savage 110ba 338 lapua = 2+moa rifle???

[bodywerks]

Bullet dispersion: http://www.the-long-family.com/bullet_dispersions.htm

I have the same problem but not quite as bad as 4" groups at 100yds. ;D

I have 2 rifles:

One average in the .3s and the other in the .6s. At 300yds, the .3s rifle opens up to 2.5" and the .6s rifle shoots 1.6" groups for 10 shots.

After getting off my lazy azz I went and chronod both rifle loads and turns out the .6s rifle ES and SD is WAY better than the .3s which explains the better groups at 300yds.

So if you really want to know what the deal is with your rifle/loads then shoot it thru a chrono.


I have a chrono. I haven't shot all of my loads through it but I did shoot a few. I weighed each charge by hand and used once fired brass that was neck sized in my redding type s competition die and bullets seated with a redding micrometer competition seated and verified concentricity of the loads. Yet none of my es values were very great. I'm talking as much as 40fps spreads. However, the lower velocity bullets didn't always hit lower on the paper - funky.

[bodywerks]

And I have stretched the legs on this rifle. Yes, it doesn't seem as inaccurate at 500+ yards, but its still not stellar. I attribute the 'less crappy accuracy' more to the higher BC and heavier weights of these bullets than to the bullets 'settling down'.
The farthest I've taken the rifle is 1275 yards and I'd say the 'groups' were still around 2 MOA.
I'm still willing to accept that it could just be me, but I need another 110ba owner to shoot my rifle and shoot better groups to prove it.
I am also going to buy some factory rounds that have been known to work in this rifle to eliminate the possibility that I can't reload worth a darn...

[bgc]

Bodywerks,

Have you checked to see if the scope mounts/rings and action screws are tight and secure? Something might have loosened up with recoil. There's also the possibility that the scope is not holding zero.

On the rifle itself, how does the muzzle crown look? Any nicks or burrs?

I'm familiar with some of the problems this rifle has had with the scope rail being loose and what not. I have an egw base on mine and I have checked the screws 4 times so far and the screws were tight. I doubt my nightforce was not holding zero, and I used that scope on my other rifle without issue. I have since switched to a Weaver tactical for the last 25 or so rounds but it is also holding zero fine on my other rifles.


I am not familiar with the problems this rifle has with the scope rail. Can someone enlighten me?

[Kinetik1]

Bodywerks, I'm in the same situation as you. What I think is happening in both our rifles is this:
1st the barrel on the 110BA is too short for the 338 lapua. The reason I think this is b/c the loads I've tested w/ h1000 and retumbo all the way to max, the pressure signs hardly change on the higher charges in both powders, but the ES becomes greater. Once I receive more bullets, I'll start my loads atleast 2 grains below recommended starting loads. Simply put, I think unburned powder is getting blown out of the barrel before it gets burned.

2nd, The notation/stabilization theory is absolutely true. I've proven this to myself w/ this rifle and 2 others several times. My f-class rifle in 6.5x284 will not group at 200yds to save it's life, but at 4-500 yds, it's a .5 moa shooter. Wasted many bullets on this gun at 200 until a friend explained this situation to me. 2.5" groups at 200, vs SEVERAL 1.5" groups at 400yds proved this. For that reason, I've only shot my 110ba at 1 and 200 yds during sight in. The rest have been at 4 and 500 yds.

Right now my 110ba is kind-of on the back burner waiting on more 250 grain SMK's and some Berger 300 grainers. I gave up on the 300gr SMK's b/c they didn't group as well as the 250's. Best group to date is 2" @ 400yds w/ the 250 SMK, 88 grains of h1000 (starting load). When I get some more bullets, I'll try some reloader 19 and maybe 22.

[chuckr]

I also struggled with mine using 300 smks and retumbo. Accuracy was not what I was hoping for. Finally found a load using Rel25 and 250smk's that the rifle really likes at 100. will continue with load development this spring.

[macon]

i got a 300ultra,338 ultra 338 lapua and strangely enough they all like retumbo h1000 and 4831sc. the 338ultra loves a 300smk as does the 338 lapua, the 300 ultra loves accubonds.none of these rifles are savages though.they are all built on remmy 700 actions and broughton bbls. both 338s have 30 inch barells. the 300 ultra has a 29 incher.

