Hard to Figure This One

[K22]

I decided to give the deer hunting a rest for day since the hunting isn't going well, haven't seen a shooter buck all last week. Today there were no gale force winds, rain, or fog and I need some trigger time so I decided to go to the range and have some fun.

A fellow shooter (non hunter) I often see at the range was there today. Nice guy, really enjoy talking to him. Anyway he's shooting a new rifle he just purchased, a Savage Axis, 308. He's load testing from the bench at 100 yards. I checked his target with my spotting scope, maybe that's not polite but I can't resist. The group appears to be well under an inch. I can't decide if I'm hallucinating or if this is real.

A conversation ensues. He's shooting reloads; 168 Sierra's, IMR 4064 and Federal 210 match primer. We measured the five shot group, .675". He shoots another group which appears about the same, maybe a little larger but still well under an inch. Wow! I look at my rebarrelled 243 Rem and frown.

I'm finding this hard to believe but can't deny what I'm seeing - a rifle under $300 shooting sub 1 MOA! Maybe he just lucked out and got that one out of a thousand shooters or maybe Savage is doing something remarkable. Hard to figure this one out. Even worse, I'm wondering why I paid $700 to have my old 243 Rem rebarreled when I could have bought two Savage Axis's and a bottle of Knob Creek.

 

[canderson]

It happens. I had a friend with $1200 savage f class shoot with my full custom $3500+.

 

[Knotwild]

That may have you wondering, but after reading about the Remington 783 being accurate, and after seeing they came out with one in .223 with a threaded 16.5" barrel, I had to try one. The stock purely stinks and I had to sand it out to free float it, but I shot the target below after a cursory barrel
break in. The 4th hole in the B target was a flier caused by me. That's 0.723 average for 3 factory loads and the recipe I use in my AR. Plus it has a barrel nut.

 

[T-shooter]

I had a Savage Axis .308. It would shoot an average of 3/4" groups at 100y when brand new fired from a bipod. PPU 168g Match or 168g Zombie-Max shot as well. Other lighter faster rounds would only group to 3-4 inches.

 

[Ggmac]

I decided to give the deer hunting a rest for day since the hunting isn't going well, haven't seen a shooter buck all last week. Today there were no gale force winds, rain, or fog and I need some trigger time so I decided to go to the range and have some fun.

A fellow shooter (non hunter) I often see at the range was there today. Nice guy, really enjoy talking to him. Anyway he's shooting a new rifle he just purchased, a Savage Axis, 308. He's load testing from the bench at 100 yards. I checked his target with my spotting scope, maybe that's not polite but I can't resist. The group appears to be well under an inch. I can't decide if I'm hallucinating or if this is real.

A conversation ensues. He's shooting reloads; 168 Sierra's, IMR 4064 and Federal 210 match primer. We measured the five shot group, .675". He shoots another group which appears about the same, maybe a little larger but still well under an inch. Wow! I look at my rebarrelled 243 Rem and frown.

I'm finding this hard to believe but can't deny what I'm seeing - a rifle under $300 shooting sub 1 MOA! Maybe he just lucked out and got that one out of a thousand shooters or maybe Savage is doing something remarkable. Hard to figure this one out. Even worse, I'm wondering why I paid $700 to have my old 243 Rem rebarreled when I could have bought two Savage Axis's and a bottle of Knob Creek.

$ doesn't = accuracy anymore .

 

[Bc'z]

$ doesn't = accuracy anymore .

Not a Savage, but I can say for certain that the Ruger American Predator flat out shoots!

 

[Immike]

I’ve seen a few savages shooting well above what was spent. That’s shooting, keep your eyes open.

 

[6milphil]

I have a savage axis in 223 that I use for coyotes, it a solid 1\2 moa rifle with handloads. I keep wanting to rebarrel it in 223AI but it shoots too good as is to justify spending the money.

 

[msinc]

It certainly can happen....it just doesn't happen to me. My luck is bad, it seems like every really good shooter I get comes at a great price and struggle. Just to give you an idea how bad...in the last year three custom barrels in a row from different manufacturers either copper fouled so bad they were not practical or just wouldn't shoot. I finally put together a good one. But, there is something to be learned here...when and if you do get lucky and find one that shoots lights out DO NOT SELL IT!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

It certainly can happen....it just doesn't happen to me. My luck is bad, it seems like every really good shooter I get comes at a great price and struggle. Just to give you an idea how bad...in the last year three custom barrels in a row from different manufacturers either copper fouled so bad they were not practical or just wouldn't shoot. I finally put together a good one. But, there is something to be learned here...when and if you do get lucky and find one that shoots lights out DO NOT SELL IT!!!!!!!!!

My best barrel last year copper fouled so bad after 7rds you could see it with no scope or light at the muzzle. About 50-75rds in it hasnt picked up copper in 5-600 more.

 

[msinc]

My best barrel last year copper fouled so bad after 7rds you could see it with no scope or light at the muzzle. About 50-75rds in it hasnt picked up copper in 5-600 more.

