Savage Arms 110 Long Range Hunter 300 PRC - Issues and Questions

[taulce1]

My father picked up a Savage Arms 110 Long Range Hunter 300 PRC. I surprised him with a Vortex Razor HD scope and rings to finish off the build. We took it out yesterday to sight it in. We decided on a 200 yard zero but started out at 50 yards to get it on paper. We had to use the highest cheek weld and we are still having issues with getting good eye relief on the scope. It needs to be higher. Pretty aggravating. I can't go with lower rings as the scope barely has clearance as is. So that's not the issue.

I know it's a cheaper gun. He's on a budget and I'm trying to accept that it's not like some of the rifles I'm use to. I know it will never be as good. That said, I could barely get a group at 50 yards. Three of the 5 touching. I thought maybe I was having a bad day but that wasn't the case. I was easily single hole grouping with my GAP 6.5 CM. I took the 300 PRC out to 200 yards and I was lucky to hit paper. Extremely aggravating. Shooting Hornady 300 PRC 212 gr ELD-X Precision Hunter.

Lastly, it's extremely hard to eject the round when running the bolt. I have to slap the hell out of it to get the bolt to go up before it will allow me to slide it back and eject the round. It's as if it's getting stuck. To the point I bruised my hand. Never experienced anything like this in a bolt action rifle.

Any advice would be welcomed. At this point I'm ready to buy him a GAP.

 

[6.5SH]

As to the bolt difficulty take a look to see if the lugs have marring from contacting the front action screw.
The simple fix for the comb height is some closed cell foam and a roll of vet wrap to figure out the height you need.

Way too many things can affect the accuracy, but if the action screw is the problem with your bolt the stock fitment and getting proper torque may be a major factor.

 

[taulce1]

As to the bolt difficulty take a look to see if the lugs have marring from contacting the front action screw.
The simple fix for the comb height is some closed cell foam and a roll of vet wrap to figure out the height you need.

Way too many things can affect the accuracy, but if the action screw is the problem with your bolt the stock fitment and getting proper torque may be a major factor.

I'll take a look. No way that's normal the way it is. Thanks.

 

[Wannashootit]

Additionally, the usual checks? Action screw torque, base, rings... double-check all. Receiver/stock fitment seem OK?
Was the shooting all done a few shots at a time, with adequate time for barrel to cool in between? The Hunter line are light contour for the obvious reason.
The stiff extraction is def a cause for concern. Savages ain't known for great extraction (both reliability and ease of primary extraction). Is the cocking cam on the bolt engaging correctly where you're getting close to/maximum primary extraction? Any bulging of the fired cases that might indicate excessive headspace? I doubt it's the Vortex, but it can never hurt to rule it out with a quick scope swap when another's available to do it.

If nothing turns up, could always be a bum barrel- it happens. Savage barrels sure aren't pretty, but they usually shoot well out of the box.

 

[Rocketmandb]

Questions:

On the bolt lift:

- Can you chamber one of the fired cases now without an issue?
- How is the bolt force during chambering? (both loaded round and empty, once-fired case)
- Do you reload? Can you measure the outside of the case at varying positions along its length?

What I'm getting at here is, is this something wonky with the structure of the action bolt, etc., or is it a pressure issue caused, perhaps, by a small chamber.

On the accuracy:

- So many things that can be at issue.
- Have you validated that the barrel is not contacting the stock (run a dollar bill or something along its length)?
- As @Wannashootit says, just make sure everything is set. I'd pull the stock off, look at the bedding, etc. Reattach, retorque, etc.

Not fun on a new rifle, but that's the nature of Savage.

 

[hafejd30]

It’s a savage. What your experiencing is perfectly normal