Savage 42 Review (2026): The .22 and .410 Takedown Combo Gun, 400 Rounds

Affiliate disclosure: This Savage 42 review contains affiliate links. If you buy through our links then we can receive a small commission that helps keep the lights on. You don’t pay anything more.

Table of Contents

Review: Savage 42 Takedown, a .22 and a .410 in One Bag

Our Rating: 7.5/10

• MSRP: $629 for every current 42 Takedown
• Street Price: $500.99 at Guns.com on September 26, 2026 (Use our live pricing for the best up to date deal)
• Calibers: .22 LR or .22 WMR over .410 bore
• Action: Break-action over-under, single-action exposed hammer, one shot per barrel
• Barrels: 20 in. carbon steel, 1:16 twist on the rifle barrel
• Shotgun Barrel: .410 with a 3 in. chamber, cylinder bore
• Overall Length: 35.75 in., 34.75 in. on the Compact
• Weight: 6.1 lb, 4.66 lb on the Compact, per Savage
• Length of Pull: 13.5 in., 12.5 in. on the Compact
• Sights: Post front, open V notch rear, removable for a scope base
• Stock: Synthetic in black, OD Green or Flat Dark Earth
• Included: Bug-out bag

Quick Take

The Savage 42 Takedown is an over-under combination gun: a .22 rimfire barrel on top and a .410 shotgun barrel underneath, one shot each. It comes apart with a button and rides in the bug-out bag Savage includes. It’s the modern version of a gun that goes back to the Stevens 22-410 of 1938.

I shot a black .22 LR/.410 model 300 rounds of .22 and 100 shells. It fired every time. The .22 barrel held about 1.3 inches at 25 yards with iron sights, and the .410 put birdshot on a squirrel-size target at 20 yards. It is a slow gun and a limited one, and that’s the point.

The short answer: as a truck, cabin or camp gun that handles both small game and a snake, nothing else in the store does this job.

Best For: Hunters, hikers and landowners who want one light gun for squirrels, rabbits and pests, and new shooters learning one shot at a time. Not for anyone who needs follow-up shots. Our youth hunting guide covers where a gun like this fits for kids.

Design Intent: The Survival Gun, Updated

The idea is old. Stevens introduced the Model 22-410 in 1938, and during World War II the Army Air Corps bought some 15,000 of them as survival guns. Savage took it over as the Model 24 in 1950 and built it until 2010.

The Model 42 replaced it in 2012, and the Takedown version followed in 2016. It keeps the recipe: a rimfire barrel for small game and a .410 barrel for birds, snakes or anything moving close. The difference is weight and packability. The 42 weighs 6.1 pounds and breaks into two pieces with one button.

Operation is simple once you learn it. A small tab on the hammer picks the barrel, up for the rifle and down for the shotgun. You cock the hammer, fire, flip the tab and fire again. A manual extractor lifts both empties when you break the action open.

Savage 42 Variants

Every current 42 is a Takedown with 20 inch barrels, and Savage lists every one of them at the same $629. The choices are the rimfire cartridge, the stock color and the Compact.

Two things the price tags hide. The Compact lists at the same $629 but weighs 4.66 pounds against 6.1, per Savage, with a 12.5 inch pull for smaller shooters. And color still costs money on the street: Sportsman’s Warehouse had the black 42 at $549.99 and the FDE at $569.99, a $20 premium for a stock color. If you’re weighing the .22 WMR top barrel, our best .22 WMR rifles guide covers the cartridge.

One more for veterans and service members. Savage’s 2026 Service Purchase Program sells up to two guns a year at 30% off MSRP, with proof of service and $25 shipping. On a $629 Savage 42 that’s $440.30 before tax and shipping, less than any retail price we found.

Competitor Comparison

Very few guns do what the 42 does. Here it is against the only other current combination gun and three takedown alternatives.

Chiappa Double Badger (from $434.99)

The Chiappa is the direct rival, another .22 over .410 combination gun. It folds rather than coming apart, and it wears a checkered beechwood stock. It’s a little cheaper. The Savage gets the bag, the synthetic stock and the easier parts supply in the US.

