Amateur Range Report - Savage Modifications

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Shalako

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I have been tinkering with my Savage 12fv .223 trying to get it to shoot as good as my Savage 10fp .308. The .308 usually groups about .5 MOA or better, but with the cost of ammo, the weight, and the recoil, this usually isn’t my go-to gun for bumming around the hills. The .223 on the other hand is just plain fun to shoot. Less recoil, and a little lighter and handier. Up till recently, the best I could get accuracy wise was 10 consecutive 3-shot groups at 100 yds that averaged .857†(load is Win 45gr Varmint). That may sound good but a couple of the groups were over 1.2†and 1.4â€. Fliers.

Modifications:
  1. I added a DuraMaxx stock some time ago. I really like this stock for the price. Slight material removal was done to the barrel channel with a deep socket and some 120 grit sandpaper.
  2. Added a SSS trigger for my pre-accutrigger model action. Great trigger, easily adjusted and set at 1.5#
  3. I cut the barrel to 23â€, re-crowned and blued it myself. This gained much better balance with just a small loss in velocity. Tape, a fine blade hacksaw, a file, a home made 11 degree abrasive bit, and a drill motor (electric) were used. Polish was done with successive applications of wet-or-dry sandpaper then cold blued.
  4. I didn’t like the woodscrew that held the triggerguard into the stock. I properly located the hole and installed a steel press-fit insert with machine threads. A pocket knife, hand drill (not electric) w/ ¼†drill, 10-32 nut, visegrips, bench grinder and superglue were used.
  5. I then free-floated the tang area of the action in the stock. My stock was hanging up on the tang on the right side. I whittled the stock a bit with my pocket knife. To check, a strip of paper should be able to pass between the edge of the tang and the stock.
  6. Relieved the trigger guard slot to make sure the SSS trigger housing did not contact the guard. Also, the front of the guard must be opened further forward to make sure you can see the trigger engagement tip while looking through the triggerguard slot. A file worked ok for this but a Bridgeport mill would have saved a few hours. Cold blue was used for the finish. Check clearance with a paper strip.

The last tip about opening up the triggerguard I got from savageshooters.com. Those guys were a great help. My action wasn’t cocking with the rear screw set above 15 in/lbs. They properly diagnosed that I had interference in the triggerguard.

I set the front action screw at 55 in/lbs and the rear screw at 35 in/lbs. I also removed the rear sling swivel stud for better tracking in my Protektor rear bag. The front sling stud is trickier so I just put a forend stop ‘extension’ on my Sinclair All-Purpose top.

Results:

Since I had just scrubbed my barrel totally clean with Hoppes and then Sweets, I knew I’d need some fouling shots before the groups would start to tighten up. Sure enough, after 6 shots I could tell things were coming back on line. I then fired 5 3-shot groups (Win 45gr Varmint) at 100yds. My POI was a little lower and left than I like so I made a few clicks adjustment between groups. Still, the groups held together. .479,.457,.395,.387,.285 from largest to smallest. (measured center-to-center of furthest two shots)

There were no more fliers. The 5 groups made an average of .401â€. Even though these were only 3-shot groups, I think I can safely say that this rifle is now ~.5 MOA. I am pretty pleased that the simple modifications were able to get results. I was just about ready to send it off for bolt timing, recoil lug replacement and a bedding job, but now…maybe not. Plus I have a little more confidence in my home barrel re-crown effort. That was done in a slight fit of compulsiveness, but I’ve got to say I am well pleased with the results of my ‘tinkering’. Hopefully some of these same tips might help other Savage rifle enthusiasts.

Thanks for listening & fire away if you’ve got any questions,
Tim
 
I definately need to start handloading. All my fired cases get saved for when I'm set up someday. The Rockchucker Master Reloader Kit looks like enough stuff to get started at a reasonable price. I'm hesitant to dive in though since there is so much to get a handle on.

At least for now the Win Value-Packs are a great deal. They shoot well, seem to have good terminal ballistics on ground squirrel varmints, and have the same POI as the Federal loading of 55gr NBTs I'm hoping to use on coyotes.
 
Just thought I'd add one more thing before this thread slips off to the archives.

The 12fv fed horribly as a single shot. It fed fine from the magazine, and thats great for hunting, but just resting the cartridge on top of the follower and trying to feed it into the chamber was not working. The bullets would hang up on every try. That couldn't have been helping my accuracy.

So I ordered a ScoreHi benchrest follower from Score High Gunsmithing. The thing fit great into the magwell and is held in by the stock follower and spring. Let me tell you this thing feeds like a champ now. Not only is accuracy improved, but it is a pleasant sensation driving the bolt home now instead of the apprehension felt in the stock configuration.

All the groups referenced in the above post were shot with the ScoreHi benchrest follower in place.

Recommendation: Buy it!


Ok,......now off to the archives.......... :rolleyes:
 
That is fantastic shooting with dimestore ammo. Since I handload nearly all my rifle ammo, I didn't even know they were selling WWB JHP .223 although I have some of their pistol hollowpoints and they are not bad.
 
Great post, now all we need are a few pics of the gun and the groups!

I have a 10FP in .308, pre-accutrigger and 20' barrel. I would like to see how yours turned out!
 
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