Savage 110 in 7mm Mag 8.5" groups

[Scalloper]

I guy I know has drawn a Maine cow moose tag. He bought a Savage 110 rifle and Vortex scope package in 7mm Mag. I went to our range (gravel pit) yesterday to sight the rifle in. He bought two boxes of Winchester 175 gr bullets as he wanted the heaviest he could get. We shot and cleaned and let the rifle cool in between shots. The best we saw was 8.5" groups at 150 yds. I cant say that I have ever seen any rifle shoot groups that large. I dubbed it the 7mm shotgun. It appeared the bullets were all key holing on the target at only 150 yds. Another first for me at that range. I realize the twist rate may not be well suited for 175gr bullets but I surly did not expect to see 8.5" groups. Since the rifle was a package deal with the scope mounted, I brought the rifle to my shop last evening and removed the scope, rings and mounts and retorqued everything to specs. I am going to load some 140gr Nosler Partitions to try mid day.
So my question is. Have any of you seen a new rifle shoot so poorly (3 different shooters) and key hole at 150 yds?

 

[rardoin]

If your twist rate/velocity cannot stabilize the bullet and it is tumbling...absolutely imaginable. I suggest going as planned and going with the 140 Partitions. Millions of deceased animals can't be wrong. It shouldn't have any problem with the partitions and they are a great bullet.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

That bullet couldnt be more wrong for that rifle. A rifle shoots bad when a bullet is unstable, when you see one keyhole over and over thats the best clue

 

[Bc'z]

Beings it was a package deal double check your hardware and make sure everything is torqued down to proper specs

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I had a Savage trophy hunter package rifle that acted like this. It turned out the recoil lug wasn’t making contact with the plastic stock and only the action screws were taking the recoil. Take action screws out and let barreled action slide back so recoil lug is home on stock, then look through action hole slots in stock to see if receiver holes are lined up or not. I put a shim behind my recoil lug and it shoots well now, bedding it would be better.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Also the thing on Savage rifles is the rear tang is supposed to be floated away from the stock. There’s threads on this on the Savage-Shooters site.

 

[Scalloper]

I just got back from trying my loads. Its much much better with the 140 NP well inside of 1". If it were my rifle I would bed the action but IMO its well within minute of moose.
PS the Vortex Crossfire is about the lowest end optic I have seen in awhile but it did track decent.
Thanks all for the tips.

 

[6.5grendel]

I think bullet stability is the issue and can very easily cause the large groups. If there is any keyholing at all, I would fix that problem first before trying to find another problem or cause of the large groups. Loading just a few rounds of 140-150gr bullet loads should quickly show if bullet stability is the issue of the large groups.

To answer your question yes I have seen a new rifle shoot that poorly but only because of the same issue, trying to shoot too heavy or too long of bullets. With the proper components matching the rifle I have never seen a factory rifle (Savage or any other brand) shoot that poorly.

 

[6.5grendel]

Guess I was a little late with that response

 

[SPQR70AD]

I dont know about floating the action but every savage rifle I had and my friends had with the cheap plastic stock shot real good once I hogged out the barrel channel. especially needed if you put a bipod on it

 

[std7mag]

There is an article on this forum about TUNING an action.
Hadn't ever heard of floating an action.

 

[pikespeakgoat]

I'm guessing the 140 Partitions will fix your woes.

ETA- guess I should have read better to see that they indeed worked much better.

 

[338 dude]

I guy I know has drawn a Maine cow moose tag. He bought a Savage 110 rifle and Vortex scope package in 7mm Mag. I went to our range (gravel pit) yesterday to sight the rifle in. He bought two boxes of Winchester 175 gr bullets as he wanted the heaviest he could get. We shot and cleaned and let the rifle cool in between shots. The best we saw was 8.5" groups at 150 yds. I cant say that I have ever seen any rifle shoot groups that large. I dubbed it the 7mm shotgun. It appeared the bullets were all key holing on the target at only 150 yds. Another first for me at that range. I realize the twist rate may not be well suited for 175gr bullets but I surly did not expect to see 8.5" groups. Since the rifle was a package deal with the scope mounted, I brought the rifle to my shop last evening and removed the scope, rings and mounts and retorqued everything to specs. I am going to load some 140gr Nosler Partitions to try mid day.
So my question is. Have any of you seen a new rifle shoot so poorly (3 different shooters) and key hole at 150 yds?

No never seen anything quite that bad definitely try lighter bullets and see if that helps keyholing definitely sounds like a twist rate issue

 

[JEFFPPC]

There is an article on this forum about TUNING an action.
Hadn't ever heard of floating an action.

McGraw is correct, tang on Savage should float.

 

[Ken]

One inch at 150 on a hunting rifle would be good enough for me. I couldn't hold that close with adrenaline and other field conditions going on.

 

[No.343]

I had a 22-250 keyhole at 25 yards with 75 grain bullets.

 

[SPQR70AD]

I had a 22-250 keyhole at 25 yards with 75 grain bullets.

I had a 1x8 twist shilen barrel in 22-250 put on Ruger 25-06 target rifle and the first load with 75 gr bullets I shot 2 inches at 450 yds

 

[SHOOTR64]

BOUGHT 1 IN IN 91' SPARKED ALL MY INTEREST IN GUNSMITHING. SAME PROBLEM. WAS WEAK SCOPE & OR MOUNT. ACTION TOP BRIDGE TO WEAK FOR THIS INTENSE CARTIDGE.. TRY A HEAVY 1 PIECE MOUNT. CHEAPEST OPTION. THIS SET UP WILL TEST THE MUSTER OF ANY SCOPE. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE.

 

[Scalloper]

I am guessing this may ruffle some feathers but I have owned probably 9-10 7mags over the years all but 3 were Savage. I could not load Savages as hot without having extraction issues as I could say Tikka's. I fought with my last two Savages getting acceptable accuracy and I think i am just going to turn the page.