dakota.potts
New member
I'm looking for a reality check.
Earlier this year I bought my first factory precision rifle. All of the precision (centerfire) shooting I've done has been with custom rifles, usually on high-end actions (Kelbly, Stiller, Badger, etc.) on high-end barrels that we fitted and chambered. When I parted ways with that shop and wanted to keep in the sport, I knew that I couldn't afford that level of rifle. I bought my Savage 110 Stealth in 6.5 Creedmoor, expecting it to perform reasonably in these events but knowing it wouldn't be a consistent one-hole shooter.
When I took it out to shoot it the first time, the groups would slowly and consistently walk. I got frustrated with it and very busy with work so I put it away until recently. The other day I bought a torque wrench, went over everything, and found out that the gunsmith I paid to put the scope on hadn't torqued the scope ring screws appropriately. At 20 in lbs they had almost a full rotation to go. I also scrubbed the bore with a copper and powder solvent.
Today I took it back out and shot it some more. The groups were much more consistent and I no longer had the walking zero issue. But, I still wasn't satisfied with what happened. The rifle is holding right around 1" at 100 yards, often a little on the high side (between 1" and 1.25") with some groups coming in a little tighter. I have one 3 shot group that measures .620". But in general the 5 shot groups are not going the way I want them to. Often 2 or 3 shots are very close and then are bigger from there. For instance, I have one group where 3 shots measure .320", 4 shots measures .7", and all 5 shots measure over 1.25".
It doesn't seem to be a case of rounds starting close together and opening up. I had a couple groups where the extreme spread was on the 1st and second shots with the others filling in the middle.
Some information to help:
I was shooting Hornady American Gunner and Federal Gold Medal Match ammo
The gun was shot rested off of front and rear bags
I first shot 5 rounds of Winchester Deer Season to confirm zero and start the re-fouling process
I did not let the gun cool down between shots except during cold range (every 10 minutes). The gun is meant to be a PRS rifle and the rifles are run hot at those events.
The chassis is free of interference points and the action screws are torqued to 65 in-lbs.
Am I expecting too much out of this rifle to do better from the factory? It almost feels to me like something in the rifle is still trying to settle in. I've put 40 rounds through it since cleaning, maybe it needs a couple more to foul and settle to consistency?
I don't know what else to think at this point. Maybe try bedding the chassis? I don't usually consider chassis rifles to be in need of bedding but I've done it a time or two where it was suspected the contact surfaces weren't completely even.
Earlier this year I bought my first factory precision rifle. All of the precision (centerfire) shooting I've done has been with custom rifles, usually on high-end actions (Kelbly, Stiller, Badger, etc.) on high-end barrels that we fitted and chambered. When I parted ways with that shop and wanted to keep in the sport, I knew that I couldn't afford that level of rifle. I bought my Savage 110 Stealth in 6.5 Creedmoor, expecting it to perform reasonably in these events but knowing it wouldn't be a consistent one-hole shooter.
When I took it out to shoot it the first time, the groups would slowly and consistently walk. I got frustrated with it and very busy with work so I put it away until recently. The other day I bought a torque wrench, went over everything, and found out that the gunsmith I paid to put the scope on hadn't torqued the scope ring screws appropriately. At 20 in lbs they had almost a full rotation to go. I also scrubbed the bore with a copper and powder solvent.
Today I took it back out and shot it some more. The groups were much more consistent and I no longer had the walking zero issue. But, I still wasn't satisfied with what happened. The rifle is holding right around 1" at 100 yards, often a little on the high side (between 1" and 1.25") with some groups coming in a little tighter. I have one 3 shot group that measures .620". But in general the 5 shot groups are not going the way I want them to. Often 2 or 3 shots are very close and then are bigger from there. For instance, I have one group where 3 shots measure .320", 4 shots measures .7", and all 5 shots measure over 1.25".
It doesn't seem to be a case of rounds starting close together and opening up. I had a couple groups where the extreme spread was on the 1st and second shots with the others filling in the middle.
Some information to help:
I was shooting Hornady American Gunner and Federal Gold Medal Match ammo
The gun was shot rested off of front and rear bags
I first shot 5 rounds of Winchester Deer Season to confirm zero and start the re-fouling process
I did not let the gun cool down between shots except during cold range (every 10 minutes). The gun is meant to be a PRS rifle and the rifles are run hot at those events.
The chassis is free of interference points and the action screws are torqued to 65 in-lbs.
Am I expecting too much out of this rifle to do better from the factory? It almost feels to me like something in the rifle is still trying to settle in. I've put 40 rounds through it since cleaning, maybe it needs a couple more to foul and settle to consistency?
I don't know what else to think at this point. Maybe try bedding the chassis? I don't usually consider chassis rifles to be in need of bedding but I've done it a time or two where it was suspected the contact surfaces weren't completely even.