Yes sir, two of mine were just as bad. Wish I could say they eventually straightened up and flew right. They kind of tried to calm down, I kept them clean and kept shooting what I figured would be the "break in" shots. It got down to one land in each barrel fouling severely and I mean throat to muzzle. It would do it in like you say, about 7, maybe 10 rounds and open right up to 2" at 100. I could not see or find anything on that one fouling land with my borescope to suggest a cause. Once clean both barrels land absolutely looked just as good and flawless as the other 4. The third pipe just flat slap wouldn't group. I got sick of playing around and moved on. I just don't have the time or patience anymore to keep piddling with a barrel that don't want to act right.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I have never gave one that much of a chance. Ive scrapped a ton over the years that wasnt near as bad but i was determined to fireform that brass for the next barrel and it shot good for 3-4 shots so against my tradition i kept going.

 

[swd]

Years ago I had a Savage 223 heavy barrel in the black tupperware stock that would agg in the mid .400"s. Bone stock other than an aftermarket trigger. It was consistently a great shooter that killed many ground squirrels. Damn ugly but a great shooter.

 

[snert]

I was so pissed when my frugal friend bought a HR Ultra rifle in 223. After load development (cant remember powder but it was a compressed load under a 40 gr Vmax,) that stupid rifle shot under one inch (in two different groups!) usually three touching, two touching, all under an inch all the time. If they ever fell all together it would have shot with my 40X Hart. All for $200 in gun, $250 in scope.

Now my walmart special 700 ADL youth 243 shoots 3/4 inch with 80 grain TTSX. I think I paid $350 on sale

 

[joshb]

I read all the talk about the Savage rifles ability to shoot. A small group of guys here love them. To me, it was like listening to some cult member talk about his leader being so wonderful. These days, add the Creedmore guys.
While visiting my LGS a few years ago, I spied an old Savage 110v in 223 that was like new condition. I bought it, thinking I should test it and verify once and for all if the claims were valid or bunk. Dang it if that gun doesn’t shoot. With a little load development, it makes nice little clover leafs at 100.
I let the kids shoot it for training purposes. I won’t be seen shooting it for fear of what that might do to my reputation!

 

[Bc'z]

I read all the talk about the Savage rifles ability to shoot. A small group of guys here love them. To me, it was like listening to some cult member talk about his leader being so wonderful. These days, add the Creedmore guys.
While visiting my LGS a few years ago, I spied an old Savage 110v in 223 that was like new condition. I bought it, thinking I should test it and verify once and for all if the claims were valid or bunk. Dang it if that gun doesn’t shoot. With a little load development, it makes nice little clover leafs at 100.
I let the kids shoot it for training purposes. I won’t be seen shooting it for fear of what that might do to my reputation!

Uh my cheapo is a creedmoor.
And it's a HAMMER!
Now see what ya went and started.

 

[Texas10]

I put together a Savage 308 just for hunting from parts I bought here and another site. Sporter barrel, model 10 action, stocky's stock, Nikon scope. Bought some "match" handloads here too, 168 SMK's over IMR 4895 (old standard 308 accuracy load) and shot a 3 shot group in the zeros at an indoor range sighting it in.

Everything was in used, but not abused condition and it shoots off the shelf ammo almost as good. I'm currently sighted in with Hornaday 178 ELD-X Precision Hunter loads. It'll put two into overlapping holes at 100 with the third off slightly as the barrel heats up.

Such accuracy from a factory rifle and factory ammo used to be just a pipe dream, but not at all uncommon in todays market. Pretty remarkable if you ask me.

 

[dsculley]

Several years ago I bought a used Savage 110 in 7 RM to hunt with. With hand loads I could consistently shoot 5 rounds touching at 100 yds. Really good hunting rifle. Decided i wanted to try F-Class. Got a CBI barrel for that action in 6.5x47 L. During load development I was at the range with this rifle, now sitting in an African Mahogany stock that I made and still wearing my hunting scope, a Nikon 3-9x40 Whitetail. The guy next to me had a new, high end custom rifle (well known maker) in 6.5 CM wearing a high end scope. He was upset because his rifle was "guaranteed to shoot factory ammo in 3/8"" but his was about 1/2" and my rifle was shooting better than his. His brother was with him and told me that they had worked up hand loads and were now trying factory ammo but they could not get the rifle to shoot any better than 1/2'". At this time, I still had under $1,000 total in my rig and he probably had over well over $5,000.00. He said he was going to send his rifle back.

My daughter-in-law has a Savage .270 that will shoot as well.

 

[rjtfroggy]

I had Savages in the early 70's and they shot like lasers, then they went through a period of what seemed like no QC what so ever. Then Ron Coburn took over and brought them back from the brink of going under, now that they changed hands again some aren't as good as they should be but still better than most for out of the box accuracy.
I have a bunch of them some factory and some I put together and they are all around .5-.6 at 100, but I wish I still had my old 243 & 308 from 70, 71.
I won't count my two bench guns built on Savage actions because the only thing about them that is Savage are the actions.