Why are factory savage rifles accurate?

[M-61]

Button rifled barrels combined with the ability to set the headspace more accurately

Button vs cut rifling aside, 'to set the headspace more accurately'......?
Once the headspace is set, be it by factory, gunsmith, or you that's it. Providing you can close the bolt or or not blow the brass up that middle ground is what you have. After the 2nd or 3rd firing (maybe the first) your brass is (minus spring back) a copy of the head space in that chamber. I don't see accuracy being effected at all. Head space set correctly is for a safety reason and I see it having no bearing on accuracy at all.
I set my head space. I like to run as close to minimum that I can. (actually trying to set 3 rifles as close as I can so that I can achieve the ability (should it arise) to interchange bolts (which you really should not do unless you take the time to try and set them the same.)(something I picked up from Cortina should a bolt malfunction)
I'm talking Savage's, and I'm talking about my thoughts.
I find them to be the most accurate factory rifles and as to reason why I often wondered if the difference between tension (Savage) and compression (others) had anything to do with it. Barrell being pulled into the receiver as opposed to being pulled out. I'm in over my head with that.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

Button vs cut rifling aside, 'to set the headspace more accurately'......?
Once the headspace is set, be it by factory, gunsmith, or you that's it. Providing you can close the bolt or or not blow the brass up that middle ground is what you have. After the 2nd or 3rd firing (maybe the first) your brass is (minus spring back) a copy of the head space in that chamber. I don't see accuracy being effected at all. Head space set correctly is for a safety reason and I see it having no bearing on accuracy at all.
I set my head space. I like to run as close to minimum that I can. (actually trying to set 3 rifles as close as I can so that I can achieve the ability (should it arise) to interchange bolts (which you really should not do unless you take the time to try and set them the same.)(something I picked up from Cortina should a bolt malfunction)
I'm talking Savage's, and I'm talking about my thoughts.
I find them to be the most accurate factory rifles and as to reason why I often wondered if the difference between tension (Savage) and compression (others) had anything to do with it. Barrell being pulled into the receiver as opposed to being pulled out. I'm in over my head with that.

You're taking in consideration everyone handloads and that is not the case. Head space being set as close to zero and consistently is important for many that shoot factory ammo.

 

[M-61]

You're taking in consideration everyone handloads

Yes, I was.
What is zero headspace?

 

[C.E.Smith043]

Yes, I was.
What is zero headspace?

Basically Im meaning as close to the low end of Saami

 

[C.E.Smith043]

Having a barrel nut system allows Savage to consistently set their headspace without relying on machining tolerances of the barrel shoulder, recoil lug and reamer depth to achieve it.

This ability to achieve more consistency aides in accuracy.

 

[Old Navy]

Button vs cut rifling aside, 'to set the headspace more accurately'......?
Once the headspace is set, be it by factory, gunsmith, or you that's it. Providing you can close the bolt or or not blow the brass up that middle ground is what you have. After the 2nd or 3rd firing (maybe the first) your brass is (minus spring back) a copy of the head space in that chamber. I don't see accuracy being effected at all. Head space set correctly is for a safety reason and I see it having no bearing on accuracy at all.
I set my head space. I like to run as close to minimum that I can. (actually trying to set 3 rifles as close as I can so that I can achieve the ability (should it arise) to interchange bolts (which you really should not do unless you take the time to try and set them the same.)(something I picked up from Cortina should a bolt malfunction)
I'm talking Savage's, and I'm talking about my thoughts.
I find them to be the most accurate factory rifles and as to reason why I often wondered if the difference between tension (Savage) and compression (others) had anything to do with it. Barrell being pulled into the receiver as opposed to being pulled out. I'm in over my head with that.

I have two model 12 BR rifles. The bolts are not close enough on mine to be interchangeable.

 

[Tommie]

Floating bolt head.
Period.

 

[Old Navy]

They are machined close enough to swap scopes from one rifle to another and be on the target at 100. They are also close enough to replace barrels on be on at 100. I am talking my 2 Model 12 BR.

