Savage .308 win accuracy problems

I have a Savage model 10 fxp. rifle in .308 win. It has the accu-trigger.I cant get better than 3-5" groups with it at 100 yards. I have tried different brands of ammo from 150 gr to 180 gr. I replaced the cheap scope that came on it with a Bushnell Legend. I also put new rings on it. I have owned the rifle for two years since it was new. I have put around 150 rounds through it. Anyone have any ideas to get this rifle to shoot better?
 
Sounds like something is loose on the gun /stock/bases etc. If that is not the case then might be time to send it back to Savage. I will assume it has been cleaned properly a couple of times during that 150 rounds.
The federal gold match ammo with the 168gr Sierra is the standard which .308 ammo is judged by IIRC so that may be a last resort after checking that all is tight.

On the ammo this may be of interest.

http://www.snipercentral.com/ammocomparison.htm/
 
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I have checked and rechecked all screws on the stock, scope,rings, and bases. It seems that everything is OK but the rifle still shoots bad. It has also been cleaned several times.
 
i have a 10 in .308 that shoots well under 1" at 100yds and stay under moa out to 300yd, loves varget and 168 sierra match and does almost as well with 155 amax and varget again.if you dont load your own i would try the fed gm match as already suggested,and hornady taps usually work a lot better than you are getting. i would agree with checking your optics and rings and bases. might check your stocks screws also,and check for copper build up. just my thoughts
 
Can't say I have ever seen a Savage that shot that bad. If its a 10 twist, it should shoot 168's very well. Are you shooting factory stuff or reloads? Give us some info on the ammo your feeding this beast, it may be in its diet.
 
Has the barrel/action been taken out of the stock? If so was there any shavings or anything laying in the bedding area.

The recoil lug being kept from seating properly will cause what you have described, if the rifle was bedded and the recoil lug is resting on the bedding material that will do it also.

You can take a felt marker pen and mark the bottom of the recoil lug and then reseat the action and then remove it and look at the bottom of the recoil lug and see if it's made contact with something.

Is the barrel floated or is it making contact with the stock somewhere, use the dollar bill test and see. Good luck, blue.
 
I've had to change, scope, rings, and bases to find issues already - looking at them and tightening them didn't do it - FWIW.
 
Call Savage. It should shoot better than 3" groups, with some factory ammo.

I am going to go with the assumption that it is all factory original. Shooting factory ammo, 1 1/2" groups in not too uncommon in the real world.
 
I have replaced the rings but thats all. I dont have another scope to try but I have a good shooting rifle I can put this scope on to see if thats the problem.
 
The rifle has not been bedded. I removed the action from the stock and it does not look like the recoil lug is touching anything. The barrel does pass the dollar bill test.
 
Originally Posted By: ballistictipi have a 10 in .308 that shoots well under 1" at 100yds and stay under moa out to 300yd, loves varget and 168 sierra match and does almost as well with 155 amax and varget again.if you dont load your own i would try the fed gm match as already suggested,and hornady taps usually work a lot better than you are getting. i would agree with checking your optics and rings and bases. might check your stocks screws also,and check for copper build up. just my thoughts

+1 Clean the copper, 150 rounds can do it. My Savage 10 has the 26in barrel with a Chaote stock. It shoots dine size groups @ 100yd. You can try to bed the action. Keep the faith you will fix it.
 
I didn't see anybody mention checking the action screws and front scope base screws. If they bottom out before things are tight, you will get play. Front base screws are notorious for causing problems. What do the groups look like? Are you getting ovals, or vertical/horizontal stringing.

A dollar bill isn't enough clearance. I want at least a business card width. I would also borrow or buy another scope to make sure that isn't the issue. Friends of mine have had grouping problems with a new rig and say it couldn't be the scope, it is brand new. Turns out many are bad out of the box.
 
10 shots 100 yards Federal 180 gr sp
2012-07-19_21-10-45_967.jpg
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogCan't say I have ever seen a Savage that shot that bad.
You didn't stick with them through the bankruptcy years then...


If it isn't a copper issue, OR scope either...
The Crap-U-stocks are famous for cracking near the recoil lug. Normally I would say "who cares", but it does cause real problems.
 
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