Savage Rifle Letter Codes

I'm a big fan or Savage rifles.  Not only because they make a lot of left handed rifles, but they are also a quality product.  They also have a peculiar model system.  What does it mean?

Here it is taken from the small text in their recent catalog:

2 digit model - Short Action Caliber

3 digit model - Long Action Caliber

F - Synthetic Stock

H - Hinged Floorplate

SS - Stainless Steel

B - Wood Laminate Stock

BT - Wood Laminate Thumbhole Stock

G - Hardwood Stock

BRJ - Wood Laminate Stock Royal Jacaranda

EV - Evolution Stock

AK - ON/OFF Adjustable Muzzle Brake

K - Muzzle Brake

C - Detachable Box Magazine

L - Left Hand

NS - No Sights

S - Stainless Steel

SR - Supression Ready (Threaded)

T - Target

TR - Tactical Style Rimfire

TRR - Tactical Style Rimfire with Rail

V - Heavy Barrel

XP - Scoped Rifle Package

Y - Youth

Sight Mark Sure Shot Red Dot Review

Sight Mark in Camo! (No black in stock)

I was looking for a nice a Red dot for my 22 pistol.  When it comes to inexpensive red dot sights, the reflex sights seem to pretty inexpensive, and are much more appropriate for a handgun than a tube. Of the reflex sights, there are a lot of different ones out there, but there are also a lot that look exactly the same when it comes to reflex sights:

• Sightmark Sure Shot 
• BARSKA Multi-Reticle Electro Sight
• Truglo Red-Dot Open Dual Color Sight
• Browning Buckmark Holographic Sight
• Aim Sports Red Dot Sight
• Ultimate Arms Gear Tactical Red Dot Open Reflex Sight
• NcSTAR Red Dot Sight

These all look the same, offer almost all the same options:

• 4 different reticles
• 7 Brightness settings
• Weaver mount
• Lens cover

However, only Sightmark and NcStar offers a limit lifetime warranty, where the others only offer a 1 maybe 2 year warranty.  This was the reason I chose the Sightmark (Also I couldn't find the NcStar locally, and I was impatient and didn't want to wait for shipping).

I installed the Sighmark on my Ruger 22/45 Mark III pistol, which has a Waver/Dovetail rail that can be screwed on.  After installation I had to really crank the sight adjustment to get it on the paper.  I didn't do a lock to lock count, so I don't know how much more runout I have, but after a few close range shots, I got it somewhat zeroed.  I then took the target out to 10 yards, to further dial it in.

So after my initial zeroing, how does it hold up?  So far so good.  I've taken this pistol out to the range a half dozen times so far, and it still pretty much shoots spot on.  I think everything else can be blamed on the shooter, or the constancy of the .22 ammo I'm using at the time (when I have .22LR ammo).

As for the options, how are they?
I really like having 4 different reticles to choose from:

• 3 MOA dot (too small for target work)
• Crosshair (not too bad)
• 10 MOA dot crosshair (My favorite)
• 65 MOA circle with 3 MOA dot (not too bad either)

I never had a fuzzy reticle, but remember, you need to be focusing on the target, and then the reticle will be sharp.  If you focus on the glass, it won't be sharp.

The brightness setting are sufficient.  In the daylight, I usually set it 5 of 7, and have never had to set it higher to acquire the target.  However, being a red dot, make sure you buy a lot of CR2032 batteries.  You never know what you are going to get out of the box, and it will probably die pretty quickly, mine did.  The second one I installed lasted a lot longer.  Also, don't forget to turn off the sight when you are done shooting.

As for reliability, how is it?  I have put three different Sight Mark sights on 3 different .22 pistols.  So far, 2 of the 3 worked fine out of the box.  The third one started to show reticle fall off, and a lot of flickering.  Once we replaced the battery, the flickering went away, but still the top half of the reticle wasn't as bright as the bottom half.  This is where we were able to test the warranty.  After contacting Sightmark, I had a new one week, they even paid for the return shipping.  Top notch!

So far, I am very happy with this sight, and would defiantly recommend it.  I may take it off my pistol and do a follow up on it for use on a rifle and a shotgun.

Tips:
Record the serial number before mounting the sight.
Register the sight right away (For warranty purposes)
Have multiple batteries in your shooting bag so you always have one fresh when you're at the range.
Turn off the sight before putting the cover on.

Have fun shooting!

Why I love to hate my Ruger 22/45

My first .22LR pistol was a Ruger 22/45 Mark III.  When I bought it, was favoring my right handed side when it came to pistol shooting.  So it really didn't matter to me that it is totally a right handed pistol.  Now after I've made my transition to fully left handed shooting, this pistol drives me crazy.

The positives of the 22/45
This is a very accurate pistol.  The bull barrel adds some nice weight to the gun, along with the accuracy.  The sights are nice, and it's drilled and tapped for the included Weaver scope base.
Installed the base, and with it installed, it doesn't block the sights, which is really nice.  I put on a BSA 30MM Red Dot .22 scope on this.  When installed it rides a little to the side, but it really doesn't matter once you get it sighted in.
You pull the trigger, and it shoots a bullet.

General  PITA problems of the 22/45
This things is a pain to strip and reassemble.  There is almost a Rube Goldberg set of instuctions to get this thing apart and and put back together.  After a while it got harder, and I found the main problem.  You need to clean, and re-grease the mainspring in the handle.  If you don't, the bolt doesn't seat properly, and I am also assuming it leads to extraction problems (of which I've had many).
I was told (incorrectly I assume) to only run copper plated bullets though this pistol.  The problem with this is most copper plated bullets are hollow point, and this helps with feed problems.  I had a lot of hollow tip rounds get stuck on the feed ramp.  When I moved to lead only round nose bullets, my feed problems almost completely stopped.
Oh, and cleaning all the nooks and crannies is pain too.

The lefty PITA problems of the 22/45
Every thing is on the wrong side.  You have to use your trigger finger to do everything. Release the magazine, release the bolt.  Don't even try to you your left hand to access the safety, you'll have to use your right hand. Most of all, the slide lock isn't under magazine pressure.  You have to push down the slide lock to release the bolt with a new magazine.  You can't simply rack the bolt back and release it like on many other handguns.

Aside from all the problems listed above, it's still fun to shoot.  Just be prepared to do a lot of work afterward.

A true left handed 1911: The Cabot South Paw 1911

When it comes to hand guns, one pistol stands out: the 1911.  You can go from the basic all the way to ballistic when it comes to makes a models.  But what is out there for the left hander?  I have been shooting a basic Springfield Armory GI Mil-Spec 1911A1 for a while, and as a lefty, I've gotten used to it.
Upgrades I'm considering:
Ambidextrous safety
Ambidextrous magazine catch

I always rack the slide back, both left handed and right handed, so I don't see the need for a left handed slide stop.

But what about the lefty shooter that has (almost) everything?  Thankfully Cabot Guns has come out with a fully left handed 1911: The South Paw 1911.  Left handed safety, left handed magazine catch, left handed slide stop, left hand twist rifling, and it ejects the brass to the left side.  A fully left-handed 1911.

Hurry up, they are only making 100 of these pistols.