Scoping a Savage Sporter 25-20

[FISH4BUGS]

My eyes are not what they used to be.
Has anyone scoped a Savage Sporter? I was gifted a pristine 23C in 25-20 and would like to continue to use this as my go to chuck gun....but my eyes are not good on those 100 yard iron sight shots!
It needs to be drilled and tapped but I have no idea what base and rings to use.
I won't be doing the work but the gunsmith will.
Any thoughts are welcomed.

[Outpost75]

Numrich has original Savage rings and bases for that rifle and the 340.

[cwlongshot]

I also like these 23’s. And need scopes to shoot them well. I hemmed and hawed for some time. One day someone asked who was I saving them for? I mean they are nice but far from un replaceable. Frankly not much useable as is. SELL IT or Modify it so you can enjoy it!

So I had my smith drill& tap and mounted a 2x7 Leupold.

CW

[FISH4BUGS]

Numrich has original Savage rings and bases for that rifle and the 340.
I looked and could not find it. Do you have a link?

[FISH4BUGS]

I also like these 23’s. And need scopes to shoot them well. I hemmed and hawed for some time. One day someone asked who was I saving them for? I mean they are nice but far from un replaceable. Frankly not much useable as is. SELL IT or Modify it so you can enjoy it!
So I had my smith drill& tap and mounted a 2x7 Leupold.
CW
Agreed. They are nothing spectacular.....but this one is virtually new.
It was made in 1924. I actually got a factory letter on it from Savage dating it to 1924.
Certainly will scope it and use it. I am the neighborhood woodchuck assassin for the organic farmer and hay fields around here.
I have a Nikon 2x7 that will be used. I bought moulds, brass, bullets, dies, etc. Gonna use it!
Maybe I should let my gunsmith worry about finding what is right for the gun.....that's why he gets the big bucks!

[wildwilly]

You might wish to consider Weaver side base & rings for your Savage. Someone always lists them on Ebay. I have a set on my 340/22 Hornet......much better setup.

[country gent]

My 23 (22 hornet) had a rear aperture sight mounted on it with 2 8 x 48 screws and between them was a 10 screw, not sure what the #qo was for. I picked up a piece of brownels rail blank and drilled the hole pattern in it using the 3 holes. On the hornet its held zero great and been solid. I don't see your 25-20 being much different as to recoil and strain.
These are nice little rifles and while not fancy they are accurate and handy. A very nice size and weight.

[Bent Ramrod]

I have a 23C in .32-20 that I didn’t want to drill and tap extra holes in. As gunsmith John Bivins used to say, “Original fabric is precious.”

I made an adapter base with two holes that fit the plugged military-style iron sight holes on top of the receiver, and cut grooves along the sides to fit one of those light 3/4” Weaver .22 scopes, with the wrap-around sheet metal mount that fits on grooved .22 receivers.

I made the holding screws out of drill rod, since they supply only half the holding power of a normal mounting job, and I figured they’d be under some stress.

Took some doing, but after fiddling and shimming, the scope got on point-of-aim with the crosshairs in the center. I’ve shot the gun a lot, and it hasn’t sheared off, or even come loose.

Probably would be an expensive proposition to hire out, but if you can do it yourself, it’s pretty cheap. If you can find a one-piece Weaver base, for the normal 1” Weaver rings, and locate the two holes in that, it ought to save some machining time as well, although the overhang on the receiver might look odd. The skinny little Weaver looks a lot more “period.”

[Good Cheer]

option

252930

[richhodg66]

option

252930

That looks like the one I just got off gunbroker. The scope has external adjustments and a very narrow field of view, but otherwise is workable. Gonna try to work some squirrel hunting it with it this Winter.

If I can find one of the side mounts they made for these using 3/4" scopes, I have one of these great Gru Bee Wolf Pup scopes here to put on it. I think I'm gonna like this rifle.

[Outpost75]

I looked and could not find it. Do you have a link?

Same mount as 325 and 340

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/540380A

[ATCDoktor]

When I bought my Savage Sporter in 25 20 it came with an ancient Weaver 3/4” tube 2.75X scope attached via what looks like a redfield mount.

The rings drop in from the top and are of the “turn and lock” variety.

The mount allows for rough adjustment for windage via two “jam” screws located at the rear of the mount and fine windage adjustments can be made via windage adjustment on the scope.

This sighting system is quite serviceable and was probably considered top of the line 80 years ago but for someone who is used to 20th/21st century scopes it leaves a great deal to be desired.

It was my intent to swap this sighting system over to a modern weaver type mount and 1” scope but I can’t bring myself to do it.

As it sits it’s very accurate with my handloads albeit the low power scope (marked 2.75X it’s probably closer to 1.75X) does make for challenging shooting beyond 100 yards.

