Savage 219 & 220 fanatic

[t4halo]

I'm a new member and as the title states I have a problem when it comes to Savage single shots. I have at least one of every shotgun 12, 16, 20, 28(favorite Grouse gun) and .410. Have a nice 22H and 3 in 30-30.

I use the 30-30s as stalking guns in Northern Michigan during whitetail season so I shoot them year round to stay accurate. I reload but have been thinking about molding my own. I'm a true newby and need some advise.

Get me squared away so I can do this right!!

Thanks in advance,
T4

[dubber123]

Slug your bore is my best advise. My 30-30 219 was only a so-so shooter with either cast or jacketed. I was shooting Lymans 311291 design, a bore rider. One day on a whim I stuck the bore rider portion of a cast boolit in the muzzle. Way sloppy! Instead of the normal .299" to .300"ish it should have needed, my 219 needs at least a .302" nose, and .312" boolits. It doesn't sound like much, but groups shrank from 1.5" at 50 yds. to averaging under 1/2". The trigger stank on mine too, but it wasn't that hard to work on. If yours has just the dovetail groove on the barrel, scopes love to slide under recoil and will drive you nuts. Here is how I fixed mine.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh83/dubber123/IMG_2955.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/dubber123/media/IMG_2955.jpg.html)

[t4halo]

I just ordered a Williams peep for the scope grooves. I'm hoping it works. It has a nice scope on it now but kinda defeats my purpose for using it for stalking. My sitting rifle is either my Savage 99 in 300Sav or Remington 722 in 257Bob. The other two 30-30s don't have the grooves and look like they've never been shot.

The scope grooves on the 22 Hornet work great.

[dubber123]

The peep will probably be fine mounted in the grooves, it has a lot less mass than a scope. I slimmed the forend and buttstock on mine a good bit, I find them a very sleek rifle, and I actually like the long barrel they have.

[richhodg66]

I like my 219 in .22 Hornet very much. I recently picked up one in .30-30 with a ruined barrel with the intent of having it relined to .32 S&W Long. I also picked up a .20 gauge barrel along the way. Neat rifles, I like them better than most break open single shots.

[slumlord44]

I had several of these some time back. Neat old guns. Kept the .22 Hornet. Has a period Weaver scope with a side mount. Also came with a complete Lyman Tang Reloading tool. Had .223 bullets with it. Anyone know for sure if these have a .223 or .224 barrel?

[richhodg66]

All I've shot in mine is cast sized to .225 and it works great.

[Mk42gunner]

I have a 219 in .22 Hornet that I have added a 12 gauge barrel and forearm to. I have been kicking myself for 30+ years for not getting the .30-30/16 ga combo for that the local gunstore wanted $85 for.

I also remember seeing a set in a gunshop in Seattle in about 1990 that had four or five barrels all tied together with baling twine.

Robert

[richhodg66]

I picked up a 20 gauge barrel for mine because it was cheap and I figured it would be good to have, but that 219 is so slim an light, doesn't a 12 gauge just kick the daylights out of you on that frame and stock?

[Mk42gunner]

Its not really any worse than any other generic single shot 12 ga.

That being said, I have only shot one round while trying it out, and it was a light field load. I don't envision shooting tons of magnums at ducks with it anyway.

I was looking for a 20 ga barrel when I found this barrel and forearm for $75 at a gun show. I figured I paid for the barrel and got the forearm for free. I would like to find a 20 or 28 ga barrel, but when looking for old gun parts some times you have to take what you can get.

Robert