The Savage Model 24 is an over/under combo gun. It’s a 22LR rifle barrel overtop a 410 shotgun barrel, though some other similar variants like the 24V were available in heavier-duty centerfire rifle and larger shotgun gauges. They stopped making them in 2010, but released the Model 42 as its successor with polymer stocks. They’re setup as a small game getter: go 22LR to the head for maximum meat or 410 for fast takedowns of small game animals on the move (or on the wing)
Savage Model 24 Specifications
- This one is 22LR over 3″ .410. Early models were a fixed full choke. Some others came in 20 gauge and 30-30 and other combos
- Break-open action with manual hammer and barrel selector
- Extractors (no auto-ejectors)
- 7lbs
- Basic post & notch iron sights
There’s not really much to say about using the Savage Model 24. Pop a round of 22LR and 410 in it, walk around until you find a game animal. Cock the hammer and select a barrel.
The rebounding hammer means it’s safe to carry around with the hammer down. I suppose you could carry it broken open over your arm if you prefer.
The small round disc on the right side of the receiver is the barrel selector. Some later versions used a selector on the hammer. It moves a transfer bar over the corresponding firing pin so that 1 hammer and trigger mechanism can work for both barrels. Some other versions of the 24 have a side lever where the disc would go, but that’s to open the action, not to select barrel.
Shooting the Savage 24
The trigger on this model 24 is pretty gritty but I’m pretty spoiled by fancy modern triggers.
This is the kind of gun where you load up your pocket with a few .410 and a fistful of 22LR and go out into the bush looking for rabbits, grouse, squirrel: any small game animals in season. Have the selector on the 410 and your thumb on the hammer so you can quickly cock and shoot anything on the move, but swap it up to the 22LR and go for a headshot if you can to save some meat. You always have that shotshell as backup if you miss.
Loading up one at a time, you’ll aim carefully anyways. Between the older Model 24 and the newer 42, I prefer the 24. The 42 is kinda ugly, where the 24 looks like a standard older rifle.
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