A Somewhat Faded 219 .30-30, Before and After Black Nitride

[Exchipy]

Before ...



After ...



Disassembly and reassembly was "interesting."

Steve

[Garnett]

Your rifle turned out very nice!  The early wood was so much nicer than on later guns.  The metal looks great!   Thanks for sharing the pictures.  Did you do the work or have it done?

[Exchipy]

Thanks.  The Black Nitride treatment was done by H&M Metal Processing Company of Akron, OH.  I slopped some TruOil on the stock, put it all back together and added a Leupold 1-4x20.  Voila!  Weatherproof, lightweight stalking rifle..

Steve

[Arisamane]

I've been searching for this information for a long time and want to get it.

[Mike Armstrong]

And you can stuff this rifle in your backpack if needed. 

That's one reason European break-action single shot stalking rifles are still available--for a price.  I guess the nearest we have currently made in USA are the T-C Encore (HEAVY) and Contender (better, IMO, but really ugly compared to a 219) and the new Henry single shots, which don't take down as easily as a 219.  Nothing takes down that easily until you buy a Merkel or Blaser single shot for about what I pay for a car.

Good on ya for reviving a great little rifle!

[Exchipy]

Thanks, Mike. (Sorry for the extremely delayed response)

There was another US made break-open stalking rifle, which can still be found at a price far less than the Merkels and Blasers demand: the TCR 83. Though it is noticeably heavier than the Savage 219, it's pretty slick and handles more intense calibers.

[Garnett]

I think the M219 is a much more classic looking action, but this one, while having a very bulky looking action, does have double set triggers and a larger variety of calibers.  I really wish the 219 action could be converted to DST, but my gunsmith/machinist says not.

[Mike Armstrong]

I had a TCR for a while but couldn't get used to the set triggers and the safety arrangement.  It was well-made and accurate but just didn't work for me as a hunting gun--too many controls!  Single shots need to be simple--to take down, to clean, to load, and to fire when you really get that one good crack!  Some of the older German rifles have so many "extra features" that you would need to bring the manual up into the tree stand with the rifle.

[Exchipy]

Gents,

The bulky TCR 83 does have handling disadvantages compared to the trim Savage 219.  But, I certainly wish my 219 shot with as much precision.  That pictured target was shot at 200 yards.

Steve

[Garnett]

I must admit that I was admiring the DST's and did not notice the target.  I have only shot one of my 219's and none of the 220's.  It was so long ago I don't even remember how the 219 in .30-30 shot.  I have had several readers say they are very accurate for a very inexpensive (at the time of original sale) rifle, but a poor trigger pull.

[Exchipy]

Garnett,

My Black Nitrided 219 agrees with the opinions of your several readers, particularly when using its favorite Sierra 125 grain pointy bullet load at around 2600 fps.  Cast bullets at 1500 to 1600 fps also perform very well.

Steve

[Garnett]

Steve, will you share with us a photo of a typical target?

[Exchipy]

Don't know about typical; I'm still tweaking the zero.
Left target = 100 yards with the cast bullet load I've been using in .30-30s for decades.
Right target = 200 yards with the Sierra 125 Spitzer load in which I just recently started using Federal Match primers.  It's a work in progress, but looks most promising.

Steve

[Garnett]

Thanks for the target pictures!

[jrbauerjr]

Steve, a beautiful looking rifle. I'm about to start reworking my 219 in 22 Hornet and I think this looks better than having it re-blued. If you don't mind my asking, how much did H&M charge for the work.. Is this something they do regularly..

Thanks, Jim