Steve and King, that first round 24 .22 barrel inaccuracy sounds like bad ignition to me. Steve's gun probably had a broken, but not entirely broken, firing pin, so that the ctgs. were getting ignited differently each time (firing pin front half was jiggling around).
The first rule with Savage break-open rifles--24, 219 etc.--is DON'T dry fire them. Breaks the pin someplace every time (DON'T ask how I found out...).
Don't know about the shotguns, because my first rule with any shotgun, cheapo or less-cheap, is "get a snap cap"!
