Savage AccuStock?

Playing with one this weekend. The quality of the outside of the stock is very nice with little to no molding flash and joint lines. Surface is like a good bead blast, smooth but not slippery.

The alum chasis does make the stock WAAAAYYY stiffer then the usual injection molded stocks BUT the fit to the action is not as good as required to not need bedding.

Now this may apply to only this rifle but without bedding, there wil be serious movement between the action and stock.

There are already rub marks on the action and this is a brand new rifle. I received it with the packing grease. Can only assume that the rub marks are from cycling the action and/or shipment. You know there is a serious bedding problem if vibration from transit can cause the bluing to rub off!!!

The extra moving lug to hold the recoil lug against the chassis IS a great idea however, it is a bit small and there is no lateral support so the action can twist - all too common problem with modern drop in inletting. The recoil lug is firmly held rearward against the chassis so straightline recoil is handled well. This is a huge improvement over many stocks where the recoil lug may not even touch the bedding.

The alum sides which are supposed to squeeze the action as the screws are tightened, well, don't. The action contact is one thin line on each side. Not adequate.

The location where the action screws go through the chassis and where the bottom of the action rests, are small and flat. The contact is best described as minimal. Think tangent on a circle.

Worse case is the portion of the stock behind the rear screw. There is a huge gap all the way back. The rear of the action is floating. I know some 'smiths want to float the rear of savage actions BUT I would only assume the areas at the rear screw forward are fully supported.

Not in this case. The action is free to wiggle around ALOT.

There is a gap between the chassis and the action right over the rear action screw. When the rear screw is tightened, the action is bent down to the chassis - BAD IDEA.

The bending is enough to cause binding in the operation of the bolt.

Most of the wiggles 'go away' when the action screws and lug brace are tightened up BUT the problems are still there. I have never recommended action screws as load bearing locations nor should excessive torque be applied to force the action/stock together.

Neither is effective as shooting causes all this to eventually vibrate loose. Easily confirm this for yourself by pulling the action and stock apart. You will see very obvious wear areas where the bluing is gone and there might even be alum dust. Using more torque on the screws just delays the problem and can lead to stretched action screw bolts and actions.

I have now bedded the action into the stock, leveling the action and adding material to support the sides of the recoil lug, sides of the action, rear of the action and areas around the action screw.

The action now feels locked into the stock even without the action screws. When the screws are hand tightened, it is rock solid.

I commend Savage at trying to remedy all too common problems in modern stocks BUT the final product has just as many in different areas.

The Accustock is a really significant improvement but without proper bedding, performance is not as good as one would expect or desire.

Jerry
 
Jerry

I have to say that I'm damn disappointed since this seemed like such a great idea on paper - I guess the implementation wasn't thought out as well. How does the factory bedding of the AccuStock compare with the 10FCP HS Precision? I hear that one has an aluminum bedding as well, right?
 
The concept is definitely a great one. The product that I have leaves a lot to be desired. Not sure if anything has changed from concept to production. However, with proper bedding, it IS an excellent synthetic stock that will work as well as the much more expensive products. For the cost of purchase, it is a great deal.

I have yet to see an aftermarket stock that had adequate bedding to not need some bedding. This is not an easy task as actions do vary so some stock makers lean on the big side to ensure 'drop in' fit.

I have played with several HS stocks and they all need bedding. So did Choate, Boyds, Richards microfit, etc.

Haven't met a factory stock that didn't but I certainly haven't seen them all.

Jerry
 
What kind of bedding is done for an aluminum inlet or existing aluminum bedding? Is epoxy still used? Is "skim" bedding used? I've heard that word thrown around, but not sure what it is - only know that it applies to an aluminium bedding...
 
Interesting mystic. My 10FLCP-K is tight. I haven't taken it apart, but I honestly feel i is more "firm" and "tight" than any other factory rifle I own. I think that's the point with this rifle - a sharp-shooter, without getting into some of the insanity of the F-class stuff.

I expect to shoot it sometime this week. In any case, even with it's deficiencies, many owners are reporting 1/2" MOA from the factory. That's a feat in itself.
 
Thanks for the input guys. I really appreciate the time you've taken.
My problem being a lefty is that the HS and McMillans aren't avail for sinsister type actions and I'd hafta go with a custom -read, expensive stock. If the Accustocks are at least workable, I'm happy. I manhandled one of the older style stocks and it was uberscheiss, with very few prospects for a replacement.
 
redman, the process is the same regardless of stock material and epoxy will stick to it all.

Some inletting styles may require more build up but the end result is a glove fit between action and stock with the action left straight with no stress areas.

fm69, many aftermarket stock feel tight when the action screws are cinched down but over time, vibration will wear on both action and stock. Action screws can stretch or actions can be bent. Neither is good for the long term health or shooting consistency.

Many will spend time and money machining their action so everthing is lined up to a few thousandths of an inch, then throw it into a stock, crank on the action screws and literally bend the action enough to be visible and felt.

The worse stock I bedded was one with an alum stock (big name manf). When done, the front area was raised 3/32" to keep the action level.

You could loosen and tighten the front action screw and see the action bend up and down.

Shooting consistency did improve after the bedding...:)

YMMV

Jerry
 
Again, some fantastic info.

One of the chaps at P&D (whom I purchased my rifle from) noted how straight my action was... We sifted through some other rifles, and even my untrained eye could understand what he was talking about. He also showed me a non-Accustock Savage, and explained the flexing (I'll still will likely purchase it, as that one will be a lightweight'ish hunting rifle).

Although you bring me somewhat disapointing news, whom would you recommend to bed the Accustock? How much does that usually cost?
 
Nope, not my rifle. Unpacked it with the factory grease and had a look. We decided to move right away and do the bedding. Also, doing a camo job and bolt timing adjustment.

Bases should be arriving in a few days and I can get this rifle back to the owner for testing.

Jerry
 
I can get my hands on a non-accustock 116FCSS right now. I was going to wait for an accustock model (though actually because I prefer a floor plate to a detachable magazine), but am told I won't get one until next year at this late date.

After your review, I believe I'll go with the current one that I can get, and glass bed with Acra-glass.

Would you concur mystic?
 
Is there a simple technique for stiffening the forend? Perhaps filling with PU foam and then hogging back out to the correct profile?

Alternately, I may get my hands on a decent laminate or glass/kevlar stock for it over the winter...
 
Thanks for all the info Mysticplayer! Great to see what the factory short falls are. Just picked up a Precision Carbine in .308 and stole the parts off my 12Fvss to test it out. Will be PMing you for bases and rings as the money for the dot sight is now going towards this project;) I do think the stock is a HUGE improvment over the old factory junk. Feels way more solid.
 
Wouldn't take much to improve the flexing in the older plastic stock :)

It is a leap forward for factory mass produced/inexpensive stocks. Rem must be shaking their heads again.

It is not the perfect solution but a step in the right direction. Do have the stock properly bedded, it WILL make a difference.

Jerry
 
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