Here’s a 3 shot group at 100 yards, 2 rounds in the neck and quick dope change had me centered up fairly quick.

https://i.postimg.cc/ht03NxDw/B7-BB25-C8-DA45-4-C69-979-C-CE8-E327-F6-FB0.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I have killed many jackrabbits with it out to 150 yards with my handloads using a case full of RL7 and Winchester 86 grain soft points.

IMHO that 86 grain jacketed soft point at near 2000fps appears to hit a whole lot harder than my 22 hornets 40 grain bullet at near 3000fps.

And yes that 86 grain soft point will expand inside a jack rabbit out to 150 yards every time.

https://i.postimg.cc/hvW6nFdT/C1499802-125-C-4-EAF-9-CE5-F62-D9-C780-A99.jpg (https://postimg.cc/dk64RxnV)

https://i.postimg.cc/DwB9XY93/764-F720-B-1664-47-A4-A080-E9-D8-A8-BEBDD6.jpg (https://postimg.cc/tsnv0DRB)

https://i.postimg.cc/T2bv40Dn/E39-E57-C2-AB72-4-F82-95-B0-307-D16-A50728.jpg (https://postimg.cc/9zck4G1f)

That 86 grain bullet is way more destructive than the Speer 75 grain flat point at the same speed (2000 FPS).

[Good Cheer]

The 86 grain Remingtons?
Are they still available somewhere?

[ATCDoktor]

The 86 grain Remingtons?
Are they still available somewhere?

Yes, these are the Remington 86 grain double cannelure soft points.

https://i.postimg.cc/jSZnxvC4/FF890-E01-1-AA8-461-A-8215-1-B0-AC4-DEA96-E.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

From what I understand these haven’t been available in 6 or 8 years.

Looks like Remington released a run earlier this year and they trickled down to local suppliers and some folks on the Gun Show circuit.

I was able to scrounge up a few hundred and if you look hard enough you might be able to find some.

[richhodg66]

The 23D I just got will be a strictly cast bullet gun used for squirrels mostly, doubt it'll ever exceed 50 yards use, but it's nice to know the .25-20 is that capable.

[Good Cheer]

With Unique that Remington 86 grain did 3/4" at a hundred from my old girl.
Plumb blew my mind that she could do that.
Tried to get 75 grain HP's (like you might use in a 25-06) to print that good but just no way. Thought maybe could use them as non-expanding jacketed. But they hadn't equalled the accuracy of that blunt pill from Remington.
I'd really like to find a blunt 90 grain plain base to mold very hard and see how it does.

[Drm50]

I've had several 23s and one Sporter. They all came to me with the Weaver N mount and pea whistle 22 scopes except one 25/20 that had some mounts at one time and had enough holes for side mounts to use as a flute. I
put plug screws in those holes they were all 8x32s and drilled top for Weaver bases and put a K4x on it. If I was going to D&T it I wouldn't mess with side mounts. There is a one piece Weaver base that will work, I forget the number but it is same one used for H&R semi 22 rifle. It has same radius base as 23 & Sporter. I would have used it if I knew it at the time. Bases will be no problem for a Smith. I wish more people had smiths D&T their guns. A Bubba with a drill is a dangerous person.

I have a Marlin 1894 rifle original and Win 53 in both in 25/20 and 32/20. I had Sav 23s in both too. One thing all these rifle have in common was they liked cast bullets. The 32/20 would shoot Jackets decent but the 25/20s did lousy and the 53 Win does terrible with jackets. I haven't loaded 32/20 jackets for years but the ones I used were Hornady HPs .312 dia. pistol bullets, 86gr I think. Still have several boxes around and think they still sell it. I did have some Rem that were about same thing from when Rem sold boxes of 100 in the Green plastic boxes.

My bullet for 32/20 is RCBS # 32359 / 6.0 gr Unique. In the Savages OAL is not a problem but in Marlin you have to watch or you will get a jam if it's just a hair to long.

[richhodg66]

'One thing all these rifle have in common was they liked cast bullets."

This is good to hear. I'll only shoot cast in a rifle like that, jacketed bullets will never touch it. It'll probably be Spring before I really get to this 23, but I got a Rapine two cavity mold and handles a while back that nominally casts a 95 grain plain based bullet with a flat nose, I'm hoping the old slow twist will work for it.

I'm kin of stalled on it again, but eventually will have a Savage 219 barrel re-lined to .25-20 and build my ultimate walk around/squirrel rifle, but this 23 is intriguing to me.

[Drm50]

My 25/20 bullet is 85gr Hp from old Ideal mold. Loaded at 8.0gr 2400/ 1500fps. This one is fine in Marlin levers for AOL.

I picked up a nice 219 Savage in Hornet this past summer. Stole it at yard sale because it don't work. Haven't had time to get into it yet and looking for a parts action. Never been into one before but many 220 shotguns. Have no idea what ails it. If I get it running and it shoots well will probably keep it.

