New Savage Mark II 22 Long Rifle Bolt-Actions with Threaded Muzzles

 

by Jeff Quinn

photography by Jeff Quinn & Boge Quinn

July 29th, 2010

 

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Savage Mark II TRSR (left) and FVSR (right).

 

 

Tactical Solutions cascade sound suppressor.

 

 

Primary Weapons Systems muzzle brake.

 

 

Rifles come with thread protectors.

 

 

 

 

Barrels are free-floated on both rifles.

 

 

Savage's marvelous AccuTrigger.

 

 

Rifles come with scope bases attached.

 

 

Leupold 8.5-25x used for accuracy testing, with rifles rested in a Target Shooting, Inc. Model 500 rifle rest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savage Arms produces some of the most accurate rimfire rifles available. For many years now, their Mark II has been available as one of the best 22 Long Rifle bolt actions on the market. Available in low-priced entry level rifles all the way to premium target guns, the Mark II covers just about any bolt action 22 need. For those who like the magnum rimfires, the Savage Model 93 has that covered in both 22 magnum and 17 HMR, with well over two dozen different variations, more than any other rimfire magnum manufacturer of which I am aware. Likewise, Savage has at least twenty variations of their bolt action 22 Long Rifle available. This review deals with two of their latest. Made exclusively for distribution by Lipsey’s of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, these Mark II bolt action rimfires are built just like Savage’s other Mark II rifles, but with threaded muzzles to accept muzzle brakes and sound suppressors. 

Muzzle brakes have long been used on centerfire rifles to attenuate recoil, but until recently, had not often been used on rimfire rifles. However, even on a 22 Long Rifle, a muzzle brake can lessen the movement of the rifle upon firing, allowing quicker target acquisition and also allow the shooter to more easily see the impact of the bullet upon the target.

Still, an even better reason to have a threaded barrel on a 22 rimfire is to easily attach a sound suppressor; commonly referred to as a silencer by many. On a rimfire rifle, a sound suppressor can attenuate the recoil and noise signature to that of an air rifle. On a semi-automatic, using target velocity ammunition, the noise made by the operation of the action is louder than the report of the rifle firing. On a bolt action such as those two shown here, there is no noise made by the action, just a soft report of the rifle firing.

Savage has two very different variations of the threaded Mark II; the Mark II FVSR and the Mark II TRSR. Besides the obvious differences in barrel length, They share the same Mark II action with that superb AccuTrigger. Just as the AccuTrigger changed the world of triggers available on bolt action centerfire rifles a few years ago, the addition of the AccuTrigger into the Savage rimfire line has greatly improved the trigger feel and practical accuracy of the Savage bolt action rimfire rifles. An accurate rifle is a system, and depends upon a quality barrel and action, along with quality ammunition. In addition to that, however, there must also be an accurate method of sighting the rifle; either good mechanical sights, or preferably for me, a quality scope. With all of that, if the rifle does not have a quality trigger, the shooter has a very hard time of making the most of the accuracy potential built into the rifle. The Savage AccuTrigger allows the shooter to take full advantage of the mechanical accuracy built into the rifle, with its crisp two and one-half pound pull. The AccuTrigger on these rimfire rifles can be adjusted from a low of two and one-half up to around six pounds, for those who prefer a heavier trigger pull, for whatever reason. For me, the AccuTrigger is one of the best advancements in the firearms industry of the last decade. The AccuTrigger has forced most makers of centerfire rifles to improve their triggers to compete, but so far, rimfire rifle makers mostly have not followed suit, leaving Savage to offer one of the very few good triggers available on rimfire rifles today. Even while leading the industry in the variety of models offered and innovative components such as the AccuTrigger, Savage rimfire rifles are still priced below most of their competition.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Instead of just offering a threaded barrel on their top-of-the-line rimfire, Savage has built two models; one near the bottom and the other near the top of their price schedule. Both are superb rimfire rifles, and it just comes down to personal preference of what the shooter or hunter wants. A comparison of the two rifles is in the chart below. Linear measurements are listed in inches. Weights are listed in pounds and ounces. Trigger pull is listed at minimum setting. Both rifles have black synthetic stocks and matte black metal finishes, with the FVSR being more of a satin blued, not as dull as the TRSR. Both come with scope bases already attached.

