My New Savage 10 FPC 308

[short range]

Acouple months ago I bought a new Savage 10 FCP 308 it has a 1-10 twist. I left it stock as it came from the factory, I added a Leupold VIII 6.5X20 Scope. The load that shoots the best is : 168 grain SMK, IMR 4895 42.5 grains, Rem. 9 1/2 LR primers. This rifle has performed extremely well for a factory rifle. At 100 yards, It consistantly shoots 5 shot groups that range from .282" to .369" with an occasional group in the 4s.
But today I went to the range and my first five- 5 shot groups ranged from .598" to 1.066". I went through everything in my mind to figure out what I was doing wrong, and I realized that I had been placing my finger on the trigger at the first joint, thus putting side pressure on the trigger as I pulled it back. As soon as I started shooting with the trigger in the middle of the pad at the end of my finger, the groups went right back to the 3s. I guess I just wanted mention that it doesn't much of a change in a shooter"s form to make a big change in group size.
My main purpose of this topic was that I would recommend this rifle to anyone that is looking for a very accurate factory 308. Steve

 

[short range]

Has anyone else had great results with their Savage 10 FPC 308 ?

 

[juliomorris]

With 168s I use BLC-2 and get 3/8" groups. With 155s i use varget.

 

[short range]

joliomorris, that's real good shooting !! How long have you had your savage ? I had thought about getting a Remington 700 Police 308, but with the advice from some of the members of the forum, I decided to go with the savage. I know a lot of guys like the Remington, but I had a 223 savage and was happy wiith that, but it never shot as good of groups on a consistant basis as the my new savage 308. I guess (for factory rifles), I'm pretty much a Savage guy now. Steve

 

[McKinneyMike]

If you can not get it to shoot to your liking, contact Savage and talk to them. They are very user friendly and will most likely ask for the rifle back to check it out. Every now and then one gets out that is less than perfect, but unlike Remington, they usually will work with you to make sure that you will be a happy Savage owner. I have heard from more than a few owners that have done this and when they got them back, they were extremely happy. Check out the Savage Shooter Forums for more info on Savages (http://savageshooters.com/SavageForum/index.php

 

[deadlyswift]

Well, I'm one of those guy's that sit's on the fence with Savage, and Remington! I do have a cpl of very accurate Rem varmint rifles. As well I have a very accurate Ruger that is a varmint rifle. I also have the Savage 10FCP. It as well has proven to myself that it's very accurate. It does hold .5moa out to 400yrds. AS well I shot my first F-class match at 1000yrds just over a week ago at Camp Butner. The rifle is out of the box with the exception of a bedding job. I didn't come close to winning the match, but I did shoot a 135-1x and a 134-1x (15 shots) for record. So that does tell me that the Savage 10Fcp may not be the most accurate rifle in the world, but it will most likely out shoot the average shooter, and allow the average shooter to get pass many learning curves. Without spending serveral thousand $$$$ on a custom rig! (CONCLUSION)! The Savage 10FCP is a great rifle!!!!
Mark

 

[short range]

McKinneyMike, Thanks for the info on the savage shooter forum. I did hear that savage really stands behind their products, and they have a great customer service department. One thing that I'm disappointed about, is that you can't email them anymore, it was an easy way to get answers. I can understand why they were getting so many emails that they can't keep up with them. People are probably emailing and letting them know how happy they are with their products, also potential customer inquiring about their products because of all the great press they're getting in the last few years. I'll check out the savage forum. Steve

 

[short range]

Has anyone put a muzzle break on their Savage 10 FPC 308 ? I'm not sure that you could get someone to install a break and match the finish on the barrel.

 

[McKinneyMike]

I think a really good smith could match it AOK. It is most likely a common finish for firearms.

