magnum12
06-01-2018, 12:40 PM
Hi everyone! Long time shooter and reloader but a new member here! I wanted to run an issue by everyone here and see if anyone has any suggestions. Sorry if this is long winded. J
I just recently purchased a model 116 Bear hunter in a 338 win mag that I cannot get to group with handloads at all, best is 3” at 100. After trying Nosler Accubonds, partitions, Hornady SST’s and Barnes TTSX, I broke down and bought a box of Federal Premium 210 Nosler Partition. After trying this load, the best could do was 1.5” at a 100.
In my troubleshoot steps, I checked all the typical items, torque on the scope base, rings, barrel is free floating, front and rear action screws set to 40” lbs and even swapped scopes. Even cleaned out the copper as well with Bore-tech CU2. When I pulled the action out of accustock, I was a little surprised to see the rear part of the action had a heavy witness mark from the rear post of the accustock but the front of the action had no marks. Looking closer the sides of the action had witness marks as well from the accustock block with the marks being a bit darker closer to the barrel nut. Another thing that had me scratching my head is the recoil lug is leaving a witness mark on the left hand side of the block but not on the right. There is also a witness mark on the back side of the lug where it’s making contact with the front post of the block. After wearing out my google search engine I found others have had this issue and the one where the bottom metal was the issue. I did check mine and did not find where it was rocking in there but the bottom of the block in the stock has witness marks from it. These marks are from the outside corners of the metal up by the hinge pin and about half of the front tang. May have to upload a pic to give a better idea.
Thinking the fit wasn’t correct, I contacted Savage and they requested it to be shipped back to them. 3 weeks later I got it back with the results of the test firings and said it had passed and was shooting .9” groups. When I called them they said they made a stock adjustment and that was it, no other details.
So my question should the front part of the action be making contact with the front bedding post? Is the witness mark from the lug normal or should I bed it? Bottom metal witness marks normal?
I just recently purchased a model 116 Bear hunter in a 338 win mag that I cannot get to group with handloads at all, best is 3” at 100. After trying Nosler Accubonds, partitions, Hornady SST’s and Barnes TTSX, I broke down and bought a box of Federal Premium 210 Nosler Partition. After trying this load, the best could do was 1.5” at a 100.
In my troubleshoot steps, I checked all the typical items, torque on the scope base, rings, barrel is free floating, front and rear action screws set to 40” lbs and even swapped scopes. Even cleaned out the copper as well with Bore-tech CU2. When I pulled the action out of accustock, I was a little surprised to see the rear part of the action had a heavy witness mark from the rear post of the accustock but the front of the action had no marks. Looking closer the sides of the action had witness marks as well from the accustock block with the marks being a bit darker closer to the barrel nut. Another thing that had me scratching my head is the recoil lug is leaving a witness mark on the left hand side of the block but not on the right. There is also a witness mark on the back side of the lug where it’s making contact with the front post of the block. After wearing out my google search engine I found others have had this issue and the one where the bottom metal was the issue. I did check mine and did not find where it was rocking in there but the bottom of the block in the stock has witness marks from it. These marks are from the outside corners of the metal up by the hinge pin and about half of the front tang. May have to upload a pic to give a better idea.
Thinking the fit wasn’t correct, I contacted Savage and they requested it to be shipped back to them. 3 weeks later I got it back with the results of the test firings and said it had passed and was shooting .9” groups. When I called them they said they made a stock adjustment and that was it, no other details.
So my question should the front part of the action be making contact with the front bedding post? Is the witness mark from the lug normal or should I bed it? Bottom metal witness marks normal?