Savage 12F, 6.5x284 help needed

Bob Raymond

Bob Raymond

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Guys,

As of today I have 350 rounds through this rifle and no group size worth talking about.

Load development has been done at 200 yards off the bench with a front rest and back bag. Scope is a Leup VX III. All is tight on scope and gun.

Powders used so far are: H4350, RL 19, RL 22, N 160. Primers BR2 and GM 205M.

Bullets are Sierra 142 HPBT Match, starting .010 short of the lands, at the lands and .010 into the lands.

Normal SD and ES are in the single digits, 3.4 and 9.6.

Brass is Lapua or Nosler weight sorted in 1/2 grain.

Problem is that 2 rounds will touch and one will be a flyer of an inch average from the other 2. No rhyme or reason for which one flys by the chrono numbers and the flyer will be either vertical or horizontal from the group which does not print vertically so the node should be neutral on the barrel.

If anybody has an idea I would appreciatte a reply and if it is a secet juiced up recipe, a PM is fine.

Thanks

Bob.
 
Bob. I have had excellent results with 140s with mine, seated just off the lands with a 48.0 gr charge of H-4350.

I wonder if you ran into a bad lot of bullets with Voids

I have yet to try the 140 A-max

I know you know your stuff from PMs but have you tightend down the screws on that savage.

I am trying 142s for the first time tomorrow at 100 m I will let you know the results.

I think the OAL to the lands on my F-class with a 142 is 3.095..
 
Try some 139gr Lapuas AFTER you have bedded that action in the stock properly. It makes a huge difference for these flyers.

Also, try some H4831SC and confirm runout is less then 3 thou. Some have had issues with the first batch of pipes.

Recent rifle reports tell of superbly shooting rifles.

Jerry
 
Thanks guys.

I am hoping to get some 139 Scenars soon and try them.

All screws are tight Jason, will bed it at the same time as I put on a new pipe Jerry as it seems that I am headed in that direction.

Thanks for the link, have read it numerous times and just got some 4831 SC will work up another load.

I think bedding is the cure from what I am seeing at present.

Thanks again guys.
 
Remember that if the bedding is not correct, having the action screws tights could make your situation worse.

I have seen quite a number of stocks with alum chassis where tightening the screws will bend the action...no good.

I am pretty sure that the lam stock on your rifle has pillar beds but lets say one is a bit too short. Heaving on this action screw will 'draw' the action deeper warping it.

Then balancing a round object on the heads of three pens is not condusive to a tight consistent lock up.

Bed it so that the action is nice and level AND the recoil is fully bedded on all sides and bottom. The action should feel rock solid WITHOUT the action screws in place.

I would also suggest you bed under the barrel nut and first 1" of barrel. That is a very long and heavy pipe and anything to give support to the action will only improve performance. Free float the rest and leave ALOT of space around the barrel channel - the more air the better.

Having shots touch then one out is a sure sign that your bedding, or load is off in a new rifle. In an old rifle, say bye bye to the pipe.

Jerry
 
Bob, i just finished unpacking my stuff from he range, all groups were shot at 100m off a bench and rest.

I had some intresting results as 4831SC was junk in the Savage with 140s, and 142s.

H-4350 was junk at between 46.5 and 47.5 grains and again at 49.0 on... terrible 1nch plus five shots

The gun came to life with 48.0 grains and just a gentle kiss with CCI BR primers and Nosler custom brass. The gun shot 142 SMKs better than 140s and I pulled 5, 5 shot groups with 48.0 grains kissing the lands with both bullets that averaged .9 for 25 shots. 25 shots inside an inch I can live with in todays wind.
I did find its very picky with powder.

However my F class 6 mm BR shot everything into tiny groups and realy liked teh 105 A-max bullet!!!! with 31.0 gr of varget.......

I only went with 30.0 gr of varget with the SMK 107s... next week its going to 31.0

I am goung to switch 6.5x284 brass to Lapua as well.
 
I just came back from the gun smiths.

It appears that the last 2 inches of rifling leave room for improvement.

Thanks for the tips Jerry, appreciatte the help guys.

Will let you all know what Savage does about the barrel.
 
Bob, what size of groupings were you getting

And sorry to hear the barrel may have issues, that sucks after the money spent trying to get it to shoot, would explain the fliers

Savage should do something for you I hope! They better
 
Last edited:
Bob Raymond said:
I just came back from the gun smiths.

It appears that the last 2 inches of rifling leave room for improvement.

Thanks for the tips Jerry, appreciatte the help guys.

Will let you all know what Savage does about the barrel.
Click to expand...


One of our local shooters sent his rifle back and they sent him a new rifle AND the original stock back. He had requested that they put the new gun in the original stock because he had a rail installed for his bipod.
 
I have had the best luck with my 6.5-284 with 142 and a .025 to .035 jump on seating depth. Lots of guys are finding that a jump works with the heavier Sierra's I also like RL19 and Federal Match primers.
 
After a phone call today with the kind folks at Epp's, it appears that I am not the only one with this problem.

Still waiting for an answer from Savage on the course of action.
 
From what I have been told by Paul Reibin, it seems that the chambers were badly cut on some of the barrels.
Ellwood Epps confirmed this when Sonofagun talked to them today as well....
Cat
 
Not with the naked eye, a magnifier minimum or preferably a borescope.

The last 2 inches or so show some chatter marks from the reamer.

Epps got me sorted though, good to go. See what this one brings.
 
The new one is definetly much better than the first. Shoots Norma factory with a group size you can measure with a vernier where as the first one needed a yard stick.

Thanks Wes.
 
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