Savage Single Shot Firearms > Savage 219 Single Shot Rifles

Gunsmithing guidance - fitting 219 barrel to 220 action

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jglobig1:
Hi 219 / 220 Enthusiasts!
I am in need of some gunsmithing guidance.  I am a casual 220 collector and recently purchased a .30–30 219 barrel and forend that I want to fit to one of my 220s.  I am a pretty good amateur gunsmith but have never done this particular task before.  On one of the 220 actions, the barrel almost closes but not quite.  It closes enough to fire, but the barrel is not quite seated level in the action and the firing pin strikes right at the bottom edge of the primer. 
My question is how do you “fit” the barrel to the action?  Do you machine the hinge recess in the barrel block to allow the barrel to move forward slightly and close?  Of course if you machine the end of the chamber you are now affecting cartridge seating, etc. 
What is the mechanism that allows the barrel to square up to and lock up level in the action? Does the factory also fit the bottom of the barrel to fit the recess in the action or does the standard geometry of the manufacture allow the barrels to want to lay in there level and square?  I would appreciate any guidance from a gunsmith that has done this before.
Thanks!
Jim

Garnett:
Jim,  I hope someone can help you.  On the few barrels I have added to an action, only 2 fit perfectly.  The rest I had my gunsmith fit them.  I have no idea how he did it.  One thing I do know for sure, is to NOT make any modifications to your existing action.  If you do, then the original barrel and/or forearm may not fit.  The only action modification I can think of that will not alter the original barrel fitting, would be to get another Locking Block for use only with the new barrel.  Of course, swapping out the Locking Block every time you changed the barrel would be a real hassle.  Please keep us posted on your progress.  If any of your 220's have serial numbers, would you please share with me for my research, along with the exact model, i.e. 220A, etc.?  Good luck on your quest.  Garnett

Please be advised that my record of serial numbers have no names or addresses attached. 

Garnett:
In the "Custom Gun" chapter of the Revised Edition of my book, "Savage Single Shot Arms". I mention the rebuild of a 219/220 I purchased with the 9 MM barrel, converted to .357 Magnum.  After almost all the work was done, I still needed to get the action/receiver color case hardened.  This was going to cost around $300 and there was no guarantee that my action would not warp during the process.  I found an almost new M220A for a very low price.   The case coloring was beautiful, about 99% original.  The 9 MM/.357 barrel fit perfectly, including the forearm.  When I tried to fit the M220 (12 gauge) barrel to the old action, it would not even go on!  The barrel lug is too wide.  So....off to my gunsmith for fitting.  So, again, I caution when buying a barrel for your gun, it may or may not fit. 

Sentry44:
Wow!  This is all news to me.  Maybe Ive just been lucky so far.  I have an early 219 (from the - 219 - era) which came with a 30-30 and slender forend.  Ive since acquired a 16 gauge, 20 gauge, and 12 gauge polychoke amd all fit right into the recwiver like it was made for them.

The only issue is for the 12 amd 16 gauge you have to use the larger forend which came with the 16 ga barrel.  The 20 gauge uses the slender one from the 30-30.

The only problem ive encountered is the 12 ga wouldnt quite close on face...probably 8 thousanths gap.  So i sold it and will but another 12-er some other time.

Perhaps the reason everything has fit is because i am careful to only buy matching "Utica" stamp barrels?  I figure as ling as I stay in the same model era things should likely fit.

I mean, they did market them that way, no?

Sentry44

Garnett:
You could have the right idea about early vs. late.  The 220A I just mentioned is actually the 2nd modification from the original gun.  I have not added or changed very many barrels, maybe 5 total.  However, in changing barrels, the .219 Zipper I got from Mike, would not fit the first two actions I tried it on.   It would not close on one and would close, but with a gap between breech and action face on the second.  It did fit perfect on the 3rd, which happened to be a First Model Utica "Utility" gun.

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