The futuristic lines of the Savage B22 FV-SR .22 LR rifle weren’t enough to put one on the set of Valerian or Blade Runner 2049. But the updated bolt gun’s certainly more modern-looking than my three venerable Ruger 10/22s. What intrigued me most about the Savage B22 FV-SR: it includes Savage’s Accutrigger. Is that much-touted bangswitch is all it’s hyped up to be?
While certainly functional and comfortable (even more so than a 10/22), the B22’s synthetic stock could benefit from grip areas with more aggressive texture molded in. Given my sweaty hands in Texas Hill Country summer heat, the six pound B22 got a tad slick.
Savage saw fit to include sling studs fore and aft, but didn’t add a recoil pad…not that a soft-shooting .22 rifle will be pounding your shoulder. Still, a rubber recoil pad would help with a solid mount.
I borrowed Jeremy’s highly specialized HammerMill Free-Float-o-Meter and found that, much like competitive .22LR rifles in this price range, the B22’s barrel is not free floated. My expectation, though, was that the Savage’s stout barrel is stout wouldn’t be affected by any contact it makes with the stock. More on that later.
Aside from some burrs found around the trigger guard, the stock is well made. It certainly feels sturdy and tough enough to take a good amount of abuse.
A knurled knob ensures a sure grip on the B22’s smooth-cycling bolt.
Savage’s Accutrigger is known for its light pull and clean, predictable break. That’s down to its relatively small sear engagement area.
Typically a small engagement area increases the risk of firing if dropped or given a significant jolt, but Savage has engineered a simple solution to this potential problem. The blade safety integrated into the trigger blocks any potential accidental sear movement.
When the blade safety is depressed, the sear is allowed to move once the trigger is pulled. The Accutrigger’s pull is clean, light and reliable. I’m officially a fan.
As Ruger did with my 10/22’s, Savage chose 10-round rotary magazines to feed the B22. Given the follower/feed lip alignment, it take some attention to slide each round in, but practice makes perfect. Just insert each cartridge at a slight angle, push the feed lips with the rim of the round, then rotate into place. You’ll get used to it.
The beefy scope rail Savage includes is firmly attached to the receiver with four screws. The rail extends past the end of the receiver about an inch and a half. That extra rail space gives the shooter a lot of flexibility in mounting optics.
The the “SR” in the B22 FV-SR model designation stands for suppressor ready. The heavy 16.25-inch barrel has a 1:16 twist with 1/2-28 threads and a generous shoulder. The rifle makes an ideal host for a suppressor.
Which brings us to the range results. Even without a free floating barrel, the B22 produces some amazing groups. The excellent Accutrigger accounts for good portion of that precision. It has no perceptible take-up or over-travel, breaking as cleanly as millimeter-thin glass.
Using Remington match grade ammo, the B22 FV-SR produced an astounding 0.067-inch three-round group at 50 yards shooting from sandbags. Using all of my fingers and toes, that calculates out to 0.1279 MOA. Truly impressive accuracy.
Shooting off-hand, the B22 is more than precise enough for your plinking and squirrel-popping pleasure.
Savage’s B22 FV-SR is an ideal rifle to practice your shooting fundamentals. I have rifles that cost as much as ten times the price that are scarcely any more accurate. That Savage managed to engineer this degree of precision into a $344 MSRP rifle ($249.99 from Brownells) is remarkable. I won’t be getting rid of my semi-auto 10/22’s anytime soon, but I enjoy shooting the Savage even more than my Rugers. Mark me down as a Savage fan.
Specifications: Savage B22 FV-SR
Stock: Synthetic
Sight: None, optics ready
Capacity: 10-round rotary magazine
Thread Pattern: 1/2-28
Barrel Length: 16.25 inches
Overall Length: 35.25 inches
Material: Carbon steel
Finish: Matte black
Twist: 1:16 RH
Weight: 6 pounds
MSRP: $344 ($249.99 at Brownells)
Ratings (out of five stars):
Style and Appearance * * * * *
The B22 the has modern lines that stand out and look great.
Ergonomics * * * *
It’s light, points naturally, and mounts easily. While comfortable, a grippier recoil pad would be appreciated.
Accuracy * * * * *
The B22 shoots well under MOA with good quality ammo. Its accuracy is way above its price point.
Reliability * * * * *
Bolt gun. It ran perfectly. Period.
Overall * * * *
I really was impressed with this rifle. The magazine could be a little easier to load and the stock could benefit from more texture and a butt pad. Its impressive accuracy, though, more than compensates for those two quibbles.
“Using all of my fingers and toes, that calculates out to 0.1279 MOA. Truly impressive accuracy.”
