Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

[mlcasmey]

I'm have a heck of a time finding finding an accuracy node. Used both RL-25 and H1000. 250gr SMK bullets. Pushing around 2900-3000 using both powers and seating depths ranging from .010 to .050 off lands .005 at a time. I just can't seem to find any combination that will do better that a 3-4 inch group at 200 yards. Any thoughts on velocity and seating depth before I start all over. I've been able to get my 300 WM AR-30 down to 1/2 inch at 200 yards using 200 gr SMK's and SAKO TRG 42 to a ragged hole on 165 gr SMK's using my same methodology.

Rifle is in a lead sled with 100 lbs on board so I know it's not moving, much.

This thing is starting to cost me some serious money!

 

[mscott]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

I know a guy locally with the same problem. He said he had to go over every screw as the gun wasn't really tight from the factory. He got it down to being a MOA shooter, but not nearly consistent enough to be satisfactory. He spent quite a few $$$ working on it as well with less than stellar results. Last I knew stuck it in the closet for later .... basically gave up on it for now. Good luck.

 

[Grizzdude]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

I've heard that with the .338 lapua the bullets dont really stabilize until 300 yards. Mabey that has something to do with it? The Savage 110 BA has been tested by the savage team at 1000 yards and was shooting 1/2 MOA.

 

[mlcasmey]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

Well 300 yards would not be problem with the ridiculously large scope I put on this thing. Finding a day I can prove it's the load and not the wind might be more challenging.

 

[gixxerk8]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

I'm using a different gun, but. I've been loading Lapua brass with 91g Retumbo, 250g scenars, seated .010 off getting 2850 from the muzzle with excellent results from 200 to 925 yds. Not saying to take an internet reciepe and run with it, just trying to help on getting a concensious on what works for different people.

 

[KYS]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Grizzdude</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've heard that with the .338 lapua the bullets dont really stabilize until 300 yards. Mabey that has something to do with it? The Savage 110 BA has been tested by the savage team at 1000 yards and was shooting 1/2 MOA. </div></div>

That's not true at all. My 338's will stack rounds at 100 yards and 300 yards.

Of course the Savage shooting team says that! They aren't going to knock the company that pays the bills!

 

[cdnshot]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

I have the same rifle. I shoot the 300gn SMK's and it's a definate 1/2 moa gun at 2ooyd and possible a 1/4 moa gun but more testing needs to be done to confirm that and i'm outta powder. I just recently finished testing with the 250gn GMK's and first of all they are not as good as the 300gn SMK's. There may be something around the 87-89gn range of H4831SC but more testing will hve to be done to confirm anything.

When I first got this rifle, the 250's are what I first started
testing with. It was frustrating because they are not the oprimum bullet for the rifle and the barell was not broken in. After about 250 rounds through the tube she really started to shoot (with the 300's) So now that the barrel is settled in, i'm going to go back and start testing with them again. I'll let you know if I find anything.

P.S
My pet load for the 300SMK's is

[email protected]
CCI250
Lapua Brass timed to 2.716
OAL of 3.706 (.030 off the lands)

 

[bowstryder]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

Let me expand on cdnshot's comment. #1 you never said you tried any other bullets or weights. #2 how many rounds down the tube? Aside from checking everything and then rechecking that everything is properly tightend and/or seated, this particular model takes a while to "settle down" and you need to try out several different bullets and different weights.
I had a similar dissappointing experience with one of my rifles. I chose a bullet and thought it would be the cat's meow. Well it shot mediocre. It ended up liking something else and now I am not complaining at all! Just took some time to find it.

 

[KYS]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

Why would you spend $2000.00 on a rifle that needs 250 rounds to shoot like it's advertised to do so out of the box?

You could save yourself some trouble and get an aftermarket barrel. I hear horror stories from gunsmiths about the quality of savages factory barrels.

 

[mlcasmey]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

cdnshot

The first thing I did (as with all my rifles) was fire lap them with Tubbs bullets so I was hoping to not have to run 200+ of these $monsters$ through it. Maybe my luck ran out this time. I think I may try the 300SMK. I already have H1000.

Thanks for your pet load and freebore.

 

[cdnshot]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

Do try the 300's, you will not be dissapointed. I don't see anything wrong with taking 250 rounds to settle down the barrel. For me anyway it means more trigger time which is always welcome, and i'm not rich my any means so I shoot when I can. Plus it's nice to see first hand the accuracy getting better as the round count gets higher.
Shot at 200yd. The top two were with another load. The bottom 4 were with my pet load.

I am by no mean a expert shooter. But with every trigger pull I get better.

 

[KYS]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

I just find it odd that a rifle manufacturer wants you to have to put more work into the barrel to get it to meet their accuracy promise. There is a Savage 338 rifle in the local shop right now. Im sure with an aftermarket barrel it would be a good rifle but with the factory one, I can see why people are having accuracy problems. Tooling marks, the bore looks like someone dropped metal shavings down it and then blown out with an air tool.

A GAP rifle isn't delivered to you with a note that says "Fire 250 rounds before you try and take our .5moa accuracy promise as a serious point"

 

[psinclair]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

250 rounds of .338LM is a lot of coin...My GAP .338LM shot good right from the get go.

 

[E. Bryant]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

Here are the results of shots 3, 4, and 5 though my GAP .338LM:

The first two shots were about 3" left and above the bullseye (not bad for hanging a Leupold boresighter off the muzzle brake).

Lapua brass, 250 SMK, 95.0gr of Retumbo, seated to maximum length possible in non-CIP AICS mags. Haven't needed to do any load development or break-in; just need to do my part and the bullets go where they should.

 

[citabria]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

I havea 338 that GA Precision built for me and it is the best shooting gun i have out of two safes full (.130 @ 100yds and .750 at 400 yds). The load is the new 300 gr Berger OTM, 87gr H1000, 3.840 OAL i believe but if anyone needs to know for sure i can double check.

 

[JWV]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

Get it off that lead sled. These big rifles need to track otherwise all that vibration goes right into the gun. Use some sort of good front rest and steady rear bag. well this has been my personal experience and is my opinion, but I think it will help.

 

[sav338lapua]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

mine loves the 300 smk's i think the 1:9 twist barrel prfers them. mine shoots into one hole from 100 yards with 92 grains h-1000. seriously try the 300's i think it will change your feelings for this rifle. and shoot without the lead sled recoil is not bad at all with this rifle as heavey as it is and with its huge recoil compensator i can shoot 40 rounds without a problem.

these are my twins well big brother little brother lol

 

[mlcasmey]

Re: Dialing in my Savage BA 110 338 Lapua

Thanks eveyone. Made some serious progress today. Tried the 300 SMK's. I started at 89gr of H1000 at .030 of lands and got 2700 fps through a chrony. First group of 4 were two groups of two touching rounds 1.5 inches apart. Things got worse very fast as I increased speed, so I now know my 110's max velocity. Now I'll slow it down a bit and look for a nice node and start looking for a seating node after that.

Might be worth coming back to the 250's. Maybe I was just shooting them too fast as well.

About the lead sled. I have always wondered about the comment made above on the big guns not behaving naturally (harmonically) in the sled. My AR-50 won't even fit, so I had to dial it in on a bypod and my shoulder. At 200 yards it was shooting touching holes so I was happy.

Any other really smart guys out there with the wisdom, or not, of trying to dial this gun in on a sled?