[atr]

Weaver does make a side mount scope base for your rifle. I will take a look and see if I can find the specific number/callout for this mount.
Yes the 86 gr J was a good bullet, but i have found that my 70 gr cast is all I need. Very accurate out at 75 to 100 yds.
atr

[cwlongshot]

Im pleasantly amazed at the accuracy on tap with a 80 year old rifle thats seen alot of use!!

My 32/20 LOVES a splash of PB and a 115 SWC! Its quieter then a LR and really thwacks when it hits!! Love shootin cotton tails in the head. 98% of the time they show ya one last time how high they can jump!!

CW

[atr]

here is a picture of the weaver side mount
253207

As I recall the mount comes in two part. The base which attaches to the receiver and then the top rings.
hope this helps.
and yes my eyes are not what they used to be either so a low power scope (3X) really helps
atr

[richhodg66]

My 25/20 bullet is 85gr Hp from old Ideal mold. Loaded at 8.0gr 2400/ 1500fps. This one is fine in Marlin levers for AOL.

I picked up a nice 219 Savage in Hornet this past summer. Stole it at yard sale because it don't work. Haven't had time to get into it yet and looking for a parts action. Never been into one before but many 220 shotguns. Have no idea what ails it. If I get it running and it shoots well will probably keep it.

I love my 219 in Hornet for shooting small game using cast. Just about the perfect platform for it. I'm also about to embark on fixing a .30-30 219 I have, recently got a book that tells how to disassemble and a couple of new firing pins, probably change out the main spring as well. The rifle was very accurate when I could get it to shoot.

[Drm50]

I'm not up on Weaver stuff anymore. The mount you have pictured came in long and short version. The upper part with rings came separate and you bought the base to fit your rifle. They also had models for lavers and rifles with flat sides. I have one of these on a Rem 870. I didn't think there was enough meat dead center to hold base screws. ( there ain't ) So I found Weaver base that matched the radius on top edge of action. Metal was thick enough to get enough threads to hold bases against recoil. Been on there since 66 with a K3 and still taking a licking and still ticking. Weaver has dropped a lot of bases for obsolete guns but their is still a good many floating around.

[DonH]

I had a .25-20 (thought it was 23B) that I had D&T'd for scope bases. My long-time best friend now has it. My current 23 is an A (.22LR) to which someone long ago added a scope base with the rimfire dovetail.
While it is true the 23 series rifles have no great collector value they re infinitely worth owning. That they are not more valuable is due more to ignorance than to experience.
A guy I know bought a high dollar Kimber .22 LR bolt action of which he was very proud. My 23A with the ammo it likes best shot smaller groups than his Kimber.

I have often said collectors would fawn over a dog there if it had a red W on it.

[FISH4BUGS]

I have often said collectors would fawn over a dog there if it had a red W on it.
Man, isn't that the truth!
I am really amazed at the trigger in this gun. Bone stock from the factory in 1924 when it was built it is clean let off and very light and smooth.
Really looking towards working up a load for it.
Thanks to all for all the suggestions!

[atr]

I certainly agree with DonH....
I find that the rifle is simple, mechanically sound and accurate.

[FISH4BUGS]

I certainly agree with DonH....
I find that the rifle is simple, mechanically sound and accurate.

Something i discovered....what's old is new....
The Savage Sporter receiver and barrel is made from one piece. The barrel is NOT screwed or pinned in....it is one part from the back of the receiver to the end of the barrel.
Some European rifles are beginning to tout that build as "new".....

[Thin Man]

I have owned a Sporter over 40 years and tested various 25-20 loads in it from time to time. Now it has rotated back into my attention span. Years ago I worked quite a bit with the Hornady 60 grain jacketed bullet and found this rifle's best groups came from a load of 10.5 grains of IMR4227. Either more or less of this same powder opened up the groups. Can't answer why, but that is what I found. Now that I have added on a few good molds I will be working with a Lyman 257420 (70 grain GC +/-) and a group buy 80 grain flat point GC. I have a Lyman 257463 RN-GC of an in-between weight of 75 grains that may see some activity here just from curiosity. Lots of variables to consider but that is the fun of all this. My goal is to find the tightest groups the rifle will deliver in the 1300-1400 fps range for casual woods loafing. Let the fun begin!

[rbuck351]

A few years ago I found a 23 in 25/20 and decided It needed a scope. Not wanting to drill any new holes I got a universal 22lr scope base and just used the one large rear sight screw hole with some epoxy under the mount and it's been working fine since.

[ndnchf]

This .22 Savage Sporter has been in my family for at least 70 years. It has a Weaver G6 that works very well.

I know very little about this rifle, it is a bit modern compared to most of my guns. I don't see a model number on it. Can anyone identify the specific model and age? Thanks.

[Pressman]

ndnchf, do a search for Savage Model 19. They are nice rifles and have some value today.

[ndnchf]

Thanks - will do.