Savage Stealth in 6.5 - First impressions.

[Jrs81]

Finally got some range time today. Loaded 50, nosler 120bt's and couldn't get better than 1.2 moa. Disappointing cause the original barrel shot those well. After those tried some 140 amax with some h4350 behind they and it did a lot better, .75 moa. Had a box of 143 eld xfrom hornady and they shot even better, 1/2 to 3/4". So the new 24" barrel definitely likes the heavier projectiles so far. Tried to find some 120 amax cause it shot those extremely well before this barrel so I'd like to see the comparison using those. Overall pretty impressed. As for the feeding issue mine is right on course with cbryars2, about every 4 rounds or so I find it gets about 3/4 of the way in and stops, need to pull the bolt back a little and redo. I haven't tried cycling the bolt fast to see what happens but can try and post a video of it

[CBryars2]

Jrs81 Good info on the barrel and feed issue. Have a box of ELD-M 140 for tomorrow. Also 50 rounds Fit to Finish, will see hot it shoots then make a call if needed.

Samurai - Glad the 24" is available for you.

[CBryars2]

Stealth Weight - I have a Luth-AR MB1 so not sure if this will help. I weighed 4 times using 2 scales - 10.15 on 1 and 10.35 on the other. So splitting the difference call it 10.25 lbs so 10lb 4 oz. I have the stock adapter for fixed stock and it weighs 4 oz. So net it is 10 lbs. I did not have fluted, so that is upping weight a little also.

Verified length, exactly 24".

[Keith_A]

Stealth Weight - I have a Luth-AR MB1 so not sure if this will help. I weighed 4 times using 2 scales - 10.15 on 1 and 10.35 on the other. So splitting the difference call it 10.25 lbs so 10lb 4 oz. I have the stock adapter for fixed stock and it weighs 4 oz. So net it is 10 lbs. I did not have fluted, so that is upping weight a little also.

Verified length, exactly 24".
Thanks for the info. After I read your post last Thursday afternoon Savage told me that they had just sent it to the Fluting Department. (I never knew there was such a place. Clearly a place to visit that I've got to add to my bucket list.) I requested if they could skip that step. She wasn't sure if it was too late but would see what she could do...

[19E60]

FWIW, sent mine back to Savage for 24" barrel. They received it on 8-22, shipped back to me on 9-8, delivery scheduled for this Thursday 9-15 (shipping time is 1 week, I'm on west coast).

Shot it twice before sending in for rebarrel. Had some feed issues as well, same as other posts indicate, using both stock and AICS mags; AICS better but still the occasional hiccup. Not too concerned, will get it ironed out.

Have a brake and bolt handle in hand to install when it gets back. Labradar arrives same day, can't wait.

Running EGW 20moa rail with Vortex PST 6-24. Love the rifle.

[CBryars2]

Update from the range. Shot 5 sight-in rounds and 15 baseline 140 ELD-M. Roughly 1.0 MOA or a little more. Decision to use Fit to Finish starting at #2 - 5. Struggle with bench at my home range (I hate that rest, it moves up and down. They wont let us shoot prone). Settled in and since shooting and cleaning is not so fun, once I got to 10 shot cycles started shooting a bolt drill (Snipers Hide has a good video). It was pretty amazing, the action likes to cycle fast and decisive. Feed issues went down as I cycled faster. Made some progress on keeping sight picture while operating bolt so was happy.


By #4 Fit to Finish groups were getting much better, 9 shots fast (hot barrel) were grouping 1 moa. Last group was FTF #5 (polishing), 8 rounds fast with 7 of 8 sub MOA.
Next step is back to match ammo and reworking loads. Will use ELD-M for practice and Berger 130 OTM for primary if it shoots well.


Never shot a bolt action that fast - That was fun!

[CBryars2]

19E60 - Wow that was fast turn around - Congrats! Got a new bolt handle in also, want to try it, it might also help any feed issues.

