The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Combination Guns And Drillings Utility, reliability, and durability of Savage 24s?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I have an opportunity to buy one or both Savage Model 24 over/under guns. One is 22 RF/20 gauge; the other it 22 RFM/20 gauge. Excepting rifle barrels' chamberings, they are configured identically: selector on hammer; black plastic stocks; a "flat black"?? finish of some sort; in very good-excellent condition. Okay, to my questions. I have not owned or shot a Model 24. No one with whom I've shot or hunted has owned or shot one. Those of you with first-hand experience with Model 24s of this type (I understand that 24s made with centerfire barrels have a different configuration for their barrels' assemblies) please reply. 1. Were I to use the 24 frequently - shot often - is either/both durable enough to last? While I would not expect either gun to last 10,000 20 gauge shots, I would expect 1500 trouble-free 20-gauge rounds. I would expect either 22 barrel to last indefinitely. 2. What sort of rifle barrel accuracy might I reasonably expect from non-match ammunition? 3. I understand Model 24s have been made with on-frame selectors and on-hammer selectors. Please describe differences in convenience when hunting, and ignition reliability - that is, is either selector unreliable in use? 4. Apparently, Model 24s have been out of production for decades. From whom are parts and/or parts-and-service available? And this question approaches reliability from a different angle. 5. When, or if, I examine the guns again, to what should I pay attention regarding quality-durability issues? It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it. Sam Levinson | ||
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The biggest problem with them is, they rarely will shoot both bbls to the sights. I've had several, and none of them were reguladed worth a beans. I hear this complaint over and over all over the net. For me, it's unacceptable to have to aim over here to hit over there. DM | |||
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I've owned several and still own one in 22mag/20. They are fun inexpensive guns. They were a working mans gun. They are not comparable to the German made high quality over and unders. You can expect good hunting level accuracy. The shotgun barrels will seldom shoot slugs to the same point as the rifle barrel. The shot patterns usually hit close enough for field shooting. They give good service in the rimfire versions, but some guys hotrod the centerfires and mess up the chambers. The chambers on the centerfire models can be damaged with over pressure loads. Parts are available from Numrich Arms. Most Savage 24 lovers don't care as much for the late production guns. They prefer the earlier wood and blued steel guns as they have better finish and are lighter. Take a tour of the Savage24.com web site for some good information. As I said, they are fun, but cannot be compared to the finely made BBF's. Bfly Work hard and be nice, you never have enough time or friends. | |||
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I have three of them, a 22RF/20 gauge (campers special), a 22 magnum/20 gauge (Pennsylvania turkey gun), and a 24V that started out 223/20 gauge (now rebored 6x45mm/20 gauge). None of them shot slugs to the same point of aim as the rifle barrel at 50 yards. The 24V now shoots pretty close after the reboring job but that is a happy accident. When it was a 223, it would not reliably fire military 5.65 mm ammunition, think it had to do with the shoulder dimension but have never gotten a definitive answer about that. I have not shot any of them thousands of rounds, they have been hunting guns and aren't the best of plinkers either due to the change in point of aim with barrel heating. I have shot clay pigeons with them, barrel heating doesn't seem to affect the shotgun barrel so much. They are a little time-consuming when adjusting sights because the rifle barrels heat up and shoot a little lower with each round, past about two or three shots in a few minutes. I think this is a common attribute for any combination gun to one extent or another. Once one of them failed to fire, I think it was cold oil and dirt in the mechanism. I have only had barrel selectors on the hammer, haven't had trouble with them. All have peep sights, the 24V also has a 2-7X Weaver with quick-release mounts. TomP Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right, when wrong to be put right. Carl Schurz (1829 - 1906) | |||
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I have had two different model 24 guns. My first was a 22/20 gauge. It was stolen in a burglary. I used it a lot for general hunting in Missouri and took ducks, rabbits, coyotes and squirrels with it. They are simple guns and should last longer than us. I put a lot of rounds though both barrels and had no fear of it breaking. I have a 24V at this time in .222/20 gauge and like it very much. I am using it to deer hunt in NC for the third year running. The deer in NC are small, like Texas deer. I hand load my own .222 bullets and am using Barnes 53 grain TSX and 55 grain Sierra Game King soft point as well. I have also ordered 64 grain Winchester Power Point and 60 grain Nosler Partition to see if they will work as well. The TSX 53 grain and the 55 grain Game Kings work great as do Hornady 55 grain SP and Combined Technology BST 50 grain varmint bullets. I note that many folks complain about the sights or aiming on the 24 model guns. I can only comment on my uses but I shot skeet with the 22/20 a couple of times and it was accurate. It