 

[M-61]

I have two model 12 BR rifles. The bolts are not close enough on mine to be interchangeable.

Sure. Nothing stopping you from making them so but no real need. I assume you are talking about head space as they will fit but will NOT be correct and possibly dangerous

Floating bolt head.
Period.

I’d like to think it were that simple

Having a barrel nut system allows Savage to consistently set their headspace without relying on machining tolerances of the barrel shoulder, recoil lug and reamer depth to achieve it.

This ability to achieve more consistency aides in accuracy.

Thank you

 

[C.E.Smith043]

They are machined close enough to swap scopes from one rifle to another and be on the target at 100. They are also close enough to replace barrels on be on at 100. I am talking my 2 Model 12 BR.

I've actually found the opposite. Out of the 4 savages I currently have 2 of them have shims under the scope base on the front only just to get my scope on Target

 

[bigfish28]

Understanding the several factors that need to be tuned for accuracy. Then building the rifle so they can easily be adjusted,

 

[wkdickinson]

Everybody bitches about how rough the inside of Savage barrels are. But for a little over $300 you can buy a Criterion, install it yourself with a few inexpensive tools and you've got a real shooter. The thing I don't like about them is the amount of effort required to open and close the bolt - nothing smooth about that.

 

[Mark W]

Everybody bitches about how rough the inside of Savage barrels are. But for a little over $300 you can buy a Criterion, install it yourself with a few inexpensive tools and you've got a real shooter. The thing I don't like about them is the amount of effort required to open and close the bolt - nothing smooth about that.

My one Savage PTA with the bolt worked over by Grimstod is actually smoother than any of my Remingtons.

 

[Tommie]

I’d like to think it were that simple

It is

 

[Old Navy]

I've actually found the opposite. Out of the 4 savages I currently have 2 of them have shims under the scope base on the front only just to get my scope on Target

They are shooting so high at 100 you can't lower the elevation in your scope to get on the target? I have one like that but it has a 40 MOA rail. Are they target actions?

 

[Old Navy]

Sure. Nothing stopping you from making them so but no real need. I assume you are talking about head space as they will fit but will NOT be correct and possibly dangerous.
Nothing dangerous M-61. One will just have .004" to much headspace.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

They are shooting so high at 100 you can't lower the elevation in your scope to get on the target? I have one like that but it has a 40 MOA rail. Are they target actions?

No its the older actions that are round up front and flat in the rear

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

I may have this wrong but doesn't a floating bolt head somewhat solve this?
And YES. They are accurate. I have a few Savages for their actions
A few years ago I bought a LRPV in 6BR. Had no ammo so bought a box of Lapua.
After sighting in I shot the 5 shot 100 yard group below. Almost made me give up handloading.View attachment 1294744
I saved the target because never have I had a factory rifle with factory ammo shoot anything close to this.
Embarrassingly my handloads have never matched this.

I have read there are some production years better than others re: the LRPVs. Do you have opinion on this? Thank you.

 

[M-61]

I have read there are some production years better than others re: the LRPVs. Do you have opinion on this? Thank you.

I haven't run into that. Even the spacing between receiver screws (at least 3 sizes) seems to make no difference. I now buy Savage actions and the spacing is only a concern for the stock I have on hand. Then that ended with switching barrels.

 

[LHSmith]

Found a picture, hand operated press.

They must have upgraded. That is not the picture of the fixture that I remember from years ago. I recall the barrel being held vertical and the operator using a simple bar to manually adjust (bend) the blank. Realizing we are talking mostly for hunting guns, still, call me a purist but barrel straightening is a deal breaker for me ( stress has a way of rearing it's ugly head). I don't mind that my model 99 was made that way, but most of my Remingtons , both hunting and target models, have been rebarreled and accurized by competent smiths and I don't regret having taken that route after seeing what ideas work best in Benchrest competition......I said I am a purist and like to eliminate the variables.