6.5-284 Savage, changed stock won't shoot!

[shellshock]

Someone steer me in the right direction! I have a model 12F Savage that shot one ragged hole groups, I was very happy except for the stock. I changed it to a McMillan A-5 and had it bedded and now my groups opened up to 3/4-1 inch at 100 yards!

I am using the same load that the rifle liked in the old stock, I came down almost a full grain in 2/10th intervals to see if I could tighten the group up, no luck.

My question is do I have to start from scratch with this rifle? I don't remember this ever happening before. Whats your experience. I only have 500 rounds through the barrel and its in good shape, I would hate to have to work up another load but I will if I have too.

 

[bohemR13]

I hear,and this is only gossip that I've read/heard) that the savage 3 screw actions don't like having the rear screw tightened down at all, pretty much make it finger tight and put a dab of glue on it to make sure it doesn't fall out on you.

Again, that's what I've heard, maybe it will help.

 

[shellshock]

Thanks for the gossip, I'll give it a try and let you know !

 

[arkcomatt]

This may be too late to help, but I recently went through a similar experience with my savage. I bedded the action and then mine would not shoot. I relieved the rear tang from the 3rd. screw back and it went to shooting good. From what I have read the rear tang must be floating on the savage action. Before I relieved it, it had actually cracked the bedding in that area.

Good luck.
Matt

 

[shellshock]

I have been to the range with a little luck, I removed bedding in the rear tang area and brought the groups down a little but still have unexplained fliers.

Question: The highly reguarded smith that bedded my rifle bedded the barrel 3 inches forward of the barrel nut.why would you put pressure on the first 3 inches? Why not totally free float the barrel?I brought my dremmel tool to the range and have been taking bedding material out a half inch at a time groups were getting better and better.Now the only thing touching the bedding is the barrel nut and action.

At this point I only had six round left, first three went into the same ragged hole the next three shot a 3/4 inch triangle. I'm going to ignore the last three shots and head back to the range today.

If anyone has experience with bedding around the barrel nut area let me know if I should hog that area out or leave it alone, please advise soon as I am dangerous with a dremmel tool and have been known to be my own worst enemy.

 

[Preacher]

I shoot a lot of 28' to 30' 1.350 barrels on Custom and 700 actions and NEVER bed past the front of the lug, and they all will shoot better than I can.........

 

[shellshock]

Thanks preacher, I'm heading for the range as I type, if I have any grouping issues I will hog out around the barrel nut and see what happens.

 

[shellshock]

Thanks for all the replies, I took all of your advice, I hogged everything forward of the lug and also the rear tang area. And left the rear screw snug and the rifle went back to shooting tiny groups. Your help saved me alot of aggravation.

 

[BHarvey]

I have seen this plenty of times, some stocks just won't shoot.
Good luck.

 

[mikecr]

Kinda follows my view that gunsmiths & gunbuilders are different animals.

Why would a highly reguarded 'smith' bed the rear tang and barrel nut for a Savage?
You should share your experience with him..

And good job

 

[queen_stick]

This is a very interesting thread, which now has me curious about my bedding job,done by me!).

I have a savage 110 action,I know it's not the same as the 3-bolt target actions), bedded under the rear tang, all the way up to the front of the barrel nut.,front = closer to the muzzle)

If I'm reading this thread correctly, I should get the dremel out and remove the bedding at the barrel nut, back to the face of recoil lug. Is this recommended on the 110 action? Also, should I relieve the tang area on a 110 action?

Thanks in advance for any info/suggestions,

Walt

 

[HawkeyeJoe]

Walt
You should always keep the safety tang floated on a Savage. Never bedded in front of the lug so I don't know if it helps or not. For starters you should definitely float the tang and if your still not happy float in front of the lug and let us know the results. Just make sure you do them one at a time starting with the safety tang.

 

[queen_stick]

Walt
You should always keep the safety tang floated on a Savage. Never bedded in front of the lug so I don't know if it helps or not. For starters you should definitely float the tang and if your still not happy float in front of the lug and let us know the results. Just make sure you do them one at a time starting with the safety tang.

thanks hawkeye. I have the gun at the smith right now, investigating a possible chamber issue. Since the tang 'should be'/'is recommended' to be floated, I'll probably try that, and let you know if it does anything.

Walt