 

[deadlyswift]

Short Range,
Check out this site. I don't have any personal experience with Nathan myself. I was going to have one of his 10* v port breaks installed on my 10fcp, but changed my mind when I decided to shoot some F-class with it. Breaks aren't allowed where I shoot comp at so I passed on the break. Anyway (Nodak7mm) has one of Nathan's 10*v port breaks and really speaks highly of it. To my understanding it's not like a lot of breaks that are ported all the way around. The break is ported to the side and up at 10*. This allowing muzzle blast to go out to the side and up. With the blast not hitting the ground or bench and bouncing back to the shooter. It may not be so great for the shooter next to you, but from what I hear it's a great break. It would be my guess that a break can be finished to the same matte black finish of the barrel on the 10fcp. Anyway thought Nathan's site would at least give you some options to look at. http://www.tiptopwebsite.com/websites/index2.php?username=ssgcustomrifles&page=2
Mark

 

[McKinneyMike]

Nate Dagley is a fine smith, but busier than a one armed paper hanger as a rule. Never used his brakes, but you could find more about his brakes on the Long Range Hunting forums. Never heard anything but praise about Nate's work and/or products.

 

[short range]

Thanks guys, I'll check them out, it's something I will get done during the winter if I decide to get one. deadlyswift, where I shoot, we have a shelter, and the benches are about two feet apart, so it wouldn't be to good for the shooters next to me. I've shot beside someone with a break before and it made me flinch a couple times when I shot. I alway try to be curtious to other shooters, so I'm kind of torn about witch way to go. Steve

 

[bb204]

I have one of Nathan's brakes on a 300RUM. It works great. As was said before, he stays very busy. He made a thread protector for mine so I could shoot without a break if I decided to. Jim See at Center Shot Rifles, has a "Muscle" brake that I hear very good things about, although I don't own one. Good Luck..

 

[McKinneyMike]

I actually use one of Jim See's Muscle Brakes. It works superbly. I was skeptical at first, but went ahead and had one installed. Incredible difference for those long shooting sessions. I rarely shoot at ranges, preferring to shoot out in the wild at steel or my own targets, so I have space to get away from other shooters. Brakes are sure not good for the person next to you at a range.

 

[juliomorris]

Savage is now producing a rifle with a 5R barrel that is threaded for a break or suppressor its the new 10PC. I picked one up this past weekend. The barrel is also fluted I think they are building it with 20", 24" and 26" barrels. The load I referenced above using 168's and BLC-2 I have been using for years it is straight out of the 199? Seirra manual. It is very accurate with either remington or wolf primers. My remington 788 loves it.

 

[short range]

Does anyone know how well Savage breaks work ? They have breaks that can be turrned on or off. That sounds like a nice opion to have.

 

[deadlyswift]

Short range,
I had one of the 116 models in .338 win. back in the late 90s with the break you are talking about. It does well I could shoot the 338 win on the bench with ezz Then with simply just a quick twist I could turn the break off while hunting. I don't use ear plugs when hunting so the on/off break was a plus for me. Only sold the rifle because I quit bear hunting, and the 338 win IMO is over kill for black bear any way. So the rifle was just collecting dust in the safe.
Mark

 

[short range]

deadlyswift, do you think the muzzlebrake effected the accuracy of your savage ? I'll have to check and see if I can buy one of Savage's brakes from them.

 

[deadlyswift]

deadlyswift, do you think the muzzlebrake effected the accuracy of your savage ? I'll have to check and see if I can buy one of Savage's brakes from them.

I guess I would have to say no. The savage 338 win. would hold 1moa at 100yrd. So that was plenty for me. As far as a hunting rifle goes. The 338 win has a lot of recoil. When shooting 250gr bullets the break did cut recoil down to that of a 270 win. I never really tried to tweak loads with the 338 win, because simply it was a hunting rifle and never took a bear past 179yrds. So 1moa was plenty for putting a shot in the boiler room.

I don't think Savage makes this brake to fit the muzzle dia. of the 10fcp, but I could very well be wrong. You might could ask the question over on the savage form. Those guy's over there, know the Savage rifles inside and out. As far as a break effecting accuracy, Me I believe that it is due more to the Smith that installs it rather than the break itself. If it is installed correctly, then no it want, not installed correctly and yes it will. IMO only!
Mark

 

[bozo699]

Shortrange, I usually agree with mark but any time IMO you add or remove from the barrel you change the harmonics which will change the poi.and maybe not everytime with every rifle,but generally it should change @ least some.
Wayne.