There are a lot of different forms of rimfire rifle sports and activities available to shooters these days… From the traditional ISSF match rifle sports to the latest and greatest PRS Rimfire game; to Silhouette, CMP Rimfire Sporter, Sporting Rifle, and everything in between. The list is nauseatingly endless. Let’s not forget small game hunting either… Many pick their game and focus solely on their discipline of choice. Given the complexities and equipment requirements that come along with some of these hobbies, dabbling in more than one could represent a sizeable investment for the budget minded enthusiast. But what if there was a rifle, that could perform well enough for nearly any shooter, of nearly any size to enjoy a multitude of rimfire related activities? Enter the Savage MkI\II FVT…

Often viewed as a “club rifle”, the FVT can usually be found surrounding new shooters venturing into the world of target sport. From Cadets earning marksmanship awards to the Civilian Marksmanship Program training new shooters, a MkI/II FVT is typically nearby.

In either of its forms be it the MkI single shot or MkII box magazine fed variant, the FVT sports a lightweight polymer stock with a slightly reduced length pull of 13.5 in as compared to Savage’s other polymer stocked offerings. The reduced length of pull makes it usable for some smaller statured shooters. A Pachmayer Renegade slip on recoil pad remedies the length of pull issue for larger adults. Weighing in at 6.12lbs, it’s lite enough to take a field and hunt with, even though it sports Savage’s “V” bull barrel at 21 inches long. Topped with Williams globe sights and the inclusion of multiple front sight inserts makes the rifle a turnkey contender for most small bore bullseye match disciplines. The iron sights don’t require tools to add, remove, or adjust them.

So how is this little Canadian made rifle a Jack of all trades in nearly everything rimfire rifle related? Well to start, it’s accurate. I mean, really really accurate. The mechanical accuracy of the FVT; not unlike its “FV” brethren is outstanding considering the price of admission. Paired with decent ammunition, the rifle is more than capable of printing a ragged hole at 50 meters. That is, provided the shooter does their part too. Which brings us to the shooter/rifle interface… The stock…

The polymer stock is the weak point of the rifle even though it does contribute to its overall versatility. Although the stock does have some flex in it, it’s nowhere near as pronounced as the flex present on Savage’s Centerfire offerings similarly equipped. The passable rigidity comes in a lightweight and robust package at an affordable price of only $20 Canadian for a replacement one. As such the user is typically free to explore the world of modifications to it. From adding Arca rails (which stiffen things up noticeably), cheek pieces, to heating and bending, this cheap piece of plastic lets the shooter do what they need to make it their own. All that said a chassis will still no doubt rein supreme as far as providing a stable platform for supported shooting, particularly from a bipod and bag… As such the shooter will need to really do their part in that scenario to yield the best results. But when they do, that shooter will no doubt be quite pleased. Considering there are plenty of sports in which the shooter can’t necessarily use a chassis, the OEM stock and its dimensions make sense as a starting point with versatility in mind.

If one were to only shoot one particular discipline, then there’s no doubt they’d be served better by selecting the crème de la crème rifle for that particular sport. But this Savage is something different. It’s something you can shoot an SFC Sporting Rifle match with out of the box. Then shoot its sister sport Hunting Rifle in the same day. Slap a scope and bipod on it and you’re set for PRS Rimfire or Silhouette the following weekend. Not to mention venturing out to harvest some game come fall. All while not breaking the bank…