100 yard shooting what would you chose?

[Ru4real]

I see I’m the only one who voted for rebarreling.
If the group on top is good enough, don’t rebarrel.

Good posts @Nature Boy

You convinced me 100%

 

[CptnAwesome]

I see I’m the only one who voted for rebarrel

I voted for rebarrel also.
OP there's nothing wrong with wanting tiny groups. Not everybody's cup of tea but I get it. For what you're itching for I'd say a custom barrel is the way to go. Krieger, Bartlein, Schilen... Something to that affect will put a smile on your face.

 

[12Bravo20]

I'm with others that said to keep the Model 12 as is, unless the barrel is just bad. I have a model 12 FVL in 308 that is very accurate as far as both POI/POA and small group sizes. As mentioned, make sure the barrel is free floated. Another important thing is properly torquing the action screws. You want all to be torqued the same. Savage recommends 35 inch pounds. Some will do great at 35 in/lbs while others like a little more or less torque. Use a good torque wrench and find the sweet spot for your rifle. Other than that concentrate on the fundamentals and your ammo.

Since you have a 100 yard range, I will also suggest getting a Savage MkII to match your Model 12 down the road for more of a challenge. I have 2 MkII rifles setup just like my Model 12 and they all have the heavy varmint barrel. One MkII is in 17m2 and the other in 22lr.

 

[Charlie98]

I don’t necessarily disagree with a rebarrel, but it’s only got 400rds through it. I’ve probably got 1000 rounds through my .308 Savage… and I’m still ‘learning’ how to shoot it better.

 

[Steve S.]

Shoot what you have better then when you cannot improve shooting what you have, re-barrel.

 

[redneck2]

If you want a challenge and cheap fun at 100 yards buy an accurate 22 rifle. If looking for an excuse to buy a new gun I'd go this way. Most people never really try shooting a 22 past about 50 yards

This would be me.

Otherwise

Getting bored with the .223 shooting tiny groups at 100 yards? Move to 500 yards and shoot tiny groups

To me, shooting center fire at 100 yards is like using a pickup to carry a bag of groceries. You can do it, and it works, but it’s kinda overkill. But, if you can’t hold groups at 100 yards, as advised above shoot what you’ve got until your skills match your equipment. You just need to know whether it’s your skill set or your equipment that’s the limiting factor

Understand that good shooting is the sum total of all the parts. For example, I have a machine that has four parts that fit together have a tolerance of .010 each. The end result may be a completed unit that has .000 error, but if all the tolerances stack up, the end unit could be off .040.

 

[JFrank]

Hard to find a down side to having a good barrel

 

[horsemen61]

@Nature Boy your savage was the inspiration for this thread and what you’ve done with it I’ll keep y’all posted on what I do thank you again for all the thoughts guys

 

[Picher]

The rifle shoots fine and I wouldn't get a new barrel, unless you want to impress people at the range with your "custom" rifle. What if you spend the money and the rifle doesn't shoot any better?

I'd shoot the heck out of it, until it won't group 1 MOA, then get a new custom barrel.

 

[Ignition Override]

Bazoo:
Did you actually endorse having free stance fun…

…versus seeing the only ‘reward’ as being a version of Chris Kyle with somewhat similar accessories?

My new PTR-91 has very good Aperture iron sights with a fairly thin front post.
The challenge is to be a decent shooter.

 

[WisBorn]

I have a different question/idea?
What if you would re-chamber the existing barrel? Could accuracy improve? 223 AI ?

Any thoughts?

 

[redneck2]

You haven’t said what “tiny groups” are. Much of the answer depends on your expectations

 

[Bazoo]

Bazoo:
Did you actually endorse having free stance fun…

…versus seeing the only ‘reward’ as being a version of Chris Kyle with somewhat similar accessories?

My new PTR-91 has very good Aperture iron sights with a fairly thin front post.
The challenge is to be a decent shooter.

I guess I did. I've always liked a road less traveled.

