Savage Long Range Benchrest Questions

[vtmarmot]

Yesterday I was testing some loads in my 6 BR Savage Long Range Benchrest rifle in preparation for an egg shoot. Generally, I shoot 108 Berger match bullets in this rifle, which has a one in eight twist. My standard load is 29.8 grains Varget, Fed 205M primers, and seated slightly into the lands.

I had not been thrilled with the performance so I decided to try different distances off the lands. It seemed to like .009 off, putting 4 shots into .249 inch at 200 meters before kicking the fifth about an inch low and right. I don’t think that was me. I tried other seating depths and a few loads with Berger 105 hybrids and 105 A-max but performance was mediocre to poor. One string of the 108’s was seated .036 off the lands and that gave extreme diagonal stringing upper left to lower right and a 2.5 inch group.

My rests, bags and bench technique are good. My cases are sized with a Redding Type-s bushing full length die and concentricity is very good. When putting away the empties this morning, I noticed that at least half of the firing pin strikes were off-center. There was some cratering too, even though none of my loads were even close to hot. Would this have anything to do with the poor performance and what should I do about it?

Another thing I noticed was that underneath the bolt handle at the root, there was a piece of rubbery stuff with fibers in it that had come loose and was wadded up. Evidently it is intended to cushion the handle and prevent if from striking the action. I don’t think this affects accuracy, but I’m not sure it’s necessary. I don’t see it on my other Savage target action. I’m going to leave it off unless someone thinks there’s a good reason to replace it.

 

[r44astro]

try some of Bart's new long range bullets, he'll give a seating to start from. at least you'll know it's not the bullets

Bill Greene

 

[JerrySharrett]

Another thing I noticed was that underneath the bolt handle at the root, there was a piece of rubbery stuff with fibers in it that had come loose and was wadded up. Evidently it is intended to cushion the handle and prevent if from striking the action. I don’t think this affects accuracy, but I’m not sure it’s necessary. I don’t see it on my other Savage target action. I’m going to leave it off unless someone thinks there’s a good reason to replace it.

The bolt handle is not supposed to strike the stock, that will effect accuracy. The base of the handle is supposed to make a positive stop on the action, anything between the bolt handle base and the action body COULD effect accuracy since it could cause variable lockups.


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[r44astro]

The bolt handle is not supposed to strike the stock, that will effect accuracy. The base of the handle is supposed to make a positive stop on the action, anything between the bolt handle base and the action body COULD effect accuracy since it could cause variable lockups.


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Hey Jerrry Blah Blah see ya in St lOUY

 

[CharlieH]

Yesterday I was testing some loads in my 6 BR Savage Long Range Benchrest rifle in preparation for an egg shoot. Generally, I shoot 108 Berger match bullets in this rifle, which has a one in eight twist. My standard load is 29.8 grains Varget, Fed 205M primers, and seated slightly into the lands.

I had not been thrilled with the performance so I decided to try different distances off the lands. It seemed to like .009 off, putting 4 shots into .249 inch at 200 meters before kicking the fifth about an inch low and right. I don’t think that was me. I tried other seating depths and a few loads with Berger 105 hybrids and 105 A-max but performance was mediocre to poor. One string of the 108’s was seated .036 off the lands and that gave extreme diagonal stringing upper left to lower right and a 2.5 inch group.

My rests, bags and bench technique are good. My cases are sized with a Redding Type-s bushing full length die and concentricity is very good. When putting away the empties this morning, I noticed that at least half of the firing pin strikes were off-center. There was some cratering too, even though none of my loads were even close to hot. Would this have anything to do with the poor performance and what should I do about it?

Another thing I noticed was that underneath the bolt handle at the root, there was a piece of rubbery stuff with fibers in it that had come loose and was wadded up. Evidently it is intended to cushion the handle and prevent if from striking the action. I don’t think this affects accuracy, but I’m not sure it’s necessary. I don’t see it on my other Savage target action. I’m going to leave it off unless someone thinks there’s a good reason to replace it.

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If you play with your action by dry firing, just to see if the bolt jumps when dry fired, you will find that putting a very small piece sorbathane (sp) between the bolt handle and the stock, the handle will not jump. But since we usually try to get a slight resistance to load the lugs when closing on a reloaded round, there is no jump. I suspect you will be fine removing the "rubbery stuff, if you keep a little resistance on closing.

 

[Wilbur]

I think I'm gonna agree with Charlie. Let us know if you discover differently!

Has this particular rifle shot well previously? The pin strikes should all be in the same place!!!!

 

[vtmarmot]

Define "well"

Well, it all depends on your definition of "well". I have never been thrilled with it but it was more consistent in the first year that I had it. In my session the other day, several decent 5 shot shot groups were spoiled by a flier. I don't think it was me, and I don't think it was conditions. Maybe it was the scope or the mounts or the bedding, but I don't think so. I will solve this off-center hits thing and then go from there.