Getting a Savage Mark II Bolt .22lr

[janus408]

I am getting a practice rig for precision shooting. I am pretty much set up on the Savage Mark II bolt action .22lr (unless anyone here has some other recommendations).

I am looking at two models.

The Savage Mark II BV which comes out to $373 OTD.

And the Savage Mark II FV SR which comes out to $275 OTD.

I am leaning towards the FV SR not just because its $100 less, but I like the top rail mount. Now if this is an nonissue, and mounting on the BV is a better/the same option, I am less sold. But it seems like I get more gun with the Mark II in FV SR than the BV.

One concern I have is the 16.5 inch barrel on the FVSR vs the BV's 21 inch. Since I am going to be using this as a precision practice rig, am I better off with the 21 inch barrel? I will be shooting this thing primarily at 100 yards, with the occasional 200 yard when I drive an hour more to a range that offers it.

The FV SR comes with a fluted barrel and a threaded muzzle, but why would I need that on a .22lr? I feel like I would get laughed at for putting a muzzle device on a .22lr bolt gun... or is there a reason for it?

I will eventually replace the stock on this gun, probably sooner than later, so I feel like the extra $100 on the BV is mostly on the stock, which I would remove...


TLDR: Spending ~350 on a bolt .22lr to practice precision shooting at 100 yards, what should I get?


**EDIT: Mark II SV SR ordered! Anyone have advice for optics / bipod / accessories??**
I dont feel like it is worth spending the money on a Harris for a little .22lr, but at the same time, I will be moving to a .308 before too long, so maybe it's worth the investment? If not, what is a sub $50 bipod you guys would recommend?

[ThatFishGuy]

I have the FVSR and would make the same choice again. I read an article comparing the two and the chrono results showed that there was virtually no difference in velocity between the barrel lengths. Id give you a link but unfortunately I cant remember the source. The EGW rail makes scope mounting a snap and personally I like the threaded muzzle, even though a brake isnt really necessary on a .22 lr lol. If anything, the $100 you save will help cover the cost of a stock and the shorter barrel makes it light enough to actually walk around with should you ever want to shoot rabbits or the like.

[evolution1974]

If you are set on a Savage then go for it. I hear they are very good shooters. Unless you plan on using iron sights, the longer 21" barrel would not necessarily be considered an advantage over a 16.5" barrel.

As for the barrel, there's nothing wrong with it being threaded. Just leave the thread cap on it if you don't want to add a muzzle device. My CZ 452 Ameican has a factory threaded 16" barrel and I just leave the cap on with no muzzle device.





Here are some 5 shot groups at 50 yards using Federal AutoMatch. Just keep in mind that it is difficult to get consistant sub 1" five shot groups at 100 yards using .22lr.

[GJC]

Saw your other thread, I am building pretty much almost exact what AR 15 barrels said in the other thread. My club range only goes to 300yrds, so I'm build a training rifle for practice and cheap shooting. I have a .243 on the way, only that ammo is alot more. Savage on the way and have Harris 6-9 bipod also.

Savage mkII, accutrigger, heavy barrel, harris bipod, boyds tacticool stock, Nikon buckmaster 4.5-14x40 and run wolf match ammo. Can't wait till I have it all done and start shooting.

[janus408]

Saw your other thread, I am building pretty much almost exact what AR 15 barrels said in the other thread. My club range only goes to 300yrds, so I'm build a training rifle for practice and cheap shooting. I have a .243 on the way, only that ammo is alot more. Savage on the way and have Harris 6-9 bipod also.

Savage mkII, accutrigger, heavy barrel, harris bipod, boyds tacticool stock, Nikon buckmaster 4.5-14x40 and run wolf match ammo. Can't wait till I have it all done and start shooting.

How was it putting the MKII in the Boyds stock?

And how do you feel about that scope on this rig for 100 yards?

[janus408]

If you are set on a Savage then go for it. I hear they are very good shooters. Unless you plan on using iron sights, the longer 21" barrel would not necessarily be considered an advantage over a 16.5" barrel.

As for the barrel, there's nothing wrong with it being threaded. Just leave the thread cap on it if you don't want to add a muzzle device. My CZ 452 Ameican has a factory threaded 16" barrel and I just leave the cap on with no muzzle device.

Thanks for the info man. May I ask what scope that is? Aside from a bipod that is the last piece I am missing for this, or so I think...

[janus408]

I have the FVSR and would make the same choice again. I read an article comparing the two and the chrono results showed that there was virtually no difference in velocity between the barrel lengths. Id give you a link but unfortunately I cant remember the source. The EGW rail makes scope mounting a snap and personally I like the threaded muzzle, even though a brake isnt really necessary on a .22 lr lol. If anything, the $100 you save will help cover the cost of a stock and the shorter barrel makes it light enough to actually walk around with should you ever want to shoot rabbits or the like.

This is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks man, ordering this thing now then.

[Surferchris1]

Hey, I posted in your other thread too. I'll share my personal experience with the Mark 2. What I liked, disliked, and what I'd do differently.