It’d be interesting to see what it groups at with a can on it…
Which suppressor? Cuz it’ll vary. But most good ones won’t negatively affect accuracy and some may help. With a heavy, 16″ barrel and the typical like 4 to 6 ounce weight of a .22 can, it won’t change much of anything.
“Which suppressor? Cuz it’ll vary.”
Fortunately for TTAG, they just so happen to know someone who is on a silencer store’s NFA trust who can ask nicely to borrow a few and let us know…
*wink-wink* *nudge-nudge*
Know what I mean? 😉
wink wink nudge nudge say no more say no more……whats it like????
gotta love ol’ Monty
I recently picked up a Savage Axis II. Outside of the scope being cheap and the magazines trying to wiggle out (both easily fixed with aftermarket products), I found the gun to be REALLY well made for the price point. I expect this wouldn’t be any different.
I picked up the FV-SR for my son last year, excellent entry level at the price point. However, the improved stock and magazine are MILES ahead of the previous generation.
MarkII magazines are somewhere between ‘functional’ and ‘terrible’. I’ve got a small pile and mark them as ‘works’ or various words that will not be written herein.
I have a 10 round and a 5 round Mark II mag. They are cheap, folded metal mags, but sturdy enough. I never had any real feeding problem with either, but the 10 rounder just loves to dig into your support hand wrist. The rifle itself is a solid and accurate piece that I’ve had for years, but the better stock, the upgrade from a stiff trigger to an accu-trigger (that cannot be retrofit to my model) and the rotary mags are enough to suggest it is time for an upgrade.
for long rifle, i’m inclined towards an autoloader, and leaning takedown.
a bolt seems silly for this caliber but then look at the accuracy. it would be nice to have that for two fifty. and suppressor ready for that someday maybe.
“a bolt seems silly for this caliber but then look at the accuracy.”
Exactly. I hope someone picks one up and tests it to see if that sub MOA is for real, or a fluke…
Since it’s only a three round group, we will never know.
Bolties and lever-actions actually make a lot of sense in .22 rimfire calibers, as there’s a lot of variety in .22LR ammo (not to mention shorts, CBs, etc), and it’s nigh impossible to find a semi-auto that will run well across that wide gamut. But if you don’t have to rely on the ammo to cycle the action, you can do all kinds of cool stuff, like shoot CCI “Quiet-22” ammo without hearing protection or spending hundreds on a suppressor. I love my 10/22’s, but I think I love my Henry H001 even more, and my Marlin XT-22VR is really growing on me the more I shoot it.
For me, teaching youngsters to shoot is best done with a bolt gun, as it slows them down long enough to concentrate on their shot and learn some fundamentals of accuracy. Although I have no doubt that millions of people have learned to shoot with a 10/22, if any of them are or were like my son, the “game” is to empty that mag as fast as one can pull the trigger.
And by the way, Savage makes a similar rifle to this in their semi-auto A series.
I always laugh at 3 round groups. Shoot 10 rounds at 50 yards off bags and show us the targets. Your “astounding 0.067-inch three-round group” is a statistical fluke unless you can show us a bunch of them. My astounding group was ten rounds of MiniMag 36 gr HPs in 5/8 inch, using a CZ 453 Varmint. It only happened one time and I never expected to see it again.
You are so right. I shoot a lot of rimfire, and I doubt most any production gun will shoot consistent five (5) round groups much better than 0.5 inches at 50 yards even with match grade ammo. There can be exceptions but no one should expect anything better than 1 to 1.5 MOA. Reporting a single THREE round group is truly absurd and says nothing about the rifle’s accuracy.
A 3 round group says nothing about accuracy? Nothing? If a rifle consistently gets 3 round groups like this it says something.
If a rifle consistently shot 3-round groups of that size, then it would say something about its accuracy. But only one group was reported. I think most people would prefer reporting 5-round groups but what is even more essential is reporting on 10-20 groups, be they 3-round or 5-round. As written, I think this review is likely to mislead some readers on what they should expect on the accuracy of this rifle. I mean this as respectful and constructive criticism.
More stuff to buy. Want this for my daughter to compete at local 22lr matches and the highly specialized HammerMill Free-Float-o-Meter for all my long guns.
That’s some pretty darned good accuracy for an entry level .22.
Get the same or better results with a Ruger American .22 with Remington Thunderbolts; also has the bladed trigger. Both good guns.
damn, nice looking gun with a fair price to match.
Not so impressed with the looks, the stock IMHO looks very ugly. I like it when they follow more traditional lines, but that’s maybe just me. I like the highly accurate results of the test.
