Have you ever bedded a Savage 340???

gth

gth

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I picked up another 340 in .222rem. My other one (CIL version 840b) shoots really good with anythign I feed it. This new one however seems to have a problem with holding the poi between range sessions.

One range sesion I can get it dialed in no problem. Then the next time I take it to the range it will be shooting quite a bit off one way or the other. I dial it back in, then the same thing next time I shoot it. As this will be a hunting rifle this poi shift is unacceptable.

I didint clean the bore between range session so thats not the problem. The scope tracks fine and the mounts are solid, so I'm guessing its the bedding.

The stock is in pretty bad shape so I'm in the process of refinishing it right now. Hopefully that will seal it up and prevent some of the swelling and warping caused by the exposed wood. I will also remove the barrel band incase it is causeing some of the problem.

Now, for the bedding??
I plan on bedding the recoil lug area, chamber and an inch or 2 infront of the chamber. What should I bed at the rear of the action seeing as there is no rear action screw????
 
Will you keep the barrel band on? or take it off?

I ask because im thinking of bedding mine over the winter.
 
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mikeelliot said:
Will you keep the barrel band on? or take it off?

I ask because im thinking of bedding mine over the winter.
Click to expand...

I'm going to try shooting the gun with the band and without the band once I get it bedded to see how it performs. I would expect the band will end up in the garbage unless it magically turns the rifle into a tack driver by being on the gun.

Just doenst make sense to me to go to the trouble to bed the action and then leave the band on it.
 
You have the Weaver side mount?
Ive heard of some not lining up with the barrel, maybe could add to some issues?

Im thinkin of doing the same, maybe pillar bedding too?
 
tension on the barrel band will affect how this gun shoots. IF you can dial it in to the sweet spot it may help your consistency and accuracy woes.
 
gunpro said:
tension on the barrel band will affect how this gun shoots. IF you can dial it in to the sweet spot it may help your consistency and accuracy woes.
Click to expand...

Everyone says that, but ive yet to see any F-class or BR gun with a barrel band.:confused:
 
I have bedded a few of these rifles and have found they always shoot better with the barrel band removed.

I bed the recoil lug and barrel support first, then do a skim bed on the rear under the trigger group. When this is finished I bed the bottom metal.

I have never had any problem getting them to shoot with only one action screw, I have also modified them to take a rear "tang" screw.
Savage3403.jpg

Savage3404.jpg
 
On the 340 I would bed about 2 inches in front and back of the recoil lug area to start and at the same time bed about 1 inch in front and behind the barrel band. I would also make sure that the recoil lug is not snug against the wood at the bottom of the recess.
Once bedded this way try it out.
Tighten the stock bolt to about 15 inch pounds of torque - this is just a very little past "finger tight" and not crank on it as hard as you can tight. Bring the barrel band bolt up to finger tight snug. FIre five shots.
Loosen both then retighten to the same torque and see what happes to your POI with another three shots. Try it with the barrel band loose.
 
gunpro said:
tension on the barrel band will affect how this gun shoots. IF you can dial it in to the sweet spot it may help your consistency and accuracy woes.
Click to expand...
The problem with this barrel band is that it is only a clamp used to hold the barrel/action into the stock.

If it was designed as a true forend tuning block, mounted solid to the barrel, you could use it to tune the rifle to a sweet spot. This one has so much play in it that you would end up frustrating yourself.
sav002.jpg

sav001.jpg
 
Mudpuppy said:
I have never had any problem getting them to shoot with only one action screw, I have also modified them to take a rear "tang" screw.
Click to expand...

Any details you could provide about getting a second action screw in there would be helpful.

Thanks

GTH
 
mikeelliot said:
You have the Weaver side mount?
Ive heard of some not lining up with the barrel, maybe could add to some issues?
Click to expand...

I think it lines up OK as it will shoot very well during a single range session. I have a .925" 5 shot group using

50g Winchester Sp over
24.6g of varget
federal 205 SR primer.


Its just that the next time I take it out the group is moved 5" or 6" somewhere else. Still a dead coyote, but far less accuracy than these little rifles are capable of.
 
gth said:
I think it lines up OK as it will shoot very well during a single range session. I have a .925" 5 shot group using

50g Winchester Sp over
24.6g of varget
federal 205 SR primer.


Its just that the next time I take it out the group is moved 5" or 6" somewhere else. Still a dead coyote, but far less accuracy than these little rifles are capable of.
Click to expand...

Try some Sierra 45 gr Hornets.
My 340 has shot them well under .5" at 100yds (3shots), when im on the ball. For the most part its a 3/4" group....BLC-2 or Imr4198 for powder

Im dialing in the 50gr VMAX right now, it seems to like them too.
Next up is 40 gr Nosler BT's.

Thanks for the Bedding pictures Mudpuppy!
 
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