Savage 12 groups

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atlanticfire

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Wanted some input on some groups I shot today. I only get to a range about twice a month, so my abilities could be better. I'm more than sure the rifle could do much better. Both groups where shot with hand loads.
168 gr SMK HTBP
44 Gr Varget
Win Brass
WLR primers
Here is 200 yards
Here is 300
The 200 was 7 rounds, and the 300 was 5.
Let me know what you think good or bad. Maybe give me some tips.:eek:
 
excellent groups, all appear to be .5 moa or better; but I gotta say, strange
stringing of the groups, what do you think that is?
 
I think it was just me. I was shooting from a bipod and sand bag. There was a little cross wind. Maybe about 8 to 10 mpg. not constant though. Could that cause that "Stringing" effect?
 
This was after shooting for a while. Maybe a little heat was the factor. I'll have to get back out when I can and try again. Go right to 300 cold and not start at the 200.
 
I've always heard at least 3 minutes between shots if you don't want the barrel heat to be a factor. But I honestly don't know where that came from.
 
Its in .308. I'll try the waiting thing next time for a few groups and see if anything improves. I still think allot of it is just me and my inexperience.
 
I would say we need some info on any tweeks you did to the rifle; free floated, bedded, what kind of stock, etc? I also would wait 1 whole minute, even before, you start to settle in for the next shot. Even if it is free floated, I would check the free float, after you heat the bbl up some.
 
Come to thing of it your right. I never checked it after it was heated up a bit. Its an unmodified Savage 12 F/TR. Bushnell Elite 4200 8x32x40 with a harris pod on it. Trigger is set to about 1 lb.
 
well , the ft/r with some good bushnell glass, I would say you could maybe do better. I would say the rifle MAY have the capability of cutting those groups sizes in half again. I would say , do a good cleaning job on it, especially for copper,if yo have to , get one of those reverse electroplating bbl cleaners, or build your own with about 15 dollars in parts. recheck the freefloat when it heats up. make sure all screws are nice and tight, and if there is a reference you can get, from savage, as to how tight the take down screws should be with a torque wrench, find that out asap.
Even so, I would clean for copper especially , very well, for the next 200 rounds.
after that, I think if everything else is as should be, and tweaked and tightened, and torqued, it should really start to shrink down on those groups. That is, if you are up to the challenge.
 
I’m fairly obsessive compulsive when it comes to cleaning time. :rolleyes:Although I don’t know of this “reverse electroplating bbl cleaners”. Could you please explain a little further? Thanks for the tip about the torque, I’ll contact Savage about those numbers. I’ll load a ton more rounds and hit the range. Leaving more time between shots though. And see if I can’t do better. And just to have a goal, what is a respectable 300 yard group that would be possible for me to obtain? That is if I’m up to the challenge.;)
 
They're respectable now! You asked how to make them better. And every time you clean it, you're going to have to shoot several shots until it's fouled, and back shooting like it should. Guys in F-Class will shoot a weekend match without cleaning, so don't over-clean. Clean it when your accuracy drops off.
 
an unmodified Savage 12 F/TR. Bushnell Elite 4200 8x32x40 with a harris pod on it.
Click to expand...

If you don't mind, how much did that all cost? I've got a Remington 700 that I'm thinking of either accurizing, or selling to replace with a Rem 5R milspec, or selling to replace with a Savage 12FVSS. I'm trying to get the best and most repeatable accuracy for the cheapest price (and I know that none of the options are cheap).
 
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