Savage Build Problem

[Forester]

Things to Check:
Is the Tang Floated?
Is the Bolt Handle touching the Stock?
Is the gun actually recoiling against the lug or against the screws? (Action Bedded?)
Is the front scope Base screw bottoming out against the barrel?
Is the scope base touching the Lug?
Tight Scope Mounting-everything?
Possible the Recoil Lug is bent?...it can happen on factory lugs
How much flex in the stock-Can it touch the barrel under recoil?
How is your bench technique?
Not using Mixed headstamp brass are you?
Do the same cases always make the flyers?


Hope something there helps!

[HuntnID]

Thanks for all the tips Forester. Will different brass manufacturers really make that much of a difference? That could be the problem if so. I'm thinking it could be the lack of bedding. I've never bedded anything so I'm trying to figure out if I should try it myself or have somebody do it.

[Forester]

Originally Posted by HuntnID

Thanks for all the tips Forester. Will different brass manufacturers really make that much of a difference? That could be the problem if so. I'm thinking it could be the lack of bedding. I've never bedded anything so I'm trying to figure out if I should try it myself or have somebody do it.

Yes, different brands of brass can shoot dramatically different. Case capacity, hardness, and neck tension are all almost sure to vary enough to matter.

Bedding is something that takes practice, but it is not hard. Do some searching here, and on 6BR and read a bunch before you start. If you can repaint your living room and get good results you can bed your rifle, it is all about preparation and attention to details.

I have bedded about a dozen rifles now, that includes re-doing some of my early efforts because they are no longer acceptable to me. It can really make a difference too. I bedded an older Savage .223 for a friend and it went from 3.5 inches at 200yrds to 1inch.

[HuntnID]

Well...I was running through the list that you gave me and I noticed that that tang wasn't floated. I sanded it down a little bit and finally got to shoot it today. It shot right at an inch. I was in a hurry so I couldn't stay long. When I got home I noticed that that tang wasn't 'as' floated as it was so I could probably float it a little bit more, bed it, and shoot some more forgiving bullets and I could have this baby licked. Thank you for the help.

[pdog06]

What do you mean" it wasnt as floated as it was"? This sounds like something definately moved, which could be your whole problem. Id hog out the tand and make sure it is floated.

Try loosening the action screws, standing the rifle up on the butt, and re-tightening the action screws a little at a time, alternating between the 2. This should allow the recoil lug to fall back and make an even contact on the stock. Then once everything is nice and tight, double check the barrel and tang for being floated. A dollar bill of pc of paper should slide under it(itll only go under the tang bout a 1/2 inch cause itll hit the trigger). Also once everything is tight see if the barrel is centered in the barrel channel. If not then a bedding job could be in order.

[HuntnID]

It was floated and afterwards there was one little spot that just barely touching in the corner. I'm definitely gonna bed it now.

[bigngreen]

Don't mess with the tang any more till it's bedded or you'll end up with a huge gap. I wrap electrical tap around the tang and barrel to set my clearance when bedding that way when you lock it down after bedding you have perfect clearance all the way though the rifle.
I had a piece of bedding break out on the back RH corner and when I torqued down the action the tang touched on the RH side, I went from a sub 1/2 MOA rifle to 4-5 in wandering, after fixing it back to what it should be.