Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Combination Guns and Drillings Usefulness of the Savage 24?

For mixed hunting???

For those who have used them to take a mixed bag of game, please share you're experience and opinions...

I used to have a 22 mag over 410. I didn't use it for a mixed bag of game, but for shooting the same game under different conditions. I mostly used it as a squirrel gun. The rifle was great for when the squirrel wasn't moving and the 410 shotgun for when I missed with the rifle and the squirrel was heading for other parts. It worked pretty good, the selector was on the side and quick to operate. I used it in a similar way on a few rabbits.

I gave it to my son and he relined the barrel and chambered it for the 22LR, which is much more practical considering the game it was used on. I kind of wish he would let me have it back.

I had a 223 over 20ga and shooting it without a scope it worked well. I can no longer see iron sights and need a scope, IMO the savage sucks with a scope. The scope has to be mounted so high to clear the hammer and selector that that it is very awkward to use.

My 24 is a pretty beatup old 22 mag over 20. It wears a very expensive scope (an old, beatup 1-5X Simmons Whitetail Classic). It is one of the most useful guns I owne. She lives behind the kitchen door. I have not used it for much wing shooting. A few pigeons around the barn, and a bunch of starlings. I've shot a bunch of stuff with the 22WMR, groundhogs, foxes, rabbits, squirrels, rats, raccoons, possums, and some other stuff that didn't belong around the buildings. Some of the rabbits and squirrels have been with the shotgun while hunting, as well. The shotgun barrel shoots pretty tight, so you have to give stuff a little distance, if you want to eat it. I have yet to shoot a turkey with it. I think they are afraid of it. In Virginia where I hunt, I can't shoot a center fire on the ground, only from trees, so all my German guns can only be used from treestands. The old 24 gets a good bit of field time there, as well. I use it for both small game hunting, and calling varmints. Pretty handy.
Bfly

I have a 24D 22WMR/20 ga. I usede it stock for some time then got a hair to make a high quality campers companion out of it.I had the barrels shortened to 20" and put a Firesight front and a Williams peep rear on it.

The .22 WMR barrel is very accurate. The original full choke shotgun bore was pretty tight for short range stuff but a long range hammer.

In shortening the barrels most of the full choke was lost in the shotgun barrel. It did and still does shoot slugs very well. It hits point of aim and 3" left at 50 yards when using the 22 WMR sight in. I didn't like the full choke but I am going to send it out to get screw in chokes put in it as I like a modified better than the Cyl/I-C I ended up with.

I have used it on; Sage Rats, Grey Diggers, Grouse, Quail, Rabbit, Coyote and Badgers.

With it and my '06/.338 I am pretty well set around deer and elk
camp.

I have a bunch of 'em and think that they are useful, but as with any multi-purpose tool, it is generally good at a couple of things, but not great at anything.

I think that the 22Mag/20 is the most useful Savage 24 for small game and birds. If you have a 22LR in 22Mag chambered insert from MCACE, you can shoot good groups with 22LR ammo too. I think that the 223/20 or 30-30/20 are probably the most useful shooting larger animals, but most survival situations are less than 72 hours, so there probably isn't much call for shooting a deer.

If you're looking at Savage 24s, you should read Marshall Stantons article on www.beartoothbullets.com. Probably the best practical review of the Savage 24. Actually, almost everything that Marshall has written is pretty close to spot on. He wrote a particularly good daypack article too.

As I have written before my experience with one was poor. Trigger pull weight was about 9 lbs. AFTER the trigger had been worked over!

The stock on the one I had seemed to be designed for use with either iron sights or a scope. When I got a tight cheek weld to shoot the shotgun the comb came back and pounded the hell out of my cheek. Never could fire more than l or 2 20 ga. shells at one time without having a bruise on my cheek.

I would never buy another.

Jim

I've got a 24V .357/20. I bought it used in excellent condition. It came with high see through rings and a Tasco 4x32. The gun is being worked on. I haven't shot it much, but the see throughs work well. I can easily and quickly sight the shotgun through them. I'm 72 and need the scope for the rifle.

