Weird new Savage

[tombogan03884]

I've done the break in on rifles that I wanted max accuracy out of, because people smarter than I said to. I would just hate to lose accuracy because I got lazy.

If you have the barrel cryo treated, does that alleviate the need for doing the entire break in? That's what I have heard.

What I've heard about Cryo. is that it does exactly the same thing as the Heat treat process that is already performed during manufacture.
Even if it DOES eliminate the need for break in, it costs $100-$200, as opposed to 10 rounds and some patches.

[deepwater]

Wanna good reason to NOT buy that next rifle?  Taking the time to be carefull, and do things "right", each shot fired is taking 25-30 minutes.  I'm 5 rounds into this so far...

Q. What is the barrel break-in procedure?
A. Although there may be different schools of thought on barrel break-in, this is what Precision Shooting Magazine recommends:
STEP 1 (repeated 10 times)
•   Fire one round
•   Push wet patches soaked with a powder solvent through the bore
•   Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
•   Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
•   Push wet patches soaked with a copper solvent through the bore
•   Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
•   Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
•   Push a patch with 2 drops of oil through the bore
STEP 2 (repeated 5 times)
•   Fire a 3 shot group
•   Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1 after each group
STEP 3 (repeat 5 times)
•   Fire a 5 shot group
•   Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1
They recommend the use of a patch with 2 drops of oil after the cleaning so that you are not shooting with a dry bore. It is also advisable to use a powder solvent and copper solvent from the same manufacturer to be sure they are chemically compatible.

Whats "weird" about Savage you ask?  Look at this barrel.

The waves are only visible if you look down the length of the barrel, cant see it from the side at all.

I've been looking at rifling broaches lately and this looks like the effect of a broach ( a tool that is run down the barrel with a hydraulic cylinder  to cut the rifling). I may be wrong, but they do stretch the barrel which makes me think that this MAY caused by the rifling process.

I wish you had a little better picture of the barrel, as it resembles the hammer forged markings on Steyr rifles and ruger 10/22 target model with the heavy barrel. Does it say hammer forged barrel anywhere in the literature?

and then again I may be wrong.
but if we don't get a possitive answer here at least we have diversity.  


oh! and where's the full length porn? good shot, but we like porn. 

[Badgersmilk]

Cryo treating relieves stress in the metal, and will help a barrel that is loosing zero as it gets hot from repeated shots (I've had it done to a few rifles.  WORKS!)  I didnt find anything about forging type, or any description of their machining at all.  I'm surprised, usually thats a bragging point for companies.  For as rough as the machining on the rest of the rifle is, I have to say.  The chamber and bore of this rifle are likely the best I've seen.  Really starting to take on a shine with all the cleaning.  Glistens like a mirror inside so much its hard to focus your eyes on to inspect, hard to explain without seeing it  (I'll try to get a picture tommarow).  

After each cleaning all but the last three patches turn green after laying on the floor a while (copper residue), & Winchester Supreme is some DIRTY shootin stuff!  LOTS of powder residue in the barrel after each shot.

When I first took the rifle apart it looked really clean.  But inside the Accu-trigger housing I found about half a teaspoon of what I think was polishing compound.  It wasnt grease, I rubbed it between two fingers and it felt like toothpast, NOT slippery at all.  Though the saftey lever did have a little yellow grease on it inside.  If you own a Savage make sure you take the trigger apart and inspect for this stuff!  It's grey.  I wouldnt have found it if I didnt take the trigger apart to do a little deburring and polishing.  

[Badgersmilk]

Ah hah.  From Savage's web site.  "button-rifled heavy varmint barrel". 

Watch the video!  IT'S GREAT!  Even shows a barrel being made with these exact same marks on it outside!
http://www.bergarabarrels.com/process.html

[deepwater]

Ah hah.  From Savage's web site.  "button-rifled heavy varmint barrel". 

Watch the video!  IT'S GREAT!  Even shows a barrel being made with these exact same marks on it outside!
http://www.bergarabarrels.com/process.html

I spent about ten minutes looking for this term before giving up. as I said before I was looking into rifling and found some info (though I can't find it now) about 'button rifling' and thought it might be caused by something like this.
good find

[Sponsor]

[Badgersmilk]

Direct light, or even any more light than this and the reflections inside the barrel shine to much to focus on at all.  This is about as clear a view as it gets.


Chamber, and bolt face are impressive too.  They sure dont waste much machining time outside these area's though.   What keeps the costs down I guess.

[tombogan03884]

 Based on the things you have complained about I would buy one ( .308 ) in a heart beat. I'd rather have a rifle that shot like hell but looked like crap, than the other way around.
(Not saying it looks bad, but your only complaints seem to be cosmetic )

[Badgersmilk]

With you 100%.  I bought it because its reputation as a shooter.  From 5' it looks great.  And with some time and a dremel tool I can clean up things Savage skipped, been working on it already.  Just takes time.  And the guns that much more fun to own knowing the time and attention to detail you've put into it.  Having been a machinist, its just no fun to buy a rifle you cant take home & spend a little personal time with.  I'm not as much complaining as offering a review, & information as I learn about a rifle others may be considering.

So far, I'd give it an 89 out a a hundred score including value for $.  Of course I havent even got a scope mounted on it yet!

That numbers subject to DRASTIC change after a couple days at the range!

I've learned a lot from this rifle so far, hopefully helped others learn to!

[tombogan03884]

Be sure to post a range report 

[MikeBjerum]

With you 100%.  I bought it because its reputation as a shooter.  From 5' it looks great.  And with some time and a dremel tool I can clean up things Savage skipped, been working on it already.  Just takes time.  And the guns that much more fun to own knowing the time and attention to detail you've put into it.  Having been a machinist, its just no fun to buy a rifle you cant take home & spend a little personal time with.  I'm not as much complaining as offering a review, & information as I learn about a rifle others may be considering.

So far, I'd give it an 89 out a a hundred score including value for $.  Of course I havent even got a scope mounted on it yet!

That numbers subject to DRASTIC change after a couple days at the range!

I've learned a lot from this rifle so far, hopefully helped others learn to!

I have a friend that always says it "looks great across the lawn, on a trotting horse in a snowstorm."