Savage 99 Accuracy Problem

[kev74]

I've got a Savage 99 rifle in 250 Savage that won't shoot a group tight enough to stay on the target backer, never mind the target.

With a laser bore sight, it looks to be right on.

At 50 yards with factory loads, it cant hit the target.

At 25 yards with reloads, 2 shots were about 4 inches off a 10 inch circle target, and 2 other rounds missed the target backer all together.

The rifling looks great. The crown looks good. The action locks up tight. The rifle was made in 1926, so it should do well with lighter bullets. I'm using 87 grain bullets.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Doc8404]

Had the same issue with the 308 REM 700 I bought from another member.
my gunsmith buddy rebedded it. No issues.

 

[Tisto]

Are you absolutely certain that it's the gun and not the scope or mount ? That would be the first place to start looking. Remove the scope, check the bases. Replace the scope with a different one. Eliminate the easy and likely possibilities first.

 

[kev74]

Are you absolutely certain that it's the gun and not the scope or mount ? That would be the first place to start looking. Remove the scope, check the bases. Replace the scope with a different one. Eliminate the easy and likely possibilities first.

It's got iron sights. Factory front post and a Lyman tang sight in the rear.

 

[Doc8404]

It's got iron sights. Factory front post and a Lyman tang sight in the rear.

that’s the issue. At your age you need glass.

 

[kev74]

that’s the issue. At your age you need glass.

100 yards is hard to see. I can still make out the target at 25 yards.

 

[nortatoga]

How is the torque of the action in the stock?

 

[Tisto]

It's possible that you're using the wrong ammunition. There is a possibility that the barrel was re-chambered and you wouldn't know it from the outside. Do the spent shells lookswollen or stretched in any way ?

Have someone else shoot it from a bench. Maybe your eyes aren't as good as they used to be.

Scrub the hell out of the bore. Try some Gunslick foaming bore cleaner. Fill the bore and walk away for a couple hours. Then run a dry patch down through and fill it with foam again. Do that a few times. Then have a look in the bore with a borescope. You might find some major pitting or other damage. I use the Gunslick foaming bore cleaner all the time. It works excellent.

 

[kev74]

How is the torque of the action in the stock?

Stock is mounted very securely.

It's possible that you're using the wrong ammunition. There is a possibility that the barrel was re-chambered and you wouldn't know it from the outside. Do the spent shells lookswollen or stretched in any way ?

Have someone else shoot it from a bench. Maybe your eyes aren't as good as they used to be.

Scrub the hell out of the bore. Try some Gunslick foaming bore cleaner. Fill the bore and walk away for a couple hours. Then run a dry patch down through and fill it with foam again. Do that a few times. Then have a look in the bore with a borescope. You might find some major pitting or other damage. I use the Gunslick foaming bore cleaner all the time. It works excellent.

The barrel is very clean, and rifling sharp. Fired cases don't look suspect. The bore diameter at the muzzle is right. I haven't done a chamber cast yet.

I've been reading about foreend wood warpage being a possible accuracy issue, and will look at that next.

Part of my issue is that nobody has ammo or brass for 250 Savage available for sale, so I'm reluctant to waste what I have trying to diagnose it.

 

[Tisto]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://honorammoshop.com/product/250-savage-hornady-cases-2/&ved=2ahUKEwiWmZS5uMT6AhVnjYkEHf3XCrgQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw23Q1hx65zTp1WscjTdrOaK

 

[Tisto]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://firearms-world.com/product/250-savage-hornady-cases/&ved=2ahUKEwiWmZS5uMT6AhVnjYkEHf3XCrgQFnoECAcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1nKILNRB5yOjr8IgvDd_ts

 

[JRtraderny]

Stock is mounted very securely.

The barrel is very clean, and rifling sharp. Fired cases don't look suspect. The bore diameter at the muzzle is right. I haven't done a chamber cast yet.

I've been reading about foreend wood warpage being a possible accuracy issue, and will look at that next.

Part of my issue is that nobody has ammo or brass for 250 Savage available for sale, so I'm reluctant to waste what I have trying to diagnose it.

I see you are using 87 grain , have you bore scoped it to see what the bore looks like ?

 

[kev74]

I see you are using 87 grain , have you bore scoped it to see what the bore looks like ?

