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Savage/Stevens heavy barrel problem?

Pyscodog

Gold $$ Contributor
I recently posted in another forum about a problem I was having, but didn't get many answers.. I recently bought a Stevens 200 with a heavy barrel in 223. I wasn't even aware that they existed but they do. Anyway, long story short, the barrel looked really good but it shoots 3 feet high and about a foot and a half to the right. It came with Leupold rings and bases and I used all the windage in the base and most in the Nikon scope and still shot right of the bull. I was also still 4-5 inchs high and no elevation adjustment left either. A friend had a new Savage heavy barrel and we installed it on my action and the problem went away. Now I know the problem is in the barrel but it looks fine. What should I look for that would cause a problem like what I was seeing? By the way, even though high and right, it grouped very well. Thats the other part that is messing with me. Thanks!!
 
Sounds like the action is straight and the thread on the factory barrel isn't straight to the bore . For years the problem with ruger was the action . Good luck Larry
 
I dont think threads on either end could possibly be out that far. Im betting on a bent barrel. Cant even guess how it happened.
 
I put about thirty rounds through the new barrel today and it is looking like it may be a good shooter. No problems at all. Although it was extremely windy, the rifle shot very well. Looking at the take off barrel, when looking through the chamber end, the rifling looks very good. When looking at the crown end, it almost looks like there is not any rifling. Its really hard to tell with my old eyes.
 
I put about thirty rounds through the new barrel today and it is looking like it may be a good shooter. No problems at all. Although it was extremely windy, the rifle shot very well. Looking at the take off barrel, when looking through the chamber end, the rifling looks very good. When looking at the crown end, it almost looks like there is not any rifling. Its really hard to tell with my old eyes.
A friend of mine had a Stevens 223 with exactly the same issue...3 feet high regardless of what we did to try to bring the groups down. It would shoot under a half inch, 5 shot groups, just 3 feet high. Sent it back to Savage. Turned out the receiver was threaded cockeyed. Savage replaced the rifle, and the replacement was dead nuts on.
 
I bought this rifle used at a gunshow and have already swapped the barrel out. The new barrel shoots like it should. A friend looked at it today and thinks there is a small spot in the bore about a half inch from the crown, IDK! I'm on the fence about paying someone to scope it and then recrown it. Might be a waste of money. But its pretty much worthless like it is.
 
A friend of mine had a Stevens 223 with exactly the same issue...3 feet high regardless of what we did to try to bring the groups down. It would shoot under a half inch, 5 shot groups, just 3 feet high. Sent it back to Savage. Turned out the receiver was threaded cockeyed. Savage replaced the rifle, and the replacement was dead nuts on.
Sound like his problem is the barrel not the action like yours . Larry
 
I bet it is the recoil lug. My 200 .223 would shoot 4 ft to the left at 100 yds before I ran out of scope adjustment ... finished at 18" left. I took it apart and took it to my smith and he measure the recoil lug and said it was all out of whack. you could visibly see that the receiver and barrel nut were not making equal contact. The factory recoil lugs are stamped. I am having him square the receiver face as necessary, due to the fact I am going to do a build off the action. I bought a new machined recoil lug to use .. as soon as I decide what cal to build ... Ill order my barrel. A 6x45 with 1-9 tw is leading at the moment.
 
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GR5150, If it was the recoil lug, wouldn't it effect the new barrel that I put on it in the same way? Just asking as the new barrel works just fine???That would be an easy fix and I would have a good back up barrel.
 
The only thing the bullet see is the barrel . If the lug or the action was off center a different barrel would of corrected it . Larry
 
......Or in the process of removing and replacing the barrel, the issue was corrected inadvertently. Damaged barrel nut with a high spot, or just a small spec of metal or grit between the parts.
 

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