Doc7
Member
Hello all,
I have tried a variety of bullets in my Savage model 11 but I really can't get it to group consistently under 2". I just order a new set of 1-piece DNZ mounts and am hopeful that may fix the issue.
The rifle was purchased used for $300 (7mm-08 in Accustock). I have installed torqued the accustock (not the wedge screw version) per specifications. I believe the barrel may be "shot out". I also have a used Vortex Viper 3-9x40 on it of which I am not sure of the history (maybe it was banged around?). I notice that the scope adjustments seem to go way farther than they are supposed to (have to dial half as many clicks as it says, at 100 yards, to move the approximate center of the point of impact) so I already plan on sending it back to vortex at the end of this upcoming hunting season. The scope is currently on Weaver bases (the $3 ones) and a Zee Signature set of rings but I am swapping them out for a DNZ One piece game reaper low mount.
For right now a 2-3" group is acceptable for under 100 yard shots at whitetail for this upcoming season but I really want to try and improve it afterward. If the scope mount and scope look-over by Vortex do not work out, would you expect better increase in accuracy from either a barrel swap (let's say a drop-in Savage replacement barrel from Shilen) or by placing it in a Macmillan hunting stock and bedding it?
My follow up question is about the Shilen barrel - they offer custom chamber cuttings if I want a certain cartridge OAL. If I am about to start reloading (I have all the gear, none of the consumable items), or may end up using factory cartridges, how does one pre-determine a desired OAL chamber? Presumably when you order a new barrel you have no idea what bullet weight it will like best so I don't understand how one can order a custom chamber length.
Thanks for any advice!
I might end up calling them, per their advice in the FAQ:
I have tried a variety of bullets in my Savage model 11 but I really can't get it to group consistently under 2". I just order a new set of 1-piece DNZ mounts and am hopeful that may fix the issue.
The rifle was purchased used for $300 (7mm-08 in Accustock). I have installed torqued the accustock (not the wedge screw version) per specifications. I believe the barrel may be "shot out". I also have a used Vortex Viper 3-9x40 on it of which I am not sure of the history (maybe it was banged around?). I notice that the scope adjustments seem to go way farther than they are supposed to (have to dial half as many clicks as it says, at 100 yards, to move the approximate center of the point of impact) so I already plan on sending it back to vortex at the end of this upcoming hunting season. The scope is currently on Weaver bases (the $3 ones) and a Zee Signature set of rings but I am swapping them out for a DNZ One piece game reaper low mount.
For right now a 2-3" group is acceptable for under 100 yard shots at whitetail for this upcoming season but I really want to try and improve it afterward. If the scope mount and scope look-over by Vortex do not work out, would you expect better increase in accuracy from either a barrel swap (let's say a drop-in Savage replacement barrel from Shilen) or by placing it in a Macmillan hunting stock and bedding it?
My follow up question is about the Shilen barrel - they offer custom chamber cuttings if I want a certain cartridge OAL. If I am about to start reloading (I have all the gear, none of the consumable items), or may end up using factory cartridges, how does one pre-determine a desired OAL chamber? Presumably when you order a new barrel you have no idea what bullet weight it will like best so I don't understand how one can order a custom chamber length.
Thanks for any advice!
I might end up calling them, per their advice in the FAQ:
What do you mean by "Throat to a dummy cartridge"?
Factory rifles are made with throats long enough to accept the largest bullet that is offered in factory ammunition for that chambering. So if the throat is long enough to accept a 200 grain bullet and you only want to use 150 grain bullets, then the throat is so deep you can't get the bullets close to the lands and keep them in the case. What this amounts to is the factory reamed out a couple of hundred thousandths (or more) of lands and grooves in the throat, which shortens the accurate life of the barrel by as much as 50%. All bullets and throats have a "preferred" stand-off or "jump" distance from ogive of the bullet to the lands. Handloaders "tune" their ammunition by experimenting with this distance. Generally speaking, all calibers tend to shoot better when close tot he lands. Weatherby rifles come with about 3/8ths of an inch of "free-bore" in them to help compensate for the high pressure the factory ammunition develops. If you intend to shoot factory ammunition in your rifle, then stay with a factory length throat as shortening the throat will probably show little or no increase in accuracy and may even prove detrimental. In fact, in Weatherby cartridges, this free-bore is necessary to avoid pressure problems when using factory ammunition. However, if you intend to hand load for your Weatherby cartridge for better accuracy, then throating to a dummy round is the ticket. When you send us dummy rounds to throat to you are, in effect, asking us to make the chamber to fit your ammunition instead of you being required to make your ammunition to fit the factory chamber. Make sure that your dummies will fit into the magazine of the rifle. If you aren't sure what to do. Don't be embarrassed. Just pick up the phone, call us, and we'll help you get it straight.