Problems with 12 VLP

[RL_UA]

Hello to everybody!
I'm from Ukraine, and recently became an owner of a Savage rifle for the first time. Model is 12 Varminter Low Profile, .308
I expected much better performance from this rifle, and seems I need to fix something, so maybe somebody can guide me. Just from the box, rifle shoot over 1-1,5 moa groups with relatively good factory ammo, like Hornady BHTP, GGG (european manufacturer) with Sierra HPBT bullets, which I suppose is inadequate for this rifle. My previous rifle, Howa 1500 with 20 inch barrel, with the same twist, shot 0.3-0.5 MOA groups with the same ammo.
Then the rifle was put into an aluminum chassis (local manufacturer V shape support), and the correct torque was used. No much improvement in the accuracy. However, after this I noted that the barrel is misaligned, based on the scope windage elevations, at 3 Mrads.
Unfortunately, we are in Ukraine, and there is no such thing as return rifle to the manufacturer.
Another issue I have noticed is the issue with the recoil lug, it has different thickness. In mm, the difference is up to 0.07 mm (0.00275").
I have bedded the recoil lug (epoxy), and didn't see any serious improvements. I also added muzzle tuner, made by local manufacturer, usually it helps to to tight the groups, situation became little better, groups became 1 MOA or little less, but I still think rifle can do better - guy in my shooting club have the same rifle, which is in the same aluminium chassis, with the same barrel tuner, with the same ammo always shoot 0.5 or less groups.
And the issue is not in my shooting skills for sure... Other guys also tried and results are the same.
Picatinny rail is from steel, and is attached well, with epoxy bedding. Mount is Spuhr, scope is Vortex Viper PST gen II, both are attached with correct torque, the same setup works perfect on my previous rifle.
So the question - can the barrel misalignment cause the accuracy problems, or it just impact the impact point? Any suggestions on what I should pay attention to?
Thank you for any advices!


Overall current look
https://i.ibb.co/tK8wy8C/20210125-140125.jpg (https://ibb.co/DW5P35K)

Barrel can to the left
https://i.ibb.co/ZVZ0k50/20210125-140214.jpg (https://ibb.co/MsXm3rm)
https://i.ibb.co/C2ChcrP/20210125-140237.jpg (https://ibb.co/vYyZFtX)

Current receiver\stock aligment
https://i.ibb.co/n8pBjBw/20210125-140509.jpg (https://ibb.co/3YKvcvT)
https://i.ibb.co/XXv9ckq/20210125-140612.jpg (https://ibb.co/H7k05pj)

Recoil lug. Seems somebody hammered it (tooling marks are under the factory sanding)
https://i.ibb.co/NKyDpqj/20210125-140712.jpg (https://ibb.co/XtC0pPs)
https://i.ibb.co/k3dYkVz/20210125-140731.jpg (https://ibb.co/28bXm0R)

Recoil lug measuremnets
https://i.ibb.co/BfVZTzR/20210125-141158.jpg (https://ibb.co/Gdv2Cxj)
https://i.ibb.co/mXNK3Qr/20210125-141229.jpg (https://ibb.co/qWJ8vbL)
https://i.ibb.co/jLz2Vdq/20210125-141301.jpg (https://ibb.co/D7YyGNm)
https://i.ibb.co/wRzvjVd/20210125-141324.jpg (https://ibb.co/W62TjZH)

[Texas10]

Have you torque tuned the rear action screw? Performing this simple step may make a huge difference in group size.
https://www.google.com/search?q=torque+tune+a+savage&oq=torque+tune+a+savage+&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i22i29i30.8408j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
https://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/savage-action-screw-torque-tuning/

[RL_UA]

Thank you for your advice!
Currently they are torqued equally, to 60-65 lbs (don't remember the exact torque).
Will try various adjustments this Saturday, will post the results.

[charlie b]

I would be tempted to remove the barrel and replace the recoil lug.

Not trying to disappoint you, but, my 12BVSS was not great when new either. It took a lot of breaking in to get it to 1MOA. And everything was straight on it.

Now it is probably a 0.5MOA rifle. It might be better. But, I am not that good.

I have found the barrel is very sensitive to heat. It doesn't like to be cold, doesn't like to be hot, just warm to the touch. It also likes to be very clean. I have to clean all the copper out of it each time I shoot it (50-100rounds).

[RL_UA]

I have expected something similar is waiting for me. Problem is that "garage gunsmithing" is prohibited in our country, only certified workshops can do repairs, and there are very few of them.
If the issue wouldn't be solved in the near future, I planned to send the rifle to one of them, and blueprint the action, and fix\replace the recoil lug.
Besides, which recoil lug I need for Savage 12 - 1.060" barrel shank?
But before this I'll try to do what Texas10 recommended

[RL_UA]

I tried different rear screw torque settings today. Not the best weather for shooting - 6℉, snow sometimes and wind, bullet speed spread was up to 65 ft/s. Will mention group sizes in MOA, shooting was done at 100 meters distance, Hornady 178 BTHP factory ammo was used.
I have shot small groups, 3 shots each for rough results.
So started with 65 lbs, like i did earlier - 0.89 MOA
30 lbs - 0.79 MOA
35 lbs - 1 MOA
40 lbs - 0.96 MOA
45 lbs - 1.89 MOA
50 lbs - 0,79 MOA Average (7 groups), smallest was 0.35 MOA, biggest - 1.2 MOA
All groups above were shot with "0" muzzle tuner settings. Then I decided to adjust barrel tuner.
50 lbs, 4 muzzle tuner setting - 1.05 MOA
50 lbs, 6 muzzle tuner setting - 0.92 MOA (3 groups), smallest was 0.55 MOA, biggest - 1.2 MOA
50 lbs, 9 muzzle tuner setting - 0.66 MOA (3 groups), smallest was 0.58 MOA, biggest - 0.75 MOA

Wasn't able to test 55 and 60 lbs torque today, screwdriver was not available at that moment, and I was out of ammo, next time will try these adjustments also. So seems the combination of screw torque and muzzle device tuning can bring me closer to 0.5 MOA with factory ammo.
With old 65 lbs screw torque I rarely have groups less than 1 MOA, average was 1-1.2 MOA.


Groups are signed Rear screw torque/muzzle tuner setting
https://i.ibb.co/HCYRjt6/20210213-130847.jpg (https://ibb.co/7QVBqnP)
https://i.ibb.co/CVR4xx8/20210213-130912.jpg (https://ibb.co/7rsB77C)
https://i.ibb.co/k1shR5G/20210213-130918.jpg (https://ibb.co/9tkqFcp)
https://i.ibb.co/FDmFzjT/20210213-100813.jpg (https://ibb.co/fxqsHPw)
https://i.ibb.co/DY4m1vy/20210213-101536.jpg (https://ibb.co/NrxfFJP)
https://i.ibb.co/0B5ZDFP/20210213-113211.jpg (https://ibb.co/q069yWb)
https://i.ibb.co/ZfKq4n1/20210213-113202.jpg (https://ibb.co/RgPRrx4)

[charlie b]

Looks like things are coming together.

I probably would not be able to shoot well at all in that weather. :)

[shaffe48]

If you are shooting factory ammo you can't just use what worked out of your howa and expect it to shoot well out of your other rifle. If you must use factory ammo I would try several other types to get under 1 moa.

I wouldn't expect to get much better than .75-1moa out of any factory rifle you cone accross. If you get this you are achieving expectations imo.