I was at my local gun store the other day buying some cartridges and did a little slumming as I do in hardware, outdoors, computer, and boat stores before I leave. Happen to see a Savage Mdl. 24 .22/20 gauge up on the used rifle wall for $250.00 and a Federal Man belt holster for a 5-shot .38 with 4 inch barrel for $10.00 in the clearance bin.

I went home and hit the web for information. The Savage model 24 combo has a suggested retail price ot $598.00 dollars these days, and I had no idea that holsters were up in the $60.00 + range for leather (I can't help being old fashioned about some things even though I know there are better alternatives than leather.).

I went back the next day, offered $5.00 for the holster and bought it for my offered price. It looks brand new and is very dry, so I will have to get out my one pint can of military surplus neatsfoot oil that I bought about a million years ago and never seems to run out no matter how many boots, baseball gloves, and leather jackets I have treated with it over the years, and give it a good several coats of oiling. It holds my stainless steel Taurus 5-shot, 3" barreled, .38+P wheel gun very nicely.

I then asked to check out the Savage with my checkbook burning a hole in my right hand shirt pocket. Took it apart at the counter and noticed one dislike, and a couple of minor problems. It had not been cleaned, but that was not the dislike as it was clean enough to see good rifling and a good shotgun bore. The biggest dislike was that the receiver was made out of powdered die cast metal as so many steel guns and other things are these days. I am old enough to remember parts that were milled from solid billets of steel and the luster and strength they projected. My first Savage Mdl. 24 receiver of years ago was made of a billet of solid steel, and my nostolgia took a serious hit when I saw this one. I know the strength factor is not significantly less, but preception such as mine made Winchester return to milling solid billets for their Model 94 after losing market share from having gone to powdered die cast metal in about 1974. The other problem was a broken firing pin spring for the shotgun which they repaired on the spot. The loose firing pin had worn a groove on the shotgun extrator that peened metal into the shoulder groove for the shotgun shell rim. Some very excellent work on their part with a RotoTool put that in working order. They test fired it at their range and offered to let me test fire it, but it was too late as the passion of the moment had passed and my checkbook had cooled down.

That night on the web, while cruising the sites of some of the gun manufacturers, I found that Rossi Firearms of Brazil offers a 2-in-1 single shot rifle in .22 barrel with a 20 gauge shotgun barrel for a suggested retail price of $145.00.

Unless I find a really old Savage 24 in a .22/20 with a milled steel receiver in good condition for a reasonable price, it makes more sense to get the Rossi as it is also offered in barrels from .17 to .308, and 12 gauge, and I can live with a powdered die cast metal receiver in that low of a price.

If the Savage had been cleaned, the firing spring replaced, and the extractor ground properly before I saw it, I would probably have bought it despite my dislike for modern metallurgy in firearms. Folks!, if you are going to sell something that has to function in a certain way, fix it before you sell it or you may lose the sale.

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

For what it's worth, I'd say $250.00 was more than a little high for that used Savage.The price may go down if it sits in the rack long enough. One thing to consider is do you all ready shoot 20 guage? The 20 guage never seems to be as cheap as the 12 guage. $5.00 for a good holster is a steal !, I never pass by the "bargin bin" without looking.

X-ray Dave:

I have had 12 gauge and decided a long time ago, even when I was young and the body could take the recoil, that what I got in a performance edge from the 12 gauge was not worth it.

Besides, this is going to be primarily a long term storage item which will see little use except for occasional target and informal trap shooting and subsequent cleaning.

Here in Wisconsin, the little Savage 24 is a very popular rabbit & pheasant gun and a lot of fathers buy them for their children. You very rarely see one for sale as a used gun so the law of supply & demand prevails no matter what the used gun catalogs say.

I used to practice trap shooting with my old 24 and the sight assembly on the .22 barrel really threw me off a lot because I never shot as well with the 24 as I did with my Sears 20 gauge pump shotgun.

Bountyhunter

Ditto on the recoil. I have shot both in the field and much prefer a 20ga. to the 12ga. for this reason. If you try to shoot near vertical with the 12ga, you hit the ground about the time the target does.

You turned down a really fun gun. But then again, mine was only $75.00. The $250. 00 does sound a bit steep considering the repairs needed.

Also, that Rossi 2 in 1 you described has a .410 barrel available as well. I saw one at Sports Authority a few months ago.

Chris

Cthompson001:

Did you buy it at a gun shop or privately? Are they unpopular in in your area or was it in poor shape?

Like I said, I used to have one years ago when the barrel firing selector was a slide button on the left side of the receiver, and you are right that for its intended use, it is a neat little combo.

