Want to push it.

[thejetman]

So. I have a 111GCNS in 30-06. Accutrigger. Wood stock, detachable mag. Leupold rifleman 3x9x50 on it. What can I really do to this rifle, other than homebrewing ammo, to get it to be stupid accurate? It shoots well right now, 1moa with Federal 150's in it. Here is my list of wants;
Limbsaver recoil pad
Larger bolt knob.
Reload kit.

If I wanted to keep a wood stock, but get a bedding block for it, would that bump the accuracy up?
This is going to be a project rifle. I just need to know what direction to head with it. What can I do to it, starting with cheapest first, to squeeze more outta her. Thanks in advance.

[KRP]

Adjust the trigger, bed it, start reloading. If recoil is an issue a brake might allow you to shoot it better.

[gotcha]

+1, What KRP says. Savage actions are heat treated after machining. This tends to warp them a bit. Most likely you'd have to epoxy bed the bedding block as many here have had to do. The wood stock begs to be bedded. Chk that action is making good contact w/ pillars (tang floated) & bed it. "stupid" accuracy will come with reloads & load tuning. Buy a couple R/L manuals. Hornady & Lyman come to mind. Read, read, read to get ready for BIG learning curve. All the help you'll need will be found right here! Welcome to the forum :)

[ellobo]

Have you checked to see if the barrel is free floated and the tang? Wood stocks will warp, especially if you live in a humid part of the country like Florida. bedding what you have is probably the best thing you can do cheap. Forget the bedding block. too many people complaining about them on this forum. Check the FAQ section for info on bedding.

El Lobo

[thejetman]

Thanks guys. As far as bedding goes, should I let a smith do it? I am pretty handy, but it helps if I have a step by step to walk me through it. I like the wood stock. Was going to refinish it anyways, so it wouyld be a good time to do it.

[stangfish]

Try a heavier bullet for the 1"10 twist. See what happens.

[barrel-nut]

Try a heavier bullet for the 1"10 twist. See what happens.

+1
168 or 175 gr target ammo, such as Federal Gold Medal Match or Hornady TAP will give you a better idea of what it's capable of.

[thejetman]

Well I suppose I might have to. I am going to get into reloading this year sometime, I just cant justify 35-49 dollars for twenty rounds of ammo. If it makes that much of a difference I might be more inclined to try a box. But for now, the 15 dollar federal 150's will have to suffice.

I think I lost some accuracy yesterday at the range. Got home, went to clean rifle, and the two screws that hold the reciever to the stock were loose. Like the barrel assy rocked back and forth on the stock loose. So, ripped it all apart, cleaned it all really good, adjusted trigger down, broke inside of accuspring, put all back together and am now going to wait till saturday to try it again.

Someone convince me that the "match" ammo is worth it. I even went as far as to ask local GanderMTN. specialist. I cant get a diffinative answer on what the differences are. Thanks.

[barrel-nut]

If you want match-grade ammo at .75cnts / round, you will have to handload. And ignore the sizable cost of getting set up to do it. Otherwise, with factory ammo, you will get hunting-grade accuracy at $15/20rds, which is what you're getting now.

Reloading is a fascinating, addictive hobby that will force you to learn more about internal and external ballistics. This in turn will probably make you a better shooter. It will certainly cause you to shoot more, as you will be under the blissful misconception that your ammo is cheaper now that you make it yourself. It won't be, unless you shoot a helluva lot. Equipment is expensive, especially good equipment, and you will likely shoot the better part of your life before you truly offset that initial (and ongoing) investment.
But "making it cheaper" is not the best reason to begin handloading. Making it better is the real reason. And there are others, such as making custom tailored rounds for your specific rifle, and your hunting or target shooting needs. And not having to rely on a store, with their fluctuating availability and prices, for your ammo supply. Not to mention the pride of knowing that you assembled your prized load yourself, which actually makes hitting your target even more fun.

If none of this means anything to you, and you just want the cheapest bang for the buck, continue shooting the $15 ammo. Good luck with getting much better than the 1" you say you're getting now, which is really not bad, by the way. But if you really want "stupid accuracy ", it will cost you, either in the form of a $30 box of Federal GMM, or in $1000 worth of reloading equipment (and that's just for starters)! Sadly there is no free lunch here.
It's also possible that you may have a rifle that just won't do better than 1", no matter what you feed it. In that case, a better barrel would be the first step on the path to "stupid accuracy". Followed by a better stock, trigger, scope, etc.

[Willoughby]

quote - Check the FAQ section for info on bedding-
I cant seem to find it ?? -what heading is it under ?

[thejetman]

Actually, I want to start handloading, its just not financially feasable till the wife starts working next month. I take pride in my weapon and just want to really see how it can really perform. Not only that, I want to be able to hand it down to my children when they get older. I think it would be a good heritage piece, thats why I wanna make it real nice.

[barrel-nut]

I understand completely, and please don't think I'm trying to push you into a very expensive hobby before you're really ready for it. Taking care of the wife and kids should come first; all this shooting stuff should not be priority #1, or even 2. That was sorta the point of my post, and maybe I didn't do a good job of making that clear, but for where you're at right now, I'd just keep shooting the Federals, maybe splurge once and try a box of the match stuff if the budget will allow. If not, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the 1" you're getting now. I see guys at the range all the time who would be tickled to death with that level of accuracy. Keep practicing the fundamentals, and when you are able to begin loading your own or you upgrade your gun, you'll be that much happier with the outcome. :)

[Dennis]

All depends how much you planning on shooting a year!

I am sure there's a factory load that will work in your gun. You may have to go through several, but I have always found one that would work for my hunting friends.

If your going to shoot every month, there are several nice starter kits available. Some well know shooters only buy dies, a press, primer pocket cleaner/uniformer, a few brushes, and scotch brite to clean up the outside of the brass! You will need a caliper to measure and get a little advice on reloading. YouTube has several good videos on reloading!

It's like any other sport/hobby. It can go as far as you want it to go! But reloading does give you the ability to produce a tack driver!

[defoxer]

Check the barrel and tang are free floating, then tune a handload....

[efw]

Adjust the trigger, bed it, start reloading.

Yep! I wouldn't worry about the aluminum bedding block, though a good solid glass bedding job would be good.

Trigger adjustment & reloading will go WAY further than a bedding block.

IMHO synthetic stocks are VERY overated!

Good luck,

efw

[SMK Shoe]

You can get into reloading for a couple hundred. Lee makes a kit that has just about everything needed to start. But be advised, it is a basic kit and you will upgrade. I started in 1988 with a rcbs partner press kit. I now have two dillion 650, two partner presses, a turrent press, and a hand press for the range. Enought dies to sink a body, and a few mortgage payments in components on the shelves. It is a addictive hobby. I think i shoot now just for a excuse to reload. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[thejetman]

I think I might get to the range this weekend and see what it does. Yes, reloading will be a good winter hobby. Now that its getting nicer out, its gonna get harder to go shoot. But hey, its all in good fun.