Savage .22 warped stock

[thomis]

I have this Savage .22 LR with heavy bull barrel and synthetic stock. I recently noticed the stock touching the barrel towards the fore end. I'm not sure if it has always been that way or if it warped over time. I bought it brand new in 2010 so its only 4 years old. I know a free floated bbl yields the best accuracy but not sure it it matters with a .22 and a heavy bull barrel at that. The rifle is pretty accurate but I wouldn't exactly call it stellar accurate. I removed the stock and tried to bend it a bit but it is pretty dang stiff. I think I would have to file the crap out of it to get it to not touch the barrel. What would you do?

 

[fotheringill]

It is going to adversely affect accuracy when barrel is touching one side or the other. I don't know what a replacement stock would cost, but it would be something to think about. It also might be something related to where the holes are drilled in the stock to screw in the action causing the "touch" and no warpage whatsoever in the existing stock.

 

[Edarnold]

In a center fire rifle the barrel vibrations can vary from slight to whipping around (see pencil barrel ARs in slow motion videos), depending on the cartridge and the barrel contour. I doubt that your bull-barrel .22LR even quivers on firing. If you want to check the effect of the stock contact on accuracy you could put a shim between the action and the stock at the front screw, enough to relieve the fore-end contact, and see if that affects the accuracy. I doubt if you will see any difference.

 

[d2wing]

It is a common problem. It happens on other brands too. Most likely you should take a grinder or file to it. There are aftermarket stocks made for it as well. Some rifle do just as well with a little pressure but usually not. Especially if it is on the side.

 

[jmr40]

Use a wood dowel or deep well socket that just fits inside the barrel channel. Wrap with sand paper and remove stock material until it no longer touches. You may reach a point where you need to move up one size. Done it many times on both wood and synthetic stocks. This is an easy DIY project, especially with synthetic since you don't have to refinish

 

[frankiestoys]

Mine does the same thing I've loosened up the stock bolts and pulled the barrel to the opposite side and re-tightened the bolts (its better to get someone to help) that helped a little but never noticed any issues with accuracy the rifle shoots better then I do 1" or less groups are the norm for my Savage

 

[fotheringill]

Edarnold

It definitely does jump, even in 22 and a bull barrel. Even my Anschutz 1913 with heavy match barrel moves. It is quiet as all heck, but it moves.

 

[rcmodel]

I'd try heating it with a heat gun and warp it back the way it came from!

rc

 

[Cee Zee]

The FIRST thing to do is to make sure the barrel and action are seated into the stock correctly. Those Savage MkII's are notorious for having the action screws back off their torque allowing the action to move around inside the stock. They don't allow for enough torque to keep them in place. I'd check that and invest in a torque wrench or screwdriver that reads from 10 inch/lbs. to maybe 25 inch/lbs.. That may be your only problem and I'd certainly check that before I started modifying a stock. And it will most certainly affect your accuracy.

Those Savage rifles can be super accurate but they are bit finicky. I pillar bedded mine so I could put more torque on the action screws. It's helped a lot.