Savage MKII F model .22 Range Report

What a sweet rifle!

The prequels: http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/other-long-arms/389178-i-need-make-decision-evening.html
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/firing-line/389385-mix-n-match.html#post5143745

That trigger...I dunno, is this the standard for Savage? There is NO travel or take up before the trigger release. None, nada, zilch. I wouldn't call it a hair-trigger, my best estimate is about a 5 pound pull before that proverbial "glass rod" break. The only trigger I have experienced that is even nicer is a hunting rifle owned by my son that has a "set" trigger in addition to the main trigger. I have never operated a factory trigger like this on any other rifle, much less another .22.

The machining between the bolt and the barrel is something to which all bolt actions should aspire. Because I was sighting in a newly mounted scope (Barska 1.5-6x40) from a bench rest, I used slow and deliberate motions on the bolt between rounds (think of the shooting range scene in Jack Reacher with Tom Cruise and Robert Duvall.) I'd shoot, push the bolt handle up with my thumb, pull it back slowly, and always the empty casing would pop out and to the right with authority. I swear, I almost thought I heard it go, "Ping!" (It didn't.) Never a loose shell falling away from the bolt face forcing me to turn the rifle sideways to dump it out. Then slide the bolt forward to pick up the next round, pull the bolt handle down to lock it...magic. Not one fail-to-feed or fail-to-eject in 60 rounds.

Those were 60 rounds of CCI mini mag 40 grain copper-clad FMJ. I started at 25 yards for initial scope sight-in, then fine tuned it at 50 yards so that it centered left-to-right and 3 1/2 inches high at 50 yards. Normally I try to set scopes on my .22 rifles to bulls-eye at 100 yards, but my right eye correction has changed over the past six months so that even with the scope set at maximum magnification I could not see the target well enough to legitimize further adjustment at that range. I have an appointment with my optometrist next month, after which another range trip shall be required, darn it.

So now I have two .22 caliber rifles. My Remington Nylon 66 will never wear optics. It's a classic, open sight rifle from when I was (much) younger. It's almost a toy (as much as any firearm can be called a "toy") for plinking and introducing my grandchildren to the Wonderful World of Shooting. However, if ever I need a rifle to eradicate pests, put small game on the menu, or survive TEOTWAWKI, the Savage has proven itself fully able to do the job.