HELP WITH .308 SAVAGE ACCURACY

[davez]

I have a older savage model 10 heavy barrel .308. I purchased a Bell and Carlson Medalist 2 stock for it. My question is should I glass bed it? Just the recoil Lug or the entire action?
I was able to get one 3 shot .5" group at 100 yards out of it but not consistently. I'm More in the .75"/ .85 range. Used the OCW method to determine charge weight, 43 grains reloader15 with 168g VLD hunting bullets, federal 210M primers. Lapua brass neck sized. I'm going to hunt with it this fall and expect to shoot 300-500 yards max.
I want to get the best out of it at 100 yards and then go out up to 500 and learn how to dial my scope for elevation. Am i asking to much out of this setup? i feel I'm getting closer to my goal and don't want to be satisfied with what i have yet.

 

[ZenArchery]

.5 is phenomenal. Shoot it out to intended hunting distance before bedding then decide.
I'm of the school if ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[DennisH]

For a hunting rifle, your well on your way. 43 grains of RL15 is in the neighborhood. SMK's in my rifle like to barely kiss the lands. I would bed the rifle like I have bedded all my rifles, including the lug.

My 2 308's love Varget with 168 smk's with about the same amount of RL15 you listed. It should be very accurate, and make sure the barrel is clean. I clean mine about every 175 rounds, that's when accuracy starts falling off a little. Clean it up, and I am back in business.

Here is a 5 shot group with Varget Powder: I have a few targets tighter than this, but this was the first one I ran across.

Dennis

 

[joshb]

^^^^^^^ I agree with Dennis. You're doing really well for a factory gun. That's about how my 308 Remmies and Tikkas do, and I have burned a lot of different powders trying to get a little tighter. A "custom, high end" barrel and bedding is the next step.

 

[davez]

bedding today, Thats a fantastic group there Dennis. My gun didn't seem to like Varget.
May re visit.

 

[davez]

Well I have a 3 shot .462" group at 100 yards. Virgin Lapua brass,43.4 g Reloader15.
43.8 is max. I need to re run the OCW test but from what i'm seeing the Bedding definitely helped. 2 shots in the same hole, just enlarged the first hole a little bit, then the 3 rd shot went a little higher.
The other group was 5 shots with 43 g reloader15 but i pulled the one high left so the other 4 aren't bad. It appears the hotter the load the better, I'm tempted to load max 43.8 but i need to run the OCW test, just didn't have time today.

 

[DennisH]

^^^^^^^ I agree with Dennis. You're doing really well for a factory gun. That's about how my 308 Remmies and Tikkas do, and I have burned a lot of different powders trying to get a little tighter. A "custom, high end" barrel and bedding is the next step.

Try 4895 or a few other powders, sometimes that's all it takes, sometimes just changing the COAL will be the answer. Definitely bed your rifle. I have always had noticable results after bedding. I will have to state with many others, Varget has been our go to powder for our 308's. There are several good powders that many has had great success with.

 

[Riesel]

I'm going to throw my two cents in and it's worth exactly that. Assuming your bedding job is as it should be and the barrel is free floating:
I would give that barrel a real good cleaning, and I mean real good. I would give that old trigger a look over and see if you can safely remove about 12-14 ounces off that, what probably is, a factory 5-6 pound trigger. Looks like you are on the right track with the powder, but I would try to inch it up one tenth of a grain at a time to see where it goes. At this level best to weight each charge separately, you are approaching max. I would seat the bullets as long as the magazine will allow. There, that's a good two cents worth! Keep us posted.

 

[joshb]

I'll have to agree with Dennis again. Since I got my 6brs, my Varget supply is saved for them. I went back to IMR-4895 for my 308s and it does just as well, if not better. I think my magic number was 41.3 for the 168 Horn BTHP . 4064 is another great powder.

 

[davez]

trigger is at 2 pounds now, its a accutrigger, I have it adjusted as light as I can get it.
Ya , Ive cleaned the barrel well with sweets, got a lot of copper out of it.
I think the bedding job is good, it fits real tight in the stock. I need to play with it a bit more, seating depth charge weight. Honestly if I can maintain consistent .462" groups I'll be happy.
This was a $300. riffle I bought of a guy and I put a $271.00 stock on it. I don't think i can expect much more for a stock barrel/action. I will re visit Varget now that its bedded.

 

[davez]

Also Two of the three shots were very close to being in the same hole, so the .462" grouping , the third shot could easily be me, my hold , trigger squeeze, technique. I think I have to see if my load is repeatable.

 

[Riesel]

I think y

trigger is at 2 pounds now, its a accutrigger, I have it adjusted as light as I can get it.
Ya , Ive cleaned the barrel well with sweets, got a lot of copper out of it.
I think the bedding job is good, it fits real tight in the stock. I need to play with it a bit more, seating depth charge weight. Honestly if I can maintain consistent .462" groups I'll be happy.
This was a $300. riffle I bought of a guy and I put a $271.00 stock on it. I don't think i can expect much more for a stock barrel/action. I will re visit Varget now that its bedded.

I think you are moving in the right direction

 

[Riesel]

Also Two of the three shots were very close to being in the same hole, so the .462" grouping , the third shot could easily be me, my hold , trigger squeeze, technique. I think I have to see if my load is repeatable.

Yes, there are a lot of things that can throw one shot out. The key here is to practice consistency. Varget powder is worth looking into if you can find the powder. Check your reloading manual but about 44.2 grains might be a good starting point. I think you have come a long way already.

 

[Medic505]

If it didn't like Varget try H-4895. Much cleaner than Varget. RL-anynumber would be my absolute last choice for a powder.

 

[Barlow]

trigger is at 2 pounds now, its a accutrigger, I have it adjusted as light as I can get it.
Ya , Ive cleaned the barrel well with sweets, got a lot of copper out of it.
I think the bedding job is good, it fits real tight in the stock. I need to play with it a bit more, seating depth charge weight. Honestly if I can maintain consistent .462" groups I'll be happy.
This was a $300. riffle I bought of a guy and I put a $271.00 stock on it. I don't think i can expect much more for a stock barrel/action. I will re visit Varget now that its bedded.

Take this rifle hunting, it's fine just the way it is. Barlow

 

[Zero333]

If you can average 0.75" with Five 5-shot groups you're not going to do better with a stock savage 308w barrel with who knows how many rounds been through it.

3/4moa is plenty for a honest 400 yard big game rifle. I'll drop a buck at 400 with 1moa rifle every time, but of course not off hand, my name is not Jerry Miculek !