Any suggestions regarding .270 accuracy issues

[Bowland blades]

Unfortunately due to various issues I cant make it to the range until the end of the month. I have given the barrel a good go through with JB bore past and now have some heavier factory ammo to try. I am also going to get someone else to shoot a group with it while I am there.

With regard to issues with the barrel touching the stock or causing issue this shouldn't be a concern as this rifle is in an MDT Chassis so the barrel is full floating with no option for contact with the fore end at all. I have had the chassis bolts torqued up to the recommended settings from MDT and have also checked the rail to see that is on tight as well.
So the plan is to go through the stages I can control i.e ammo, shooter, scope and then start looking at stuff I cant do much about by getting it checked out by the smith who did my semi custom .243 to see if he can find anything.
No one would be happier than me if it is me who is having issues as thats a cheap thing to work on

Have you still got the original stock ? Try it in that and see what occurs . Its a ten minute job to illuminate a stock fit issue being the case ! It wouldn't be the first I'll fitting custom stock I have seen personally.

 

[Zetter]

Have you still got the original stock ? Try it in that and see what occurs . Its a ten minute job to illuminate a stock fit issue being the case ! It wouldn't be the first I'll fitting custom stock I have seen personally.

Hi Ya

this is the original stock as it was supplied in it as a production gun its one of these Axis II Precision | Precision Series | Savage Arms

 

[User00040]

@Zetter

A true 2 MOA rifle will kill Roe deer to 300m and the bigger species much beyond.

The targets you pictured look to be around that mark, if not a bit better.

I understand that you have a MDT Oryx chasis that came with that rifle.

You could try bedding it, selling the chasis to get a regular stock or simply 'cut you losses', sell the rifle and get a new/lightly used Tikka T3 270.

If that does not shoot 1MOA or better, sorry to say but the problem will be you.

 

[Zetter]

@Zetter

A true 2 MOA rifle will kill Roe deer to 300m and the bigger species much beyond.

The targets you pictured look to be around that mark, if not a bit better.

I understand that you have a MDT Oryx chasis that came with that rifle.

You could try bedding it, selling the chasis to get a regular stock or simply 'cut you losses', sell the rifle and get a new/lightly used Tikka T3 270.

If that does not shoot 1MOA or better, sorry to say but the problem will be you.

To be honest I would just like to get to the bottom of the issue which is why I asked for suggestions on ways to go fault finding. The chemist in me needs to know .

If its me great I can work on that, I shoot well with my .243 so it may be issues with recoil management or a flinch.

If its the rifle then I can work on that I am not adverse to spending some money if its needs work on it. A rebarrel with a custom barrel is not out of the question. I like the rifle and the stock its in so dont really want to flog it and buy something else. Also I wouldnt feed right palming it off on someone else if its a rifle issue.

 

[palmer_mike]

Just a thought…. Do you shoot it with a mod, and if so when last was the mod been cleaned

See middle target

 

[User00040]

To be honest I would just like to get to the bottom of the issue which is why I asked for suggestions on ways to go fault finding. The chemist in me needs to know .

If its me great I can work on that, I shoot well with my .243 so it may be issues with recoil management or a flinch.

If its the rifle then I can work on that I am not adverse to spending some money if its needs work on it. A rebarrel with a custom barrel is not out of the question. I like the rifle and the stock its in so dont really want to flog it and buy something else. Also I wouldnt feed right palming it off on someone else if its a rifle issue.

A rebarrel would be easy if we were in the USA, beauty of the Savage barrel nut system. I believe the bolt head is both floating and interchangeable? If so, you could make it a 6.5 or 300 PRC with minimal fuss.

Handloading might help but a good rifle usually shoots factory ammo just as well.

Have you considered that mirage from the barrel/moderator might be playing a part?

