280 AI ultralite cold bore shot issue

Hello all!

My buddy has a 280 AI that is a mystery to me and I am seeking some help. The gun is a Savage ultralite.
We are shooting 162 ELDMs at 3000fps
The gun is suppressed and has a Scythe TI on it.

First shot is always 1 inch high and 1 inch left.
After that it's shoots tiny little groups in the .3 range. We will wait until gun cools and it will replicate the same thing. Additional shots without waiting will continue to group and never return to the high and left spot. SD is 7 across 10 shots.

We have changed scopes, checked rings and checked bases. My best guess from here is to bed the recoil lug but I am not sure this will solve it but I know it won't hurt. I am also wondering if the stock might have a pressure spot but I am not seeing one yet.

Anyone else ever seen this before or have any thoughts?

I definitely would bed to assure clearance. I have heard of guns having a wild cold bore shot. Does it do the same minus the suppressor?

Thanks

Buck

I am not sure, I will double check that. Have you seen this before with a suppressor?

Suppressor might be the issue.

I would bed the lug and about 2 inches forward of the lug. When you check for clearance, a dollar bill is not sufficient. I like about ~.015 which is about 3 dollar bills width.

med358-boise said:

I would bed the lug and about 2 inches forward of the lug. When you check for clearance, a dollar bill is not sufficient. I like about ~.015 which is about 3 dollar bills width.

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Sounds like a can issue, I would agree with this and add, if you are going to bed, bed it all. That carbon proof should eliminate some of the issue but the sendero light is more prone to have POI shift with a can on the end of it.

A bit more clearance in the barrel channel might help - especially with the can.

I'd bet money it's a bedding or barrel contact issue. Bed the entire action and a 2" long pad in front of the recoil lug to support the barrel nut/shank, then make sure the barrel is free floated by at least .015", .020" is even better.

Tidus56 said:

Hello all!

My buddy has a 280 AI that is a mystery to me and I am seeking some help. The gun is a Savage ultralite.
We are shooting 162 ELDMs at 3000fps
The gun is suppressed and has a Scythe TI on it.

First shot is always 1 inch high and 1 inch left.
After that it's shoots tiny little groups in the .3 range. We will wait until gun cools and it will replicate the same thing. Additional shots without waiting will continue to group and never return to the high and left spot. SD is 7 across 10 shots.

We have changed scopes, checked rings and checked bases. My best guess from here is to bed the recoil lug but I am not sure this will solve it but I know it won't hurt. I am also wondering if the stock might have a pressure spot but I am not seeing one yet.

Anyone else ever seen this before or have any thoughts?

Click to expand...

I agree with the others above: however, a quick re-torque action screws could be prudent. Degrease screws and receiver threads, then use thread locker on installation. I torque my Accustocks to 50-55 in lbs. (this exceeds the factory specification of 38-40 in lbs.).

Just my $.02

Only on the first shot with a cold suppressor? How does it shoot without the suppressor? Is there still a cold bore shift? What is the first shot velocity compared to the follow-up shots?

A cold suppressor is full of cold air, that first shot through it pushes the combustion gas and unburnt powder into a cold, dense air pocket. That generally causes a louder first shot as well as more turbulence and disturbance in the suppressor. Subsequent shots are hot air and the unburnt powder doesn't burn as intensely and is quieter and has less disturbance.

A quick test would be to shoot a few cold bore groups and see if it trends the same. Meaning where ever it groups without the suppressor you get a cold bore group 1 high and 1 left. It's a lot less work than assuming it needs bedded (which can't hurt) and having to go through that process.

I would loosen action screws, lighlty finger tighten them, set buttstock on the ground and push the action back and tighten in increments, front to rear, until the screws are at specified torque. Then go and reshoot without a suppressor.

Thank you all! We will work on each of these scenarios. It has only been since adding the suppressor

Tidus56 said:

Hello all!

My buddy has a 280 AI that is a mystery to me and I am seeking some help. The gun is a Savage ultralite.
We are shooting 162 ELDMs at 3000fps
The gun is suppressed and has a Scythe TI on it.

First shot is always 1 inch high and 1 inch left.
After that it's shoots tiny little groups in the .3 range. We will wait until gun cools and it will replicate the same thing. Additional shots without waiting will continue to group and never return to the high and left spot. SD is 7 across 10 shots.

We have changed scopes, checked rings and checked bases. My best guess from here is to bed the recoil lug but I am not sure this will solve it but I know it won't hurt. I am also wondering if the stock might have a pressure spot but I am not seeing one yet.

Anyone else ever seen this before or have any thoughts?

Click to expand...

Have you checked to see if the Bolt Handel is hitting the stock before you shoot
If not just use small drop of White Out(really easy to clean up)
Just put a drop on the bottom of the bolt handel and see if it leaves any on the bolt cutout on the Stock
I know it sounds crazy but I had a Winchester Model 70 that would randomly have a round that was a prefect 10 o'clock impact know matter what I did
But my old school gunsmith ask me is the bolt handle hitting the stock
I said I. Don't know
But I checked it in the house and not hitting at all
Put it outside on the porch and left it overnight
Then put the white out on the handle and
We have a problem to solve
After I took everything thing down
And used some 600 grit automotive sandpaper
It only took 10 minutes of sanding and problem solved!!!!
So
Maybe check yours to see

Tidus56 said:

Thank you all! We will work on each of these scenarios. It has only been since adding the suppressor

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There's your answer. If it only started this after adding the can,….its the can.
What suppressor does he have?

Lazy D said:

There's your answer. If it only started this after adding the can,….its the can.
What suppressor does he have?

Lazy D said:

There's your answer. If it only started this after adding the can,….its the can.
What suppressor does he have?

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I would definitely check with and without the can
That's the simplest thing to check

Haven't we all owned a barrel that had a different cold bore poi? I have had several.