Vintage Savage 340B in Rem .222 - Thoughts?

Grumpah said:

Hey Guys and Gals, I'm picking up an old Savage 340B in .222 very soon - from yesteryear. I had one when I was a kid, now I'm an antique and want it simply because it brings back fond memories. I'll plink with it and maybe do a little varmint hunting. It's quite a homely rifle but with a little love it'll be restored. It's definitley a shooter, nothing wrong with it per se except asthetics.

That said, I see Boyds Stocks makes replacement wood for the 340E. My question is....will it fit properly? Getting answers from Boyd's is like hitting the lotto. I really don't know the differences between the 340, B,C,D and E My guess is that there was barrel length changes and action upgrades over the life of the 340. Any input if the stock will fit would be appreciated.

Also, what has been some of your experiences with the ole .222 caliber? Thanks, all.

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I like the small calibers & all of the "barrel burners", (along with .45-70's).
I could kick myself for passing on an almost new & scoped Remington .222 several years ago. DO IT! JMO

I had several of the old 340's in 222 and 22Hornet. They were always pretty accurate for varmint hunting. I hope you have fun with it, I've also thought about getting another just for memories. Problem is they have gotten fairly pricey, use to be a $150 rifle.

Not to be presumptuous, but , I'm wondering why you would want to replace the wood on a "fond memories rifle"
Rub some Lenspeed stock finish on it and go.

Nothing wrong with getting something just because you want too.
I picked on up on impulse in 30-30 for my youngest. My plan is to just strip stock and do an oiled finish then cerekote the metal.
I think you will really like the 222.

Grumpah said:

Hey Guys and Gals, I'm picking up an old Savage 340B in .222 very soon - from yesteryear. I had one when I was a kid, now I'm an antique and want it simply because it brings back fond memories. I'll plink with it and maybe do a little varmint hunting. It's quite a homely rifle but with a little love it'll be restored. It's definitley a shooter, nothing wrong with it per se except asthetics.

That said, I see Boyds Stocks makes replacement wood for the 340E. My question is....will it fit properly? Getting answers from Boyd's is like hitting the lotto. I really don't know the differences between the 340, B,C,D and E My guess is that there was barrel length changes and action upgrades over the life of the 340. Any input if the stock will fit would be appreciated.

Also, what has been some of your experiences with the ole .222 caliber? Thanks, all.

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I think I have a complete rifle minus the bolt in very good condition for parts if interested.

Ken61 said:

Not to be presumptuous, but , I'm wondering why you would want to replace the wood on a "fond memories rifle"
Rub some Lenspeed stock finish on it and go.

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The stock looks to be cracked through the comb and missing wood along the barrel channel. Just in case I can't fix it, am wondering about alternative. Doesn't matter to me if it sports a replacement stock. It's Not the original rifle I used to have.

I'm not sure of the difference between all of the different 340 variants between Savage and Stevens stamps. I have always thought about getting one in 222, 22H or 30/30.

Another stock option, if you are up to finishing out a stock, is to order one from Richards Microfit stocks in California. You could put the action into a better comb height and nice walnut stock. They have a bunch of different grades of walnut. I always thought one in a mannlicher/full stock would be kinda neat.

Anyway, have fun!

Grumpah said:

Hey Guys and Gals, I'm picking up an old Savage 340B in .222 very soon. I had one when I was a kid, now I'm an antique and want it simply because it brings back fond memories. I'll plink with it and maybe do a little varmint hunting. It's quite a homely rifle but with a little love it'll be restored. It's definitley a shooter, nothing wrong with it per se except asthetics.

That said, I see Boyds Stocks makes replacement wood for the 340E. My question is....will it fit properly? Getting answers from Boyd's is like hitting the lotto. I really don't know the differences between the 340, B,C,D and E My guess is that there was barrel length changes and action upgrades over the life of the 340. Any input if the stock will fit would be appreciated.

Also, what has been some of your experiences with the ole .222 caliber? Thanks, all.

Click to expand...

Just curious but do you have the action out of the stock ? Don't assume it's a factory setup. Some guys have turned some of these into a 2 action screw system. If you read a few forums they did this to try & improve accuracy issues.

I don't have the rifle yet. Supposed to look it over this week but before I buy, I intend to look it over well, tool kit will go with me.... lol. BTW I answered my own question about stock fitment throughout the series. The 340E stock is NOT replaceable to the B,C and D models, however the B,C and D stocks will interchange.

I'm sure you already know about them but Brownells has some threaded brass rods that work nicely to pin broken wood stocks.

Nostalgia and some firearms always go hand-in-hand. The Winchester Model 70 is probably one of the most notable. However...

The Savage 340 has worked it's way into the hearts of thousands of shooters, well... just because. It's not pretty, it's not in any real fabulous cartridges and the design of the action leaves a lot to be desired. But, I have two of them which I find to be lots of fun to shoot and have used them both for training young shooters.

Mine are chambered for the .30-30 Winchester and the .222 Remington. Neither cost a lot of money now or when they were available on the market., but they perform adequately when ranges and game type are paid attention to.

I did bed the original stocks on both and then studied up on working up the best loads not to exceed the pressure limits. The .222 has proven to be an excellent, handy varmint rifle which I use for short range prairie dogs. With the .30-30 Win. I have harvested a couple of does on depredation hunts.

Is it historically important? Not really. But it can hold a place in the hearts of many of the shooters who have become attached to these rifles.

Enjoy your new stock and shooting the M340!