Savage Seating Depth

[ElGuappo79]

I am having a bit of trouble working up a good load for my son's Savage Model 11 .308. This Savage seems to have a deep chamber (distance to lands). In my other rifles, I set my overall length such that the bullet is 20-30 thousandths off the lands and get great accuracy. With the Savage, the lands are really deep. I need some advice on how to best set overall length for this rifle. Here are some numbers:

Measurements made with Hornady Lock-N-Load Overall Length Gauge and bullet comparators.

.308 Remington Brass
Case Length: 2.0075
Neck Length: 0.2630

Hornady 150gr SST
Bullet Length: 1.2020
Bullet Ogive Length: 0.5855
COAL: 2.8785 measured
Case Ogive Length: 2.2534
Given 0.030" off lands, COAL is 2.8485 : 2.7350 Hornady book

Sierra 150gr SPT Game King
Bullet Length: 1.0975
Bullet Ogive Length: 0.5390
COAL: 2.8505 measured
Case Ogive Length: 2.2979
Given 0.030" off lands, COAL is 2.8205 : 2.705 Sierra book

Note that the Hornady seems better suited for this rifle because of the location of the ogive. Even so, it would need to be set almost 0.10" deeper which makes a big jump to the lands. I have tried loading to book specs but accuracy is just not there. Any thoughts? Thanks all.

 

[Blue68f100]

The ELD and other long distance bullets prefer a longer jump. But I've had good luck using SGK at book OAL.

 

[ElGuappo79]

The ELD and other long distance bullets prefer a longer jump. But I've had good luck using SGK at book OAL.

Thanks Blue. I will try the heavier bullets. Something has to shoot straight through this thing.

 

[FROGO207]

Do you know the twist rate of the barrel. This might have something to do with accuracy depending on what it is.

 

[JO JO]

Savage 11 twist 1:10
My savage 308 likes 168 gr pills

 

[Charlie98]

My Savage 10TAC in .308 really doesn't like 150grn bullets... at all. Discounting the additional accuracy from the scope, I probably get better groups with 150's out of my 16" barreled M1a than I do with the 24" heavy on the Savage. As JoJo mentions, my Savage does like the 168's, and I plan on trying 175's. Powder selection is important, too. Same bullet with IMR4895 shoots twice as big as it's obvious favorite IMR4064.

 

[ElGuappo79]

Nice! I will give it a try. Thanks.

 

[AJC1]

Choose a bullet like the 175 smk that loads really long and has a reputation for supreme accuracy