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Like many American gunmakers, Savage keeps half a dozen different rimfires in its arsenal, because the .22 and .17 rimfires are as popular as ever and demand is high.
So many things are made to a price these days that I was very pleasantly surprised when a new Savage B Series Timberlite Thumbhole bolt-action rifle dropped on the doorstep.
Verdict at a glance
A light, agile and accurate rimfire that makes clever use of timber and carbon.
- Who it is for: rabbit and vermin shooters who want a light, quiet .22LR to carry and shoot in the field
- Most impressive: 0.65in groups at 50 yards with CCI Suppressor, and head shots on rabbits out to 94 yards
- Least impressive: a slow lock time and a noisy tang safety
- Price as tested: £1,050 (rifle only)
How we tested
Tested by Bruce Potts for Gun Trade Insider’s Reviewed by the experts. He shot four subsonic .22LR loads for groups at 50 yards with a Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14×50 scope and an ASE Utra ECOi moderator, then took the rifle rabbiting with a HIKMICRO Alpex Pro A50PL, accounting for 13 rabbits at 29 to 94 yards. Reviewed for the November 2026 issue.
I was expecting the usual light, plastic, utilitarian rifle that most US rimfires offer, but the Timberlite is different. Why? Well, the Timber part is exactly that: this model wears an ambidextrous thumbhole stock finished in grey and black speckled paint, but underneath it is wood, not plastic. That makes for far better handling and a more ergonomic feel – more of which later. The Lite comes from the fact that the 18in barrel is carbon fibre wrapped, which brings this short, 36in rimfire in at only 5.3lb. Add to that the AccuTrigger, which has been around since 2003 – blimey, I feel old – plus a convenient 10-shot rotary magazine and a one-piece scope rail.
Priced at £1,050 it has a lot to live up to, so let’s see how it works and performs.
Savage B22 Timberlite Thumbhole specification
| Feature | Savage B Series Timberlite Thumbhole |
|---|---|
| Type | Bolt action |
| Calibre | .22LR on test (.22 WMR and .17 HMR also available) |
| Barrel | 18in carbon-fibre-wrapped stainless steel, ½in x 28 UNEF muzzle thread |
| Overall length | 36in |
| Weight | 5.3lb |
| Finish | Matt blued receiver, carbon fibre wrapped barrel |
| Stock | Hardwood with painted finish, ambidextrous thumbhole |
| Trigger | AccuTrigger, adjustable 2.5lb to 6lb (measured break 1lb 12oz on test) |
| Magazine | 10-shot rotary |
| Price | £1,050 |
| UK distributor | Viking Arms |
Action, bolt and AccuTrigger
The B Series Savage rifles are eight to nine years old now and offer a no-nonsense turn-bolt rimfire action. These receivers are long at 8in and the bolt operation is quite mechanical – reasonably smooth is the best way to describe it – although it was totally reliable on test, and a few hundred rounds will smooth things up a treat. The bolt handle sits further forward than usual, more in line with the trigger guard than the trigger blade, and has a tactical teardrop form; there is no knurling but it feels in the right place for assured operation.
As with most of these designs there is a 60-degree bolt lift that locks at the rear with a single lug; the front end of the bolt runs parallel while the rest of the bolt body is free to rotate and lock in place. Extraction is particularly good, with two large opposed claw extractors that gripped all the ammunition tested positively, while ejection is via a spur that protrudes through a slotted bolt base when the bolt is rearmost.
The lock time is pretty slow, so good follow-through control is needed, but this is helped by the addition of Savage’s wonder trigger, the AccuTrigger. Again, it seems a long time since its introduction offered a safe but adjustable trigger from 2.5lb to 6lb.
The first pull from the skeletonised inset blade is imperceptible, and it then breaks finely at 1lb 12oz on this rifle. That is very good for a rimfire in this price range and, although it is not my bag, you cannot knock these triggers: they work well and they are safe.
Talking of which, the safety catch itself is a tang-mounted type, which I think is more user friendly in practice thanks to the convenient nature of its operation and the easy access it gives the supporting thumb. It is noisy, though – pushing down as you operate it does quieten it significantly. It only blocks the trigger, so the bolt is still operational.
The magazine feed is very good, with no stoppages at all during the test from this 10-round rotary mag. Its rugged black polymer construction makes it lightweight and it will not rust either. There is a knack to loading it, with a positive push-and-slide motion for each case, but I do like the integral release lever sited on the front of the magazine, which ensures an expedited exit of the mag from the rifle.
Carbon-wrapped barrel and hardwood stock
The stainless steel barrel is 18in long and 0.80in in diameter at the muzzle end, but that is due to the carbon wrap encasing the slimmed-down barrel beneath. This lightens and, to some degree, stiffens the whole barrel, which terminates in an end cap threaded ½in x 28 UNEF for a sound moderator. These barrels are threaded into the B Series action and have Savage’s characteristic knurled headspace nut, if one feels the need to tamper.
It has that lovely carbon fibre finish and contributes not only to the fine accuracy but also to the good handling of this model.
