Range day with my Sako A7 300 Win Mag...problems and fixes

[Charlie38]

So I started the day with my Sako A7 in 300 Win. Mag topped with a Leupold VX1 4x12-40LR... this is what she did.
I used a load of 73gr R22, Fed 215LRM primers, Hornady cases and 200gr Speer Grand Slams. All I could manage were 3"-4"- 3 shot groups. Here's the kicker...the groups jumped all over the paper.
So I came home and did some google research. Apparently they are free floated barrels-NOT. 4" ahead of the recoil lug there are pressure points on each side of the barrel in the stock. Everything else is free floated.
I removed the stock and saw the pressure points were touching the barrel in different contact areas instead of evenly which I thought would not be for good accuracy.
After a little research I used a wood chisel to remove them as I noticed one side of the barrel was touching the point harder than the other side. Then I filed down the barrel channel very slightly on the one side to free the barrel. Now my barrel is truly free floated. I put the gun together torquing the action screws to 55 in lbs switched scopes to a Leupold VX2 2x7-32LR (lost faith in the 4x12) and when back to the range.
Sorry I forgot to take pictures of the stock chiseling, my bad.
Gun went from 3"-4" groups @ 100 meters to get this...3 shots with a 200gr Speer Grand Slam over 73gr R22 @ 2872 fps to ..... 3 shot 3/8" @ 100 meters!!! (centre to centre)
I was losing faith in this gun but after a simple fix its unreal. Large group is before fix, the best I could get...the last group was after the simple fix. Its literally a tack driver now. It finally gets its accuracy guarantee Sako promises.
If you have a Sako A7 giving you fits...try this. It may turn your gun around.

 

[NL-Hunter]

Well, I'd say you are a happy camper now. Great shooting.

 

[Mighty Peace]

Looks like you have a tack driver now !!

I love my Sakos (m75's) but I can definitely say when Berretta USA bought out Sako, the detail to craftsmanship is down. My Sako m75 rifles shoot awesome right from the get go. A hunting buddy invested in a Sako A7 RTPss 300WM last year...shoots great with factory WS 180gr AB's.

My reload for 180gr Accubonds in my 300WM is very close to your 200gr bullets. Close to if not 74gr of RL22 with Federal 215GM primers with Winchester cases. Been my reload since 2005, shoots under 0.4" groups.

 

[Bartledan]

I'm glad things worked out, but it's impossible to say what exactly did work.

You changed at least 3 things, which means it might have been any or all of them. The VX1 might suck, the rings might not have been attached properly, and two tiny plastic tabs might have bent a 3 pound piece of steel.

Was the barrel de-beautifier... I mean deresonator present for your first groups?

 

[hawk-i]

The ### toy is supposed to be closer to the muzzle end of the barrel on a free floated barrel, and closer to the stock on a non floated barrel.... isn't it?

Nice group though.

 

[Slamfire]

Nice shooting! Glad this fix worked for you. But for a $1500 rifle to have workmanship issues like that I would box it up and send it back for repair. I would not expect quality issues with a Sako product. I'm very happy with the quality and accuracy of my Sako 85 Grey Wolf .300 Win. Mag.

 

[Charlie38]

I'm glad things worked out, but it's impossible to say what exactly did work.

You changed at least 3 things, which means it might have been any or all of them. The VX1 might suck, the rings might not have been attached properly, and two tiny plastic tabs might have bent a 3 pound piece of steel.

Was the barrel de-beautifier... I mean deresonator present for your first groups?

The rings and bases were tight, the limbsaver deresonator was present and I've had 3 different solid scopes on it in the last year. I couldn't get it to group until I took out the plastic tabs. I gave up on the rifle last year. I even had the 2x7 on it last year.
And I shot the 200 gr speer GS that I sighted in and loaded for it last year so ya I'd say it was the lil plastic tabs pushing the barrel.