Savage 110ba 338 lapua problems

[KidWalleye]

Hey guys wondering of you could help me out.

Just picked this gun up used. Had 30 rounds down the barrel when purchased.

First time out the extractor doesn't seem to be able to extract the spent casing very well. Every time I have to push bolt forward and lock down 3-4 time to get the spent casing out. The previous owner said he never had an issue and has offered to refund my money if we cannot get the problem resolved.

It seems to me that the casing is flaring out at the neck more then it should and sticking it.

I'll attach a picture of the casing in my ammo box. Loaded round sit 1/4 inch lower in the case then spent casings.

Ammo IS HORNADY 185 grain match grade HPBT

Thank you
Gary

 

[KidWalleye]

Photos.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Hornady had issues with their 338 brass early on (it's well documented on this site and you can find those posts by using the search fuction at the top of the page).

Not sure about later runs but I don't know of anyone that uses Hornady brass. Consensus of opinion is that it's Lapua or stay home. I use Lapua brass or pre loaded HSM rounds in Lapua brass.

All my loads are in Lapua brass or PPU or Nosler (which is actually Norma) in that order.

You obviously need to loose the Hornady brass somewhere.

 

[KidWalleye]

You are correct. I stopped at the local sporting good store that sells alot of rifles. Ask them if they had had any issues with guns they have sold. He said and I quote " every savage 338 lapua that has came back with issues were injector issues with Hornady brass.

It looks like the 200 rounds I have will get used and disposed of. Was going to reload them but I don't want to deal with a single shot rifle.

Thats know you for your help

Gary

 

[KidWalleye]

You are correct. I stopped at the local sporting good store that sells alot of rifles. Ask them if they had had any issues with guns they have sold. He said and I quote " every savage 338 lapua that has came back with issues were injector issues with Hornady brass.

It looks like the 200 rounds I have will get used and disposed of. Was going to reload them but I don't want to deal with a single shot rifle.

Thats know you for your help

Gary

 

[SidecarFlip]

I don't know why Joyce Hornady decided to build a 338 cartridge and not copy a proven one (like the Lapua) because it was Lapua that took the 416 Rigby and modified it for the 338 design. Always copy a proven cartridge exactly when making an equivalent.

There are other issues with the early runs of Hornady 338 brass, all well documented on this site (and others) including alloy composition. I realize the cost was enticing (compared to Lapua or Norma/Nosler brass) but the bottom line is you need a quality made shell to handle the pressures and cycle properly.

In Hornady's defense I swear by their 22 caliber pills for 223 flavor rounds and their V-Max and Zombie Max in 308 but the 338 is different animal.

Your salvation is scrap brass has never been higher. I keep all my culls in a bucket and take them to the scrap yard once a year. Good for a nice 50 dollar bill and then some.

Having said that. I believe that Hornady has redesigned the cartridge and possibly the issues have been resolved but I say why bother when there are much more proven and viable ones out there.

I have reloaded a couple dozen PPU's that I got from Wideners for a reasonable price (compared to Lapua brass) and haven't had any issues yet, but they are only on their second reload.

It's not a rifle that I'd take to the range and blow off a hundred rounds in the first place. One, even reloading them is expensive considering you'll reload 250 to 300 grain pills and enough propellant in each to fill 4 lesser cartridges plus the barrel life is very finite. Expect to rebarrel (because of throat erosion) after a couple thousand rounds maximum and much less if you are a velocity freak and load at the maximum.

I sighted in my 338 at 300 yards, developed my load, loaded 100 rounds and put it in the gun cabinet for when I need it for a hunt. Thats where it resides.

Nice to have one. Also nice to have alternatives.

Have fun.

 

[Bodywerks]

It is also well documented that the savage 110 338 Lapua rifles have been known to have sick bolts/extraction issues in general. Lapua reduces some of the problems but not all. I still had stick bolt issues even with Lapua brass on mine, not to mention it was a 2 MOA rifle on average. I never, ever got it to group better than about 1.2 MOA, and that was like, once.

Good luck.

 

[SidecarFlip]

It is also well documented that the savage 110 338 Lapua rifles have been known to have sick bolts/extraction issues in general. Lapua reduces some of the problems but not all. I still had stick bolt issues even with Lapua brass on mine, not to mention it was a 2 MOA rifle on average. I never, ever got it to group better than about 1.2 MOA, and that was like, once.

Good luck.

My comment to that is simply, It's certainly not a TRG nor a custom built rifle but an entry level LRH with a corresponding price point. Conversely, I've never had issue one with mine and furthermore, punching paper is a whole lot different than taking an animal. Animals have kill zones, paper don't.

As a rule I don't load for maximum velocity but maximum accuracy and that usually puts me about midway in a published load ladder.

I've never considered any of the 11-11-10 Series as having a precision fitting action, they are all sloppy compared to say, the TRG but the price point is 1/3 of a Sako and even less than a custom built firearm.

So yes, good luck. He will still go a loog way toward improving extraction by loosing the Hornady Brass.

 

[gitira6]

It is also well documented that the savage 110 338 Lapua rifles have been known to have sick bolts/extraction issues in general. Lapua reduces some of the problems but not all. I still had stick bolt issues even with Lapua brass on mine, not to mention it was a 2 MOA rifle on average. I never, ever got it to group better than about 1.2 MOA, and that was like, once.

Good luck.

I got rid of a 111 LRH .338 Lapua a few months ago. Sticky cases on extraction. Sent it back twice and still had the problem. They polished the chamber, headspace, etc. Tried Hornady brass, Lapua, BHA, etc. Hornady was the worst, Lapuas were way better, but still had the problem less frequently. Light loads also. It was a very accurate gun though, and not putting down Savage either, I think it was a combination of things.

 

[Bodywerks]

Yep. I still love savages, but will limit my big bore guns to custom actions. Savage still my go to. Got one custom, chambered in 260 that is strictly target/tactical, and just rebarreled another with a McGowan in 7 saum for hunting. Both are sub half MOA. The 260 action is the smoothest savage action my gunsmith ever felt, but I did a lot of work to get it that way.

 

[gitira6]

Yeah, thats definately the way to go.

 

[Ya Man]

Hey Kid Walleye. I have a savage 110 ba and I have had 1 problem with ejection.
Seems that my gun does not like federal casings, so I throwed them all away. I have shot about 250 rounds of nosler brass and it has never failed to eject. Don't get rid of that gun, you will get it right. It take a little time to find the right combination, but when you do, boy does it shoot.

 

[pda4de]

I recently purchased my second used Savage in .338 LM, a 110BA. My first is a 110 HS. I use nothing but once fired brass that I have purchased online from Armslist or GunBroker. I've never had a stuck case. The brass is mainly Hornady, but some Lapua. While I was sighting in the 110BA this weekend I let another member from my club test it out. He shot it once and got a dead center bullseye. I had a lot of touching holes and a few bullseyes myself.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I recently purchased my second used Savage in .338 LM, a 110BA. My first is a 110 HS. I use nothing but once fired brass that I have purchased online from Armslist or GunBroker. I've never had a stuck case. The brass is mainly Hornady, but some Lapua. While I was sighting in the 110BA this weekend I let another member from my club test it out. He shot it once and got a dead center bullseye. I had a lot of touching holes and a few bullseyes myself.

At what distance and don't tell me 100 yards. 100 yards with a 338 is like peeing in a fan.