The bore looks beautiful. I'll try and get some pics tonight.

 

[FRANKIE]

Definitely can see your need to get on target. That ammo is a tough one. I’ve seen vintage “empty” boxes going for $30 each. Hope you find the issue. Those 99’s in 250 were known laser beams.

 

[repete]

Stock is mounted very securely.

That could be part of the problem, try loosening the front mounting screw just a bit and fire a round, one round will show a difference.

 

[nortatoga]

That could be part of the problem, try loosening the front mounting screw just a bit and fire a round, one round will show a difference.

Also this being an older rifle check that the barrel is still free-floated..

 

[kev74]

It's a lever action. No front action screw, no free floating the barrel.

Looks like this.

 

[meketrefe]

1 make sure the barrel is tight against the action. no lateral movement of any kind in reference to the action and sights
2. what is the rate of twist dor the barrel and make sure is ok for modern ammo.
3. remove any muzzle devices and measure the bore at the crown.
4. easy test ... bring the largest target you can find to 25 yards or closer and boresight it. any keyholeing should be on the paper.
5 report back

 

[ProgSpear]

It's a lever action. No front action screw, no free floating the barrel.

Looks like this.

View attachment 175452

I can contribute nothing to the accuracy issue, but DAMN, that is a beautiful gun…

 

[JRtraderny]

It's a lever action. No front action screw, no free floating the barrel.

Looks like this.

View attachment 175452

Is it a take down model ??

 

[kev74]

Is it a take down model ??

It is.

 

[JRtraderny]

It is.

does the barrel lock up tight to the receiver ok ?

 

[kev74]

does the barrel lock up tight to the receiver ok ?

Yes. Very tight.

 

[JRtraderny]

Yes. Very tight.

that gun should be shooting 1 ragged hole at 50 yds.

 

[Bustedknees]

I think it's sorta nice that Kev74 found something he can't win the "monthly shot winner" with

 

[S&W Fan]

Contact M.L. Mic McPherson, Superior Balistics, Inc., 10725 Road 24.4 Loop, Cortez, Colorado 81321
telephone 970 564-0500 or email micmacfone@centyurylink.net

Mic is a lever action man with great experience with the Savage 99.

I’m not sure if this guy is around any more or not. I stumbled on a few of his posts on another site awhile back.

 

[kev74]

Turns out, the bore wasn't as nice as it looked. Previously, I ran a dry patch down the bore and everything looked clean and shiny.

I ran another patch down yesterday to check the twist rate and noticed the rifling wasn't grabbing the patch enough to twist it. Uh oh....

Next I ran some Hoppes through the barrel brushed the bore, and ran another patch. Ick! Lots of green, black and metallic copper sparkles. I've been alternating between Hoppes and Hoppes Elite with extra copper remover. Each cycle has been VERY productive. Patches come out with varying shades of green, black and orange.





Once I get the barrel clean, I'll give it another try.

 

[S&W Fan]

Turns out, the bore wasn't as nice as it looked. Previously, I ran a dry patch down the bore and everything looked clean and shiny.

I ran another patch down yesterday to check the twist rate and noticed the rifling wasn't grabbing the patch enough to twist it. Uh oh....

Next I ran some Hoppes through the barrel brushed the bore, and ran another patch. Ick! Lots of green, black and metallic copper sparkles. I've been alternating between Hoppes and Hoppes Elite with extra copper remover. Each cycle has been VERY productive. Patches come out with varying shades of green, black and orange.

View attachment 175570

View attachment 175571

Once I get the barrel clean, I'll give it another try.

Holy Hell , did you originally look down the barrel with sunglasses on ??!!! LoL

 

[kev74]

Holy Hell , did you originally look down the barrel with sunglasses on ??!!! LoL

I'm going to start shopping for a white cane now.

 

[Tisto]

I spent just over $ 100 on a Teslong borescope a year ago, and it is very handy. It is a little tedious getting the endpiece adjusted for perfect focus, but it really shows you how well ( or not ) you did with your cleaning. It allows you to check gas port erosion, throat erosion, and see all kinds of other defects in the bore. Well worth the money. I used it in the garage a few times too, looking through sparkplug holes at cylinder walls, etc. I even used it to look into a wall cavity of my house.

Try that Gunslick foaming bore cleaner. You'll be surprised how well it works.