Ruger 10/22 Takedown (from $396.99)

If you do not need the .410, the 10/22 Takedown is the better .22. It’s a semi-auto with a 10-round magazine and an 18.5 inch barrel, and it also comes apart for a pack. You lose the shotgun barrel, which is the whole reason the 42 exists. Savage’s own Savage 64 is the budget semi-auto option at about $150.

Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 (from $288.99)

The AR-7 is the classic survival rifle. It packs into its own stock and holds 8 rounds of .22 LR. It’s lighter and cheaper, but it’s a .22 only. See our Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 review.

Chiappa Little Badger (from $238.99)

The cheapest way into a folding single shot, with a 16.5 inch barrel and an underfolding stock. PSA’s model is chambered in .22 WMR. It’s a rifle only, and it feels like a toy next to the Savage, but it costs less than half as much.

Verdict: If you want a .22 and a .410 in one gun, it’s the Savage or the Chiappa. If you only need a .22, a 10/22 Takedown or an AR-7 does it better for less. For more ideas, see our best survival rifles guide.

---

Testing Protocol

My test gun was a black 42 Takedown in .22 LR over .410, SKU 22440, with its factory sights. I shot it over four trips in August and September, from 60 to 89 degrees, at 25 and 50 yards with the rifle barrel and at 15 and 20 yards on paper with the shotgun barrel. I shot 2.5 inch .410 shells only.

Ammunition Log

• CCI Mini-Mag 40 gr copper-plated round nose: 150 rounds
• Federal AutoMatch 40 gr lead round nose: 150 rounds
• Winchester Super-X 2.5 in. .410 #6 shot: 50 shells
• Federal 2.5 in. .410 #7.5 target load: 25 shells
• Remington 2.5 in. .410 1/5 oz rifled slug: 25 shells

Phase 1: Break-In

The first session was about learning the gun. I took it apart and put it back together a dozen times, then fired 50 rounds of Mini-Mag and 10 shells while practicing the hammer selector. The action was stiff to open at first and loosened after a few dozen cycles.

Phase 2: Reliability

Across 300 .22 rounds and 100 shells, the 42 fired every single time. No light strikes on either barrel. The only snag was extraction: three Winchester .410 hulls stuck enough that I had to pull them with a thumbnail after the extractor lifted them.

The takedown button never loosened, and the gun locked up tight every time I put it back together. There’s no play at the hinge after 400 rounds.

Phase 3: Accuracy

With the rifle barrel, I shot five-shot groups off a rest at 25 yards with the iron sights. CCI Mini-Mag averaged 1.3 inches and Federal AutoMatch 1.6 inches. At 50 yards, Mini-Mag opened to 2.7 inches. Remington slugs from the .410 barrel grouped about 3.5 inches at 25 yards.

The .410 barrel is cylinder bore, with no choke, and it shows. The #6 load covered a 20 inch circle at 20 yards but thinned out fast beyond that. Keep bird and small game shots close.

Tracking & Observations

After 400 rounds, the bluing showed wear only on the hinge pin and the takedown latch. The polymer stock picked up scuffs from the bag’s zipper and nothing worse. The rear sight stayed put, though I’d mount a scope base if I planned to shoot the .22 past 50 yards.

What This Means for You

• Upgrade Impact: A scope base and small scope help the .22; nothing fixes the open .410 pattern.
• Reliability: It fires every time; expect the odd sticky .410 hull.
• Ammo Preference: CCI Mini-Mag grouped best in the rifle barrel.
• Maintenance: Wipe the hinge and chambers after every trip.
• Accuracy Expectation: About 1.5 inches at 25 yards with the .22 and iron sights.

Performance Testing Results

Reliability (8/10)

Every round fired, which is what matters on a single shot. I took a point off for the sticky .410 hulls, which slow down a reload you’re already doing by hand.

Accuracy (7/10)

The .22 barrel is squirrel accurate at 25 yards with irons. The .410 is limited by its cylinder bore, so treat it as a close-range tool for birds, snakes and small pests.

Ergonomics & Recoil (7/10)

At 6.1 pounds and 35.75 inches it’s easy to carry. Recoil from the .410 is mild. The hammer selector tab is small, and I fumbled it with cold fingers more than once. Savage lists a 13.5 inch length of pull, so smaller shooters should look at the Compact.