The barrels were not properly regulated. A 20 ga slug hit about 8 inches low at 30 yards. A very talented friend of mine has cut it to 18.5 inches, threaded it for chokes, reamed it to .357 Maximum, removed the rear sight, installed a shotgun bead front sight and is now regulating the barrels. I should have it back shortly.

I think it's going to be a very handy around the farm truck gun. Hunting, .38s loaded light for small game, Mags and Maxis for the larger stuff. The 20 ga. for grouse, snowshoes and squirrels in the woods. Slug and Maxi for hogs, deer, etc.

Pete

I have a .22/410 gauge with the plastic stock that has been in our family since about 1948, a .222/20, and an almost new .30-30/12 gauge. My best hunting buddy Ed Siemon has the .223/12 gauge.

These are, without doubt, VERY useful, very accurate weapons. Fur, feathers, deer, groundhogs, squirrels, rabbits, quail, phesant, perfect turkey gun - and as a survival tool - unsurpassed.

I load my .30-30 rounds for this rifle with 125 grain Nosler BT bullets and deer drop as if hit by lightning. What else can I say but the triggers all needed work but now break like the proverbial glass rod.

Terry

222 rem/ 20 ga

Took turkey with the 20 and the occasional coyote with the 222 that came looking for turkey.

I gave one with a nice straight stock, a very trim nice handling model in 20ga 3" and 30-30 to my best friend when he was moving to Alaska. He killed several moose with it and a Bunch of ptarmigan over years. The gun was well made with both barrels regulated fairly well. He later graduated to a Marocchi 12ga/308 BBF I gave him for his help surveying my property corners...and because he is a great friend.

Jimmy still uses the Savage 24 a lot and would never turn loose of it.

I would agree that they have simple triggers that tend to be on the heavy side.

I don't recall having my cheek bruised when shooting a Savage 24, but I've never shot a round of clay pideons with one. I do, however, recall how uncomfortable it was to shoot slugs from a Savage 24 Camper.

As far as I can see, the barrels aren't regulated, so getting both barrels to shoot to the same (approximate) POA is a matter of luck. My experience has been that the barrels on RF 24s generally shoot closer to same POA than do the CF 24s. I once had a 24V in 222/20 that would put the 1st cold barrel shot from the 222 in the 10-ring, but the subseqent shots could fall anywhere within a 6" circle with the same POA.

That is pretty much common in combination guns in general. It is one of the drawbacks. Best take careful aim that first shot.

Just noticed this form listing--DUH
I have a 24V with 5 barrels (222,30-30,357max,410/410,and I just bought a 223),the 24F with 2 barrels (30-30 and 223) and the 2400 series with 6 barrels (222,308,5.56 x 52R, 2-12/12 and a 20/20)
As you can see I love my savages
They really work well in cenral FLA-- when hunting from the buggy its like having 2 guns in your hands--buck jumps up near you and its shotgun time but he jumps up at a distance just go to rifle
Had my 12/30-30 in the turkey blind last weekend--no gobbler but theres one less bob cat

I have killed a greater variety of stuff with my 222/20 ga than any other gun I own, and don't mind if it gets scratched

I owned three, and tried hard to like them, but they were just built too cheaply for me. I got rid of them all.
Poorly regulated barrels, poor stock design, sticky extractor, poor sights, bad fit and finish, so-so accuracy.
I ended up paying substantially more for high quality German combination guns and am now satisfied. But Heym, Merkel and Krieghoff don't sell their stuff for a few hundred bucks.

I have the Savage/Valmet combo in 12ga / 308 win. I has killed several deer, wood ducks and squirrels. It shoots Win "0" buck like a turkey full choke. It is my favorite thicket gun. I find it very versatile

I've been looking for a Savage 2400 for a long time. Never can seem to find one. Anyone got any leads on one?

They're hard to find anymore. I had two back before the Valmet 412s came on the market. I sold both and ordered the 412 with several barrel sets...BIG mistake!

Those 2400s were trimmer and lighter guns. They also take the early Sako dovetail mounts, which cost much less than the big heavy 412 style mounts.

I'd like to find one in 12/308 myself.

there 2 for sale on gun broker right now---both a little over 1 day left

The reserves are too high. The top bid is the top limit of the market value, but it still didn't make reserve.

