Savage 11 issues

[bambam8d1]

Bought a new Savage 11 Hunter XP in 308 a few weeks back. First trip to range and couldnt get it to group well. I read all this stuff about how Savage will shoot sub moa right out of box. Big part of reason why I went with it. Well tightened bases and rings, shot several brands and weight bullets. still everywhere. Went and bought a Leupold VX-II and leupold bases and rings. Went back out this morning, same issue. Couldnt get groups tight. Best were like 7 or so inches. Let barrel cool between shots. pretty disappointed in this rifle so far. And getting expensive with all this ammo and still cant zero it.

[mjmagee67]

Ammo??? What ammo are you using? It makes a big big difference. My Savage 12FV will shoot .3 inch groups (100 yards) with the right ammo, BUT with the wrong ammo I've only gotten 1.2+ inch group. All groups 5 shot min,

[bambam8d1]

Tried winchester bst, fusion, hornady, and corlokt. Ha if I could get 1.5 inch groups id be happy about that even right now. I have like 7 inch spread, sometimes more.

[LynnJr]

ASSUMING the shooter is doing his/her part 7 inch groups means something is mechanically wrong with the rifle or bullet problems.It is hard to load rounds that bad on purpose so I would check the gun from top to bottom by removing each piece and re-installing it.
If your just pulling on stuff and it seems tight and not actually taking it off and re-installing it your wasting your time.
How are you shooting it at the range? off a rest, bags or bi-pod?
Is the barrel laying on a front bag or rest?
7 inch groups usually come down to scopes, rings and bases falling off or in need of attention.

[bambam8d1]

I'm shooting using bags up front and a sand sock in rear. Replaced rings, bases and put a new leupold on there. pretty positive its not me. my job in the army is shooting long distances. Not to sound like a douch bag lol. Ive had a few others try it too though and same issue. Given, none of us are gunsmiths, but we are better than average shots. which adds to the frustration of me not being able to group well on this. Lol

[vincewarde]

I would have someone else shoot it just to confirm it is the rifle. If it still shoots that bad I would contact Savage.

[JMP]

Does it have an AccuTrigger? If not, the factor trigger will come very heavy on the Model 11. Look at your target and dry fire the rifle. Does the reticle move when the trigger breaks? Otherwise, make sure the cartridge is snug when you close the bolt and take off the barrel and make sure it isn't bent.

[Surferchris1]

Don't give up. I had a similar experience with my Savage 10fp in .223, took it to the range and all I had was some Federal 55gr and was shooting 5-7" groups at 100y. I was pissed and didn't shoot the thing for a while.

A month or two later I ordered a box of Black Hills 75gr match grade. First 5 shots pretty much went through the same hole.

Really opened my eyes to how much quality ammo matters. I bought a reloading press that same day and haven't looked back! Now I can ring my 9"x13" steel targets out to 800y very consistently.

[Exodus343]

check if the barrel is free floated


In before AR15barrels say you should've bought a R700

[TMB 1]

How does the crown look? If you bought it from a place where they're sitting out and every a__hole and his brother can mess with it some one might have messed it up.

[Wrangler John]

First thing is to check the front scope base screw. Most are too Long and will bottom out on the barrel threads before they tighten against the base. See below. Top arrow points to overhanging Weaver base, that may interfere with the recoil lug. Bottom arrow points to base screw that will tighten against the barrel threads, marring them and placing stress on the barrel shank, while leaving the front base loose with only the rear screw holding it tight:



Shortening the front of the base with a file and emery cloth provides clearance with the recoil lug, and shortening the screw gets the base tight. Note that the screw is just shy of the top of the threads by a few thousandths. Shortening the screw requires some careful work or adapting a Brownell's jig:



Also, Savages like the action screws torqued properly.

Try checking the base screws first, and see if things don't improve.

[ar15barrels]

In before AR15barrels say you should've bought a R700

Savage buyers always get what they paid for just like buyers of any type of gun.

[ar15barrels]

First thing is to check the front scope base screw. Most are too Long and will bottom out on the barrel threads before they tighten against the base. See below. Top arrow points to overhanging Weaver base, that may interfere with the recoil lug. Bottom arrow points to base screw that will tighten against the barrel threads, marring them and placing stress on the barrel shank, while leaving the front base loose with only the rear screw holding it tight:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/Wrangler-John/IMG_0043.jpg

Shortening the front of the base with a file and emery cloth provides clearance with the recoil lug, and shortening the screw gets the base tight. Note that the screw is just shy of the top of the threads by a few thousandths. Shortening the screw requires some careful work or adapting a Brownell's jig:

http://s274.photobucket.com/user/Wra..._0046.jpg.html

Excellent advice and pictures.
I think that the overhanging scope base is much less likely to be an issue as most recoil lugs are smaller that the receiver.
This means that a scope base would simply be floating over the top of the lug.

Long scope base screws are a common occurance though as they are intended to be installed by gunsmiths who know to check the length before tightening them into place.

[bambam8d1]

No, no accutrigger. And youre right its very stiff. I haven't used any match grade ammo. I was trying to get a decent deer/hog rifle and want to zero it using the hunting rounds I would be using. I did buy the rifle from a little mom and pop store that pulled it directly off the shelf and put back in box when I bought it. Checked out and couldn't really notice anything bad on crown. Ill check into the base screws and length. Geez, definitely didn't expect all these issues when I picked this thing up. Heard great stuff about sub moa out of box ha.

[NorCalFocus]

Spend a little more and get the trigger worked over and replace it.