New gun troubles

[DLT]

Years ago I bought a 12fv from cabelas. I messed around with it for a while.

Decided not to waste any time on it. Now the only thing left is the action and bolt. View attachment 1619467

Call James at Northland shooters supply, he'll get you straight on a good accustock and barrel.

Ha. I got a hs for it. I wish he carried a 11 twist !!!!

 

[Larry Koch]

For better accuracy you need to roll your own.

 

[DLT]

For better accuracy you need to roll your own.

I don’t mind it. It’s what happens anyways but shew I don’t think I have ever had a rifle that shot any factory ammo this bad. It’s got a lot of straightening out to do

 

[DLT]

I have always found Nosler gets more velocity with less powder than other manufacturers in their data. I say this in reference to their load data but find it very different with a chronograph. Sierra and Speer have always been very close on the velocity side.

Good info to know. Thank you

 

[Alguapo]

This is a new rifle but bought at a pawn shop. Stock had a some little markings on it from standing on the shelf. Owner said he had had it for some time in there. Made out like at least a couple years. Box sticker does plainly state… CAB 12FV 204 RUGER. Was the 12fv only a cabelas exclusive gun ? He had 2 in there new in the box

Yes . A Cabelas exclusive. I wonder how the Pawn Shop got them "new" in the box.

 

[DLT]

Yes . A Cabelas exclusive. I wonder how the Pawn Shop got them "new" in the box.

I don’t know. Makes you wonder. Unless they got bought and put up then sold again. Mine had the stickers and the plastic loop hanging from the trigger guard. The other one didn’t have any stickers on it

 

[searcher]

Ok I will. I just grabbed the first powder I could reach when I looked in the book and seen varget. Still I thought it would have shot better than it did. Is R-10x suitable for 32-39gr ?

You want to run a fast powder with that .204, like Accurate LT32, Alliant Reloader 7, or something else in the range of H4198 (if lucky enough to find any). The H322 and Varmint powders can come up with some good too. The slower powders will work - but the odds are much greater when using the fast stuff. I think any rifle shooting 1"- 1/2" groups with factory ammo is probably more the norm than an indication the gun doesn't shoot. Varget is way too slow a powder for most .204's, so I'd also dismiss that. If you have some LT32 or Reloader 7 laying around, team them up with a 32 or 40 V-Max or a 39 Blitz King or 35 Berger. I'd think your odds of getting it to shoot better would be greatly increased. The slow powders can be great for velocity - but that means little if one can't hit anything. Good luck.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

Make sure the barrel nut hasn't come loose.

 

[std7mag]

Ok, a couple of things come immediately to mind.

1) Don't borescope the barrel!
Never, ever borescope a factory Savage barrel!

2) What is your cleaning regimen?
Carbon only? Down to bare steel?
The roughness that is typical of a Savage bore likes a buildup of some copper to "smooth things out".
Mine typically shoot better after about 50 rounds with just cleaning the carbon out.

3) Have you tuned the action screw torque?

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Do this!!!
It works!

 

[DLT]

Ok, a couple of things come immediately to mind.

1) Don't borescope the barrel!
Never, ever borescope a factory Savage barrel!

2) What is your cleaning regimen?
Carbon only? Down to bare steel?
The roughness that is typical of a Savage bore likes a buildup of some copper to "smooth things out".
Mine typically shoot better after about 50 rounds with just cleaning the carbon out.

3) Have you tuned the action screw torque?

You are being redirected...

Do this!!!
It works!

I know. I have had, and still do a good bit of them. I only attack copper lightly, but I do get the carbon out. I have never tried the torque tuning method. I have always used accustocks, hs precision or bedded wood stocks.

 

[std7mag]

I know. I have had, and still do a good bit of them. I only attack copper lightly, but I do get the carbon out. I have never tried the torque tuning method. I have always used accustocks, hs precision or bedded wood stocks.

Even in the Choate stock that I got for my wife's Savage, the tuning worked.
Choate recommended to tighten the action screws to 50inlb.
Accuracy was terrible.
Backed the front action screw to Savage's recommended 35inlb and dropped the rear to 15inlb and did the tuning.
The rear screw likes it at 25inlb in the Choate stock.

My other Savages all vary from 15inlb to 30inlb with a variety of stocks and materials.

 

[DLT]

Even in the Choate stock that I got for my wife's Savage, the tuning worked.
Choate recommended to tighten the action screws to 50inlb.
Accuracy was terrible.
Backed the front action screw to Savage's recommended 35inlb and dropped the rear to 15inlb and did the tuning.
The rear screw likes it at 25inlb in the Choate stock.

My other Savages all vary from 15inlb to 30inlb with a variety of stocks and materials.

Did you try it first or last in development stage ?

 

[std7mag]

Did you try it first or last in development stage ?

Last.

If you don't do what you can for load development first, the action tuning will only be of minimalistic help.

For my hunting rifles, my groups went from about 1 1/2-2", then shrank to 1/2", then opened up again during the tuning work.
Obviously you want your torque set at the smallest group. Lol

 

[DLT]

Last.

If you don't do what you can for load development first, the action tuning will only be of minimalistic help.

For my hunting rifles, my groups went from about 1 1/2-2", then shrank to 1/2", then opened up again during the tuning work.
Obviously you want your torque set at the smallest group. Lol

Good info to have

 

[DLT]

I have on hand 32vmax and the 39 blitzking which is what id rather shoot.

Powders that’s on the faster side
H322
Benchmark
R-10x
Xbr 8208
H335

I found 8# of win. 748 for $250 wonder if I need to nab it.

 

[DLT]

I have 2 threads going on here about a 204 ruger I just realized. This post is going to be close to the other one. Loaded up R-10x today with the 39gr blitzlking. I couldn’t get to the lands with this bullet so no idea how far I’m jumping it. The rifle did come around and got my velocity up there at 3,800fps with a 26gr charge. Using Remington 7 1/2 primers they were just starting to flatten. Got to be getting close to max. Air temps 40 degrees