 

[earplug]

A precision 22 long rifle is one of my most shot firearms.

 

[Newtosavage]

Hey everyone ok so here is the deal I am lucky enough to have my own 100 yard range at my house I am an avid reloader I have several different rifles in several different chamberings my favorite right now for shooting at 100 yards is my savage model 12’VLP .223 it shoots well but I’m now at a point I have 400 rounds through the rifle I am wondering should I rebarrel to a custom barrel to get a little more consistency out of it or should I buy a truly dedicated bench rest gun for shooting tiny groups at 100 yards/ use the money I was going to spend on a barrel or build to buy components and just keep shooting it as is

At 100 yards what would you do if you were me?

P.S.
the rifle is a good shooter as is but could I make it better ie easier for me to shoot tiny groups

Sounds to me like you just want a custom barrel - and there is nothing wrong with that. But what you have right now isn't losing you any competitions or failing you on game. So if you want a custom barrel, just get one.

 

[horsemen61]

You haven’t said what “tiny groups” are. Much of the answer depends on your expectations

Between 1/4 of an inch and 1/2 inch for 5 shots

 

[horsemen61]

Sounds to me like you just want a custom barrel - and there is nothing wrong with that. But what you have right now isn't losing you any competitions or failing you on game. So if you want a custom barrel, just get one.

I may do that

 

[horsemen61]

Update here are some groups I shot today it’s not as consistent as I want

 

[Txhillbilly]

I love custom barrel's, and have a bunch of them. But, with the small amount of rounds shot from this gun, putting another barrel on it is a big waste of money and any improvements in accuracy would be minimal.
I'd buy some better higher BC bullets, and see what it will do, as well as get some good match grade brass if you don't already use it.

 

[AK Hunter]

Get yourself a good gun rest, this will remove you from the shot & let you know how good your gun is without adding your shooting mistakes to the mix. If you can't shoot one hole 5 round groups from 100 yds your barrel is junk.

 

[Txhillbilly]

What stock does you have? If it's the factory plastic stock, that's the first thing to change.

What trigger do you have, and what is the pull weight of it? A good light weight trigger can do you wonders to better groups.

What type of scope magnification / reticle style are you using? You'd be surprised how this matters, it's harder to shoot precision groups with a hunting style reticle.

 

[Txhillbilly]

If you can't shoot one hole 5 round groups from 100 yds your barrel is junk.

That's the funniest thing I've read all day. Most guns will shoot 1 hole groups in theory, Most shooter's can't.
You may be able to do it on occasion, but unless you're super human, you can't do it all the time.

 

[redneck2]

Between 1/4 of an inch and 1/2 inch for 5 shots

If you want to consistently shoot .2’s-3’s, you’ve got some work to do. Depending on your scope, you may need an upgrade there.

Anyway, if that’s your goal, I’d go back and read Nature Boy’s post.

 

[horsemen61]

What stock does you have? If it's the factory plastic stock, that's the first thing to change.

What trigger do you have, and what is the pull weight of it? A good light weight trigger can do you wonders to better groups.

What type of scope magnification / reticle style are you using? You'd be surprised how this matters, it's harder to shoot precision groups with a hunting style reticle.

It’s the Boyd’s Laminate stock it came with, the trigger is the savage accutrigger I’ve adjusted it down pretty low as far as the scope it’s a Luepold V3XI 6.5-20x40 with the fine target Duplex I’ve shot some great groups with this rifle I guess I was just hoping that if I slapped on a custom barrel it would be like hitting the easy button is all but like most things in life it’s not that simple

 

[Turkeytider]

This is an interesting thread and really points out differences in why we shoot and how what`s a good group for one shooter isn`t for another. Shooting MOC ( Minute of Coyote ) with a hunting .223 is far less frustrating! Sub MOA POA vs. POI ( accuracy as opposed to precision ) especially with a first shot, cold and clean barrel is much more important for me personally. I enjoy small groups too but it`s not my main goal.