Savage 93R17 accuracy issues

[Pyscodog]

Hopefully bedding will help. Like you, I don't expect miracles. You just can't polish a turd!

That little rifle should shoot better. Maybe not bugholes but it should shoot under an inch at 50yds. Makes me wonder if the crown is bad. If possible it might be worth having it looked at.

 

[Nathan Gravitt]

Hopefully bedding will help. Like you, I don't expect miracles. You just can't polish a turd!

That little rifle should shoot better. Maybe not bugholes but it should shoot under an inch at 50yds. Makes me wonder if the crown is bad. If possible it might be worth having it looked at.

Yes, my guess is the crown or some thing happened while threading. I agree that you can’t polish a turd. I just have to decide how much money I want to spend before I just get a different gun.

 

[Pyscodog]

A guy had a Savage 17HMR at a gun show a few months ago. He said it had been accurized and an aftermarket custom barrel and trigger and stock. Granted it was really nice. He was asking like $2700 for it. I chuckled under my breath "Good luck with that one". Its still a 17HMR and a Savage. If this one don't show promise the first few times out it will be gun show material real soon.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I have a pre accutrigger 22 mag 93(stainless) group's were baseball size at 100 yards. It has the black synthetic stock. After talking to a ranchers wife about shooting prairie dogs, I decided a rimfire had to make the trip to Montana. I pulled the stock off and could see several contact marks, including at the end of the stock. I got out the dremel and clearanced everything from the step in front of the action. I also removed a spot in the trigger area and the round "lug" thingy in front of the action. Didn't have time to check the zero. Setup the first day and started shooting prairie dogs, really any inside 100 yards were easy. Thinking I need a trigger upgrade now.

 

[moorepower]

I have a pre accutrigger 22 mag 93(stainless) group's were baseball size at 100 yards. It has the black synthetic stock. After talking to a ranchers wife about shooting prairie dogs, I decided a rimfire had to make the trip to Montana. I pulled the stock off and could see several contact marks, including at the end of the stock. I got out the dremel and clearanced everything from the step in front of the action. I also removed a spot in the trigger area and the round "lug" thingy in front of the action. Didn't have time to check the zero. Setup the first day and started shooting prairie dogs, really any inside 100 yards were easy. Thinking I need a trigger upgrade now.

On the plastic stocks, between the factory pillars and the stock, check the gap. I use a flat washer between the pillar and the stock, and it will allow you to torque the screws. Still not a fan of the plastic stocks.

 

[Pyscodog]

I got to shoot my new to me Savage today. Conditions were breezy and hot!!! A couple of rounds to get somewhat zeroed, then a 5 shot group at 100yds with 20 grain CCI Gamepoint ammo. The group was right at an inch. I figured for conditions and a POS scope, that was decent. Then I tried Winchester 17 grain HV Varmint. What a disaster. Two of the five shots hit paper. I have no idea where the other three went. Guess I won't be shooting them after they are gone. An inch at 100yds was about all I was hoping for and it did that so I'm not unhappy with it. It does need a better scope and some trigger work although the trigger wasn't terrible, just a little heavy for me. I did nothing to the rifle except pulled a bore snake through the barrel a couple of times when I first got it home. Its minute of turtle and thats good enough.

 

[Handi204]

I have had good results with CCI A17 ammo with the Savage I had, and after 200 rounds it needs cleaned that's about the limit with the one I had. Only reason I still don't have it anymore is I traded it for a mandolin. But try the A17 ammo.

 

[muvef]

I have that exact same rifle and literally nearly exact same setup as I had mine threaded and shoot it suppressed as well as I have a Leupold on it but mine is a Vari X III 4.5-14x40AO.

On mine one of the best things I did for it was throw that thin, basically sheet metal, POS bottom metal piece away and replace it with a much thicker one from DIP Inc. https://www.diproductsinc.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1511067&CAT=5628

I could never get any consistent torque on the action screws because that thin factory piece would just start bending so I replaced it with the much thicker piece from DIP Inc. I run mine around 20-22 in.lbs in the front and 15-18 in.lbs on the rear one.

Also, and they all seem to have different characteristics so yours may be different but when I give my barrel a good scrubbing my 93/17 HMR always takes nearly a box of ammo before it settles down and will group worth a damn. On mine, until the barrel gets fouled a certain amount it just kind of scatters them all over. So if you do give yours a good scrubbing wait till you've got 25-50 rnds through it before you condemn it. Oh, if you do decide to give the barrel a good cleaning make sure and get some cleaner in the barrel before you attempt to push anything through it. Can't speak for other but when mine is dirty it's a real mother to get those first couple of wet patches through if I don't drip some cleaner in there first.

None of the above may help a darn thing but at this point you've got nothing to lose except your time.

As a last resort you can call Savage Tech support 1 (413) 568-7001. They're usually good about trying to help people sort things out and if nothing works they'll even send you out a prepaid shipping label so you can send it back on their dime and they'll take a look at it, but, since your barrel has been altered from stock and threaded that may void their help. If nothing else works I'd still give them a call and see if they'll do anything to help you out.

Thanks for posting about the DIP bottom metal. I was checking them out last week and didn't place a order.

I ordered one this morning and hopefully this will allow me to torque the action properly.

Thanks again!