Savage TR throwing flyers, little no consistency

[Cascade Precision]

I was super proud of this rifle last year. Shot bugholes at 50, still sub-moa at 100 yards.

This year, while shooting Smack the Smiley (www.smackthesmiley.com), I could not get this lil'******* to shoot.

I used the same ammo I did for the last 18 months, and now it shoots all over the place. No consistency, even with Wolf Extra Match. Sometimes it shoots same hole, but those must be accidents...

So, do I need to tear it down and rebuild it one step at a time?
Disassemble down to action out of stock, rings, scope and bases off???

Just a little lost as to what happened to accuracy. Used to out perform everything I owned. Not so much anymore...

 

[Force_Multiplier]

Re: Savage TR throwing flyers, little no consistency

have you cleaned it?

 

[Cascade Precision]

Re: Savage TR throwing flyers, little no consistency

Yep. I thought about that too. I ran some crap ammo through it, then cleaned it, and shot the ammo that had shot so well through it last year. Say, 100 or so rounds (between squeak shooting and paper). That is when I noticed that it was not holding where it used to.

So, how often does a person need to clean a 22lr? I have never cleaned any of my 10/22's until they did not function anymore...and they still shoot good...

 

[RETE8]

Re: Savage TR throwing flyers, little no consistency

A true craftsman never blames the tool....

Seriously though, not questioning your ability, but sometimes you can lose some of that good muscle memory/technique and it doesn't take much to make a difference

 

[Cascade Precision]

Re: Savage TR throwing flyers, little no consistency

I am by no means a craftsman, but I have been shooting all winter (not just 22, but 308, 300, 223, 243) and have been doing very well with those tools.

That said, I am not discounting myself in the equation, but I have reasonable suspicion it is not me. I am not a one-hole-wonder like a lot of you guys, but it is common place to shoot under .400" groups with this rifle (at 50 yards), and more than just a few under .300" (last STS was .24").

 

[scottsnipe]

Re: Savage TR throwing flyers, little no consistency

I would check the scope rings and bases to make sure they are not loose, that happened to me last time and I had to re torque the base because it had slight movement.

 

[XxMerlinxX]

Re: Savage TR throwing flyers, little no consistency

One of your action screws may have come loose as well, might want to check them and make sure they're torqued down properly.

 

[Tactical]

Re: Savage TR throwing flyers, little no consistency

Action screw torque.

My Savage F TR shoots great with proper torque on screws.

Front two are 35" lbs and third is 15" lbs. ( Thanks Stan for info)

Wrong torque and does not shoot near as well

 

[Cascade Precision]

Re: Savage TR throwing flyers, little no consistency

What torque do you use on a rifle without pillar bedding or anything? Especially rimfire??

 

[XxMerlinxX]

Re: Savage TR throwing flyers, little no consistency

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Front two are <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">35" lbs</span></span> and third is 15" lbs. ( Thanks Stan for info)</div></div>

Who is Stan and where did he get this info? That's about twice as much torque as I've seen everywhere else.

 

[RETE8]

Re: Savage TR throwing flyers, little no consistency

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ogreshooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am not a one-hole-wonder like a lot of you guys..... </div></div>

I am far from being a one-hole wonder and didn't mean to come across like that. I was just speaking from personal experience. I've caught myself falling back into bad habits especially when I haven't been to the range in awhile.

 

[Cascade Precision]

Re: Savage TR throwing flyers, little no consistency

I did not take it as an insult or that you were insinuating anything. I know I have some bad habits, but usually if I sit down and focus, purge my mind of distractions, and go through my steps, I usually shoot well. I asked for advice and opinions, and you offered suggestions. No harm, no foul, all is good.

Well, appears to be fixed. Here is what I did:

1: Took scope and rings off rifle
2: Took of the scope bases
3: Removed barrel and action from stock
4: Inspected EVERYTHING
5: Cleaned the barrel and lubed the mechanical parts
6: Reinstalled action and barrel into stock (with my custom magwell bottom metal) to 17-18 in pounds
7: Reinstalled scope bases making sure they were square to each other and torqued to 20 in pounds
8: Reinstalled scope and rings, torqued to 15 in pounds

Took it to the range today and shot a copy of a STS target. Results speak for themselves.

Shot this using Wolf Match Ammo. Group is .36". I feel better about my skills yet again.

Thanks.

:edit: Yes, I know that I did not "shoot the cold bore shot on a folded target, get up and unfold, then get back behind the rifle". I was testing, and this was as good as I could accommodate for today, just testing purposes.

 

[Cascade Precision]

Re: Savage TR throwing flyers, little no consistency

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: XxMerlinxX</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Front two are <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">35" lbs</span></span> and third is 15" lbs. ( Thanks Stan for info)</div></div>

Who is Stan and where did he get this info? That's about twice as much torque as I've seen everywhere else. </div></div>

Savage F TR is a 308, and not uncommon to have action screws tightened to 50 inch pounds. On my Remmy 308, I started at 35 inch pounds and found good shooting at 40 inch pounds. Each rifle is different, and have seen some require 60 inch pounds. Not sure why that high, just shot good there.

 

[Dylan in AZ]

Re: Savage TR throwing flyers, little no consistency

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ogreshooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">6: Reinstalled action and barrel into stock (with my custom magwell bottom metal) to 17-18 in pounds
</div></div>
You had the same problem as I did. Not exactly I suppose, but very similar anyways... but this ^ is the reason I would say your accuracy dropped off. Particularly with the Savage MkII models, I've seen alot of accuracy drop offs. And re-torquing (which usually requires new [thicker] bottom metal) usually leads to the quick n' easy fix.