Author Topic: Happy man! Savage 219 30-30 (Read 3463 times)

44 Man · « **on:** September 17, 2012, 01:43:43 PM »

I am a happy man! Let me tell you about it. I have a friend who knew I was an H&R single shot enthuiest so he loaned me a Savage 219 in 30-30 AI to play with a few years back. He had never shot it and I worked up some loads for him and generally had a ball. Since that time I have been after him to sell it to me. Of course I told him the first thing I would do is cut the stock down a little and the barrel to 20". I think that would make a great little woods gun! Well he still won't sell me his 24" AI but he has teased me with the fact that he has a 20" 30-30 barrel for a 219 and an extra frame. Now he tells me that he has sent it off to a gunsmith to be fitted and stocked. He said when it comes back, it will be mine if I want it. I asked him how much and he said it will be well under $200, as in not anywhere near. So now I am waiting, and waiting, and waiting. (I'm learning patience.) I don't expect to take possession until spring as I'll be headed for Texas soon, but I just couldn't wait to share my good fortune! 44 Man

eskimo36 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2012, 01:56:07 PM »

You should be a happy man. That is a great gun, easy to carry and shoot.

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2012, 03:29:31 PM »

44 Man - What was the saying? "All good things come to he who waits".

I'm happy for you. Let us know how she shoots.

petemi · « **Reply #3 on:** September 19, 2012, 12:51:50 AM »

Hey Lewis, that's great.......get me one too

Pete

ironglow · « **Reply #4 on:** September 19, 2012, 03:21:55 AM »

Happy indeed..that should be a great little woods gun. I had a 219L (22 Hornet) which I purchased overseas in 1965. It is now in my grandson's gun cabinet..now I wish I had bought a 30/30 to compliment it! One benefit in the rifle i gave to my grandson...no serial number..
The 219L has a side lever to open the action, which in my opinion, leaves the 219 (without side lever) with nicer lines..much like a European "stalking" rifle. The hammerless design of course, allows for much lower scope mounting than H&R.
How I have longed for Savage to re-introduce the 219 in several (interchangable) calibers.

44 Man · « **Reply #5 on:** September 20, 2012, 06:26:35 AM »

It's interesting that Savage made the different models of the 219. The one I had cocked the action with the lever as you opened the action. It would seem that the side lever would make that easier. I understand that later models 'self cocked' as the barrel tipped down. Either way it's and interesting gun and much fun to shoot. I do like the smooth lines also. 44 Man

Flynmoose · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2012, 12:10:52 PM »

I had a friend, a retired Navy Commander, that hunted with one of the little Savages. He mostly went out for a walk instead of truly hunting. He was alot fresher at the end of the day than I was after carrying a Springfield 30-06 all day. It was a good shooter, as I remember, from a couple of range trips.
FM

Ranger99 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 22, 2012, 12:15:31 PM »

44man i'll admit i'm jealous!

not many friends like that in
the modern world.
let's see a photo when you get it.

good luck!

ironglow · « **Reply #8 on:** September 22, 2012, 02:54:41 PM »

Ranger;
Here are some 219 pics from the net..in the photo with 2 guns the lower one is a 219 rifle..top onr looks like a 219 shotgun.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 22, 2012, 03:35:40 PM »

looks like a 94 .410
(more or less)

thanks!

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #10 on:** September 28, 2012, 04:47:07 PM »

At the top of the photo it says it's a 220...

-WH-

44 Man · « **Reply #11 on:** September 29, 2012, 12:50:02 AM »

I remember that the 219 cocks when you push the lever to open the action. That makes a fairly hard lever to throw. I believe Ed said that the 220 (or 221?) cocked themselves when you closed the action. Again, another variation and a slightly different action. I'm going to have to find a site that can tell me what all the variations are. 44 Man

Swampman · « **Reply #12 on:** September 29, 2012, 01:39:35 AM »

Is this the model that they say to never dry fire them?

ironglow · « **Reply #13 on:** September 29, 2012, 03:26:16 AM »

I've heard some say that Swampy. Of course, for the years I owned the 219, I can't recall ever dry firing it. I normally don't dry fire unless I receive authoritative info that it is permissable for any given weapon. If you don't have a snap-cap, it's not a problem keeping some empty shells around.

eastbank · « **Reply #14 on:** September 29, 2012, 03:36:32 PM »

i have a nice 220A in 20ga and a nice 219 in 3030,i,ll try to get pic,s up. the 220 cocks when the lever is pushed to open it,the 219 cocks when the barrel is opened. eastbank.

popplecop · « **Reply #15 on:** October 17, 2012, 02:58:49 PM »

Have 2, a 22 Hornet rechambered to a K Hornet and the other a great 30-30. The 30-30 is a great woods rifle, installed a Williams Guide peep and a fiber optic front. Old eyes and always have been a fan of peep sights. You are a lucky fellow to get it.

mannyrock · « **Reply #16 on:** October 18, 2012, 04:43:54 AM »

Can never dry fire them, and can never have your finger on the trigger when you close the action. The firing pins snap off. Beautiful rifles though.