Of equal interest is the stock, which at first glance looks like a synthetic model until you pick it up and it feels solid, well balanced and very tactile. Beneath the overall grey livery and black spiderweb paint finish is a hardwood stock. Its coverage extends into the bedding area too, so moisture ingress is stopped and consistent accuracy maximised.
This finish is perfect as it gives the Timberlite a great handling feature and a much better overall feel that negates the need for chequering. The forend is semi-stepped just in front of the magazine well and has a very tactile rounded profile that is equally good off the bags or with a bipod fitted.
A small squishy recoil pad is snag free and the sling swivel studs are helpful, but it is the ambidextrous nature of the thumbhole stock design that gets full marks for a well-assured hold and steady aim.
How accurate is the Savage B22 Timberlite?
The Timberlite came with a Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14×50 scope and an ASE Utra ECOi rimfire moderator fitted, and we started the test with these at 50 yards. Great optics for a crystal-clear image, and the mod’s new two-piece internal removable baffle stack is very convenient and super quiet too.
First up was one of my favourite rimfire rounds, the CCI Suppressor, with its heavier 45-grain hollow point bullet that is well subsonic and thus quiet and always accurate. Through the Timberlite barrel it shot 0.65in groups at 50 yards at a very quiet 947fps for 90ft/lb of energy.
Next up, another good subsonic round with a 42-grain bullet, the Winchester Subsonic Max, which shot a looser group at 1in at a velocity of 1,101fps and a decent 113ft/lb.
Norma Subsonics, with a 40-grain bullet, are always very quiet, and at 917fps they were super stealthy, yet still yielded 75ft/lb and put five shots into 0.80in at 50 yards.
My choice, because I ran out of Suppressor loads, was the Eley Subsonic, offering a good blend of accuracy at 0.72in and quiet running at 1,023fps, with a decent energy figure of 88ft/lb.
| Ammunition | Bullet | Velocity | Energy | Group at 50 yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCI Suppressor | 45-grain hollow point | 947fps | 90ft/lb | 0.65in |
| Winchester Subsonic Max | 42-grain | 1,101fps | 113ft/lb | 1in |
| Norma Subsonic | 40-grain | 917fps | 75ft/lb | 0.80in |
| Eley Subsonic | Not stated | 1,023fps | 88ft/lb | 0.72in |
Rabbiting with the Timberlite and HIKMICRO Alpex Pro
For the rabbit hunt I swapped out the Leupold after four rabbits for a new HIKMICRO Alpex Pro A50PL and headed for the warrens. Loading the mag with 10 Eley Subsonics takes a knack, as we said, but gives plenty of firepower for the numerous rabbits encountered without reloading.
What is really pleasing about this Timberlite is its lightweight, agile nature when stalking the fields and crawling through bushes. I like the solid feel, to be honest, and it was not long until I had a couple of head-shot rabbits in the bag. The AccuTrigger’s pull was light and this did help with some head shots out to 94 yards, on film, which has me really respecting how this Savage rimfire shot.
Primarily I shot the Timberlite off a bipod, but it is equally good as a walk-and-shoot rimfire off sticks, free hand or resting on a branch. In other words, the accuracy and consistency, coupled to the good handling, instilled the confidence to shoot rabbits at the ranges the Alpex Pro’s ballistic reticle indicated. After 13 rabbits at ranges from 29 yards to 94 yards, I think any potential buyer would be very happy with this little Timberlite.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Hardwood stock gives a solid, well-balanced, tactile feel under its synthetic look
- Light at 5.3lb and agile in the field
- Sub-inch groups at 50 yards with three of the four subsonic loads tested
- AccuTrigger broke cleanly at 1lb 12oz
- Reliable 10-shot rotary magazine with no stoppages
- Ambidextrous thumbhole stock and threaded barrel
Weaknesses
- Slow lock time demands good follow-through
- Noisy tang safety unless pushed down as it is operated
- Bolt operation is mechanical until it has run a few hundred rounds
- Magazine takes a knack to load
Verdict
It is obvious that Savage have stepped up to the plate with this rifle and thought about producing a great-handling gun using both retro and modern materials to achieve a terrific little rimfire. Fed the right ammunition it shot tiny groups at 50 yards and was capable of head shots on rabbits out to nearly 100 yards. It handles really well and, although I am not a great fan of the AccuTrigger, it contributed to the fine accuracy, and the thumbhole stock design and finish are ideal for a vermin gun.
To me this Timberlite is Savage’s best rimfire rifle, and it looks as good as it handles and shoots.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Savage B22 Timberlite Thumbhole?
It is priced at £1,050. Savage rifles are distributed in the UK by Viking Arms.
Is the Savage Timberlite stock wood or synthetic?
It is hardwood. The stock is finished in grey and black speckled paint, so it looks synthetic, but underneath it is wood, and the coverage extends into the bedding area.
What calibres is the B22 Timberlite available in?
The test rifle was .22LR. The Timberlite is also available in .22 WMR and .17 HMR.
Is the Savage Timberlite barrel threaded for a moderator?
Yes. The 18in carbon-wrapped barrel ends in a cap threaded ½in x 28 UNEF for a sound moderator.
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