Savage ML ll

[bdog]

Any recommendations where to send a Savage ML ll for some accurizing work? such as pillars and bedding the stock

[Big Jack]

Well I went down that road some years back. I sent mine to PRBullet and they put in extra pillar and bedded it. They also did the crown.

It was slightly more accurate.

Big question is how well does yours shoot? What are your group sizes at 100?

If you are submoa then that is decent. If your accuracy falls off beyond 200 yards but is great at 100 there are some things you can do that will cost you nothing.

More info please.

[bellerivercrossbowhunter]

My savage shoots superb at 100. I have not stretched it out beyond that. I would need a better scope because my aiming eye is 50 years old! Lol

I would be extremely nervous about shipping my perfectly good savage off. I don't trust any of the couriers and if it was lost it can't be easily replaced!

[terrym]

I also own one. I would tinker with your load ( powder,bullets) before thinking about anything else. Once you find the right combo it will do what it needs to do.

[MikePal]

I would tinker with your load ( powder,bullets) before thinking about anything else.

Yes indeed....use bullets other the ones the sell at Walmart. PR bullets in Manitoba sell a great line of soft lead bullets at cheaper prices and it will make your ML much happier and shot much better.

[smokeeter]

Lead bullets perform well in these guns but at speeds under 2000 fps . Kinda limits the potential of smokeless capabilities.

[MikePal]

I agree that may be a concern long range....

BUT all PR's Dead Centres give you 1400 + fps (1300 + ft/lb) out to 300 yds....more than enough for hunting and far more than the average deer hunter will ever use/shoot.

[bdog]

Well, I have bullets from PR, about 400 of them from 180gr up to 330gr, multiple kinds of powder, numerous sabots,I've tried just about every combination I have and the Savage barely out shoots my Knight disc extreme at any range, I've been hunting/shooting for 48yrs, competitively shooting different disciplines for over 20yrs, I'm not saying the Savage cant shoot, I'm just saying it can shoot better with a bit of tweaking

[MikePal]

I've tried just about every combination I have and the Savage barely out shoots my Knight disc extreme at any range,

Good to hear an honesty assessment for a change...at 100 yds almost all MLs on the market are capable of sub MOA. It's when you reach out past 200 that, like you say, requires a little more tweaking.

[smokeeter]

I'm not saying the Savage cant shoot, I'm just saying it can shoot better with a bit of tweaking

You're exactly right, the Savage is a different animal and they can be extremely finicky. I've played with them since their inception and performed many mods to try to improve the accuracy from these beasts. I don't feel all were necessary but I like to tinker and felt it would help me get to know the rifle a little better.
Some mods that I felt made a noticeable improvement were , I lapped the barrel to get rid of the chatter marks that were left in my sabots from the rough button rifled barrel.
I feel a decent bedding job wouldn't hurt but wasn't entirely necessary if the action was seated properly in the stock.
The 3rd action screw was nice but again not a deal breaker and really not required unless the need to remove the bolt from the action frequently.
Finding the right combination of bullet/sabot/powder was by far more beneficial in squeezing out the best performance from these smokeless rigs.
The other factor which cannot be overlooked with these saboted guns is to leave ample cooling time between shots, minimum 15 min.
Also with bullet selection, these guns were designed with the use of 300 gr. projectiles and as tight a fit as you can get with the bullet to bore. Smokeless works with a build up of pressure so adequate back pressure is required to get proper consistant ignition.
Also thinner skinned bullets tended to obturate easier/better which resulted in tighter groups.
A pet load we've had consistant luck with was 65 grs of 4198 in either H or IMR , mmp short black sabot and the lowly .452 300 gr. XTP. ( non mag version). this combo should get you close then tweaking the powder. Always used Fed. 209A primers.
Most of these guns will shoot, but there are always exceptions.
Good luck.