Savage model 11 acting up

C

Chicken Lights

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Picked up a used savage model 11 to plink with. I’m sure it’s been unused for awhile. It’s got a goofy “accutrigger” setup. Two things seemed to happen with it, it would run 3-4 rounds fine then act like it didn’t want to let the trigger pull, resulting in guessing if it fired. OR it simply would not let you pull the trigger, period.

Second thing I noticed is it had a hard time picking up the bottom bullet, it’s a bolt action, you could cycle it over and over and it wouldn’t chamber it. The bolt just slid over the cartridge

Savage model 11, bolt action, .223, nothing fancy

Any tips?
 
The hunting arms section might be a better place to ask

It's 'used' so the previous owner might of did some home gunsmithing and ruined the trigger.
I'd disassemble it and see if you can notice any filing or funny business in the trigger pack.

I am also a 'home gunsmith' so don't listen to me if not comfortable, find a real gunsmith to examine it. It's not safe as is if the trigger is that wonky in my opinion.

The magazine issue might be as simple as the spring in backwards.
 
Wrong section...

Sounds like you aren't drawing the trigger back square, it's a "feature" of the trigger. Make sure you draw the tab back straight, and all the way in before manipulating the actual trigger. Having the trigger set to its lightest pull makes it worse in my experience.

As for the last round, I'd have to see it, something out of spec with the follower I suppose, best bet is compare it to another Savage if you can. I'd just phone Westfield, Ma, I wouldn't be surprised if they just send you a new spring and follower.
 
if the PO tried to drop the triger tension to low, this happens.

if you are lucky, you just need to adjust the trigger to a be a bit stiffer (2lb or higher) . if you are unlucky the PO backed the screw out so far it fell out....


as for the mag

lets go through the potential problems most common to nost rare.

are the feed lips bent down? take a look, if they are uneven you got a problem.

is the spring compressed? is the last round being pushed up firmly onto the lips? if its loose you might have to stretch the spring out.

is it rhe right mag and fallower? the last round should be pressed evenly into the feed lips.

now issues with the gun.

is the stock tightened down? if its loose it can cause this issue.

did the PO try to bed the stock? it might be now sitting to high.

lastly

is the bolt head or bolt guid rails damaged exsesivly worn?
if so... whelp... your into warrenty.
 
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I've heard this complaint about Savage rifles quite often (won't pick up a round), and sometimes it's simply operator error. Any Savage I've owned seems to have a bit of tension/binding before the bolt is all the way back, almost as if you're all the way back but you're truly not. With a little luck this is your problem and not a damaged mag spring.
 
redshooter said:
Wrong section...

Sounds like you aren't drawing the trigger back square, it's a "feature" of the trigger. Make sure you draw the tab back straight, and all the way in before manipulating the actual trigger. Having the trigger set to its lightest pull makes it worse in my experience.

As for the last round, I'd have to see it, something out of spec with the follower I suppose, best bet is compare it to another Savage if you can. I'd just phone Westfield, Ma, I wouldn't be surprised if they just send you a new spring and follower.
Click to expand...
Savage was closed today, for the holiday.

There’s a silver tab, that’s skinny, in the middle of the black trigger. I don’t know what that’s called. That’s the part that is funky, it either won’t move at all or it’s unpredictable when it’s acting up.
 
LordEvilPepper said:
if the PO tried to drop the triger tension to low, this happens.

if you are lucky, you just need to adjust the trigger to a be a bit stiffer (2lb or higher) . if you are unlucky the PO backed the screw out so far it fell out....


as for the mag

lets go through the potential problems most common to nost rare.

are the feed lips bent down? take a look, if they are uneven you got a problem.

is the spring compressed? is the last round being pushed up firmly onto the lips? if its loose you might have to stretch the spring out.

is it rhe right mag and fallower? the last round should be pressed evenly into the feed lips.

now issues with the gun.

is the stock tightened down? if its loose it can cause this issue.

did the PO try to bed the stock? it might be now sitting to high.

lastly

is the bolt head or bolt guid rails damaged exsesivly worn?
if so... whelp... your into warrenty.
Click to expand...

The feed ramps look fine on the mag. It’s an internal mag built into the gun, you load it with the bolt open. Bolt face looks good, no excessive wear from what I see. It’s a one piece stock and handguard, no way other than a saw to remove the stock.

I had an RO look at both problems at the range and he was perplexed too. He showed me if the last round wasn’t being picked up to push it forward 1/4” or so and it picked it up fine then. But that doesn’t sound normal
 
lone-wolf said:
The hunting arms section might be a better place to ask

It's 'used' so the previous owner might of did some home gunsmithing and ruined the trigger.
I'd disassemble it and see if you can notice any filing or funny business in the trigger pack.

I am also a 'home gunsmith' so don't listen to me if not comfortable, find a real gunsmith to examine it. It's not safe as is if the trigger is that wonky in my opinion.

The magazine issue might be as simple as the spring in backwards.
Click to expand...

Sorry for putting it in the wrong place.

I’ll tackle removing the trigger this weekend.
 
Chicken Lights said:
The feed ramps look fine on the mag. It’s an internal mag built into the gun, you load it with the bolt open. Bolt face looks good, no excessive wear from what I see. It’s a one piece stock and handguard, no way other than a saw to remove the stock.

I had an RO look at both problems at the range and he was perplexed too. He showed me if the last round wasn’t being picked up to push it forward 1/4” or so and it picked it up fine then. But that doesn’t sound normal
Click to expand...


pull the floorplate and make sure the spring is still attached properly to the fallower. it really sounds like a spring issue one way or another.
 
Chicken Lights said:
Savage was closed today, for the holiday.

There’s a silver tab, that’s skinny, in the middle of the black trigger. I don’t know what that’s called. That’s the part that is funky, it either won’t move at all or it’s unpredictable when it’s acting up.
Click to expand...

Sounds like the trigger isn't catching the sear and that safety tab is stopping the sear from dropping. This CAN be due to trying to adjust the trigger too light. Or it could be that some Bubba tried to do a trigger job and removed material from the notch in the trigger that catches the sear. Either problem is a safety concern. I got a great deal on a Savage 12 VLP ($1500 rifle for $600) due to a "trigger problem". The problem was solved by increasing spring tension on the trigger so that it would catch the sear better. The Accutrigger has a spring that threads into a threaded hole on the rear of the trigger. Back it out a turn and see what happens. There is no separate tension screw.
 
Chicken Lights said:
There’s a silver tab, that’s skinny, in the middle of the black trigger. I don’t know what that’s called. That’s the part that is funky, it either won’t move at all or it’s unpredictable when it’s acting up.
Click to expand...

It's a feature mandated by Lawyers. It's purpose is to make sure the Rifle doesn't fire from anything other than a purposeful trigger manipulation. I'm sure you've already noticed you just need to re-#### the action, not exactly a great solution when you've just shot 4 sub 1/2 MOA groups, going for 5... "trip", ovrec

I'm not suggesting that anyone do this if you plan on using the Rifle in the Field, but if it only sees duty on the bench why not? The tab is quite simple to remove, and the trigger will function fine after.
 
I figured out how to take it all apart, eventually. I only see one set screw for adjustment, but there’s no way to adjust it? One end is just threads, the other end is buried under something, almost like a weld blob? So other than some cleaning I just put it back together. Of course now I can’t get it to act up, just dry firing it. Thanks for everyone’s help I’ll just wait and call Savage next week.
 
Savage gives you a thin little screw driver thingy with a forkish end that you stick in the hole and twist to adjust tension. Has a yellow rubber cap on one end.
 
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