Savage FCP-SR 168 grain Amax. Update*4-30-23

[ShootnMathews]

Thank you everyone for the help and advice on this rifle. I think I found the root problem of the troublesome load work. I had so many groups with 2 bullets on one hole and a flier through this load work up and every time I thought I had the load perfect it would shoot a bad group or two. Well today I thought I once again had the load perfect and then it shot over an inch at 100. So I was fed up and said screw it I'll adjust the scope and just hunt with it under 300 yards. Well as I went to adjust the turret I felt a slight wobble. Upon closer inspection the screws for the mount had come loose. I loctited those and torqued them and shot a group to settle everything again and then shot these two groups. The .4" with 45.8 grains and the .3" with 46 grains. So I think that mount was my problem the whole time. I'm exhausted from this load job so I'm going to go with the 46 grains and call it good. Chances are I'll never shoot it at an animal past 400 yards here so I'm good with that accuracy. And the mirage was terrible today so I think it'll probably do a 1/4 moa on a good day. Thanks again group.

 

[DoneNOut]

For a hunting rig you are dialed in! Awesome

 

[ShootnMathews]

Ok guys. For all those following this. Here's another update. And it's not a happy one. You recently saw I recently switched to Lapua brass and was having trouble getting it to group similar results. Well this morning I went to mount a new scope on the rifle. A SWFA 5-20x50 HD that I picked up in the sale they have. For those who have followed this since the beginning you'll remember that my scope mount came loose causing problems. Well IT CAME LOOSE AGAIN!! No wonder I've had trouble getting the Lapua to group. It has nothing to do with the brass….probably. I just don't get it. I have NEVER had a scope base come loose. And not this was has come loose twice. And the last time I put loctite on it. I don't know. I guess I need to start load work again with this Lapua. Simply frustrating with todays component prices and availability.

I did notice that it almost looks like cutting oil or something in the receiver mount holes. So I guess if this comes loose again I'll have to completely remove the mount and try to flush the holes with brake clean or something and then remount it.

 

[FEENIX]

Ok guys. For all those following this. Here's another update. And it's not a happy one. You recently saw I recently switched to Lapua brass and was having trouble getting it to group similar results. Well this morning I went to mount a new scope on the rifle. A SWFA 5-20x50 HD that I picked up in the sale they have. For those who have followed this since the beginning you'll remember that my scope mount came loose causing problems. Well IT CAME LOOSE AGAIN!! No wonder I've had trouble getting the Lapua to group. It has nothing to do with the brass….probably. I just don't get it. I have NEVER had a scope base come loose. And not this was has come loose twice. And the last time I put loctite on it. I don't know. I guess I need to start load work again with this Lapua. Simply frustrating with todays component prices and availability.

I did notice that it almost looks like cutting oil or something in the receiver mount holes. So I guess if this comes loose again I'll have to completely remove the mount and try to flush the holes with brake clean or something and then remount it.

Check your PM.

 

[xsn10s]

Ok guys. For all those following this. Here's another update. And it's not a happy one. You recently saw I recently switched to Lapua brass and was having trouble getting it to group similar results. Well this morning I went to mount a new scope on the rifle. A SWFA 5-20x50 HD that I picked up in the sale they have. For those who have followed this since the beginning you'll remember that my scope mount came loose causing problems. Well IT CAME LOOSE AGAIN!! No wonder I've had trouble getting the Lapua to group. It has nothing to do with the brass….probably. I just don't get it. I have NEVER had a scope base come loose. And not this was has come loose twice. And the last time I put loctite on it. I don't know. I guess I need to start load work again with this Lapua. Simply frustrating with todays component prices and availability.

I did notice that it almost looks like cutting oil or something in the receiver mount holes. So I guess if this comes loose again I'll have to completely remove the mount and try to flush the holes with brake clean or something and then remount it.

I ALWAYS clean off the action and screws when mounting. You could flush with brake clean and re-oil once the blue locktite cures. I just wipe off any excess lube and clean off the screw holes with alcohol and q-tips. While doing that I soak the screws in alcohol. If you're using better quality bases and rings you don't even need locktite. I did this with my PSS (308 win) and it hasn't come loose from 1991- 2022. I probably have well over 10k rounds through that rifle. YMMV

 

[FEENIX]

Check your PM.

I hope that helps.