looked funny to other shooters, I am sure, but it was easy to point and broke the clay pigeons. The sights on a 24 are DUAL in nature. The rifle sights are the narrow lower notch and the wider upper notch is for the shotgun barrel. This compensates for the location of the two different barrels, I believe. I hit a 2" target at 50 yards yesterday with a cheap Remington Slugger slug with the 24V and it is like a laser with the .222 barrel. I have used it with a scope but I am using it in the woods with iron sights during deer season. My 22/20 gauge was quite accurate and it was one of the models with the top barrel and the bottom barrel 'sweated' or soldered together, not in a separate barrel band holder arrangement like my .222/20. The newer black models are heavier than the old wooden models and they are based off the 12 gauge barrel size for the whole gun, I have read. The older 22/20 models were sweet little hunting guns. I bought the .222/20 because I missed hunting with the 22/20. I like them a lot and enjoy hunting with them. They are not drillings or high end guns for collecting; they are HUNTING guns and fun to use. | |||
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You would be VERY wrong if you think drillings are only for collecting. I bet i've taken more big and small game with my drilling that you have with all your 24's combined. DM | |||
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I only mentioned high end guns as a comparison about/features or prices. I don't have a drilling but I enjoy seeing them in shops or at gun shows. certainly they are more likely to be collected than the Savage 24 for investment reasons... | |||
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I squirrel hunt with a Savage 22 over 410 that has been reamed out to 22 mag. I love it, its my go to small game gun. Id like to have a 12g over 45-70, or 12g beside 45-70, for hunting bigger critters. | |||
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I asked Savage once about making up a 243/20 gauge on a custom-shop basis, there wasn't any interest on their part. There may be an opportunity there for a custom gunsmith... TomP Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right, when wrong to be put right. Carl Schurz (1829 - 1906) | |||
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I have taken a lot of birds with a little 20 gauge drilling and a couple of coyote as well. At 6 lb 10 oz, weighs less than many O/Us...even with the 5.6 x 52R third barrel  | |||
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I own four of the older 24s (wood stocks, blued barrels, soldered full length) in .22/.410, .30-30./20 ga, and two in .22 mag/20 ga. The .22/410 has taken lots of squirrels and more than a few pigeons. Had a nice padded case made for the .30-30/20 ga...it fit nicely in a Haliburton case with takedown fishing rods, etc. The ultimate flyaway kit. Took feral hogs, chukar, doves, and ducks. Great little guns...but you have to work a bit with them and know where they'll shoot. I keep one in the 4 x 4 at all times. Eagle One NRA Benefactor Member SCI Life Member SASS Life Member DRSS (Merkel .375, Sabatti .45-70) | |||
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Hey TomP, youre right, I think thier is a market for the off the wall stuff like that. Not sure why no one makes any of them.The 243/20 ga would be a great combination too. Something like that would be real handy behind the truck seat or behind the door at camp. | |||
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If you can live with a 243 W x 12 G, there's a Valmet 412 @ Auction Arms,closes tomorrow AM.No bids yet..Pricey,but where will you find another.?...Idabull | |||
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I have carried a M24 since 1986 for coon hunting mostly. I have also killed squirrel, rabbit, quail, grouse, crow, groundhog, fox, bobcat, and cats with it. It is 22LR over 20ga. As a coon rifle it gets a lot of HARD use. Here in the mountains of Western NC is often doubles as a walking stick. The stock has been refinished several times and the forend replaced from loss. It still remains very accurate with open sights. I have however replaced its use with one of the short barrel "camper" models in the same chamberings just this year and it is working well. It rides with me in the Jeep all the time and is used for everything. I have never patterned the shotgun barrels but I have never had a problem with regulation that I could blame on the gun. My uncle has used one, actually he has three, since the 70's. All of his are the older style with the solid rib barrels and side barrel selector. Both of mine are the split barrels with selector on the hammer. He had one that was well used also that had problems with the selector but I will say again it was very well used. Ran over once with a Jeep, beat, banged, etc. As one poster said, they are working mans guns but thats OK, thats what I need mine for. Hope this helps. | |||
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Mine is a 12 gauge 3 1/2" w/choke tubes under 30-30. It is now a 30-40 Krag, because I have several. You get value for your $$$, but use the word "Utility" when you talk about it. Rich | |||
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Who rechambered it? I'm interested in finding out about other customized Savage 24s. TomP Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right, when wrong to be put right. Carl Schurz (1829 - 1906) | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Combination Guns And Drillings Utility, reliability, and durability of Savage 24s?
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