Just got a new Savage A-22. This is a 22 magnum semi auto version of the A-17/17HMR. It has a sort of semi locking bolt and a reasonable price, especially when you compare it to other semi auto 22 magnums.
First trip to the range to zero the scope finds that the magazine wont stay in the gun...it just falls out. In all fairness to Savage, when it does stay in the gun feeds perfectly. It is accurate enough and zeroed up easy. Biggest problem, light strikes. Just about 1/3 of the rounds in the chamber failed to fire because of a light/weak firing pin strike. I was using the CCI A-22 ammo which is made/designed for the gun. I do not care for any trigger with a big finger gunching mushy feeling blade in the middle of it and this one is no different. It does adjust and was set as low as it would go right out of the box...but "as low as it would go" could have stood to go further.
Got home and proceeded to do a take down to clean it. While it disassembles differently than most rifles it is not too bad once you get thru the first time. The A-22 ammo burned less than clean...left a bit of powder residue in the receiver, but not enough to cause any problems. I shot probably 50-60 rounds. It was shipped with what seemed like way too much lube in the action, properly oiled I don't expect this to happen as bad.
I was hoping to be able to use this thing as a predator calling rifle for fox. It is accurate enough, but no more reliable than 66%...I think I will get rid of the junk and try something else. That's too bad, because I think the delayed lock system does what it is supposed to, it's just that the rest of the gun is typical Savage.

I guess I was hoping for too much...a 22 magnum semi-auto that don't work...somebody quick call Ripley's!!!

You shot a new semi-auto rimfire gun before cleaning it, and expected it to run reliably?

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Wonder what's up with the magazine problem. Been keeping my eyes open for a magazine review as I have a mild interest in buying this model. Maybe wait until the "bugs" are ironed out. In the mean time am happy with my R/A American compact in 22 mag. Makes a great light weight carry and is accurate. Thanks for the review

Not sure how you arrived at this conclusion from my post. It was clean when I shot it. It did not run any less or more reliably after I shot it. It was clean, I dirtied it up a bit, nothing changed.

Your post above details issues related to shipping grease/lube.



So did you have light strikes or not? I had issues with an A17 which cleared up after a detail clean.

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