[CBryars2]

Keith, let us know how it goes, I really like the 24" without flutes. Think it will be a win with a suppressor sticking out in front.

[CBryars2]

Here are some photo's of the new Savage unfluted 24" barrel. They did a great job. Broke in by cleaning as described above with Butch's bore shine, J&B and Hoppe's. After about 50 rounds including rezero, final 37 were Fit to Finish (David Tubb fire lapping rounds) #2 - #5.

Bore Scope after cleaning (Amazon $20 flexible scope)

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Final FIT to Finish 8 rounds rapid fire (5 seconds or less), barrel was hot, really handles heat well. .899 MOA 100 yd. I pulled (pushed?) upper left shot.

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7 rounds with flyer removed from calculation .681 100 yds. With 62 rounds down the tube, very happy considering from bench (flex issues), using Fit to finish bullets (last 8 were lead tipped, not sure brand), minimal load about 38 gr H4350. No special seating, or optimal powder loads.

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So this barrel shoots with decent minimal hand load with no tuning. With a little testing and Berger bullets I think 1/2 MOA is a real possibility. One more round of testing with Hand loads being tuned for rifle and then off to Talladega and 200, 300 and 600 yd range. Will try and take magnetospeed next time and get some numbers at the muzzle. Have a box of Hornady ELDM 140s to use as baseline.

[CBryars2]

Barrel Photos

Please forgive the messy work bench.

Overall Rifle with new 24" barrel, note I had Savage not flute the barrel. Plan to use a suppressor and the new barrel is really stout.

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Close up of barrel

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Chamber & Barrel portion close up

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Hope that is useful for someone

[Keith_A]

Keith, let us know how it goes, I really like the 24" without flutes. Think it will be a win with a suppressor sticking out in front.

Will keep you updated.... Am out of town for a few days. Will call Savage on Monday for an update.
Keith

[Jrs81]

Alright I've got to break down and ask, how in the hell do you put pics up on this site, everything I see for it only shows URL?? Now that I've finally seen some others posting pics I know it can be done lol, anyone??

[CBryars2]

There seems to be 2 ways to post. Add photo's to photo bucket and then as you enter post (use advanced) select the image and choose the direct link option, then copy url from your picture on photo bucket. Use preview to see if it worked.

Second option do as above and choose from your computer, it will ask for file, click browse and find picture. Then upload. I had to do 1 at a time.

Photobucket gives better resolution from my limited tests. Las tpost I made was suing load from computer, others were photo bucket.

Hope that helps.

[Jrs81]

5 shots top hole with 143 eld x hornady factory loads,had to do a smile on it just because lol!!http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f17/jrs2008phone/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160819_191718589_zpskgjysbbk.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/jrs2008phone/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160819_191718589_zpskgjysbbk.jpg.html)

[Jrs81]

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f17/jrs2008phone/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160911_170955670_zpsdiakrgd7.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/jrs2008phone/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160911_170955670_zpsdiakrgd7.jpg.html) 5 shots with 140 amax and 39.5 h4350

[Jrs81]

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f17/jrs2008phone/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160911_170942779_zpsalhikgua.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/jrs2008phone/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160911_170942779_zpsalhikgua.jpg.html)

[Jrs81]

Thank you cbryars2!! Photo bucket made it easier. I had to do one at a time as well but at least now I can post some pics of results. Still haven't found a load that shot like the 120 amax in the 22" barrel did. This is a pic of that, by far the best group I've ever had to date with any gun, 5 shots in that group http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f17/jrs2008phone/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160710_105007990_zpsqrbdp5ef.jpg

[Jrs81]

After seeing the barrel unfluted I wish I had gone that way!!

[Rondogg]

WOW! That's 5 rounds? I don't believe I have ever seen anything like this.

[Jrs81]

Yeah and unfortunately that was with the 22" barrel I had replaced with the 24 lol. Rule of thumb has always been don't fix it if it isn't broken and yup I was that guy who did just that.... I'm ready for the criticism now lol