Just seems for that kind of money we should be in the semiauto world, not a bolt economy gun
As an owner of the previous Mark II series, I can tell you that the traditional stock is not terribly ergonomic, and this looks far more comfortable to shoot because of the relaxed wrist angle. That rifle, approximately 14 years ago, was a little over $200 out the door with a scope. After all that time, the retail price increase is not all that great.
Second, Savage does make this in a semiauto, priced just slightly higher, if I recall correctly.
Third, Savage makes this with a 21″ barrel (not suppressor ready) for slightly less.
I find the appearance quite nice, and the price was fine for me given the features (raised cheek weld, heavy and threaded barrel, accu-trigger, scope mount, sling swivels), let alone being a fine .22 rifle overall. Not a pro here, but this little rifle makes me feel like I could be.
Anyhow, I love shooting mine suppressed at steel targets and cans and other junk off my back deck. Subsonic is nice with a bolt action as mentioned here – no need for hearing protection – and I like that my neighbors know I am shooting, but its not obnoxious like when I pull out a full-power rifle and scare (or piss off) everyone – lol!
My son looks at the modern .22s and says he prefers my No8 trainer and the Chinese copy of a Mauser rimfire trainer he saw and held last weekend. The force is strong in this one.
“My expectation, though, was that the Savage’s stout barrel is stout wouldn’t be affected by any contact it makes with the stock.”
Not true
Sincerely,
Everyone on Rimfire Central
Last three rifles I bought were savage with the accutrigger. All are a great value for the money. I have a .17, .22, and a .308 and they each shoot well.
They really are excellent entry level rifles. I am actually getting my girlfriend’s brother a savage 308 for his 18th birthday based on my experience with the B22.
Three round groups are almost meaningless. The only excuse to shoot three round groups is if your shooting some high price ($5.00 a round) ammo. I hardly think the 22 rimfire qualifies.
I have the older version with box mag and regular stock, all works great and is more accurate than me.
Trigger is nice, never adjusted any accu trigger I have, yes I have several savage rifles.
Never shot suppressed or without ear protection. Is subsonic ammo much quieter?
This rifle would be nice in a pistol caliber, or 300 BLK or 7.62×39
You have linked to an incorrect rifle at Brownell’s with an incorrect street price. You did not link to the B22.
I have a savage MK II TR .22 lr that consistently shoots one hole 5 shot groups from the bench at 50 yards. I would shoot it against any factory made .22 rifle anyone wants to put against it regardless of price or factory name- it is truly amazing. I have recently purchased the B22 FV-SR which doesn’t have as nice of a stock or as long of a barrel… but, with only about 250 rounds through it – I can tell this will be very similar once it has become more ‘broken in’ … I have already shot two one hole groups at 50 yards with it, and I am not using what most would consider a high end ammo (GECO – from Germany) My Ruger 10/22 Tactical Heavy Barrel is the only factory 10/22 I have shot that is comparable out of the box
Do they
make a larger capacity magazine for this model? Thanks for any info in advance…
Walter
Bought one for my son, his first fire arm. This .22 LR is AMAZING! I find myself using it much more than I had ever planned ( figured Id keep it maintained and just leave it for his use) the trigger is so crisp and the pistol grip feels great especially with a bipod on front looking through the glass at 50 yards the grouping is so tight its almost boring no challenge.
I highly reccomend this as a first fire arm or as a 50th firearm . Fun gun.
How do you measure the groups? I’m confused how a group size can be smaller than bullet diameter.
I’m a casual shooter, so maybe I’ll never quite “get” all the chatter and fuss about groups fluctuating from tenths of an inch with a .22. I mean, really? Are all you accuracy buffs out there trying to put a squirrel’s eye out or shooting horseflies at 100 yds? I just don’t get it.
I have a B22 FV with a heavy barrel and Weaver bases and the barrel is the 21″ size but I bought a new Savage A22 FV-SR and I cannot find this rifle on the Savage Arms website, YouTube, or any other websites or review. It is a short rifle (35.6″) And a short barrel (16.5″). It has a pic style scope base. The rifle has A22 stamped on the barrel and was bought from a reputable sporting goods store. Anyone have any information about a rifle that cannot be found on the internet? Oh! Both these rifles are 22 long rifles and use rotary magazines (interchangeable). I like the rifle and side by side with the B22 is about 4 inches shorter. I haven’t had the rifle to a range yet.
Savage make very good quality firearms extremely accurate and reliable I get those same groups using the model A22 lr so it does not surprise me in a bolt action rifle.
Mine shoots as good as my buddies ruger precision 22LR at 50 yards.
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