Manny

Rangr44 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 24, 2012, 04:02:01 AM »

Quote from: 44 Man on September 29, 2012, 12:50:02 AM

I remember that the 219 cocks when you push the lever to open the action. That makes a fairly hard lever to throw. I believe Ed said that the 220 (or 221?) cocked themselves when you closed the action. Again, another variation and a slightly different action. I'm going to have to find a site that can tell me what all the variations are. 44 Man

This is the site.

FWIW, Model 219's (no letter suffix) and early Model 220's all have internal strikers, cocked via the opening action of the top lever.
Any early or late barrel will fit/operate properly in an early action.

Model 219B's, 219C's, 219L's and 220B's & 220L's all have an internal hammer, cocked via the lifting of the front end of a cocking rod that lies inside the forward RH receiver sidewall.
"L" models lift the front of the pivoted cocking rod via the side lever, all others lift it via a protruding spring-loaded cocking stud built into the side of their barrel's underlug(s).
Only late barrels, with the cocking lug, will operate properly in later guns - the early barrels will not work in later guns, because they lack the cocking lug, making barrel removal a necessity after one shot, for manual recocking.

Please don't bother to ask me how I learned this to be fact.

.

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #18 on:** December 05, 2012, 04:14:34 AM »

I picked up a 219 years ago-with a peep sight.Haven't even fired it,but it sure looks like a nice little rifle to carry on a walk in the woods.Funny-a lot of people look down on the lowly 30/30 as a short range deer rifle at best -but the fact is almost all of the deer I've killed[over 60] were well under 50 yards,most single shot kills and quite within the capabilities of a single shot 30/30....

BUGEYE · « **Reply #19 on:** December 05, 2012, 04:49:12 AM »

Quote from: ironglow on September 19, 2012, 03:21:55 AM

How I have longed for Savage to re-introduce the 219 in several (interchangable) calibers.

seeing as how savage already has a huge following, I would imagine that a re-introduction of the 219 in both center and rimfire calibers would give H&R a run for their money.

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #20 on:** December 05, 2012, 06:42:58 AM »

I understand they made a 22 hornet barrel for the 219-it would be a nice companion to my 30/30 barrel ,but I've never seen one

mannyrock · « **Reply #21 on:** December 05, 2012, 07:06:57 AM »

As for a .22 Hornet barrel, the Savage 219 was not a switch-barrel rifle, like the modern H&R. If you find a Hornet barrel, it will have to be fitted by a gunsmith.

If you go to large gunshows, you will see a fair number of Savage 219s in .22 Hornet (not just a barrel). Prices for them are ridiculously high, however, as those in top condition are now regarded as collectible.

Best, Mannyrock

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #22 on:** December 06, 2012, 03:51:31 AM »

how do the 219's shoot in .22 hornet for accuracy?I understand the 22 hornet can be picky if the weight isn't right for the twist

Old Lucky 01 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 16, 2012, 03:02:25 PM »

I have two 219's in 30-30...one is the newer version that has the grooved receiver for scope mounting and a spare stock I bought on a whim some years ago and the other one is the older version that you can only use with open sights. I have only used the open sighted version occasionally for hunting but it is way more accurate than I thought it would be. I am going to sell the other scoped version when I get around to it....if yours doesn't have the grooved receiver then don't try to drill and tap it for regular scope mounts...there isn't enough metal on the barrel to do the job right.

spooked · « **Reply #24 on:** December 30, 2012, 04:51:20 PM »

I have owned 3 219 30-30's, one drilled and tapped,great gun, two untapped and plain tops with open sights,...kept one plain one and sold the other two..Had a 219 22hornet another great gun sold it also..have 220's in .410, 20ga., 16 ga.,& 12 ga.

All my 219 rifles sported factory original 26" barrels and the 30-30's would do a number on deer..Have no idea how much extra velocity the longer barrel gave, but with win power-points or federal Hy-shoks it would flat drop a deer...