The Savage 93 BRJ V 22 WRM

05/19/2024 – Another day of drizzling rain. It has been a wet spring, which has resulted in an emerald green Maine, with dense trees and foliage that line rural roads. I cannot see the road from the house. I cannot see even remnants of distant neighbors’ homes.

It is easy to be a willing recluse. Going about the tasks of treating and mowing the lawn, composting and pruning gardens and fruit trees, clearing winter tree fall. What old man, a twelve year old at the core, would not enjoy being outside, riding on a tractor, and operating other noisy machines? Which I surely would be doing, if only it were not raining.

Putting two and two together

A quick check indicated that we have written about modern Savage firearms, long guns and handguns, twenty two times. I do own and shoot Savage firearms, some of which date back to the mid 1950s, some produced within the past couple of years.

If I lack enthusiasm for Savage Arms products, it’s because they are doing what many major gun companies do these days; avoid significant design changes, fill the respective catalogues with derivative products, tout modest configuration changes as breakthrough.

How different could two reviews be if all, with the exception of laminated stock colors, remains the same? Or if a slight change in barrel length was made, fluted or plain, Cerakote or oxide bluing? My preference is to review design changes that effect accuracy, or improve safety, or have economic advantage.

New cartridges once piqued curiosity, but the market has been saturated with new cartridges, each close to six others in performance, and exist mostly to accommodate use in AR platforms. And they don’t survive. A couple of years, and neither ammunition or handloading components are available.

How we got here…

One of my better large rodent eliminators is a Savage Mark II FV-SR 22 LR Bolt Action Rifle. With a truncated 16.5″ barrel, 5 lb. 8 oz weight, adjustable trigger, and 1/2″x28 muzzle end barrel threads, it has reduced the marauding rodent population, almost as much as our resident Northern Goshawk.

Loaded up with standard velocity ammo, or target ammo, the short barrel makes for quiet operation with a silencer affixed. With deeply subsonic ammo, the loudest sound is the firing pin striking a cartridge rim.

For larger varmints, and small, medium…ish game, is a bolt action, Zastava in 22 WMR, which performs well, but it is butt ugly, with some crude metalwork and a stock that may have been made from a Home Depot 2×4. Subsequently, I was looking for a 22 Win Mag that will not aesthetically disrespect quarry.

Auto loader first

A while back, a Savage’s A22 BNS-SR was in the shop for review. It was a very clean, well made rifle. Accuracy was very good, cycling was reliable, and it was… pretty. However, it was a 22LR, and a 22 Mag in that exact configuration was not available. Nor is one available today.

Additionally, while suppression takes the edge off of supersonic ammo, even if a sonic crack remains, there is no quieting the clackety-clack of a cycling semi auto action. Hmm… clackety-clack. Sounds like an old song by the Coasters. So we requested a T&E Savages Model 93 BRJ V 22 WRM, a bolt action, 22 WRM equivalent.

What do the model designations mean and why are there so many of them?

Savage 93 BRJ V 22 WRM: 93=Magnum rimfireB=Laminate stock RJ=Royal Jacaranda V=Varmint rifle contour barrel 22WRM=22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire.

The Savage 93 is not a new design. The current product is built on the E series receiver that was introduced in 2008, a step taken to create a common action for both Savage’s Mark II 22 LR rifles and Savage 93 rimfire magnum rifles. The Savage 93 BRJ V, specifically, has been in production since 2011.

Are Savage firearms made in the U.S.A.? Sometimes…

But not this time. The bulk of Savage rimfire rifles are manufactured in Canada, although other firearms, including some rimfire products, are made in Westfield, MA. Some of Savages single shot Stevens branded shotguns are made by Sun City Machinery Co. in China. All quite different, geographically, but all with similar forms of government.

In any event, Savage has obviously found a way to make it all work in Canada as the product quality is excellent in design and execution, all signs of good management, skilled labor and a company high quality mindset. I am not discounting Savage product made at their other facilities. I just don’t have any examples on the bench to examine.

Tubular concentricity

The E type receiver is a tubular, 7 3/4″ long construct, which is beneficial to Savage Arms as this is a cost effective design. The design is also beneficial to Savage 93 owners, as concentric designs; receiver, bolt, bore, tend to be accurate and strong. Weaver type scope bases are included.

With the cocking mechanism extending well back from the bolt handle, it looks a bit like a modernized version of a Savage 23B, which was a good looking rifle in its own right. The bolt handle reach and throw are comfortable, as is the safety actuation. The current version of the adjustable AccuTrigger has a crisp let off and zero creep.

The single stack, box magazine, projects from the rifle’s underside. Then, it appears, a release catch projects out and down even further is a minor act of good practice defiance. Flush would be nice to avoid snags on sandbags, hands, or branches and other objects used as impromptu field rests.

The non-rotating front bolt provides the breech face, twin extractors and blade ejector. The rear rotating bolt body provides the lockup at the bolt handle. Not the slickest action, but not bad, and certainly reliable in function.

The 22 WMR

L-R above: Winchester Super X 28 grain JHP, Hornady Varmint 30 Grain, CCI 30 Grain TNT Green, CCI 40 grain JSP. The 22 Winchester Magnum’s persistence never ceases to amaze me. About the time I think it might sunset in the presence of the newest rimfire cartridge concoction, the new cartridge seems to rapidly fade and the 22 Mag, once again, ascends to popularity.

At the time of this writing, there are 32 popular factory loads available for the 22 WMR shooter, with all but a few routinely in stock. Bullet weights range from 25 grain to 50 grains, with 40 grain the most common. There is one shot load, 52 grains worth of pellets. Cost per round ranges from 33 cents to 52 cents, or about half the price of the 223 Remington and 3x – 5x the price of 22 LR ammo.

The 22 WMR has an effective range of 100 – 125 yards. Oh, sit back down. Yes, it can shoot further and, yes, Maine even allows its use for deer hunting. But just because to can, doesn’t mean you should. Within a reasonable range, the 22 Mag can competently handle game with a body weight up to 50 – 60 lbs. So, certainly larger game than a 22 LR and, certainly, at a longer range.

Accuracy, within my experience with 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire experience was very good. Where Maine tree growth for non-farmland probably puts typical use at less than 50 yards, if an opportunity for a 100 yard shot presented itself, and the wind wasn’t whistling through the trees, that is well covered with this combination.

Overall

The Savage 93 BRJ V 22 WRM is a good looking and nicely put together firearm. However, “nice” comes with a price tag. The Savage 93 FXP Bolt Action 22 WMR, with composite stock and scope, sells for $180 less through discount retailers.

As a practical matter, the FXP would shoot as well. Aesthetically, the 93 BJR wins hands down, pieces like fluted barrel and very nice laminate stock contribute a good deal to pride of ownership. More globally, finish level to finish level, the Savages $639 MSRP is not out of line with competitors.

The Royal Jacaranda tree represents wisdom, rebirth, wealth, and good luck, so there’s another bonus, even if in name only.