Savage model 24 rechambering

[Robinhood]

I have an itch for a combination gun and the Savage model 24. I can find several in .222 X 20ga I would rather have .223 X 20ga. Does anyone know a good gun smith, in the North sound, I live in Arlington, that can rechamber a .222 too .223. Thanks for any help

[Special T]

Do a search on here but I think the 222 case is of an incomparable design to rebore. I remember looking into it myself some time back.

[HawkCreek]

You can rebore it to .223 easy enough but you MIGHT run into accuracy problems. Most .222's would have had a slower twist rate than what is commonly found on .223 today. Depends on the gun and the ammo you intend to use.

[JimmyHoffa]

Do a search on here but I think the 222 case is of an incomparable design to rebore. I remember looking into it myself some time back.

I thought the .223 was designed off a .222 that they lengthened.  With a reloading press you can make .222 from .223 brass.

[Fl0und3rz]

The savage 24V I had was 1:12 or 1:14 and it did not care for my 55 grain loads, IIRC.  If I was going to bother, I'd try to see if I could get a new barrel.

[JimmyHoffa]

The savage 24V I had was 1:12 or 1:14 and it did not care for my 55 grain loads, IIRC.  If I was going to bother, I'd try to see if I could get a new barrel.

Put an insert and then rechamber.  What did you consider 'not care for'?  Reason I ask, is that the rifle design doesn't really look to be for precision.

[Jonathan_S]

as long as it clears the chamber, you'll be good with a rebore

[Fl0und3rz]

By not care for I could not get get decent accuracy with 55 grain.

[AWS]

I shoot a lot of combo guns, 24's have never been known for their accuracy.  Twist in the 24 222 should be 1-14 and is marginal for 55 grain bullets even more so if they aren't flat base soft points.  Rechamberring it to .223 will do nothing to improve it's accuracy as the 222 is technically a more accurate cartridge to start with.  First thing to try is using the shortest 55gr bullet(flat base semi pointed) if that doesn't work go down to a 50 grain(Rem factory loads a 50 gr SP).  In my 222's over the years the 52 grain Speer FB HP varmint bullet has always been very accurate and deadly on coyotes.

Remember your working with a rifle with a poor trigger, slow hammer fall, poor scope mounting system and lousy barrel support.  If you want to use this for big game sell it and look for one in 30-30/20ga.

[Special T]

@AWS is there a company that makes fairly accurate doubles? In standard US chamberings? That doesn't cost over $1k?

[AWS]

With some looking you can find Tikka's, Valmet's, Marrochi's(American Arms), CZ's, BRNO's in 222 Rem, 223, 22 Savage Highpower(.228 Bullets) for under 1K.  The best O/U combo guns will have two triggers(instant barrel selection), hammerless w/safety.

[AWS]

I left out the Biakal's/Rem Spartan and Zoli's.  Many of the ones I mentioned above come in big game calibers like the 7x57R and 6.5x57R 30-06 and 308 but they tend to be a little more expensive.

Don't shy away from some of the oddball cartridges if you are a reloader.  Rimmed cartridges are always a bettere choice in a combo gun as making an extractor to extract rimless cartridges is tougher, that's why you seldom see a DGR SxS in a rimless cartridge.  5.6x50R cases are readily available from Huntingtons, S&B imports 22 Savage Highpower(5.6x52R), ammo with 70 gr bullets.

Both my 5.6x50R/12ga by Bernardelli(hard to find under 1K) and my BRNO 22 Savage HP/12ga are sub MOA guns
 

[Special T]

So do you think it's just the hammer trigger setup that makes the savage a poor performer?

I have a 22lr 20 gauge savage that I love. Granted its not a long range shooter but I've been happy with it.

I can see how 2 triggers would improve quick shooting accuracy.

[JDHasty]

Leave it alone and just run 223 brass through a FL size die and you will have all the 222 brass and all the combo gun you will ever need. 

[JimmyHoffa]

So do you think it's just the hammer trigger setup that makes the savage a poor performer?

I think the way the barrels are joined contributes.  A full length weld/solder would probably be more favorable to accuracy.  Connect all the way or separate.  It would require a lot more time ($$$) and add weight though.

[AWS]

Valmets, Biakals and Marrochis have separate barrels with an adjustable impact support mid barrel and can be just as accurate as a joined barrel and barrel heating doesn't affect them as much as a joined barrel.  My Marrochi 222/12ga had separate barrels and would shoot sub MOA groups firing one after another,  my Bernardelli has joined barrels and will shoot sub MOA groups but I have to wait for the barrel to cool between shots.  Surprisingly my BRNO 22 Sav HP has joined barrels and shoots sub MOA groups much more rapidly than the Bernadelli, it also out weighs the Bernardelli by nearly 2 pounds.

Ergo metrically the Sav 24 really sucks with a scope as the scope has to be mounted so high so you can cock the hammer and select barrels that you can't get a good cheek weld to shoot it accurately and again it is very tough to get a decent trigger pull out of a Sav.  If your just going to use it with open sights to pot some small game it works just fine but if you plan to mount a scope and do some serious predator hunting it leaves a lot to be desired.

BRNO w/Nikon 1.25-4x20 getting it done





Bernardelli w/Weaver V-3



My old Marrochi/American Arms 222/12ga note split barrels with center adjustment.



I did own a Sav 24V in 20ga/223(original chambering) sorry no pictures, I didn't keep it very long.

No reason to try and make 222 from 223, brass is plentiful, even Lapua.  I've found that trying to size down 223 a pain in the butt well worth buying new.

You can buy good shooting 222 ammo for 50 cents/round and brass for 32 cents/pc.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/12517