improving on a savage FCP-K

[timelinex]

So I've had my factory savage FCP-K for a couple months now and its been a great first rifle.
Life story warning:If you just want to read the question, skip the following paragraph.
I've been doing mostly 100-200 yard groups,because that's whats at my range but I have been to a 250-1050 yard shoot. In the fall there are weekly 500-1000 yard so I'm excited to finally get more practice long range. Until then though, I have mostly been doing groups and experimenting with different ammo. I have settled on FGMM 175's and recently southwest 175's. While I still have alot of room to improve(like recoil management), I think I've started to approach the limit of my equipment(for up to 200 yard shooting, past that I still have alot to learn). My groups are anything from .3-.9, but on average it's about .75MOA. Anything over 1MOA is rare. I want to do things like the dot drill, but it seems almost futle considering its not a .5MOA rifle. I can practice all I want, but if my rifle's average limit is .75MOA then the results won't tell me much as I won't know if its me or the equipment.

SO, let's get to the point of this post. Are there mod's or things I can do to my rifle to improve its accuracy? If I like the trigger, is the only thing left either the stock or barrel swap? The stock is an accustock and is said to be very good for a factory stock. Are there smaller mods that I can do that could push it closer to .5MOA? Obviously I understand spending 200 dollar's isnt going to transform an 800 dollar rifle into a 4000 dollar one, but I don't believe .5MOA is such a high standard.

Thanks

 

[Dirty D]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

Start handloading.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

^this, and you'd be surprised how many .5 moa and smaller groups FCP-k's shoot every day.

 

[timelinex]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

I know that many FCP-K's shoot .5 and better, but with facory rifles its always a gamble...some shoot .4MOa other 1MOA.... some like AMAX bullets some like SMK

I thought that the natural next step to increasing accuracy would be handloading, BUT then the more I read on this forum the more I see many guys get <.5 MOA with factory loads from FGMM and southwest on their expensive rifles.... So I figured its not the ammo

 

[Swift]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: timelinex</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I know that many FCP-K's shoot .5 and better, but with facory rifles its always a gamble...some shoot .4MOa other 1MOA.... some like AMAX bullets some like SMK

I thought that the natural next step to increasing accuracy would be handloading, BUT then the more I read on this forum the more I see many guys get <.5 MOA with factory loads from FGMM and southwest on their expensive rifles.... So I figured its not the ammo </div></div>

Factory ammunition, regardless of quality, will never outperform a good handloaded cartridge. The reason for this is twofold:

1. No two firearms (rifles in this case) are exactly alike. Even if you take two FCP-Ks straight off the assembly line with successive serial numbers, both will net different results with different ammunition.

2. Factory loaded ammo is made as a one-size-fits-all blanket for compatibility and reliability in a myriad of different weapons, but this is bad juju when you consider my first point.

Handloading offers the ability to tailor a round specifically to <span style="font-weight: bold">your</span> rifle. Load development will tighten up your groups substantially as well as completely eliminate one variable from your equation, which may play a bigger part than you think.

 

[FOTH21]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

The Savage FCP-K is my "first" precision rifle as well, so I will be watching this thread with anticipation.

I don't have easy access to a range so I haven't shot much. I have been using Hornady 168 TAP (black box) and with very little practice and experience i've easily gotten 1MOA. I know the rifle is capable of much better, but i'm not.... yet.

 

[Swift]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FOTH21</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The Savage FCP-K is my "first" precision rifle as well, so I will be watching this thread with anticipation.

I don't have easy access to a range so I haven't shot much. I have been using Hornady 168 TAP (black box) and with very little practice and experience i've easily gotten 1MOA. I know the rifle is capable of much better, but i'm not.... yet. </div></div>

You can't be more than an hour away from 2 great facilities. Check out Rayners and Thunder Valley. Both are 1000 yards and both are in the Columbus area.

 

[Saiga76]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

I will be shooting mine for the first time at 200 yards tomorrow! I will post pics of my groupings. I can't wait to test her out!

 

[Baire]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

I also have a FCP-K and love it. It shot .5 MOA outta the box but I couldn't leave well enough alone so it now wears a choate prototype stock that was never actually mass produced. I started hand loading 175 SMK with RL15 and hornady cases and have gotten good results. I just bought 2 lbs of Varget to play with and see if I can get better results. Also did you adjust your trigger at all?

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

I think handloading will help a lot, once you get some experience at it.

I actually have a lot of respect for both the Accu-Trigger and Accu-Stock. If a barrel replacement becomes irresitable, try one of these. I can personally vouch very highly for the 28" .260 Rem barrels; I have a pair of them.

 

[FALex]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

I just picked up an fcp-k in .223. I took it out yesterday to get the scope on paper and do some general paper punching. The rifle was performing horribly, but, then again, I was using bulk AE 55 gr. FMJ's. I am praying it was just the ammo...