I have never been a .410 fan even though foot pounds of force for a slug are superior to a .44 magnum, and in a pinch, you can shoot 45 long Colt cartridges in a .410.

Bountyhunter

Sounds like they are popular in your parts. I learned to shoot with a .410/.22 savage that was my father's and I still have it. I have a friend that bought a 20 guage without realizing that the shells can be more expensive . He's would see all these great deals on 12 guage and complain.

X-ray Dave:

You're right about the potential price differential of 12 vs. 20 gauge guns as well as ammo costs.

All the sale fliers herabouts push 12 gauge and rarely mention 20 gauge, although that is starting to change.

For duck, geese, and other long range applications, the 12 gauge offers advantages, but for a rabbit and pheasant shooter like myself, I have been happy with the 20 gauge. Currently I do not own a shotgun or high powered rifle, just three .22 rifles and a small variety of handguns as target shooting at a range is what I do most of.

For the people that may feel a 12 gauge would still be a better bet than a 20 for small game hunting, let me recount a little hunting story. I went hunting one year with a friend and the little Brittany spaniel I had at the time for small game. My friend was slightly behind me and to my left, and the dog was slightly ahead of me to my right. We passed a little cover on my left and just before my friend reached that cover a pheasant exploded into flight. As I turned and brought my Savage to target, my friend had already made his shot. He hit the pheasant on the rise with a flu-flu arrow and brought it down. He got to the bird before the dog did, snapped its neck and put it in his game bag. Bottom line is no matter what the quantity of pellets, or the power behind them, if you don't get a chance to shoot, or if you shoot and don't hit, it doesn't matter what the ballistics say.

As an aside, my friends father was a national archery champion, and had taught his son from an early age the mastery of a bow, and in that one hunt with him I finally decided bigger, faster, farther, and harder hitting do not necessarily matter a whole lot.

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I can see where the 20 gauge would be nice for the rabbits. It could definetely be your work horse. A few years ago I got a "deal" on 16 or 18 boxes of shells. All were good 12 guage except for 4 boxes of 20 guage. I tried to get just the 12 gauge but the seller insisted that it was a package deal. We finally settled on a good price and in the end I passed the 4 boxes of 20 guage to my friend. He was happy for some free shells. was in wallmart last week and once again there was a really good deal on 12 guage.

Great story Bounty.
From an aspiring bow wingshooter,

Troy

Arrrgh! I've been trying to keep off this thread... I had a 24 .22/410, have a deluxe 24 .223/20, and wish I had purchased a couple of 24C camper models in .22/20 years ago when they were inexpensive and widely available...

I grew up with a single shot 20ga and harvested a truckload of game with it. It's most versitile feature was/is a factory option PolyChoke - bunnies in heavy cover were dialed wide open, of course. I was never handicapped by its gauge or lack of a magazine. Very lightweight and swings like a dream - nice balance.

But I've been using 12 gauges for the most part for about 25 years now. There is a potential difference if family protection against large critters is the reason for lugging it around - I greatly prefer 12 gauge for that. Hunting-wise I shoot neither better nor worse. Recoil is worse in the 20 ga single shot, by the way - it is far lighter than my 870 Wingmaster, side-by-side, or Berreta auto 12. But not so it bothers me a bit - I grew up with it.

I don't see any point in arguing the hunting merits of 12 vs 20 gauge - the gun and the gunner make the difference for the most part.

As for cost - Buy a case at a time and it's the same price (which means the 20 ga is more expensive in terms of cost per ounce of shot and grain of powder, but a case of shells is the same count in either gauge). At least, that's my experience here - and a case of shot gun shells is not all that many rounds nor is it all that expensive. Cheaper by the case at a gun store than by the bargain box price at Wally world - YMMV, of course, but check it out - buy a case after the last hunting season in the spring (turkey) and before they re-stock for the fall. Pay thru the nose in the fall, of course...

OK, I got that out of my system now...

Tom

wildcard163:

Troy, if I was that good with a bow, I might never touch a shotgun again. He had one big advantage in that his father developed my friend into the great shot he is. In my family, I am the only hunter and serious shooter although some of my family keep guns around in case Charles Manson ever breaks out (I will not say anything bad about Californians, I will not say anything bad about Californians, I will not (OUCH! I had to bite my tongue.).

Bountyhunter

AyersTG:

Tom, like Michael Corleoni who tries so hard to stay of the business, I am going to have to drag you back in.

What was so unique about the 24C camper models that you wish you had bought some?

