Savage 340 .222

[richhodg66]

Looked at one that showed up in a local shop today that was the cleanest 340 I have seen since they stopped making them. Darn thing looked new and had a Weaver K4 mounted on it.

I have to admit to being an admirer of these little rifles. I have one in .222, it's been restocked at some point and has what I think is a slightly heavier barrel than most of them did. Debating whether I need another one or not.

[labradigger1]

As the owner of one and the fool who let another one go, I say buy it. I have yet to see one of those ugly rifles that won't shoot clover leafs.

[maxreloader]

My 340 in 22 Hornet is one of my most accurate/favorite rifles. I lucked out buying it... grandkid was selling grandad's "deer rifle" lol... the shop owner looked at him like he had 3 heads. I winked and nodded at the rifle on the counter so the shop owner knew I was interested in it. He took it in trade and I bought it not even 60 seconds after that. It shoots circles around my 34D and my CZ 527 American both also in 22 Hornet.

[richhodg66]

My Stevens 322 (same rifle) in .22 Hornet shoots very well with the loads I have shot in it, but they are all rimfire equivalent cast loads. Been thinking lately about giving some jacketed bullets a try (I know, I know) just to see what the rifle is capable of at 100 yards.

My .222 could use a better trigger, but still shoots pretty fast cast loads accurate enough for most hunting. I might have to go trade something for that .222, couldn't believe how pristine it is. Even the bore was clean as a whistle and it looked like it might have been glass bedded, but they did a very good job if it is. Seems to have been owned by someone who knew his stuff.

[koehlerrk]

My Dads favorite woodchuck rifle was his old 340 in 222. Wonderful memories growing up. I acquired one with a buggered up barrel a few years back. Someone tried to rechamber it as a 223, and they succeeded in ruining the barrel.

Finally got figured out what to do with it,and dropped it and a take off 243 barrel to my smith. Gonna make me a 6mm-223... We'll see how the old gal responds.

[tdoyka]

i had a m340 that was in 222. i got it years ago for $100. i think that it got a new stock(curly maple) and it definitly needed a new scope. i took it home and then i disassembled it. "what a piece of junk" i said. i about put it in the closet, but i didn't. i put on a new scope and i bought dies. a few weeks go by and i said i might as well take the 222 out. after i shot it 5x's(100 yards) i go up to the target. i can't believe it! i shot a 1/4" at 100 yards!!!! no, i must have made a mistake. i put up a new target and then i preceed to shoot it again. after 5x's i go up to the target and it does another 1/4" at 100 yards!!! i loved that gun! i don't know how many rounds the m340 did before it came to me, but i did 50gr hornadys, speer, seirra... thru it no more than 8000 times. then it began to lose accuracy. i did shoot it another 1500+/- times but finally it had to go. the barrel was just shot out. there are some shots that i can't believe i did. i should have found another to rebarrel it to 222.

[Harter66]

I like the 1 I load for a lot ! I liked it so much I snagged a 325 in 30-30 .
I just went out and shot the 222 . The NOE 225-55 @ 62gr runs 2670 and an inch , I don't shoot cloverleafs . It sure is fun to pop rocks on demand .

[kbstenberg]

Richhodge last year I found a 325 just like your 340. Pawnbroker buddy new I would be interested. And I was. Got it for decent price besides.

[richhodg66]

They're asking $299.99 for this one, but it's been there a month. Normally that would be high for a 340 but this one is nice and that Weaver K4 is a good scope. I may have to gather up something I'm not shooting much and do some trading bargaining.

[MT Gianni]

I like the 1 I load for a lot ! I liked it so much I snagged a 325 in 30-30 .
I just went out and shot the 222 . The NOE 225-55 @ 62gr runs 2670 and an inch , I don't shoot cloverleafs . It sure is fun to pop rocks on demand .

May I ask what powder you are shooting with it?

[Harter66]

H322 . 19.0
Hornady copper checks .
75-25 WW-1/20 WC .
Winchester Brass .
CCI SM rifle standard .
24" bbl .

Lee data says that is full jacketed speeds at lighter charges .
My 2nd Chrony has checked same loads against readings from the 1st Chrony . They are consistently 200 fps faster than data with 30 cal but very close to data with pistols and 35+ cal . So take it for face value .

[tazman]

Looked at one that showed up in a local shop today that was the cleanest 340 I have seen since they stopped making them. Darn thing looked new and had a Weaver K4 mounted on it.

I have to admit to being an admirer of these little rifles. I have one in .222, it's been restocked at some point and has what I think is a slightly heavier barrel than most of them did. Debating whether I need another one or not.

I had one of those back in the early 70's. Excellent shooter. It was the first rifle I hand loaded for. I use a Lee whackamole setup and it worked fine. That started most of my bad habits.

[kmrra]

that is one of the first 222 that I ever bought , great little guns

[izzyjoe]

I had one in 222, but sold it when I was younger cause I was told it is to small for deer hunting. Wish I had it back, cause it shot pretty well. I now have a 722 Rem in 222, that is a dream to shoot, I've yet to shoot cast in it, but the 52 A-max does very good.

[richhodg66]

The 722 in .222 is, of course, legendary. A family friend when I was growing up was a farmer and only hunted with one rifle, a 722 in .222. He had other guns, but they were toys to him, the 722 did the heavy lifting. He was a phenomenal field shot with a rifle and killed a lot of deer with it every year (the season in low country S.C. is very long), was strictly a meat hunter and had lots of opportunities so only took perfect shots at the base of the skull. In the right hands, that 722 is a deadly tool.

[atr]

I passed up a 340 in .222 and am kicking myself that I did so. Though about it over-night and went back the next day to buy it and of course it was sold.

[Isaac]

About 3-4 years ago I decided a needed a .222. I couldn't afford the asking prices on the 788's & 700's I located. One day I stopped by a shop about 40 miles from home. They had a Savage 340 with an old Japanese made Tasco 4X. After a bit of haggling was able to pick it up for $199. About two months later I was at a gun show and located a Savage 110 with a wood stock in .222. No haggling on that one. I happily brought it home for $300.

Isaac

[Texas by God]

The later ones were kinda pretty. I wanted one of the rare .225 Win. ones. I did own a Hornet and a 30-30 but they were sold to pay bills or something stupid. Good guns! Best, Thomas.