Firearms can be incredibly substantial. They can represent history; personal history, family history, American history or they can simply be like an old song that conjures up memories of an important time, place or persons in our lives.
On December 4, 1970, after four years of active duty, me and a buddy named Harry Prenovitz left Ellsworth AFB for the last time. We took turns driving my ’67 Mustang to Springfield, MO to meet up with Mike Whelen, another buddy who had been discharged six months earlier. After the visit, we headed north to get Harry back home to Butler, PA and then I headed home to my family in New Jersey.
I remember the hospitality we were afforded in Missouri. I remember a midnight tire spinning burnout session with that big block Mustang in Mike’s old high school parking lot. I remember early morning shooting in the Missouri woods with an well worn Savage Model 24 over and under and arguing over who was the better marksman and therefore had earned the honor of the last shot. And that was the last shot as our paths were never to cross again.
Similar, but quite different
In one form or another, from one source of another, Savage has been selling an over and under combination gun since 1950. The most recent is the Savage Westfield, MA produced Model 42. Available with a .410 bore lower barrel and either a .22 LR or 22 WMR top barrel. The exposed hammer is an inertial type and does not have a half cocked position, however, the Model 42 has a two position cross bolt safety. Unlike the Model 24, the Model 42 has a bottom side opening lever, pictured left, forward of the trigger guard, in place of the Model 24’s thumb operated top snap lever.
The Model 42 does not have automatic extractors or ejectors, it is emptied by opening the action and tugging on the manual extractor, before manually removing empty cases or loaded ammo. Opening and closing the action does not cock the firearm, that is accomplished by manually cocking the hammer. A rotating barrel selector is pinned in the face of the hammer. Rotating it upward aligns it with the top rifle barrel, downward aligns it with the shotgun barrel firing pin.
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Savage Model 42 |
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| Manufactured | Westfield, MA |
| SKU | 19666 |
| Type | Break Action Combo |
| Caliber | 22 LR/.410 Bore |
| Magazine Capacity | 0 |
| Barrel Length | 20“ |
| Rifling – .22 LR | 1:160″ |
| Weight | 6.1 Lbs |
| Overall Length | 35.75″ |
| Stock | High Density Poly |
| Hardware | Blued |
| Length of Pull | 13.50″ |
| Drop at comb* | 1.50″ |
| Drop at heel* | 1.50″ |
| Rear Sight | Adjustable W&E |
| Front Sight | Blade |
| Scope Drilled & Tapped | No |
| Trigger Pull | 9 Lbs 10 Oz |
| Safety | Hammer Down – Inertial |
| MSRP | $480 |
| Online Retail Typical | $425 |
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* Measured from top rifle barrel centerline |
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Impressions… It’s skinny
It was easy to come to terms with the Model 42’s non-traditional look and to see this as a solid utility rifle. Only an inch wide at most points, 1 3/8″ at the pistol grip palm swell. The Model 42 stows flat and it has an intuitive point. I was reading a couple of comments on our Facebook Page where the guns barrel regulation was being called into question in terms of both barrels shooting to the same point of impact… Barrel regulation is what your do with a $20,000 double rifle, not with a few bucks worth of 22 rimfire and a load of shot.
Mention of the Model 42 also evokes the furor of Model 24 owners. Apparently they suffer from an overdose of nostalgia and a failing memory, as the Model 24 was also an inexpensive utility rifle, typically unadorned of checkering and mostly made with cheap hardwood stocks. The Model 42 is hardly a pre-post ’64 Winchester Model 70 simili.
Shooting Impressions
As a utility or survival rifle, I’d give the Savage Model 42 an A+. It is simple in design, few moving parts and with a tough and durable synthetic stock and blued finish. The rifle barrel shoots straight… approximately 1.5″ – 2″ three shot groups at 50 yards with high velocity ammo, doesn’t seem to matter which, and the combination rifle’s open sights.
Please excuse the blasphemy of shooting a turkey target with a .410 bore, but that isn’t a bad 15 yard pattern with .410 3″ and 3/4 ounces of 7 1/2 shot. I suspect a Model 42, with a couple of pockets full of tiny .410 and 22 LR ammo, could keep someone supplied with an array of edible small game. The 22 WMR barrel selection would be better if anything larger is on the menu, but there is a lot of utility in this version. What could be better? a 20 gauge and a 223 Rem option. Beyond that? Perhaps 12 gauge and 30-06 Springfield.
Conclusion: terrific light survival rifle with a lot of utility and probably a good place to start a young shooter’s rifle and shotgun training.
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