204 Accuracy question

[Redwood]

I have a question on the 204 & my Sako varmint rifle,SS, Lam stock, set trigger). When shooting, using Hornady 32 gr factory ammo, the 1st couple of shots are bang on, then the next 2 or 3 shots start to drop an inch or two. I am a fairly experienced shooter, have had a friend of mine shoot it,who is a better shot than I) & he experieced the same thing. We have been shooting at 100 yds, 65-75 degree temps, no wind, @ 1000' elevation. We shoot off a bench. Leupold Vari X 3 scope, varmint reticle. The rifle only has @ 3 boxes thru it. I have broken in the barrel carefully. We have tried letting the barrel cool between the 5 shot strings... I have yet to start working up a load for this rifle, but plan to in the next month. Any ideas on this pattern??? Thanks!

 

[hairtrigger]

I have a Sako 204 Varmint,blue walnut) that I have had since April. The first rounds through it were Hornady factory 32 grain.,Used for break in) They were all over the paper. I settled on a load of 28.2 of h4895 for the squirrel season here in Idaho. I use WW cases, primmer pocket uniformed, flash holes debured, necks turned to .011. Col is 2.357 which fits my magazine. Average velovity 3890.,not fast but within the map)My rifle shoots 3's and 4's and an occasional 2' as is out of the box with this load. I have scoped the barrel and it looks darn good for a factory barrel.
A person on the 204 site named Rick in Oregon has a Sako ss laminate that he has had very good luck with. You might want to go over there and do a search of his posts from this Spring. I know he shoots the 32 gr Sierra and 10x and has had great accuracy. Silverfox who posts here and on many other boards has some great load development information also.
Hang in there it will come around. I have had a lot of fun with this rifle and calibre.

 

[Silverfox]

Redwood--I really don't have any idea why you are getting such erratic groups. All I can suggest is check the screws on the bases, rings, action to stock bolts, check the bedding to see if there are any little areas that need trimming or addition of bedding material. Have you tried a different scope,one that you know is spot on the money good) on that rifle? That might be worth a try too. Then again, maybe you just need to shoot a couple more boxes of shells through the barrel, even though you did use a breakin procedure. I know my Savage 12VLP shot like crap for about the first 50 shots or so and then it was like it woke up and started shooting nice groups. It is a very perplexing problem, I'm sure.

How about trying a heavier bullet? My Savage 12VLP shoots the 32 gr. V-Max into nice little groups, but doesn't like the 32 gr. Sierra BlitzKings quite as good. The 39 gr. Sierra BlitzKings and the 40 gr. Nosler BTs are fantastic out of my rifle, with the 39 grainers giving me the best accuracy. I also get extremely good accuracy out of the 35 gr. FB HP Berger bullets. That's the bullet I use when I hunting coyotes. It has been a very dependable bullet for knocking down coyotes and saving fur. Keep us posted on how this problem shakes out.

 

[DogBuster]

Here's my #2 204....Pac Nor 12 twist & Savage s/shot 12 & Weaver 4-14 Tactical....great cartridge for my use...this second barrel promises to be as accurate as the first....#1 barrel is going to become a 20 VT.....

[/URL][/IMG]