups or better. With 22's I get frustrated with ammo. It seems like each 22 likes certain ammo and hates others, my savage is no different. I was very surprised to find CCI minimag HV was accurate but I had numerous feeding issues. Primarily the last round of each magazine would fail to feed properly. CCIminimag has always been a go to ammo for most 22s I have owned. I thought for sure the magazine on my MkII was the problem but after trying several different types of ammo I realized it was the ammo and not the weapon. I logged over 300 rounds of various ammo and so far like Remington Thunderbolt the best which is funny since it is one of the least expensive I tried. I do have a few more ammo selections to test but I like knowing the Thunderbolt works so well, at least at 50 yards and in.
Today I finished up with a drill where I fired 5 round groups at 10 different 1 inch dots at 50 yards. After each group I got off the rifle, reloaded and started over again. Some of the misses are ammo and some are fundamentals but in the end I am very happy. I did a bunch more shooting at 25 and 50 from various positions but I think this target says a lot about the accuracy/potential of this rimfire.
More to come.....
