Nead help with Savage 308

[JUDD]

Just bought a savage 10 tactical 308 with the Mcmillian stock. Had it now for a month and still can't get this gun under 1 MOA. I am an experienced shooter and can shoot some impressive groups with other guns so it not me.

Any other savage owners wanna help me with some info on these.

I tried varget/hornaday 168gr/178 gr in every single grain/OAL combo possible.

Thought about trying VithoVourie (spelling?) and Berger VLD's

Will the berger open up or are they similar to the SMK's. SMK's I had problems with punching holes right through groundhogs and not killing them.

I wanna stay above 168 gr bullet with as high as BC as possible. Will be shooting from 0-1000 yrds.

SAVAGE 308 OWNERS PLEASE HELP!!!

 

[300win]

The Berger bullets will expand much better than the smk at the lower 308 velocity. I shoot the 175 Bergers and reloader 15 out of one of my .308 rifles with outstanding accuracy.

 

[JUDD]

thanks for the info

how many grains powder are you shooting? What Velocity?

 

[James Jones]

What kind of groups are you getting ? just big or do they string out to the sides or up and down. What have you done to try to find the problem?
It could be loose scope rings or mounts , maybe a bad scope
it could be poor bedding or loose stock/action screws
is the barrel tight and headspaced right?
does the barrel touch the stock anywere like a pressure point?
Have you looked at the crown? does it have any burrs or appear to be cut out of square?

their are alot of things that will make a gun shoot bad what have you done to narrow the search down?

Savages in general come pretty well put together but every once in a while a turd can slip through that had a poorly cut crown or chamber or maybe the crown got bumped in transport.

 

[300win]

I am using 43.5 gr of reloader 15 for a velocity of 2725 fps. I have also had good luck with IMR 4064 and TAC.

 

[eddybo]

42.7 gr RL 15 with the 168 sierras shoots .2s in mine using winchester brass. It is the only load I have tried, It was listed as the most accurate load in the Sierra manual. I remember it vividly because it was the first time one of thier accuracy loads shot in my gun.

 

[oltmann]

I can think of a couple of things to check. Make sure the front screw from your scope base is not touching the bolt head. Check the barrel nut to make sure it's tight. Also, the action should be free floated on the sides and especially the rear tang.

Do they come bedded in the Mcmillian stocks? If not, it may need bedded.

I use win brass, cci br2, varget at 44.5-45 and 175 SMK at around 2700 in my 10fp.

 

[linksmechanic]

How many rounds through it? What kind of cleaning procedure? Any copper? How's the barrel look(is it a bit rough)? If it's coppered at all like most factory barrels do that will definitely throw your groups off. I hate to say this but if any of the signs I mentioned are there maybe try some jb.

 

[JUDD]

savage

What kind of groups are you getting ? just big or do they string out to the sides or up and down. What have you done to try to find the problem?
It could be loose scope rings or mounts , maybe a bad scope
it could be poor bedding or loose stock/action screws
is the barrel tight and headspaced right?
does the barrel touch the stock anywere like a pressure point?
Have you looked at the crown? does it have any burrs or appear to be cut out of square?

their are alot of things that will make a gun shoot bad what have you done to narrow the search down?

Savages in general come pretty well put together but every once in a while a turd can slip through that had a poorly cut crown or chamber or maybe the crown got bumped in transport.

groups are just big....ex. five shot group 2 high about 11:00 each touching and 2 low about 5:00 touching with one dead center of the two groups. total group size has been around 1 1/4 - 1 1/2.

stock is not bedded
crown is in good shape
action screws are tight
barrel is tight
barrel is not touching stock anywhere
new scope will be on next week (6.5x20x50 VXIII)

How many rounds through it? What kind of cleaning procedure? Any copper? How's the barrel look(is it a bit rough)? If it's coppered at all like most factory barrels do that will definitely throw your groups off. I hate to say this but if any of the signs I mentioned are there maybe try some jb.

around 200 rounds total
cleaning procedure:
cleaned when first got it
cleaned every shot for five shots
cleaned every three shots for 15 shots
now it gets cleaned after every test group

I use sweets 7.62
have not been getting excessive copper and barrel looks good

I shoot my 5 shot group and then clean.....shoot 2 foulers and then proceede with my five shot group then clean again.

I really don't think it's the gun. I believe it is either very picky with it powder/bullet combo or it's the scope. will know if it's the scope next week when the luepy comes.

 

[philny1]

Savage

I've had more that one gun that required a few rds down the barrel before they start to shoot. Two foulers and five shots may not be enough. Try shooting 3-4 five shot group without your usual cleaning routine. Easy nough to try, maybe an easy fix.
I often wonder how many good loads I passed by with my usual routine of one fouler and two three shot groups.

 

[edge]

Since you are changing the scope anyway, remove the front base screw. I think that you will find it to be a blind hole. What you see is the barrel shank threads, and sometimes the screw is too long.

With the base off, count haw many turns it takes for this screw to bottom out. Next, install the base and count how many turns it takes.

The screw will stretch a bit, so make sure that WITH the base it is 1/2 turn less than Without. Otherwise the screw will be bottomed out and you will swear that the base is tight, but it won't be.

edge.

 

[BountyHunter]

If I understand what you are doing, it is not your loads, but your cleaning technique and frequency IMO.

If you are cleaning after each group and using Sweets, it takes 3-4 shots to settle down out of your next group.

1. quit using sweets, use Wipeout accelerator or Montana Extreme 50 BMG and clean after 40-60 shots etc.

2. After cleaning fire 4-5 shots to settle bore. I use ME Bore conditioner after cleaning and my first shot is normally less than 1/2 MOA out of the group at absolute worst and shots 2 and on are in.

BH

 

[James Jones]

I would have to say that your cleaning your gun to often also , as factory barrels go Savages makes some pretty good ones as they are the only or one of very few that use button rifled barrels. Som e guns don't like to be shot clean and need several foulers to "settle down" and start gouping well. I also agree with not using the sweets but every few cleaning to make sure that the barrel is squeeky clean. I use Shooters choice most of the time and in factory guns I use JB bore paste alot too.

Our police department bought a sniper rifle once that took 6-8 shots to settle the groups down before that it would shoot 2"-3" groups !!! , the only problem was that the boss wanted the gun stored with a clean bore and when the SWAT team is called out their ain't no time for fouling shots , so after much heated arguing with the guns builder the money was refunded and a Robar SR-90 was bought.

But either way I would bed the gun at least the front of the action

 

[JUDD]

thanks guys

thanks for the quick replys fellas, one more ?

how far off the lands do the savages "usually" like the bullets?

I'm gonna try the bergers and RL15 powder next

I've tried from .030 off to seating in the lands

once again thanks guys!!