Savage Sporter 23D

[eljay]

away from home base ATM, but memory says 4grns of AS30 (equivalent to red dot) behind a 115grn westcast pill. heaps of starline brass here, last lot i bought were $45/100 and they are nickel.

[Laurie]

If it's 1930s vintage, it'll have been fitted with a barrel internally dimensioned for 0.223" dia. bullets, Hornets originally using this size, not switching to the later 0.224" standard until after World War 2. Hornady used to sell its 22 cal Hornet models in both diameters, but I suspect that's finished now. Apparently, the single thou' difference did affect performance in this little cartridge with jacketed bullets, so keen early Hornet users would try to get the smaller size. It's less of an issue with cast bullets, although I always reckon you have to be a little bit of a masochist to shoot the frustrating .22 Hornet anyway, and a serious masochist to cast bullets for it.

[Sandgroper]

got one in .32-20, marked savage sporter, no model designation, no rear sight, but has a lyman SS peep fitted, accurate as, great bit of kit. protect the magazine with your life, they aint making them anymore!

The magazines are still kicking about - http://www.triplek.com/Products/id/38/grp/412/prd/1116/ for example.

[Sandgroper]

If it's 1930s vintage, it'll have been fitted with a barrel internally dimensioned for 0.223" dia. bullets, Hornets originally using this size, not switching to the later 0.224" standard until after World War 2. Hornady used to sell its 22 cal Hornet models in both diameters, but I suspect that's finished now. Apparently, the single thou' difference did affect performance in this little cartridge with jacketed bullets, so keen early Hornet users would try to get the smaller size. It's less of an issue with cast bullets, although I always reckon you have to be a little bit of a masochist to shoot the frustrating .22 Hornet anyway, and a serious masochist to cast bullets for it.

Yeah knew about the .223 barrels. The previous owner was using 35gn factory ammo to bash bunnies - which will do me.

Masochism! No, it's just that simple is boring and I like a challenge.

[eljay]

got one in .32-20, marked savage sporter, no model designation, no rear sight, but has a lyman SS peep fitted, accurate as, great bit of kit. protect the magazine with your life, they aint making them anymore!

The magazines are still kicking about - http://www.triplek.com/Products/id/38/grp/412/prd/1116/ for example.

from what i have researched, only the .25-20/.32-20 newley manufactured ones are available, BUT these are for the later model with the bottom release catch, also do not feed particularly well. hope to stand corrected, eljay.

[Sandgroper]

From memory the store I linked to, has two types of magazine for the 32-20 Savage 23.

[Sandgroper]

If it's 1930s vintage, it'll have been fitted with a barrel internally dimensioned for 0.223" dia. bullets, Hornets originally using this size, not switching to the later 0.224" standard until after World War 2. Hornady used to sell its 22 cal Hornet models in both diameters, but I suspect that's finished now. Apparently, the single thou' difference did affect performance in this little cartridge with jacketed bullets, so keen early Hornet users would try to get the smaller size. It's less of an issue with cast bullets, although I always reckon you have to be a little bit of a masochist to shoot the frustrating .22 Hornet anyway, and a serious masochist to cast bullets for it.

Question: If the Hornet is such a frustrating round to shoot, why is it still kicking about after 80 odd years?

[eljay]

From memory the store I linked to, has two types of magazine for the 32-20 Savage 23.

you are correct, early and late models advertised, my comment was for you not to lose your mag. as they do not make one for the hornet. sorry if i was not clear, eljay.

[Sandgroper]

From memory the store I linked to, has two types of magazine for the 32-20 Savage 23.

you are correct, early and late models advertised, my comment was for you not to lose your mag. as they do not make one for the hornet. sorry if i was not clear, eljay.

No worries, I thought you meant the '23 in general. TripleK and Numrich has Hornet mags in stock. I just have see if they'll ship to the UK and if so, will it be worth the extra cost?

[Sandgroper]

Took the 23D down to a mate's smallholding to check the zero after roughly zeroing it last outing and to do a bit of plinking.

Accuracy wise it might not be everyone's ideal but old S&B ammo and 75 year old rifle - I happy with it!

LH group 17mm (22mm edge to edge) @ 50m

RH group 22mm (27mm edge to edge) @ 75m