Thanks.

Bountyhunter

Bountyhunter

They were/are sweet little things and the two I handled and fired in central Alaska were great - accurate with the 22lr, just right for out to 30 yards or so with the shotgun, and (bonus) better than average with slugs - quite good, actually. Not too heavy at about 6 1/4 lbs, 18" barrels (no choke), a simple buttstock trap for 2 shells and 10 lr, a factory case for the broken-down gun - well, the 24C was a dandy. They were extra sweet rigged up with a sling. Here, I'll let some pics give you an idea:

[img]http://www.beartoothbullets.com/images/tech_photos/Savage%2024%2022's%20Comparison.jpg[/img]

The little guy is the 24C, of course.





OK - wipe the drool off your keyboard, please.

I'd like to find a couple in good shape, but they are rare. Savage is missing out by not re-introducing these babies. These are a real back-packer's pot gun and better than sticking your arm down a bear's mouth. Only reason I didn't buy one when I could? It was the only Savage M24 at the time that had a 2 3/4" chamber instead of a 3". Stupid, I know - but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Tom

Tom:

It looks more promising than an M6, and if you buy a barrel insert for the 20 gauge, I understand you can shoot up to a 45-70 in Mdl. 24s.

A neat little bush gun for aviators or the trunk of a car with waterproof bagging and diseccant.

I went to the Savage site today, and it is totally screwed up. It didn't list the models they offer, and I couldn't download any of their catalogs. I hope the problem is their website and not my browser.

Hit up the web and was astonished to see how much attention the Mdl. 24 generates. I understand that they pay premium prices for them overseas, expecially in the .22/410 series. On line auctions are over the $220.00 US mark, with most above $300.00 US and up. Top break levers seem to be preferred over the side levers.

I used to have an HK4 pistol set in a box with all four barrels, magazines, etc. that I sold a long time ago. Recently I saw someone asking $6,500.00 for a worn HK4 set. It's a good thing my knees aren't jointed in the other direction as I would be kicking the crap out of myself.

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter,

The Savage site was working fine last night - the 24s are not easy to find on it, though.

As I recall, one of the 24C guns I remember did NOT have that snazzy factory zipper case - it had something like a felt bag with two "chambers" for the two parts of the broken-down gun. That one was a HUNTING gun, not a car gun - and it was a dandy for small game. It took ptarmigan and bunnies with monotonous regularity - 22 for stationary and 20 ga for running/flying.

Fast forward many years and my two younger sons team-performed the same function for us on trips, one carrying a single-shot Marlin 22 (15Y) and the other a Rem 870 Youth model 20 ga... a pair of 24C Savages would fit the role better...

BTW, ptarmigan were one of the reasons why I got rid of the 22/410 I had - it would not reliably drop a flying-away ptarmigan. About one of 5 would be a cloud of tail feathers and then I'd have to sneak up on a wounded bird... <shrug> I took more ptarmigan with a hot-loaded Ruger single action in 45 Colt than anything else anyway, because I always had that on me and it was easy to head shoot a sitting bird for lunch/supper.

The other M24C I remember was kept stowed in a Supercub in the type of case shown in the picture and I don't think it was used very often - pity. It was in the niche of "survival gun" for the owner of the airplane.

I really, really wish I had bought a couple of those... or 3 or 4...

Tom

Sorry for the delay in posting.

I bought it privately right after it was appraised at a gunshop. The owner didn't want to pay the consignment fee to sell it there.

As far as I know, they aren't common or popular arount here. I imagine that its because there are very few places to hunt with a rifle and state forests aren't one of them.

Mine has the selector button on the left too. I also think that the firing pin spring may be weak or broken but it still works with a rare misfire.

Chris

cthompson001:

From what I have read on the web, broken firing pin springs on the shotgun are a common problem.

One gentleman I talked to at the gunshop said he fixed his with a spring from a Parker pen ballpoint pen.

I would imagine any ballpoint pen spring with the right diameter will work. You have to cut off enough coils from the spring to hold the firing pin back, but you do not want to cut so many coils that the compressed spring keeps the firing pin from striking the primer.

Cut as long a piece as seems necessary, install it and put a piece of plywood against the receiver face to determine if the firing pin makes a deep enough indentation to effect a primer. If not, take the spring out and cut off part of the spring coil, reinsert the assembly and try it again until the firing pin makes a decent impression in the plywood yet is still held clear of the receivers firing pin hole.

I understand parts for the old left side selector are near impossible to obtain, so make friends with a good machinist just in case.

Good luck!

Bountyhunter