  Savage Mark II FVSR Savage Mark II TRSR
Weight 5 pounds 5 ounces 7 pounds 10 ounces
Trigger Pull 2.3 pounds 2.5 pounds
Barrel Length 16 inches 22 inches
Barrel Diameter 0.8 inches 0.8 inches (fluted)
Magazine capacity 5 rounds 5 rounds
Bolt Handle Standard Tactical / Target
Sling Studs 1 fore, 1 aft 2 fore, 1 aft
Butt Pad Plastic Synthetic Rubber
Scope Bases Attached Attached
Length of Pull 13.5 inches 14 inches

Either of these Savage rifles would serve well as a varmint gun for use in areas where noise would be detrimental to the rifle’s use, such as in a suburban or urban setting. While it might be legal to fire a rifle in your back yard, in some areas, this might be disturbing to your neighbors, and they would probably call the law. There are many vermin and pests that sometimes need to be eliminated in a community, and a sound-suppressed rimfire would draw no unwanted attention at all. Besides that, it is just polite to go about as quietly as we can. Just as we have mufflers on our vehicles, a muffler for the rifle is a good idea.

To me, when I first heard of these new threaded Savage rifles, I immediately thought “Squirrel Rifle!” Squirrel hunting is one of the simpler pleasures of the hunting world. Most of us, no matter where we live, are not too far from a squirrel population, and can slip out to the woods for a squirrel safari without a lot of preparation or planning. No need to book a guide, no need to update the passport, and no great expense required. Squirrel hunting is a relaxing type of hunting, and a type of hunting for which I should take more time, as I believe most of us should. Sitting under a tall hickory or white oak on a cool Fall morning, watching the woods come to life as the first light of the sun slips into the woods through the lessening canopy of colored leaves, it just does not get any better. However, popping that first gray squirrel usually means either waiting a long spell before another target appears, or moving to a new spot. With a suppressor on the end of the barrel, the sound is minimal, and does not disturb the order of activities in the woods. A hunter can sit in the same spot until he bags his limit or the game supply plays out.

Testing the two Savage rifles for accuracy, I mounted my Leupold 8.5 to 25 power target scope, to see just how accurate these rifles could be. For hunting, a scope of less magnification would be best in the woods, but the target Leupold would be ideal for ground squirrels in the open. Both rifles were, as expected, very accurate. I fired both with an assortment of high velocity hunting ammo and with standard velocity target ammo. The suppressor that I used was the excellent little Tactical Solutions Cascade model. This suppressor is as quiet as any that I have tried, and is very affordable. Made in Boise, Idaho by a great bunch of folks, the Cascade is very efficient, greatly reducing the sound signature of the 22 Long Rifle cartridge, yet weighs only eight ounces. I also checked for velocities from both rifles, with and without the can attached, and the velocities recorded were within just a few feet-per-second, with either rifle. The longer barrel had no velocity advantage, and I also noted no change in velocities with or without the can. All velocities, in either mode, were within the normal variation of the ammunition. Accuracy was also not effected by the suppressor. If anything, the accuracy improved slightly with the can attached, but the difference was so little as to be inconclusive. Accuracy was checked at fifty yards by shooting five-shot groups with each type of ammo tested, with and without the suppressor attached. I rested the rifles in a Target Shooting, Inc. Model 500 rifle rest for absolute stability. Accuracy was superb. Every group fired measured less than one inch across, center-to-center. While all ammo had the sound signature reduced enough to make shooting without ear protection pleasant, the quietest ammo was naturally the target grade Wolf and PMC, but even my favorite hunting ammo, the Winchester DynaPoint, was both quiet and very accurate from the suppressed rifles.

Sitting here in late July, the Tennessee squirrel season is still a month away, and I always wait for cool weather to set in before hunting them anyway, so I could not take the Savage rifles hunting. There are some beaver that need killing nearby, and I will likely give that a try in a few days. When I do, I will take the FVSR with me, with the Tactical Solutions can attached. I also like the TRSR, but the FVSR is over two pounds lighter, six inches shorter, and a whole lot handier. It is also about one hundred and fifty bucks cheaper, so I will be keeping that one. Both are really nice, and that target style stock on the TRSR is really comfortable to shoot off the bench, but if forced to choose, I will take the FVSR.

Check out these and other fine firearms online at www.savagearms.com.

As stated above, these two rifles are only available from a Lipsey’s firearms dealer. For the location of a Lipsey’s dealer near you, click on the DEALER FINDER at www.lipseys.com.

If your favorite dealer is not a Lipsey’s dealer, have him to contact Lipsey’s at 1-800-666-1333 to correct that problem.

Jeff Quinn 

 

For a list of dealers where you can buy this gun, go to:

 

 

 

 

Safety.

 

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Click pictures for a larger version.

 

Savage TRSR.

 

 

Savage FVSR.

 

 

Steel magazine holds five rounds.

 

 

Striker cocked (top) and uncocked (bottom).