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Thread: Savage 340 in 222

  1. #1
    Boolit Grand Master
    rockrat's Avatar
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    Savage 340 in 222

    Yeah, yeah, I know, worthless without pics. Later

    Picked up one of these at the show in Denver, over the weekend. Someone had refinished the stock and didn't do the best of jobs, but not horrible. Bore spotless, rest of gun doesn't look like it has been shot much. Scope mount and 4x steel tube Weaver topped it off.

    Good deal, I couln't resist

    Anyone shoot one of these? thinking of rechambering it to 223. Heard 222 was better for cast than 223. But, I already have one in 223. Really would like it in 6.5 or 7mm tcu!!

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master tazman's Avatar
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    I had one decades ago and it was a superb shooter.

  3. #3
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    I had a 340 series D in 222 and a 340 series E in 223.
    The 222 had a different twist rate than the 223.
    I don't know why you want to rechamber a 222 to a 223? but I guess everyone has their reasons for doing things?
    I didn't like the trigger on either gun, but the series E was better than the series D.
    I sold both guns and got a CZ in 222...mostly because of wanting a better trigger.

    edit: I also had some magazine issues with both Savages.
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  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by rockrat View Post
    Anyone shoot one of these? thinking of rechambering it to 223.
    I'm sorry, but I think that is just dumb! The .223 is an ok cartridge but the .222 is an outstanding cartridge. If you don't want it, sell it here, turn a profit, and buy a new Savage, or whatever, in .223
    USMC 6638

  5. #5
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    I had one of these back in the 70s , is a great gun , and the only problem was that every now and then the extractor would not work and I would have to use a cleaning rod to get the casing out . So if I was you I would take a rod to the range with you so if this happens It wont ruin you trip to the range. This problem didnt happen real often but it DID, other than that they are a great little guns . You also might want to try a 223 in the mag and make sure that its not too long. Its been too long since I had one but thats my experience.
    I like 1911's and Wheel Guns , Wood Stocks and Blue Metal , Dislike Black on Black and Magazines on Rifles whats this country coming to.
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  6. #6
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    I have a E 22 as well with the same occasional extractor issues. Mine is a great shooter that gives up maybe 150 fps over a 223. I believe with the longer neck and slow twist you see the reasons why.
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  7. #7
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    I'm working with one now, bought it to shoot only cast which the .222 has some distinct advantages over the .223. Haven't gotte mine to shoot very well yet, but haven't worked a lot with it.

    I also have a .30-30 one and a Stevens 322 in .22 Hornet which are both good shooters with cast.

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master Harter66's Avatar
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    Mine runs the NOE 225-55 over 2600 fps into 2" on 19.0 H322 . And every thing in a 50 gr SP from Hornady ,FC, RP and Privi Partizan under an inch at 100 as an untouched factory rifle with a 3-9 x 25 ......western field scope on it .

    I'll lend you the reamer if you'll send me the 222 magazine (s) , but I don't know what more you would get other than out of buying another set of dies .
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  9. #9
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    i had a savage 340 in 222 and it was custom stocked. i believe it was maple. i shot that thing many, many, many times(did i say many?). i would do 5 shots well under a 1" at 100 yards, i also believe they were 50gr hornady sp with a charge of h322? the trigger was a piece of poop, but i learned to live with it. when the barrel went(i did over 5000-6000 shots, i don't know what the other guy did) i switch over to rem m700 in 223. i should have just gotten a 222 barrel and put it on the savage.

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master
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    I have dies and brass, so probably play with it with cast before I decide to keep it or part with it. If its anything like my 223, it will go under an inch@100yds

  11. #11
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    .............Don't know why you'd want to change cartridges, but Numrich has'em:

    https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-man...s/340-late-mdl

    ...............Buckshot
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  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    I think it would be a huge mistake to rechamber a .222 to .223. In fact I have a .223 Savage I was seriously thinking of rebarreling to .222!

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by rockrat View Post
    I have dies and brass, so probably play with it with cast before I decide to keep it or part with it. If its anything like my 223, it will go under an inch@100yds
    The .222 is a benchrest cartridge. It is easily capable of 1/4" from a good barrel.
    USMC 6638

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by tdoyka View Post
    i had a savage 340 in 222 and it was custom stocked. i believe it was maple. i shot that thing many, many, many times(did i say many?). i would do 5 shots well under a 1" at 100 yards, i also believe they were 50gr hornady sp with a charge of h322? the trigger was a piece of poop, but i learned to live with it. when the barrel went(i did over 5000-6000 shots, i don't know what the other guy did) i switch over to rem m700 in 223. i should have just gotten a 222 barrel and put it on the savage.
    I would think a shot out 340 in .222 would be an excellent candidate for a conversion to .300 Blackout. Couldn't be that hard.

  15. #15
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    Not a 222, but I picked up a Savage 340, I believe E, in 22 Hornet two years ago. I haven't shot it a lot yet, but what I have done I'm very content with. It came with an older weaver fixed 8x, with the side mount bracket. The trigger is not very good compared to today's triggers but it does the job. As is, the gun shoots better than I do. If I could swap out the trigger for a better trigger and update the glass I imagine it would be something. On the other hand, I like the era specific scope and trigger. Part of me just likes shooting weapons as they were made at the time. I'll probably leave it as is and just enjoy it for what it is. The ground hogs around my place don't seem to mind the older scope or trigger.

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