Re: First is off. Why??
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Daxter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Savage 110 BA. It is always the second shot that is different and the third shot is right next to the second shot. I dont think it is a temp issue. Could it be a clean barrel that is not settled down yet? (38 rounds since it was cleaned) </div></div>
How far apart is the CBS, from the #2/#3 pair, in inches?
This is only a sample size of two, but my 10FP took a good 700 rounds (1.5ish MOA) to settle down to where it's a consistent ~.75 MOA rifle with the 150s-190s, over the past 2600+ rounds.
Not saying that 700 rounds is the norm for a break-in period and it's no doubt an unusually high round count, but one does have to put a good 100-200 rounds down a new barrel, especially a factory, non-lapped barrel, before one makes any hard, or fast, assessments.
My Savage 12 VLP in 22-250, bought at the same time in '05, started shooting pretty well right out of the box.
I agree with some of the other people in that Savage doesn't give a guarantee on barrel accuracy, like the custom guys do and they do this for a reason--they'd rather not say it's 2 MOA guaranteed.
I have a Sako TRG-42 and no Sako rifle, whether it's a hunting rifle, or it's a competition rifle, leaves their factory unless it can put five shots into an inch, or better, at 100 yds/m.
We all hope our factory barrels shoot well out of the box, but realistically, 1 MOA-1.5 MOA is probably what Savage is striving for with 5 shot groups and that weapon.
Chris