 

[Zetter]

A hadn't considered mirage off the Mod so that another avenue to look at. Thanks for that one I will add it to the list

 

[Bowland blades]

Hi Ya

this is the original stock as it was supplied in it as a production gun its one of these Axis II Precision | Precision Series | Savage Arms

I would still not rule it out ! I remember fixing a cz that wouldn't shoot in a hs precision stock . The front pin was acting as a not very effective recoil lug . Bored it out and it shot brilliantly

 

[Smellydog]

I would still not rule it out ! I remember fixing a cz that wouldn't shoot in a hs precision stock . The front pin was acting as a not very effective recoil lug . Bored it out and it shot brilliantly

I had a rifle once that had a high spot in the action inletteing. The action wanted to seesaw on it. It shot lousy until I realised. Once fixed it shot very well and was no longer ammo fussy.

 

[Dunwaters]

When you’ve tried everything else suspect the barrel. Savage aren’t known for being high end guns so its highly unlikely that they spent more than they had to on it, so cheap as chips barrel and I’d be fairly sure it wasn’t factory tested.
MOA or 2 MOA would be considered “ acceptable” accuracy in pretty much any mass produced hunting rifle.
The caliber doesn’t help your case, precision ammo in .270 doesn’t exist unless you make it yourself.
Its a hunting round, less than 2MOA is more than adequate and that’s what you’ve got. I’d be happy with a reliable sub 2MOA performer but I can see how that might not float everyone’s boat.
Best of luck with the accuracy refinement, but sometimes a pigs ear is just a pigs ear.

 

[Zetter]

An update on this as I finally made it to the range.

All I have done so far was give the barrel a good farm out with JB paste to ensure its really clean.
I then took to the range the following ammo to try

130 grain speer soft points (now these have been ok in the past but not spectacular)

145 grain Hornay precision hunter ELDX 145 grain to try something heavier


First shots from a clean barrel were depressingly similar to before I think the first one or two were fouling rounds but eeewh/ The two round that were well out were the initial fouling rounds but its still pretty poor.



I also had the range officer who I know can shoot queued up to have a go but first I wanted to see if the heavier bullets made a different so I trotted out the 145 grain ELDX and what a difference!

To check this wasnt that the barrel liked to be dirty ( my .17 hornet is like that it hates being cleaned and takes several rounds to get back on target) I shot another group with the 130grain speer and again it wasnt great.


To see if the first group with the 145 grain bullets wasnt a fluke I adjusted the scope poi and fired a second group of six rounds. One of those the closest to the bull was pilot error as a I felt myself snatch the trigger. But discounting that one once again a nice group that is consistent with my general shooting ability.


Now the barrel was getting a bit warm at this point and obviously was well shot in from the cleaning I did and I ran out of range time.

So next weekend the battle plan is to try the 145 grain from clean cold barrel and also procure some 150 grain factory to see if heavier than that makes a difference.

But it looks like she doesnt like 130 grain ammo or at least could be really finnicky. As I have tried several brands including factory Hornady, Speer home loads and Federal.


I will keep you posted on how I get on next weekend. Many thanks to all those who have contributed with suggestions and ideas on things to check it does appear though I have a culprit.


Cheers Zetter

 

[VSS]

Glad to hear that you might be making progress with it.
My 270 was hopeless with 150grn, by the way. Although to be fair I have only tried one brand.

 

[Smellydog]

To go from lousy to acceptable via bullet weight has always been a bedding or barrel issue in my experience. But if you are happy then I am also.

 

[Zetter]

To go from lousy to acceptable via bullet weight has always been a bedding or barrel issue in my experience. But if you are happy then I am also.

To be honest if I have to shoot slightly heavier bullets and get performance its a heck of a lot cheaper than a rebarrel for what I want it to do . Bedding wise I can investigate though it is an MDT chassis system so not sure if there would be any benefit to that?

 

[Smellydog]

To be honest if I have to shoot slightly heavier bullets and get performance its a heck of a lot cheaper than a rebarrel for what I want it to do . Bedding wise I can investigate though it is an MDT chassis system so not sure if there would be any benefit to that?

Honest mate, it will be something really stupid like the bolt handle touching the stock when closed!

 

[Smellydog]

It seems some of your rifles do have issues with clearance of the forend.
I can never seem to emphasise enough the importance of having ample clearance between barrel and forend on a floated barrel. The vibrate more than most can imagine or want to believe! Especially an intensive cartridge as is the 270!!

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