Savage® Arms 12 FV 308 WIN Bolt-Action Varmint Rifles from CABELA's ? any one have one and if so is it accurate and with what loads Please . 
RJ
RJ
savage model 12 fv 308 win
- Thread starter remington jim
- Start date
***Disclaimer*** This was my experience and I cannot vouch that this will work for you. YMMV
Sorry I know this is an older thread but thought I will add my experience.
I bought a Savage 12 FV in 308 from Cabelas for $499. It is a solid rifle but was not super accurate out of the box and had some issues. I could get a 1" 10 shot group with FGGM 168gr at a 100 yds. This was off a rest.
Shortly after getting the rifle I noticed it was really difficult to extract spent cases. I contacted Savage an they suggested I send it in for warranty repair. Packed up the rifle and sent it out. Received 2 months later ... (long!). The issue was resolved and I continued to shoot factory ammo. I shot about 30 rounds and had to extract a life round as my target fell over. I was surprised to find that the bullet was stuck in the lands. I mean this is Federal GGM 168gr that is standard SAAMI spec. After some effort the cartridge extracted and I noticed the scratched from the rifling on the bullet. I also noticed that the primers were really flat. Called Savage and they said to send it in again. (2 months again ... no way)
At this point I was ready to start reloading my own ammo. I measured the COAL with a sized case and Sierra SMK 168gr. The COAL was 2.771 to jam. this is short but I was able to work up a load that shot 3/4 moa at 2.751 COAL (.020" of the lands). I was not happy that I could not run factory ammo and that I was limited in my powder capacity. At this stage I have already decided that I would replace the barrel as I was starting out in F-Class.
After some research and while continuing to shoot short rounds I decided to try the fire lapping kit from Wheeler. The reviews were mixed with the main negative being that it will move the throat out. Cool I thought. I had just ordered my replacement barrel so I had nothing to loose. I purchase the kit. It consisted of 2 metal plates to roll the bullets with 3 different grits of lapping compound - 220, 320 and 600 grit. You basically spread a small amount of compound on one plate and roll the bullet by pressing down with the second plate. This will embed some find metal particles in the bullet jacket.
I loaded a total of 20 rounds 10 with 220 grit - 5 with 320 grit and finally 5 with 600 grit. I went to the range with my cleaning kit and my COAL gauge (Sized case with a bullet) and the calipers. I followed the instructions to clean after every grit and measured often.
After the first 5 rounds of 220 grit I measured and the throat has moved. .030". I has happy with results and continued to shoot the remaining 5 rounds in 220 grit. The COAL now measured at 2.830.
I cleaned and the shot the 320 grit. COAL = 2.845. Cleaned and shot the 600 grit. Measured COAL and it was at 2.85 - This is exactly where I wanted to be. I went back home and gave the rifle a thorough clean.
Later the week I went back to the range and with factory ammo. Cartridges can now be extracted with ease. I shot a group 1.6" OMG. I thought I screwed up the barrel. I shot a total 8 5 shot groups the best being .9". I was a bit disappointed but hey I have a new barrel on the way and thought I will focus on my marksmanship and continue to shoot the barrel.
On the second trip to the range with my hand loads (new load development with 175gr Barnes MB and IMR 4064) I noticed that the groups continued to shrink. On that day I shot a .506" Group but was not quite happy with the load test. I returned a couple of days later and had adjusted my load development range and I shot 2 sub 1/2 moa groups and found a load I liked. I was super happy! I thought well let's do a seating depth test. I checked the jam point with the new bullets and found due to the longer nose I could seat them out to 2.956 but found best seating depth to be at 2.910" This group was 1/4 MOA. I almost could not believe it. I had to go back with that load. And I did, 2 days later. I verified that 3 5 shot groups had an aggregate group size of .303.
I am still shooting the same barrel in F/TR (Mounted in a MDT XRS chassis) and have now over 750 rounds through it. The rifle continues to impress me and I have had no reason to swap the barrel yet. It sill produces 1/4 MOA if not better when I do my part. Best group is .18 MOA
Sorry I know this is an older thread but thought I will add my experience.
I bought a Savage 12 FV in 308 from Cabelas for $499. It is a solid rifle but was not super accurate out of the box and had some issues. I could get a 1" 10 shot group with FGGM 168gr at a 100 yds. This was off a rest.
Shortly after getting the rifle I noticed it was really difficult to extract spent cases. I contacted Savage an they suggested I send it in for warranty repair. Packed up the rifle and sent it out. Received 2 months later ... (long!). The issue was resolved and I continued to shoot factory ammo. I shot about 30 rounds and had to extract a life round as my target fell over. I was surprised to find that the bullet was stuck in the lands. I mean this is Federal GGM 168gr that is standard SAAMI spec. After some effort the cartridge extracted and I noticed the scratched from the rifling on the bullet. I also noticed that the primers were really flat. Called Savage and they said to send it in again. (2 months again ... no way)
At this point I was ready to start reloading my own ammo. I measured the COAL with a sized case and Sierra SMK 168gr. The COAL was 2.771 to jam. this is short but I was able to work up a load that shot 3/4 moa at 2.751 COAL (.020" of the lands). I was not happy that I could not run factory ammo and that I was limited in my powder capacity. At this stage I have already decided that I would replace the barrel as I was starting out in F-Class.
After some research and while continuing to shoot short rounds I decided to try the fire lapping kit from Wheeler. The reviews were mixed with the main negative being that it will move the throat out. Cool I thought. I had just ordered my replacement barrel so I had nothing to loose. I purchase the kit. It consisted of 2 metal plates to roll the bullets with 3 different grits of lapping compound - 220, 320 and 600 grit. You basically spread a small amount of compound on one plate and roll the bullet by pressing down with the second plate. This will embed some find metal particles in the bullet jacket.
I loaded a total of 20 rounds 10 with 220 grit - 5 with 320 grit and finally 5 with 600 grit. I went to the range with my cleaning kit and my COAL gauge (Sized case with a bullet) and the calipers. I followed the instructions to clean after every grit and measured often.
After the first 5 rounds of 220 grit I measured and the throat has moved. .030". I has happy with results and continued to shoot the remaining 5 rounds in 220 grit. The COAL now measured at 2.830.
I cleaned and the shot the 320 grit. COAL = 2.845. Cleaned and shot the 600 grit. Measured COAL and it was at 2.85 - This is exactly where I wanted to be. I went back home and gave the rifle a thorough clean.
Later the week I went back to the range and with factory ammo. Cartridges can now be extracted with ease. I shot a group 1.6" OMG. I thought I screwed up the barrel. I shot a total 8 5 shot groups the best being .9". I was a bit disappointed but hey I have a new barrel on the way and thought I will focus on my marksmanship and continue to shoot the barrel.
On the second trip to the range with my hand loads (new load development with 175gr Barnes MB and IMR 4064) I noticed that the groups continued to shrink. On that day I shot a .506" Group but was not quite happy with the load test. I returned a couple of days later and had adjusted my load development range and I shot 2 sub 1/2 moa groups and found a load I liked. I was super happy! I thought well let's do a seating depth test. I checked the jam point with the new bullets and found due to the longer nose I could seat them out to 2.956 but found best seating depth to be at 2.910" This group was 1/4 MOA. I almost could not believe it. I had to go back with that load. And I did, 2 days later. I verified that 3 5 shot groups had an aggregate group size of .303.
I am still shooting the same barrel in F/TR (Mounted in a MDT XRS chassis) and have now over 750 rounds through it. The rifle continues to impress me and I have had no reason to swap the barrel yet. It sill produces 1/4 MOA if not better when I do my part. Best group is .18 MOA
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