Whats the difference in Savage 219 and 220 actions/barrels??

[mikenbarb]

I have a Savage 219 combo in .22 Hornet/12ga. & a 220 in 30-30 and two Savage 220A's in 20 gauge and im wondering what the difference is in the actions. I have a lonely 20 gauge 220A(Not a 220) action and I want to put one of my spare 30-30 barrels on it. I took apart the 3 different actions and see no difference between them and im wondering if its safe to put a 30-30 barrel on a 220A 20 gauge action? It fits great and locks up nice and tight and the action has a smaller firing pin in it that should be ok for centerfire cases. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Mike

[fixit]

i'm no authority, but what little i've seen on the subject suggests that they should be interchangeable. the numrich web site sells barrels for the m 94 series shotgun and lists the 219/220 as acepting these barrels. not sure about the suitability for c-fire though! biggest issue i would see is proper headspace.

[mikenbarb]

Thanks fixit. Headspace typically isnt a problem because its a single barrel that just closes flush on the receiver and they all have a pretty loose fit till you fire form the brass. I have a few 219 & 220 centerfire/shotgun combos on the proper receivers but I have a spare 30-30 barrel and 220A shotgun receiver and I want to put together another 30-30 CB single shot for my kids to shoot. Their actually pretty accurate and fun to shoot(Plus they hold their value great).

[pietro]

There are different versions, and all barrels are NOT interchangeable.

There are Model 219;s, 219B's 219C's & 219L's. The Model 220 has a similar, but non-identical progression of improved models.

The earliest 219's & 220's were striker-fired, and were recocked by the opening action of the top lever, which incidentally released the barrel lock so the barrel could be swung open, and the shell ejector tripped off.

Any early or later 219/219B/219C/219L/220 rifle or shotgun barrel will fit and operate just fine in the early 219/220 guns.

Then, Savage changed the internal design, from a striker to a concealed hammer - which the operation of the top lever no longer was able to recock.


Soooo, on all subsequent models, there is a cocking lever inside the front of the action body, which lies alongside the barrel's locking lug when the gun is closed, or in the firing position.

The cocking lever/arm is raised, re-cocking the gun, only when the barrel is swung open (not by the top lever opening) - by a spring-loaded stud located in the side of the later model's barrel's locking lug(s).

These guns are the 219B/219C/219L, and later 220's.

These later guns ergo require also a later barrel, WITH the cocking lug - which is absent on earlier barrels.

The early, no-cocking lug barrels will not recock the later guns - burdensome, to say the least.

The easiest way to check YOUR gun, is to remove the barrel and peek inside the right side action wall, to see if it has a cocking lever there.

If it has one, the gun needs a barrel with a cocking stud.
If it has none, the gun can use any barrel.

Within the barrel interchange limits, defined above, any 219 or 220 in good/serviceable condition is safe with any other 219 or 220 barrel in good/serviceable condition.

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[mikenbarb]

Thanks Pietro. All of my 219's and 220's have no action cocking stud and their all cocked by the top release lever prior to opening the barrel. Their all older models before the firearm serial number requirements came out and I believe their all from the 50's sometime??? Its amazing how accurate the old Savage's shoot plus they were built tough as nails.

[Lucky Joe]

Mike,

If you don't mind me asking a question. I have a nice Savage 219-B in the .22 Hornet on the way. I'm wondering what boolit you are shooting, I'm anxious to try her out, I had my choice between a Ruger Hornet and this Savage. Looking forward to trying her out, but the only mould I have right now is the RCBS 22-55-FN.

Thanks,

[mikenbarb]

Joe, That mold will be fine. Im using a Hensley & Gibbs #11 and a Lyman 225415. Im shooting both over 4.1gr Unique and 4.0gr SR-7625 with great accuracy. Im using Lyman #2 alloy sized to .224dia, The old Ideal black lube with the old style Ideal brass GC's. That combo seems to work best in my 219. Im avaraging around 2.5-3""@100yds on a bad day.

[Lucky Joe]

Mike,

Thank you for answering my question, I apologize I didn't know of the tragedy in your home until after this post. Thank you again and best to you and your family.

[pietro]

[Their all older models before the firearm serial number requirements came out and I believe their all from the 50's sometime???]

The first Savage 219 (no model suffix like "B", etc) was introduced in 1938, and IIRC, the 220 shortly afterwards, either that year or the next.

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