Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Savage NRA 19

I have an old Savage NRA 19 with the tiny receiver sight. It's very old. I'm old and it was my grandfather's so I know it's old.

The problem is the sight. Any problems taking this off and putting on a scope or some other fixed open sight? Suggestions?

Thanks

Is your rifle the full-length stock 1919 NRA version or the later 19-33 version?

Those rifles were all produced pre-WW2, so they didn't come factory d&t for scope mounts. If you want to replace the factory peep sight without d&t extra holes, the Lyman's #48Y is an excellent receiver sight, particularly good when matched with the proper Lyman #17 globe-style front sight.

You might get more and better responses in the Savage collectors' forum.

Thanks for the peep sight info and the Savage forum suggestion.

Full length stock.

That sight if an original is worth a little bit (some, depending on which one - there were several for that rifle, can push $250). If the gun is an unaltered NRA 19 then the entire rifle would have some collectors value.

260Remguy is spot on as usual.

PennDog

Once upon a time I was probably the biggest Savage 1919, 1922, 23 & 19 nut in the country. Even owned the 1 of 1 factory experimental 44-40 and all six variations of the 1919 target rifle

Mounting a scope is a bit tricky but can be done with no new holes. Brownells makes an aluminum rail that fit the Savage receiver contour on the bottom and the top is grooved for rings made to fit grooved receivers. When you remove the peep sight you have two factory holes in the receiver. I don't recall the size and thread pitch but the front one is something odd. You need to drill and countersink two holes in the Brownell's rail and get matching (longer) screws to hold it on. Loctite is a good idea. Then you can get 1" rings made to go on a grooved receiver and put any 1" scope you wish. I even had a 4X scope on the 44-40 which was accurate and recoiled a bit. It never shot loose.

The only one I kept after I was bitten by the pre WW I 03' bug, was a late 23D (checkered) in 22 Hornet ANIB.

Here's Larry 30 years ago exhibiting at the Rochester NY gun show where I took 1st prize ($300). 44-40 is at lower right.

Is the serial number on the back of the receiver, where the bolt slides into the rifle? A lot of people don't know that they were serial numbered 'cause the numbers are so small and in an unusual place.

LostArra,
I wouldn't D&T. use the Brownells' base if still available for a scope.
These are interesting old rifles. The barrel and receiver are 1 piece.
These were an inspiration for the Win. 52. Winchester looked them over and then came up with a winner.
Best,
Cisco

Early ones were on the back (I showed the folks at Cody that as they thought they had no serial #s) Later ones were on the left side opposite the ejection port.

This the current version, you'll probably on have to drill one hole in the base for the small screw 4/40 sticks in my mind but check it out.

http://www.brownells.com/optics-mou...e-bases/dovetail-scope-base-prod385.aspx

best, Larry

Thanks to all for the helpful info.

I'm having second thoughts about changing anything.

My grandfather was a squirrel assassin with this gun, so maybe I just need to spend a little more time with it especially after the ordeal of finding a magazine for it.

Here is the sight:

I vote for keeping as is for many reasons - greatest reason is it was your grandfathers! and to boot it looks to be in good shape.

Thanks for sharing and go turn it back into the squirrel rifle your grandfather used it for - he would be proud!

Just my 2 cents worth,
PennDog

If, like me, your eyes are not what they were at 16, and you can scope a classic rifle w/o adding new holes etc., it makes good sense as well as being a much better squirrel rifle.

Case in point, my 41 Swiss centerfire with a 2-7 IER Burris, using a 94-22 Weaver base. It is put on with JB Weld that is rock solid and can easily be removed with a heat gun leaving no trace.