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FALex</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just picked up an fcp-k in .223. I took it out yesterday to get the scope on paper and do some general paper punching. The rifle was performing horribly, but, then again, I was using bulk AE 55 gr. FMJ's. I am praying it was just the ammo... </div></div>

Try some FGMM or 24gr Varget under a 75gr HPBT and get back to us...

 

[Saiga76]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FOTH21</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The Savage FCP-K is my "first" precision rifle as well, so I will be watching this thread with anticipation.

I don't have easy access to a range so I haven't shot much. I have been using Hornady 168 TAP (black box) and with very little practice and experience i've easily gotten 1MOA. I know the rifle is capable of much better, but i'm not.... yet. </div></div>

^^ Me too, thanks for posting this. Have not had much of a chance to shoot her yet

 

[timelinex]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Baire</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I also have a FCP-K and love it. It shot .5 MOA outta the box but I couldn't leave well enough alone so it now wears a choate prototype stock that was never actually mass produced. I started hand loading 175 SMK with RL15 and hornady cases and have gotten good results. I just bought 2 lbs of Varget to play with and see if I can get better results. Also did you adjust your trigger at all? </div></div>
I haven't adjusted my trigger, but that's because it has always felt good enough. Doesn't seem too heavy at all, at the setting it came.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FALex</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just picked up an fcp-k in .223. I took it out yesterday to get the scope on paper and do some general paper punching. The rifle was performing horribly, but, then again, I was using bulk AE 55 gr. FMJ's. I am praying it was just the ammo...</div></div>
Unless your using match ammo, forget about accuracy. I use cheaper ammo from time to time, and Ive had groups range from .3MOA to 2MOA one after another. Non-match ammo just leads to appointment's and wondering if it was you or the rifle or the ammo.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Greg Langelius *</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think handloading will help a lot, once you get some experience at it.

I actually have a lot of respect for both the Accu-Trigger and Accu-Stock. If a barrel replacement becomes irresitable, try one of these. I can personally vouch very highly for the 28" .260 Rem barrels; I have a pair of them.</div></div>

Im afraid I am gonna need to start reloading sometime soon.


I guess the bad part is that all the ranges out here only go to a maximum of 200 so thats the part that makes it become boring. There are 1000 yard ranges or sections, but they aren't public and really only used for matches and such. I can't be doing a ladder test on a new load onto steal....

 

[SmokinAce]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

You can get 500 yards at Phx Rod and Gun and the crew practices there every Thursday morning. Also on BLM land locally you can get much more range. I have a spot that goes from 0-1700 yards. A couple of guys have measured off 100 yard marks all the way to 1k at that place.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

I have gone from 1000yd to 200yd, and I do not find anything about 200yd boring. I have learned the hard way that I am not, in any way, deprived by being limited to 200yd. I can still get my butt whupped any day of the week.

Yes, there's less wind issue, but if I want a wind issue, I just break out the .22lr.

I honestly believe that testing for LR is best done at 100yd and 200yd, and that beyond that, wind becomes an impediement to effective load testing.

Greg

 

[FALex]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BoilerUP</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FALex</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just picked up an fcp-k in .223. I took it out yesterday to get the scope on paper and do some general paper punching. The rifle was performing horribly, but, then again, I was using bulk AE 55 gr. FMJ's. I am praying it was just the ammo... </div></div>

Try some FGMM or 24gr Varget under a 75gr HPBT and get back to us... </div></div>

roger that! My pocket book is still reeling from this purchase. Anyone have any decent results with the Prvi Partizan 69g match ammo?

 

[Dirty D]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: timelinex</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I guess the bad part is that all the ranges out here only go to a maximum of 200 so thats the part that makes it become boring.</div></div>

You live in Scottsdale, sell that Corvette and buy a 4wd and you will have access to miles of range called open desert.

 

[arnygollott3]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

My FCP-K shoots .5 MOA with:

45.0 Varget (max according to books)
Win Brass at 2.010
Win LR Primer
175 Sierra MK (sorted by length)
Overall Length 2.805

These are the first bullets and the first powder I have tried with this rifle, it has maybe 100 rds down the barrel now. I started with 44.5 grains and worked up in small increments and played around with seating depth after that. I find it hard to go anywhere from here because I don't think I can 'drive' it much better than .5 MOA anyways!

This 'should' be a max load but I am not seeing pressure signs anywhere but obviously one should start lower and work up cautiously for the specific rifle.

If I NEVER get a different load to shoot this good out of this rifle I will be MORE THAN PLEASED with a factory gun at .5 MOA. I was hoping for a reliable .75 MOA when I bought her and she has already surpassed my goals. I LOVE SAVAGE!

 

[hrsuhd]

Re: improving on a savage FCP-K

Kind of a high jack but can anyone tell me the dimensions of the brake on the fcp-k i have a question in to the makers of a new crono and they have asked and i am at work and dont have access to mine to measure.