Fit, Finish, and Quality Control (8/10)

Lockup is tight and the takedown fits perfectly every time. The furniture is thin polymer. It’s durable, but nobody will call it pretty.

Value (7/10)

About $500 is a lot for two single-shot barrels. But nothing else gives you a .22 and a .410 in a bag this size, except the Chiappa Double Badger at a similar price. Service members can cut the price a lot through Savage’s program.

Features (8/10)

One-button takedown, an included bug-out bag, removable sights that make way for a scope base, and a choice of .22 LR or .22 WMR. What’s missing is a choke on the .410.

Technical Deep Dive

Action and Selector

The 42 is a single-action break-open gun with one exposed hammer. The tab on the hammer chooses which firing pin it strikes, up for the rimfire barrel and down for the .410. The older Model 24 put the selector on the receiver, and moving it to the hammer made the gun simpler.

Barrels

Both barrels are 20 inch carbon steel. The top barrel has a 1:16 twist for .22 LR or .22 WMR, and the bottom barrel is a cylinder-bore .410 with a 3 inch chamber. Because it’s a .410, you can also find barrel inserts for handgun cartridges, though I did not test any.

Model	SKU	Rimfire	Stock	Weight	Length	MSRP
42 Takedown	22440	.22 LR	Black	6.1 lb	35.75 in.	$629
42 Takedown	22435	.22 WMR	Black	6.1 lb	35.75 in.	$629
42 Takedown	23002	.22 LR	OD Green	6.1 lb	35.75 in.	$629
42 Takedown	23001	.22 WMR	OD Green	6.1 lb	35.75 in.	$629
42 Takedown	23004	.22 LR	FDE	6.1 lb	35.75 in.	$629
42 Takedown	23003	.22 WMR	FDE	6.1 lb	35.75 in.	$629
42 Takedown Compact	22434	.22 LR	Black	4.66 lb	34.75 in.	$629

Parts, Accessories and Upgrades

Upgrade Category	Recommended Component	Why It Matters	Cost Estimate
Scope Base	An EGW Savage 42 Picatinny base where the rear sight comes off	Lets you mount a small scope for the .22	$23 to $36
Scope	A small rimfire scope, 2-7x or fixed 4x	Better .22 accuracy past 25 yards	$50 to $150
Sling	A lightweight sling on the factory studs	Hands free on the trail	$15 to $30
Ammo	CCI Mini-Mag and 2.5 in. #6 .410	The mix I’d carry	Varies

For squirrel loads, our best .22 LR ammo guide covers what works, and the best truck guns roundup shows what else rides well behind a seat.

Common Problems & Solutions

• Sticky .410 hulls: Some cheap shells swell. Try a different brand, and keep the chamber clean.
• Wrong barrel fires: Check the hammer tab before every shot. Up is the rifle, down is the shotgun.
• Open .410 patterns: The barrel is cylinder bore. Keep shots close, around 20 yards.
• Iron sights limit the .22: Remove the rear sight and fit a scope base.

Who Should NOT Buy This Gun

The 42 is a specialist, and plenty of buyers will be happier with something else.

• Shooters who only need a .22: The Ruger 10/22 Takedown, from $396.99, is faster and holds 10 rounds.
• Backpackers counting ounces: The Henry U.S. Survival AR-7, from $288.99, stows inside its own stock.
• Buyers who want a traditional wood stock: The Chiappa Double Badger, from $434.99, has checkered beechwood.
• Anyone who needs a real bird gun: A full-size shotgun from our best youth shotgun list patterns far better than a cylinder-bore .410.

Final Verdict

The Savage 42 Takedown is a strange gun in the best way. Mine fired all 400 rounds, grouped the .22 around 1.3 inches at 25 yards, and came apart and back together without a hitch. The .410 is only a close-range tool, and the price is steep for two single shots.

But if you want one gun in the truck or the cabin that can take a squirrel, a grouse or a snake, it’s the one to buy. Service members should check Savage’s program first.

Specs and list prices in this Savage 42 review come from Savage’s spec sheets for the 42 Takedown and 42 Takedown Compact, and Savage’s 2026 Service Purchase Program form. Street prices are what our live cards and retailers showed on September 26, 2026.

Final Score: 7.5/10. A light, packable .22 and .410 in one gun, as long as one shot per barrel is enough.

FAQ: Savage 42