 

[ShootnMathews]

I ALWAYS clean off the action and screws when mounting. You could flush with brake clean and re-oil once the blue locktite cures. I just wipe off any excess lube and clean off the screw holes with alcohol and q-tips. While doing that I soak the screws in alcohol. If you're using better quality bases and rings you don't even need locktite. I did this with my PSS (308 win) and it hasn't come loose from 1991- 2022. I probably have well over 10k rounds through that rifle. YMMV

Yeah this is the first rifle I've ever had to put loctite on. I did clean the screws but when I removed them this time they had oil on them again. It looks like cutting oil or something in the bottom of the mount hole. I think tonight I'll take it all off and use brake clean with a straw and try to blow the holes out clean. And then remount it all up again. To me that has to be the problem because I cleaned the screws the first time yet they were oily when I removed them this morning. I think when I shoot and the receiver gets hot it's melting that oil or grease and pushing it up the threads. idk. Just my guess. The base is a factory aluminum base that came on the rifle which I'm not crazy about. I normally put steel bases from Murphy Precision on my rifles.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

Check the length of the screws in the holes to ensure they are not bottoming out on the receiver (screws too long). This can keep them from torqueing down.

Bedding the bases may help.

Also getting the screw holes punched out to 8/40 also.

My Savage doesn's like to torque up very tight in a few either. Bedding helped.

 

[ShootnMathews]

Check the length of the screws in the holes to ensure they are not bottoming out on the receiver (screws too long). This can keep them from torqueing down.

Bedding the bases may help.

Also getting the screw holes punched out to 8/40 also.

My Savage doesn's like to torque up very tight in a few either. Bedding helped.

It seems like it torques up fine. It's just not holding the torque and screws are coming loose as I shoot. And the screws aren't bottoming out because there's no marring on the screw tip or hole bottom. I really think the whole problem is stemming from an oily or greasy type something that I saw down in the holes this morning. Tonight I'll brake clean the holes out with a straw and remount and see if that helps.

 

[xsn10s]

Yeah this is the first rifle I've ever had to put loctite on. I did clean the screws but when I removed them this time they had oil on them again. It looks like cutting oil or something in the bottom of the mount hole. I think tonight I'll take it all off and use brake clean with a straw and try to blow the holes out clean. And then remount it all up again. To me that has to be the problem because I cleaned the screws the first time yet they were oily when I removed them this morning. I think when I shoot and the receiver gets hot it's melting that oil or grease and pushing it up the threads. idk. Just my guess. The base is a factory aluminum base that came on the rifle which I'm not crazy about. I normally put steel bases from Murphy Precision on my rifles.

When I flushed out a receiver with brake clean I took the action out on the stock. If you blast the trigger assembly just re-oil/ clean with some cigarette lighter fluid. I don't like doing that but it's up to you. I've used all sorts of bases and rings from cheapy ones to old school GG&G, ARMS and recently NF. Wiping off excess oil and cleaning with alcohol has worked well with blue locktite. That Savage set up has been known to come loose because of the oil. Once cleaned it's been report they do fine. I wouldn't doubt it. I don't own any Savages FEENIX owns several Savages so I'm sure he could give you his experience on it.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

Use a q-tip in the holes with the brake cleaner.

 

[ShootnMathews]

Use a q-tip in the holes with the brake cleaner.

I can't get a qtip in the hole. I'm going to try a straw on a can of brake clean. It's about the right size to go in the hole and I'm hoping everything blows outward and I don't soak the rifle. That's my hope anyways. To only clean the holes and not the whole action.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

Pull the tip of the q-tip up so it doesn't have the handle. the goal is to get the soft material in to compact down enough to wipe out the oil/brake clean.

Think of it as doing a greasy dish. Dawn DON'T take grease out of the way, unless you scrub it.

Fold a pipe cleaner in half and try that.

 

[DoneNOut]

Scope mounting 101 is clean all the threads with fast drying solvent. Blue loctite the bases, 40 inlbs is pretty standard. 20 inlbs on the rings.

168Amax, Lapua case, & 43(ish) Varget loaded to 2.810 is a good baseline load. (Old Varget. New probable 44gr-45)

I realized I'm shooting the same barrel as you in the 20" version. Savage factory takeoff. I also screwed up my seating depth measurement when I found the bolt slid the case another .030 forward when closing! I was shooting .025-.030 into the lands thinking I was at touch when I shot. It worked in colder temps, but I started popping primers at 60F. Until I made the discovery of my mistake I thought the over pressure was due to a minimum set headspace chamber. I was down to 41gr Varget to keep pressure in check. 100fps loss in velocity too.

168Amax - using the sharpie method I found where the lands wouldn't leave a ring on the bullet with bolt closed. This put me from 2.855 to 2.810 with a true .005 off the lands this time. I am back to shooting 43gr Varget without pressure signs and 2640fps 7SD. 70F. 168 FGMM same speed.

I didn't see the laser beam groups, but I also had some anxiety over the whole heat test, lol. I'm prepped for another round of Varget, TAC, N540, N140, N135!

Due to the shooting jam + results of effortless sub-MOA groups and near identical POI between 168/155gr Amax & Bergers, I will adjust bullet seating forward. I think jam shooting works, just not .25-30 thou jammed!