[dcloco]

....IF either of you try this, START THE LOAD LADDER OVER!!!

Have either of you crimped your loads? Or tightened up the neck?

Can increase the burn time in the case if you increase the neck tension.

Would be VERY interesting if one or both of you can do this.


On another note....have both of you calibrated your scope to YOUR eyesight? Adjust the scope to 16 power and adjust the focus on the eyepiece at a 100 yard BLACK AND WHITE target.

In the same note....if you are using colored targets, swap to black and white. Talk to your optrician about colors and clarity.

[k80skeet]

Bodyworks, Take it from a old bench rest shooter what shoots good at 100 yards will probably not be the best load at 300yards and the best load at 300 yards won't be the beat load at 600 yards and the 600 yard load very well may not be the best at 1000 yards. That rifle was never made to be a 100 yard rifle. If you want to shoot bug hole groups at a 100 yards buy a 6mmPPC or a 6mmBR !! With Magnun calibers if they shoot between 1.5 -2.0" I don't worry about it at all. I go to 400 yards and work up a load for that range. Then I pretty well know what it is capible of and if you can say around 2" that in 1/2" M.O.A. That is as good as can be expected. Now if it shoots in 6" after you have tried a number different weight bullet and powers.( I use all match bullets for this type of testing to get a bench mark as they are usually more accurate than hunting bullets) You can pretty much figure the barrel is junk. Put on a new barrel and srart again.

[helotaxi]

Bodywerks, I'm in the same situation as you. What I think is happening in both our rifles is this:
1st the barrel on the 110BA is too short for the 338 lapua. The reason I think this is b/c the loads I've tested w/ h1000 and retumbo all the way to max, the pressure signs hardly change on the higher charges in both powders, but the ES becomes greater. Once I receive more bullets, I'll start my loads at least 2 grains below recommended starting loads. Simply put, I think unburned powder is getting blown out of the barrel before it gets burned.
What you're describing is an issue with inconsistent ignition and has nothing to do with barrel length. All the powder that is going to burn has burned before the barrel is even halfway down the barrel. The combustion products continue to expand after the burn is complete and continues to accelerate the bullet down the barrel even though the burning is already complete. Muzzle flash is simply the hot gases igniting when oxygen is introduced and the pressure is rapidly released.

Inconsistent ignition can mean problems with primers, temps, powder, neck tension and distance to the lands. Barrel length affects velocity, and nothing else until you get to the extreme of short barreled rifles.

If the rifle is struggling with accuracy at all ranges, check the stock-to-action mounting, the torque on the scope rings, the crown on the barrel and the quality of the bore. It is possible that a dog of a barrel got past QC. It happens.

[Mike Vegas]

The .338 bullet not stabilizing and groups 2+ MOA at 100 yards is a myth. Unless otherwise you are shooting that newly discovered bullet that auto corrects itself on the target then I would believe it.

The Savage 110BA like most rifles out there have it's FAVORITE LOAD. So here's my 100 yard shot groups, and I suck at my fundamentals.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a98/koolmike79/9A76CAE6-0673-4672-B407-88016EFCB43A-2610-000004E334E0DA04_zpse4881475.jpg

Lapua Cases
300 grain Berger OTM Hybrid
90 grains Retumbo
GM215M Match
SUGGESTED COAL
2720 FPS

[Dennis]

I enjoyed the above post, I will re-read it again.

For whatever this statement is worth, I built a 338 Edge, close to a Lapua 338. I tried everything. One person chimed in and all he said is "Retumbo" will be your best friend. I tried repeatedly to get him to expand on his statement, but it never happend.

I bought a box of Lapua Scenar 300's (after trying all others), CCI primers (will have to check and see which ones), I put a load of 92.5 of Retumbo in the brass, and backed off the lands .030.

I held the gun exactly the same with every shot, exact shoulder pressure, you have to hole this one tight, at least you do on mine. I put 3 rounds within a quarter at 300 yards and have been able to do so ever since. I don't shoot the gun often, but it hammers when I do.

Nossler just came out with a 300 Accu-bond, I am going to shoot a few round just to see how they do. I asked Shawn Carlock about lighter loads, he told me to stick with the heavy ones. Just my personal experience, Dennis

I believe how I mount the gun and hold it has just as much to do with accuracy as the loads I shoot. JMO It's a heck of a gun to shoot!