DaNewf, sorry i can't answer your specific questions, but i can try to tell you how much I love my 40+ yr old model 23aa.
Its a bolt (rimfire) with detatchable magazine that i've never had a problem with, thousands of rounds and its still smooth as silk, cleans up nice, with fantastic groups.
If they still build them as quality as they used to it would be hard to go wrong with a Savage.