These don't take the 412 barrels and are what you get, albeit a great hunter's combo gun.

I have two 2400s, one in each caliber offered. The 12/.222 I bought new when a gunshop in northern Idaho went out of business in the recession of the early 1980s; got it cheap but that was the last gun I was able to buy for over 5 years! One of my favorite guns, bar none.

Advertised for another about a year ago here on the Fire, and was offered one by a gentleman in Plattsburg, NY who was retiring from deer hunting after many years. He sold me his excellent condition 12/.308 for a very reasonable price. Like may .308s, it is outstandingly accurate. Killed a nice CA boar with it about 120 yards last fall in Tehama County. One shot. Haven't used the shotgun barrels on mine except for snakes and a couple of blue grouse when I got bored in camp and two called coyotes with heavy shot. The IM choked shotgun barrels really do "shoot like a rifle;" if you use them for upland hunting you'll need spreader loads.

2400s ARE hard to find; the guys that have them won't let them go! And not too many were sold here, partly because some states won't let you carry a rifle while turkey (or deer in "shotgun-only states") hunting.

I've gotten some small game with mine; no wing shooting yet. It groups 3" brenneke's OK at 50 yards. I shot a round of trap with it and scored 7 or something like that.

I had a Savage 2400, 12/.308
It was reasonably well built and accurate. The only problem that I had with the design was that .308 chambering. It would have worked perfectly with a proper rimmed cartridge, but with the extractor having to jam sideways to grab the .308 case, I always found it clumsy to load and unload in cold weather with gloves on.
A gunsmith ruined it for me when I asked him to open the full choke to IC and he reamed it way off centre. I had all the choke removed then and sold it.

yes the 2400 only came in 222 and 308 under 12 BUT the model 330 (not 333) 12 and 20 (some but not all) barrels will fit the same reciever
and the valmet 312 22 HP over 12 will fit as well

I gotta try one of my 330 12 ga barrels on my 2400, just to see if it works.

Don't find the shotgun barrels as useful on the 2400 as I originally did because I need a scope now (ancient eyes....) and find it hard to shoot the shotgun barrel fast enough for upland hunting. But if I could take along the 26" IC/M barrels from my 12 guage 330, who knows?

Even with a Weaver 1x3 variable scope set at 1x, I find the scope slows me down with the shotgun barrel. De quails, dey looooong gawn....

I do put a slug in the shotgun barrel of the .308 version when hunting piggies, just in case one runs the wrong direction!

Hi Mike
I have 2 --12 ga O/U barrel sets for my 2400 ---one is a model 330 set and the other is a really gnarly 12 set from a valmet lion in full/full
they all fit my 2400

Yes, my 330 barrels fit my 2400 too, but I ended up selling them both.

I wasn't aware the Lion and the 330 barrels would fit the 2400!

That opens a lot of possibilities.

I have both a 330 and a Lion; I'll check both. Wish I had one of the 12/20 330 sets; I'd move the 20 ga onto the 2400 if it fit. Don't have one tho.....

there are 2 different 330 20 O/U sets and only 1 will fit the 2400 receiver
I got a 12/22savage high power gun --an old valmet--maybe a 312(?) with 2 triggers--and all the 2400/330 barrels fit it also

I have the 24F (?) in 223 / 12 ga that I mounted a bushnell scopechief 1.5 x 5 on it and had my gunsmith try to improve the trigger. The 223 shoots very well with sub 1" groups, but the 12 ga barrel shoots 4" low as seen through the scope.
My gun is used for shooting beavers on the farm to handle long and short shots. Sometimes I carry it predator hunting.
I don't have a lot of love for it, but its a handy truck gun when I go back to the farm and don't feel the need for a dedicated rifle or shotgun. Kinda wish I had a 20 ga / 22 for farm yard pests.

My first brush with them was in the '60s when my father and I carried a 22/20ga on a trapline. A red fox shot at close range with the 20ga when the 22 was expected is not a pretty thing.

Traded OlBlue out of a Hornet/20ga with a broken stock, and still need to stock it.

An old style 22/410 ended up here as part of a big trade.

I gave another 22/410 to a bush family with several young boys last fall. I hope it is getting worn out!

