Savage 110 BA Problem

[billt]

So I know this is a long thread but this firearm was new out of the box that I picked up last Saturday. Still under 100% warranty from Savage so they're paying the shipping, etc. I'm just a greedy, selfish right-winger that doesn't want to wait 3-6 weeks to play with my new toy that I've invested $6,000 into between the firearm, optics, ammo, accessories. I own over 40 firearms and have never had this kind of problem before. I have had several very experienced shooters tell me that Savage are very accurate guns etc but then I've also seen some Savage bashing. My gripe is really over their turnaround time. I paid $2,100 for the firearm (BEFORE CALIFORNIA TAX AND BS DROS, ETC) They should be willing to expedite it since they don't have any authorized gunsmiths to work on it locally. Savage is based out of Massachusetts

Also I've taken it to J&G gunsmithing and The Gunrange. Both think its a barrell problem or muzzle end/muzzle brake problem and want $$$ to look at it

How could they "Think it's a barrel problem" without looking at the gun in depth? Look, I get the part about not wanting to wait to send the gun back. I'm much the same way. Not only that, there is zero guarantee they'll find the problem and properly repair it. Gun forums like this one are full of threads where guys have sent problematic rifles back for repair, only to get them back with the exact same problem. All that will buy you is more frustration and still more waiting. Not to mention there is the very real possibility the gun could be lost, stolen, or damaged in transit. Then you've got yet another headache to deal with.

At the factory you have no idea of what the skill level is of the person who will work on your rifle. Just because it's "the factory" doesn't mean everyone who touches your gun will be an experienced, qualified gunsmith. I know this will cost you out of your own pocket, but I would at least get the problem diagnosed here in a local shop you trust, BEFORE you ship it off for God knows how long to be worked on by God knows who. You spent a lot of money on what amounts to a factory rifle. Now is not the time to get cheap in the wrong place. At least this way you'll KNOW what the issue is before you ship it off. If it turns out to be an expensive barrel problem that your gunsmith recommends replacement of, then fine send it back. But it might be something as simple as out of whack screw holes. Either way you will know before you wind up waiting weeks. Sometimes time is worth more than a few bucks. Especially in your case where you're already deep into 4 digits in cost.

[dozer wright]

Keep us updated on what Savage found.

[In My Cold Dead Hands]

How could they "Think it's a barrel problem" without looking at the gun in depth? Look, I get the part about not wanting to wait to send the gun back. I'm much the same way. Not only that, there is zero guarantee they'll find the problem and properly repair it. Gun forums like this one are full of threads where guys have sent problematic rifles back for repair, only to get them back with the exact same problem. All that will buy you is more frustration and still more waiting. Not to mention there is the very real possibility the gun could be lost, stolen, or damaged in transit. Then you've got yet another headache to deal with.

At the factory you have no idea of what the skill level is of the person who will work on your rifle. Just because it's "the factory" doesn't mean everyone who touches your gun will be an experienced, qualified gunsmith. I know this will cost you out of your own pocket, but I would at least get the problem diagnosed here in a local shop you trust, BEFORE you ship it off for God knows how long to be worked on by God knows who. You spent a lot of money on what amounts to a factory rifle. Now is not the time to get cheap in the wrong place. At least this way you'll KNOW what the issue is before you ship it off. If it turns out to be an expensive barrel problem that your gunsmith recommends replacement of, then fine send it back. But it might be something as simple as out of whack screw holes. Either way you will know before you wind up waiting weeks. Sometimes time is worth more than a few bucks. Especially in your case where you're already deep into 4 digits in cost.

Already sent back to Savage unfortunately. Fingers crossed, I will keep everyone posted on the outcome.

[In My Cold Dead Hands]

Here is some pic porn of the damn thing that won't shoot straight...

[billt]

Already sent back to Savage unfortunately. Fingers crossed, I will keep everyone posted on the outcome.

I hope you have good luck. I sincerely do. You've paid way too much to be put through all of this kind of $h!t.

[russ69]

Keep us updated on what Savage found.

FYI, sometimes they don't tell you what they did. They just return it and say it is fine. I have no experience with Savage so YMMV.

[ar15barrels]

How could they "Think it's a barrel problem" without looking at the gun in depth?

An 18" steel rule laid alongside the receiver will show a crooked barrel.

[billt]

An 18" steel rule laid alongside the receiver will show a crooked barrel.

I agree. But he said in his post they "thought" it was a barrel problem. And they wanted $$$ to "look into it". Why would they need to look any further if it didn't pass the ruler test?

