Savage 219. Trash or Treasure?

[mannyrock]

Dear Guys,
 
   I have been thinking about a Savage 219, as an entry level .22 Hornet rifle.
 
   In looking through lots of message boards, old timers seem to rave about how wonderful these rifles were (or are), but I swear that in almost every posting, the persons says that on one or more occasions, he broke off the firing pin. (What's THAT about.)  And, that several years ago, he eventually sold it.
 
   I think these rifles may be treasure, but only when compared to the roughly made, problematical Handi-Rifles.
 
    Any comments or experience in these issues?
 
   Can you get replacement firing pins for these Savages?
 
Thanks,  Mannyrock
 
   

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  manny, I never owned one of these , but a pal has two one in a 16 ga. and .30-30, and one in a Hornet...He loves  both..no problems in the 40 some years he has owned them..both are very nice weapons....

[scratchmark]

I bought one in a pawn shop several years ago that had been brush painted black. Once I got all the paint off , I realized why it had been painted. Just down right ugly. Roughest looking barrel on the outside yet it had black walnut stock. Once put back together, I took it to the range with some 22 hornet hand loads and proceeded to see what it would do. I was amazed at how accurate it was, putting all 3 1st shots within a half inch. I carried it everywhere . As things go, I got some new toys and traded it off. I've regreted it ever since. I've tried to get it back, but the new owner won't part with it . Smart man

[flaflash]

manny check e-gunparts .com for parts--I think the savage 24 series,94,242 and 219 may all use about the same firing pin or be so close as to be able to modify to fit what is needed and be done very easily--as for the 219 I'm a 24 guy myself but the whole series are just great guns for fun

[mannyrock]

 
Hey Guys,
 
   I was at a huge gunshow last weekend.  A guy had a Savage 219, with the delux stock, that had been totally refinished and reblued.  The rifle was beautiful except, for reasons I can never imagine, it wore an ugly, rotting, corregated, red, recoil pad.  Besides being cut for the pad, there were two other issues.  I could see that there was a crack in the stock, just behind the action, that had been repaired (nicely), and the case colored receiver (having been re-blued) was a pink copper color.  All in all, though, the rifle was totally tight and looked pretty good.   
 
  It came with a .30-30 barrel, and a 12 gauge barrel.  His price tag was $325.  Alas, I only want a .22 Hornet.
 
   Five minutes before this 3 day show closed, he hunted me down in the aisles and said I could have the entire thing for just $200.  (He was desperate.  I could have probably gotten it for $175.00)
 
   I thanked him and declined, since I just want a Hornet.
 
   A few days later, though, I am kicking myself.  I think I could have sold the two barrels for about $75.00 each on the internet, and kept the rest as a spare-parts set for a Hornet if I ever find one.  (All parts are the same except for the extractor.)  Heck, new firing pins are $20, and a delux stock (with great checkering) is almost impossible to find.  Just the plain ones are over $100.
 
  Regards,  Mannyrock
 
 
 

[flaflash]

always go for the deal at the show--I had to drive 200 miles to correct my "passed up" error and was darn lucky to do it

[Flash]

These are fine single shot rifles. I happened upon one a few years back with a 25-20 barrel that was rechambered to 25-35 and it came with a model 220 20 gauge barrel and a 30-30 barrel. I got everything for $150 and doubled my money. They are considered to be extremely good rifles and are hard to come by. I just saw one the other night for $175 in 30-30 but it had a sold tag on it. It was a later one with the side break open lever and a maple stock but still, a 219. You won't go wrong if you can get it for a fair price.

[Mike A.]

I'd say Savage 219/220s are pure gold, although I don't like the last ones they made with the ugly birch stocks and sidelever opening. ( But they work fine).

When you buy a 219 or a 220, the first thing you need to do is buy or make a snap cap in the caliber or guage  you have.  If you snap/dry fire the gun with an empty chamber, you WILL break the firing pin, maybe not the first few times, but soon.

Replacement pins are available, sure.  But replacing them is a real pain, and if you can't do it yourself, a gunsmith will take forever doing it and likely charge you about half what the gun cost.  Many of them won't have a clue and will either give you your gun back worse than it left, or in pieces.....

DO NOT ask me how I know this.....

[Rangr44]

Numrich has firing pins, which take me about 30 mins to switch out.
 
FWIW - ALL top-opening lever cocking M219/220's will accept any M219/220 barrel, but barrel-opening cocking M219/220's (top and/or side lever) will only accept later barrels that have the round, spring-loaded cocking stud on the side of the locking lug (which engages the cocking lever inside the receiver sidewall when the barrel is opened).
 
You broke bad, passing up the $200 combo, for sure.    . 
 
.