Traded away a 30-30/12ga because it would not shoot at all well.

So we go way back with them... a little clumsy, a little "rustic" maybe, and a lot of plain functional utilitarianism...

Here is a picture of my Savage M24 (22 mag/.410). It is almost 50 years old. It was my first gun ever. I killed my first groundhog and first rabbit with that sweet gun. Memories. A kid never forgets his first kills.

I covet that one!

Hunter1, is that a Weaver B6 on your 24? It looks loooooong!

Mesa. Yes, you're exactly right. An old Weaver B6. Bought it in 1964 when I got the gun.

I use my 24 (30-30/12 ga) when I hunt turkey's on family land in the South. The area is overrun with feral hogs, and the hog season runs year round. I have taken a nice turkey with the 12 Gauge, and if a hog comes in range I trust the 30-30 will be more than adequate.

I've had two of them. One was the 22/20 gauge camper model with the nice little case to carry it broke down. The other was the 24V in 222/20 gauge. Incidentally, the same friend managed to talk me out of both of them. I liked the the 222/20 gauge as a coyote calling gun, especially when I was hunting alone. I kept the 20 gauge stoked with copper plated BB shot and the 222 with 50 grain home swaged hollow points. It made a good calling rig. I used a Lyman 2.5 All American on it and had good success with it.

Mart

Cousin has been using his 12M / 20 gauge for squirrel to turkey for 45-50 years, it always works

Mine's ancient... Grandfather bought it before WW 2, at least that is what was claimed. I do know all of his guns were bought before I was born in 1952. It has no serial number on it..

It is a 22 LR over a 410. My grandfather loved to eat squirrel and rabbit more than anything else. The 22 on top is actually shot out. The 410 on the bottom, I think is one of the best squirrel guns ever. Within 25 yds you have a pattern the size of a garbage can lid, yet with light loads, you don't spoil any of the eating part of the squirrel... even seems to work with a hip shot if that is all that is offered..

squirrel moves when close, and the garbage can lid pattern, we'll hard to miss..

wood stock.. isn't pretty, but darn well does the job when asked of it..

back when 410 shells were real cheap, when I resided in MN it certainly was a fun gun to take afield... I am darn sure it has accounted for well over a couple thousand squirrels and rabbits..

I also love it because it is one of the few guns left in the family that belonged to my grandfather, who passed away way back in Nov 1968...

Tried a 330 12 ga. barrel on my 2400s. It fit the 12/.308 gun like it was made for it; was a little tight on the 12/.222 but fit with a little wiggling and some Break Free. Of course you need to use the 330 forend also, but it worked fine.

Tried the Valmet Lion 12 barrels on the 12/.308 2400 and they also fit like a glove, but the forend on my Lion has a different style forend latch, so that combo won't work for practical use.

Still wish I had one of those 12/20 330 sets, so I could try the 20 barrels on the 2400 12/.308. That would make a nice package for traveling; about all the guns you'd ever need!

Yes Mike I had to have my smith braze a new fore lug on the lion barrels to fit the 330 forend but those lion barrels were kinda gnarly so the look really didn't mater to me --they were full/full which I didn't have in my 330 12 O/U sets--funny though--the valmet 312 22 hi power/12 barrel fit the 330 fore arm perfectly
I got rid of my 2400 stock/reciever and only use my 330 reciever/stock for all my barrels

Cracker, I'm not familiar with the 312; never seen one. Was it made before or after the Savage/Valmets? Or was it marketed thru a different venue?

To return to the 24, I have a 24D in .22WRM/.410. Like most, the rifle barrel is very accurate. Unlike most, the .410 barrel shoots the little Winchester slugs very close to the POI of the scope when it is set for the rifle barrel, just at 50 yards instead of 100! Everybody thinks .410 slugs are puny, but the same guys will shoot a deer with a .357 revolver.... The main problem with .410 slugs is that the shotguns that fire them have no sights!

Mike I don't know the answer to those questions
It's marked Valmet made in Sweden on the bottom of the reciever and it's a double trigger gun
I was told it pre-dated the 412 series so they assumed it would be a 312
Russ at double gun has one for sale so you can see his pics at gunsinternational.com in the valmet section. He calls his a Lion combo