[In My Cold Dead Hands]

A very nice update to this frustrating issue and I hope I don't jinx this process:

• For all the ***** talk about Savage, they have been VERY RESPONSIVE to this issue and taken 6 or 7 phone calls from me. The supervisor there, received my package this morning and immediately got it in front of a gunsmith. Upon taking measurements after removing the muzzle brake, the bore of the barrel was drilled off center. So the top rail, the screw taps, etc were not the problem. Also, mounting off center scope rings still would have given me problems at longer distances because the bore was drilled off center. I didn't have the appropriate tools to remove the muzzle brake but the problem was easily detectable with the calipers the gunsmith used for measurement. They have installed a new barrel to the receiver and already have it in line to be machined for fluting. They will also be making sure the firearm will fire acceptable groups at 100 yards. THEN they will mount a Leupold Mark 4 and test for windage and elevation availability after firing a 3 round group at 100 yards. They will complete all of this and have the firearm shipped back to me by the end of next week. Barring any complications/jinx on my part, I have to say that is impecabble customer service given that these guys are on the east coast. So with that in mind, I have to say two thumbs up to Savage and I'm glad I shipped it to them when I did and stayed on them. Any local gunsmith would have found the same problem but come to the same conclusion and charged me $$$ just to find the problem. Being that the firearm is so new, one would have had no choice but to send it back to the manufacturer for warranty work. Otherwise you're paying for a new barrel and a gunsmith install etc...
  
  At the end of the day, kudos to savage to making this right in a timely fashion!!!!

[billt]

Good deal! Glad Savage made it right. Let us know when you get it back.

[BradleyAbrams]

Crap can still be accurate.
Accuracy is not the only measure of quality.

This is true.

And it is the reason I opted for a Savage 10PC over a similar Remington.


Oh, Wait...There WAS NO similar Remington at the $700 price range of the Savage...

The Savage 10PC with its Accutrigger and Accustock totally bested any Remmy offering, by far.

The given Out-of-the-Box natural accuracy of the Savage was just icing on the cake.


Loving my Savage 10PC ( .308 )


-

[LynnJr]

You just read a thread were Savage couldn't deep hole drill a barrel correctly and they are fitting a new barrel to the gun and you want to trash Remington?
I own a 111 long-range hunter in 338 Lapua Improved and I gave away the Accu-Trigger as it was junk.
I am now trimming the replacement trigger bracket so I can put a decent trigger on it.
It will be my last Savage ever. The picture shows 10 of the 12 parts required to fix the Accu Trigger.

[billt]

You just read a thread were Savage couldn't deep hole drill a barrel correctly and they are fitting a new barrel to the gun and you want to trash Remington?

Remington is facing a class action law suit involving 7-1/2 million people over their model 700 Trigger that is going to cost them upward of over HALF A BILLION DOLLARS TO SETTLE, and you want to trash Savage's Accutrigger? Are you F'ing serious?

http://www.kpax.com/story/30001405/gun-maker-may-have-to-pay-500m-to-settle-lawsuit

[bsumoba]

A very nice update to this frustrating issue and I hope I don't jinx this process:

• For all the ***** talk about Savage, they have been VERY RESPONSIVE to this issue and taken 6 or 7 phone calls from me. The supervisor there, received my package this morning and immediately got it in front of a gunsmith. Upon taking measurements after removing the muzzle brake, the bore of the barrel was drilled off center. So the top rail, the screw taps, etc were not the problem. Also, mounting off center scope rings still would have given me problems at longer distances because the bore was drilled off center. I didn't have the appropriate tools to remove the muzzle brake but the problem was easily detectable with the calipers the gunsmith used for measurement. They have installed a new barrel to the receiver and already have it in line to be machined for fluting. They will also be making sure the firearm will fire acceptable groups at 100 yards. THEN they will mount a Leupold Mark 4 and test for windage and elevation availability after firing a 3 round group at 100 yards. They will complete all of this and have the firearm shipped back to me by the end of next week. Barring any complications/jinx on my part, I have to say that is impecabble customer service given that these guys are on the east coast. So with that in mind, I have to say two thumbs up to Savage and I'm glad I shipped it to them when I did and stayed on them. Any local gunsmith would have found the same problem but come to the same conclusion and charged me $$$ just to find the problem. Being that the firearm is so new, one would have had no choice but to send it back to the manufacturer for warranty work. Otherwise you're paying for a new barrel and a gunsmith install etc...
  
  At the end of the day, kudos to savage to making this right in a timely fashion!!!!

This thread reminds me of exactly why I decided to buy once, cry once and buy a custom, or at minimum a semi-custom rifle with an aftermarket barrel.

But, OP I am glad they have problem hopefully resolved and you will be getting it back within a reasonable leadtime.

That being said, I am still trying to wrap my head around how it can be that off-center that you bottomed out your windage. On your NF, you have 45 minutes (12.3mil) of elvation and if you cut that in half, that is 22 MOA (6.15 mil) in either direction of adjustment for wind. That is A LOT...and you bottomed out at 25 yards?

I suspect there is more to the story than an off center bore.

And...finally, they installed the barrel and it is now going out for fluting and machining??? So, they are going to flute the barrel with the receiver on???

[ar15barrels]

And...finally, they installed the barrel and it is now going out for fluting and machining??? So, they are going to flute the barrel with the receiver on???

That's how manufacturers get the flutes to ALIGN to the receiver correctly.
All gun makers likely do it the same way.