Stringy Savage update

[Shmackey]

I posted last week about my new-to-me Savage MkII BV that was shooting absolutely lights-out after the first two shots of a magazine. It seemed to need those first two shots to warm up whenever it was left alone for even two minutes.

I discovered that the barrel wasn't even remotely free-floated, so I spent a good chunk of Saturday remedying that. The results are in:



The first shot from a truly cold barrel is still off a bit--about half an inch away from the group at 50 yards--but now the rifle shoots consistently (and amazingly accurately) for the duration of the range trip after that first shot or two.

 

[DIM]

congrat!!! You did it!!! You din't try to bedded it? If I remember it right you use lee collete die to cut channel in the stock.

 

[Shmackey]

Nope--no need to bed it. I did use a Lee .308 neck-sizing die as my cylinder for floating. Wrapped in sandpaper, it's the perfect size.

With the bases and rings torqued right, the rings lapped, the action torqued right, and the barrel floated, I think it shoots about as well as any $500 setup has any right to shoot.