Some firearms designs seem impervious to the market fluctuations of the day. They are in production for decades at a time, through eras of economic hardship, hostile political environments, and global conflicts. Designs like the Winchester 94 and the Colt 1911 continue to perform to this day. One such design is the venerable Savage 64.
History
The Savage 64 has gone by several different names over the course of its production history. The Savage 64 was born in 1964, designed by the historic Canadian gun company Cooey and released as the Cooey 64. Intended to compete with the newly released Ruger 10/22 and the Marlin Model 60, the Cooey 64 was an affordable and reliable autoloader in its day.
When Cooey closed its doors, many of the former Cooey employees wanted to continue manufacturing firearms. They formed the Lakefield Arms and continued to produce many Cooey designs. Among those designs is the Cooey, now Lakefield, 64. Eventually in the 1990’s Savage Arms purchased Lakefield Arms. One notable change with the Savage 64 is that they accept steel magazines, which are much more durable than the plastic magazines used in some of the older Lakefield version. Today the Savage 64 is produced in Lakefield, Ontario, in the same plant that produced the original Cooey 64 over 50 years ago.
Specifications
The Savage 64 is an inexpensive 22LR semi-automatic that feeds from 10 round detachable box magazines. There is no automatic bolt hold open, however there is a cut-out in the receiver that the charging handle can be locked into. This allows easy inspection of the chamber, or for the action to be locked open while handing the rifle between users. The stock is a basic plastic one.
Like most rimfire self-loaders, the Model 64 is a straight blow back design. This means that it relies on the mass of the bolt to hold the action closed long enough for the bullet to exit the barrel and for chamber pressures to drop. The rifle weighs about five pounds, which is quite trim considering the long 21 inch barrel. The receiver is pre-cut to accept weaver-style rings, which is a welcome addition. The safety is located on the right hand side of the receiver and is a simple rock forward to fire system.
Accuracy on the Savage 64 is about typical for 22 semi-automatics. A shooter can expect anywhere from 2-3 MOA with decent ammunition. In short, accuracy is good enough for plinking and small game hunting, but it is not a match rifle.
Strengths
For the most part, the Savage 64 is a reliable design when paired with quality ammo. However, we did encounter some issues with standard velocity ammunition, particularly during the first few hundred rounds out of the rifle. These issues immediately disappeared once we switched to high velocity ammunition, even the cheap Winchester Super-X cartridges. Sticking to high velocity ammunition, the rifle is as reliable as any of the other popular rimfire autos.
Another positive is the solid construction. Amid a firearms market full of aluminium and polymers, the Savage 64 uses an entirely steel construction. This makes the firearm incredibly durable. The gun is durable and none of the parts feel flimsy or prone to breakage. This is supported by the fact that many of the old Lakefield and Cooey manufactured versions are still on the market today.
Also, the rifle balances really well. The 21 inch barrel is longer than typical for rimfire semi-autos, as is the receiver. This makes the firearm a little slower handling. This penalty is worth it though in the improvements to balance shooting in practical shooting scenarios.
Finally, probably the greatest strength of this rifle is the price. This rifle goes on sale for under 200 dollars Canadian. The Savage 64 is the cheapest repeating rimfire on the market. Occasionally the Savage is even cheaper than some single shots. For a functional semi-automatic 22lr this is a terrific deal.
Weaknesses
While the Savage 64 is completely serviceable, the design hasn’t aged as well as contemporaries like the Ruger 10/22 or the Marlin 795. One issue is the magazine release is a push button at the front of the magazine well. This is awkward, and is difficult to do from a firing grip.
Next, the bolt is a lot harder to actuate than many modern designs. Women and younger shooters may struggle to pull the charging handle all the way to the rear. This can make it difficult to lock the action open or to charge the rifle, since it lacks a last-shot hold open.
Thirdly, the gun is an absolute nightmare to disassemble. Despite being a low maintenance action, when the Savage needs to be cleaned it is a huge pain. Stripping down the rifle for cleaning requires several different sizes of screwdriver. On top of this, some of the screws are difficult to access from straight above with standard sized screwdrivers. In contrast with both Ruger and Marlin offerings this is much more difficult.
Finally, the trigger on the Savage 64 leaves a lot to be desired. It is long with an inconsistent pull and is fairly heavy. This doesn’t affect plinking much, but holds the shooter back when precision is required. While not as bad as the trigger on the Kodiak WK-180C, it is in the bottom 10 percent of the triggers we have tested.
Competition
The rimfire semi-automatic market is very competitive. Savage itself has their new A22 line, and the Winchester Wildcat brings a new lightweight modularity to the market. However, the old titans of the Marlin Model 60 family and the Ruger 10/22 based rifles continue to dominate the market. For a little bit more money the Marlin Model 60 offers a more reliable, lighter package with a last shot hold open.
If sturdier build quality and upgradability are important, for a bit more money one can get a Ruger 10/22. Even the new Savage and Winchester have better magazine systems and ergonomics for a slightly higher price. However, the one edge that the Savage 64 has over the competition is that it is the most affordable, with better build quality than some.
Closing Thoughts
In conclusion, the Savage 64 design is showing its age and is no longer the best option on the rimfire autoloader market for most shooters. For only a little bit more money you can get more aftermarket support, better reliability, trigger, and magazine system. However, the Savage 64 could still be a good option if you absolutely cannot spare the extra money, or if you really plan to abuse the rifle and the solid steel construction is a selling point. If you already own a Model 64 there is nothing wrong with them and it will likely serve you well.