Dynapoint GT ammo

It's kind of funny that the #1 search that brings up my blog is my review of my Savage Arms Mark II .22

I went shooting again yesterday at the range with some new ammo I bought at Dicks made by Winchester.  Dyna point GT.  It's copper plated 40 grain and claims to be a "target" round.  I was interested b/c it was cheap and also b/c it was copper plated.  I had had problems with other ammo not feeding correctly due to the hollow point catching.  Not so with this ammo.

I don't have any pics of my target, but I was hammering nails with this stuff.  At 50 yards I was hitting everything within 1/2-3/4ths of an inch consistently. Switched back to the regular Super X and I knew I had found the good stuff for my gun. I was also able to shoot at the 100 yard targets.  I discovered about a 6" drop that is typical for a .22.  I would really recommend the accutrigger- this trigger is ok, but has a very hard pull.  I would prefer something lighter.

Every gun is different and, especially with .22s, you need to experiment with different ammo to find what works for your gun.  I'll continue to experiment, but I'm very satisfied with my discovery.  I think Dick's is the only place that sells this stuff.  Says Winchester Target on the top and I think a box of 500 loose cost me $12.

I also put my Glock 19 (9mm compact) through the loops.  Performed as expected.  This is a very dependable and fun to shoot pistol.  I could consistently hit head shots at 25 yards (no feat by any means) but for some reason (my errors) I would throw a round to the left when rapid firing.  I can understand shooting low (due to anticipation) but to the left?  I have formal police training (it's been a long time) but I don't remember ever doing that during my training with my service weapon (Glock 22).  Any suggestions?  I know it's my error b/c when I take my time, it's a bullseye every time.  Just looking for a pointer if anyone has seen this in the past.

Savage Arms .22 cal Mark II Review

     I've owned a Savage Arms Mark II GXPB for about 14 months- no AcuTrigger.  I purchased it as a tool to add to my preparations.  I wanted a rifle to shoot varmints and for hunting rabbits and the like.  I was looking for something cheap and accurate.  I knew I wanted a scope on it.  I also wanted a .22 vs. a .223 for varmints due to the shooting characteristics and cartridge prices of .22 cal firearms.  I also have children; so having a light-powered (and quiet) firearm for them to train with was ideal.  I also wanted bolt action- generally better accuracy and better ammo conservation.

 I picked up my Savage at Dick's Sporting Goods.  It was on sale for $130 including the scope.  I purchased an extra 10 round magazine at the same time. 

Upon inspection at the store, I was impressed with the smart and crisp bolt action movement.  It was also a full-size rifle vs.. a youth model- that was a bonus considering I'm a fairly tall man.  There were sling points already on the stock and that made me happy.

I took the .22 home and broke it down.  Everything was clean (of course), but it was good to see all the parts laid out.  The machining appeared fairly good.  There were no rough edges or burs that needed attention.

After putting it all back together, I took it out to the range to zero it in.  The scope was supposedly bore sighted- it wasn't.  No big deal, but it took a few rounds to get me on paper at 50 yards.  After zeroing, it shoots a consistent pattern about at 3/4". Not going to win any contests with this one- but it will do the job.  I call this one my nail driver.  I've gotten even better with this rifle and after breaking it in (500 rounds) it will shoot within 1/2-1/4 inch patterns. 

     I tried a number of different rounds through it to see how it performed.  Hollow point XPert HV Winchester caused several misfeeds (3 out of 250 shots);  I suspected that the short stubby bullet would not feed nicely- and I was right (this can be remedied by buffing the ramp with a dremmel tool).  Also, the ejector did not function properly on a few rounds.  I had to remove the magazine and work the bolt hard several times before it would eject.  I understand this is common in this rifle and a new ejector may be needed.  The Winchester copper plated rounds loaded and shot the best for me.  No ejection problems with those- that will be my ammo of choice.

On the negatives, this rifle does not have iron sights.  This is a real negative from a survival aspect.  If the scope fails, then I have no way to aim it.  My options are to get a spare scope (I did) or to get iron sights put on by a gun smith (cost prohibitive at $300). This is something you will have to weigh in when considering this gun.  I would do it again- simply b/c of the great price.

Be careful when cleaning it- there is a port on the left side that will leak solvent onto the wood finish if your not careful.

In all, I recommend this rifle if you can find a good deal on it like I did.  It shoots straight and is reliable (once you find the right ammo for it).  It does not have sights- but this can be overcome with a little more $.  It is a good looking firearm- very rugged- but not overly heavy- especially when you put a sling on it.

BTW, if you're into prepping for emergencies, I highly recommend shopping at www.internetprepper.com for emergency water filters, grain mills, canned and dehydrated food.  The prices are among the cheapest on the web (when you consider shipping) and the owner is a USAF veteran.

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Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.

George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796