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I sure do love me a good shooting .22 rimfire. As a kid, I had run of the mill .22s but longed for a full sized .22, a target .22 that could shoot little tiny groups. Fast forward to today and most rimfire rifles feel like toys rather than a rifle. The rifles built to full size dimensions come at a premium price. Savage has changed all that with the introduction of their B-Series Timber Tactical. This rifle is full sized and is loaded with features that are seldom seen on modern production .22 rimfires.
First Impressions: B-Series Timber Tactical
The first thing that jumps out at you on this rifle is the radical deep spiral fluting of the 18” heavy profile barrel. This fluting helps with weight reduction and while fluting does aid in cooling a barrel more quickly than a non-fluted barrel on a .22. I don’t think you could shoot it enough in a single sitting to get the barrel hot. The fluting gives the rifle a very unique look and one normally found only on custom rifles. The knurled cap threads onto the barrel protecting the suppressor ready ½-28 threads. The metal is finished in a dark matte, blued surface and personally I like blued steel.
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The all-steel receiver features a full-size tactical bolt handle that is easy to find when working the rifle from the bench or laying on the ground in the prone position. The proven twin extractor configuration on the Timber Tactical performs flawlessly. Atop of the receiver sits a 20 MOA Picatinny scope mount that screws into the receiver rather than the 3/8” grooved receiver so common on many .22s. Why a 20 MOA base for a .22? With the popularity of KYL and PRS style shoots cropping up for rimfire, it only makes sense.
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Several Hundred Rounds Later
Putting several hundred rounds through the rifle, the Timber Tactical fed, fired, extracted and ejected a variety of .22 rimfire ammunition through the magazine. Twice I noticed a heavily waxed fired spent cartridge tended to get stuck in the ejection port, but some of that could have been shooter error as I may not have retracted the bolt smartly enough.
The 10-round rotary magazine will be very familiar to 10-22 owners; however, Savage put their own twist on the magazine by incorporating the magazine release on the front of the magazine itself rather than on the rifle.
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The B22 Timber Tactical is equipped with the wonderful 1.5 lbs. Precision AccuTrigger. The trigger on the test rifle broke at 2.0 lbs. and can be adjusted to the shooters’ own liking.
All About That Stock
The final box checked on my list of a full-sized rifle was its wood stock. I am a walnut snob but in today’s climate of plastic stocks I’ll gladly take the laminated stock of the Timber Tactical. The Timber Tactical didn’t feel as though I could snap it in half. The laminated stock gave the rifle a good heft and a heavier rifle is easier to hold than a light rifle.
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The vertical grip lends itself to prone or bench type shooting. Though I would like to see the pistol grip stippled for sure handling.
Another subtle touch that puts this rifle in a class by itself is that it is equipped with a recoil pad rather than a hard plastic butt plate.
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The stock also features three sling swivels, one at the rear and two on the forearm to accept a bipod. The wide hand filling forearm rides a sandbag well as does the flat on the rear of the stock.
How Does It Shoot
If the rifle doesn’t group, all is for not. This one is a shooter. But with a caveat; like any precision rimfire rifle the right ammo must be found and the only way to find out which one shoots the best is spending time at the range. Since the pandemic, target .22 ammunition has been difficult to find. The big box stores carry small quantities of high velocity ammo but the most accurate seems to be standard velocity which around these parts are scarce as hens’ teeth. I grabbed what was on the shelves. Luckily, one of the stores had two boxes of Federal Gold Medal Match which proved the best performer. The higher velocity ammunition shot acceptable groups but nothing like the slower standard velocity target ammunition.
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When discussing .22 rimfire accuracy the term MOA at 50 yards is tossed around like a golden egg. For a .22 rimfire, MOA at 50 yards equates to just over half an inch. Accuracy like this is usually relegated to precision rifles and custom barreled rigs and come with a hefty price tag. The Timber Tactical produced a .64” group using the Federal Gold Medal Match which for a production rifle is impressive.
Wrapping It Up
So, what is the purpose of this rifle and what’s its market? I see the Timber Tactical on the winner’s podium of the KYL and PRS shoots especially in the production class, serious small game hunters and anyone longing for a .22 rimfire rifle that feels like a real rifle.
SPECIFICATIONS: Savage B-Series Timber Tactical
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Barrel: 18 inches
- OA Length:37.8 inches
- Weight:6.6 (empty)
- Stock: OD Green Laminated
- Sights: None
- Action:Bolt
- Finish: Matte black
- Capacity:10
- MSRP: $ 599.00
PERFORMANCE:
| Federal 40-grain Gold Medal Match | |
| Average Velocity | 1,018 FPS |
| Best Group | 0.64 inches |
| Remington 36-grain HP Golden Bullet | |
| Average Velocity | 1,165 FPS |
| Best Group | 1.17 inches |
| Winchester 40-grain Super Speed | |
| Average Velocity | 1,280 FPS |
| Best Group | 1.47 inches |
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second (fps) by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 50 yards.
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The post Savage B-Series Timber Tactical Tested appeared first on Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News.