I bought a used Mark 2 TR-SR, liked the gun a lot but honestly wasn't that impressed with the Boyds tacticool stock. It's a nice shape, and looks cool, but the wood mine was made out of felt really soft and kinda cheap, especially considering how thin certain parts of the stock are, and how little surface area comes in contact with the action. I tried bedding it, but I still wasn't happy. Other people seem to like them though, so maybe I got a bad one. If I were to do it again here's what I'd do.

Order a Mark 2 FV, yea the bottom of the line one. (They are $177 shipped at Buds), and you said you didn't need the threaded barrel and were probably going to upgrade the stock anyway. Then check out the Leopard Stock from Rhineland Arms ($130) I ordered one, and it's a huge upgrade from the Boyds, It's one nice hard solid piece of walnut. It's got adjustable cheek weld and length of pull, and a cool Accuracy International style. My one complaint is that the recoil pad is a little off center. I ordered the unfinished version so I could do some sanding and shaping to make it fit me better. Order a rail from DIP($40), or EGW you can get them with some MOA's built into it too, which I suggest. You can order the bottom metal from DIP too, and it's a good upgrade, but if you're going to do the Leopard stock the inletting is longer which gives you the opportunity to make a larger bottom metal to take advantage of the extra surface area. That's what I did, but if you're not feeling very DIY the DIP bottom metal will work well too. Either way you want to replace the stock thin bottom metal.

I ended up upgrading the stock, and rail, and I don't really care that much about the threaded barrel or flutes. I spent a lot of money on parts I ended up replacing, I should have just started with the FV model.

This is how mine turned out. I really have a lot of fun with this thing, mine really likes Wolf Match, and CCI Standard Velocity, but it also shoots Federal bulk better than I expected it to.

[evolution1974]

Thanks for the info man. May I ask what scope that is? Aside from a bipod that is the last piece I am missing for this, or so I think...

It's a Centerpoint 4-16x40 from Wal-Mart. It's a decent scope for the price.

[janus408]

There must be a bug going around, I just ordered the model 93 FV...6-1/2 days until I can pick her up. Have a Simmons 3-9x32mm rimfire scope to for now.

I almost got the Mark II FVSR but the magnum sounded more funner.

Hah I was looking at the Model 93 as well... I was talked into the .22lr over the mag or .17hmr because it would be more challenging at 100-200 yards. I dont know how much I am going to end up putting into this thing, but I do need a bipod and scope to start out with. There are so many optics choices its insane.

I know I want mildot with mildot adjustments. I am want, but am not stuck on, something that goes over 10x.

So that leaves me with 1,000 options instead of 2,000

[Kelster1574]

I have a FV-SR and a TR. They are both great rifles, but I would say the TR is definitely a more precision type build. It has a bigger, heavier barrel and stock than the FV-SR. Just my .02

[GJC]

Hey, I posted in your other thread too. I'll share my personal experience with the Mark 2. What I liked, disliked, and what I'd do differently.

I bought a used Mark 2 TR-SR, liked the gun a lot but honestly wasn't that impressed with the Boyds tacticool stock. It's a nice shape, and looks cool, but the wood mine was made out of felt really soft and kinda cheap, especially considering how thin certain parts of the stock are, and how little surface area comes in contact with the action. I tried bedding it, but I still wasn't happy. Other people seem to like them though, so maybe I got a bad one. If I were to do it again here's what I'd do.

Order a Mark 2 FV, yea the bottom of the line one. (They are $177 shipped at Buds), and you said you didn't need the threaded barrel and were probably going to upgrade the stock anyway. Then check out the Leopard Stock from Rhineland Arms ($130) I ordered one, and it's a huge upgrade from the Boyds, It's one nice hard solid piece of walnut. It's got adjustable cheek weld and length of pull, and a cool Accuracy International style. My one complaint is that the recoil pad is a little off center. I ordered the unfinished version so I could do some sanding and shaping to make it fit me better. Order a rail from DIP($40), or EGW you can get them with some MOA's built into it too, which I suggest. You can order the bottom metal from DIP too, and it's a good upgrade, but if you're going to do the Leopard stock the inletting is longer which gives you the opportunity to make a larger bottom metal to take advantage of the extra surface area. That's what I did, but if you're not feeling very DIY the DIP bottom metal will work well too. Either way you want to replace the stock thin bottom metal.

I ended up upgrading the stock, and rail, and I don't really care that much about the threaded barrel or flutes. I spent a lot of money on parts I ended up replacing, I should have just started with the FV model.

This is how mine turned out. I really have a lot of fun with this thing, mine really likes Wolf Match, and CCI Standard Velocity, but it also shoots Federal bulk better than I expected it to.

Thanks! looks like I will be buying this stock as well

[GJC]

Just purchased the Leopard Stock from Rhineland Arms

[JackRydden224]

That has got to be the sexist Savage MK II I've ever seen. Now I need to get one. I played with the AccuTrigger on a .308 today and it's awesome.

[TheDeej]

I imagine the threaded barrel is a much more desirable option when you live in a state that offers the freedom of suppressed .22's