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