Accuracy problems

INTIMIDATOR

INTIMIDATOR

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I recently purchased a Savage model 12VLP in .223 and i am having accuracy problems with it. I am shooting factory loaded Federal 55gr. FMJ. I have put about 120 rounds through the gun, How much longer will it take to break in the stainless barrel? The scope that i have mounted on it is a Bushnell Elite 3200 10X40 mil dot with target turrets. I had this scope mounted on my 7mm mauser before the .223 and was able to achieve .75" groups at 100 yards. I have removed the stock and adjusted the trigger to the lightest setting, and loctited all the scope mounting screws. Does anyone know why I can't get sub 1" groups. One more thing, what is the torque recommendation for the front and rear action screws that hold the stock on? Thank You in advance.
 
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I'd also recomend trying a few other types of ammo. The plastic tipped bullets like the Nosler Ballistic Tips or Hornady A-Max / V-Max usually seem to shoot good.
 
Could be that the rifle just doesnt like that particular ammo. Pick up another box of a different brand - give it a go. BTW - All is not lost with your purchase of 500 - you can pull the bullets, and replace them with a better quality bullet.
 
I will agree with everyone above about the ammo. Federal would also be my last choice for brass for reloading, but that is just my opinion.
Is the action bedded? That would be the next logical step for accuracy.
You may need to play with the torque on the screw. Usually something around 65 "inch lbs" works.
 
Thanks for all the help. I think i'll try some Remington and some Winchester the next time I go to the range (if it ever stops raining). And yes the action is embedded into the stock, the darn manual doesn't give you a torque rating on the screws after it tells you to take the stock off to adjust the trigger.
 
I assume the gun is new since you spoke of 'breaking it in'.
So. . . , how often have you cleaned the barrel ? Lots, good.
I have a 10FP in the same caliber, 1 in 9 twist (Ithink yours would be the same) and it didn't like anything 55gr. much either, especially Feds.
I reload and get exceptional groups with Hornady 68gr. BTHP Match bullets.

Even if you are not reloading yet, try something heavier in a nonFederal brand.

My thots, over..
 
My thoughts on cleaning the bore is that, cleaning is over-rated. Don't clean until the groups start to open up. I shot over 900 rounds of moly bullets through my .308 target rifle and it was still shooting 1/2 MOA out to 600 yards.
 
The Federal FMJ stuff performs very poorly in that rifle. I second the roll your own with a quality bullet. They shoot well with Vmax and 68gr HPBT match. If you want to test it with cheap factory stuff the Winchester white box 45gr HP stuff works well but it is too hot for extended use.

Brian
 
INTIMIDATOR said:
No I haven't, I bought the Federals in a box of 500, more or less just for the brass for when I reload them.
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I hope you don't get the same experience I did with Federal brass. I had lot's of loose pockets, sticky extractions, and a few split cases. None of the reloads were very hot either. I had them at baseline for loads and didn't have any troubles with win or hornady brass with the same loads or higher.
 
INTIMIDATOR said:
One more thing, what is the torque recommendation for the front and rear action screws that hold the stock on? Thank You in advance.
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On the Remington 700 it's 65-in/lbs, so I don't think it'll be far off from that.

-Rohann
 
.223

I bought a Savage 11 (cheapie) a while back and loaded up 55 gr. Sierra and then Hornady 55 gr. in Federal cases and am getting cloverleafs since I first sighted it in. Nothing special in cleaning the barrel or glass bedding. From what I hear this is nothing unusual. Hope you get better groups in your reloads. Karl
 
sv7772 said:
I recently purchased a Savage model 12VLP in .223 and i am having accuracy problems with it.-quote :bangHead:

try a remmy :D

or just try heavier bullets.
post results whatever they are.
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I'd take a savage over a remmy..
 
Accurizing a rifle or finding out why it doesn't shoot to a decent tolerance is a process of elimination. You'll be absolutely amazed at what you'll find out about the rifle if you just unscrew the barrel/action from the the stock and closely examine how it's put together and how things fit. My process of elimintation would go something like this for your gun.

1. If you're absolutely certain the scope is good, then check your bases and rings. Although tight base screws may mean tigh bases, not so, not if the screws bottom out before the bases are tight.

2. Check the bottom half of your rings, just lay the scope in its cradle and examine the fit.

3. Optically center the scope, then mount it. Check zero with a bore sighter, it should be close to zero.

4. Assuming everything is ok, check the stock inlet. Lay a straight edge across the top of the pillars. There should be no wood or plastic interference between the pillars. The top of the pillars should be the only contact with the receiver if it is not bedded. Make sure that the barrel is fully free floated and that the tang is also floating (important on Savages.)

5. So far so good??? change ammo, try some Winchester Supremes, my 12FVSS loves it so much, it's not worth the effort to reload for it.

If you had a detachable mag. (which I don't think you do), there could be a possible interference caused by the vertical piece that sits under the receiver. Oh yeah...I forgot to mention, Savage over Remmy any day.
 
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