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Old September 18, 2013, 04:47 PM   #1
deerhunter13
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Problems with my 10 FCP

Has anyone had problems with the Sav. Model 10 FCP H.S? Just picked one up and topped it with a sightron 8x32x50. I reload and have tried sierra MK. 168, Bergers 168 and Lapua 155, IMB 4064, and W-760. Extremely difficult to get 1 MOA. Seating them about 2.830 to 2.835. Some groups seem to ladder up. Any suggestions?
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Old September 18, 2013, 05:26 PM   #2
precision_shooter
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How much time between shots and groups?
My 10 strings up as the barrel heats up shoting several successive shots.
Try some powder that is slower than iMR 4064 but faster than win 760, like Varget or win 748.
Also try different seating depths. My 155 Bergers are seated with an OAL of 2.870" and 155 AMAX with OAL of 2.802". This puts them .020" off the lands and im using Varget powder.
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Old September 18, 2013, 05:47 PM   #3
Brian Pfleuger
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How far are you loading off the rifling? Have you tried varying it?

Can you as a shooter consistently shoot without vertical stringing with other guns? It can be caused by the shooter.

Have you verified that the barrel is indeed free-floating and STAYS that way?
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Old September 18, 2013, 06:18 PM   #4
thump_rrr
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I have the 10BA which is essentially the same rifle with a different stock.
With my rifle 2.805 is jammed into the rifling with 180gr SMK's.
Mine produces 1/2" 100y groups with 42.3gr of Varget over the aforementioned 180gr SMK using CCI BR-2 primers in Lapua brass. My seating depth is 2.222 base to ogive which I believe is 2.789" base to tip.

I am assuming you do not need to be reminded of the basics.
Prove the scope to be good. Scope base not wobbly, action screws tightened to spec, barrel freefloated etc.

500y groups with hand held targets. 3 second exposure per shot.


Last edited by thump_rrr; September 18, 2013 at 06:35 PM.
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Old September 19, 2013, 08:52 AM   #5
Bill Daniel
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Problems with my 10 FCP

I have the same rifle and noticed the same problem Then I noticed my scope was loose in the rings. I use Varget and SMK 168 and 175's with under 1 MOA. I believe the rifle will shoot better than I am able to.
All the best,
Bill
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Old September 19, 2013, 10:25 AM   #6
snuffy
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What caliber/cartridge?

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/10FCPHS


300 WIN MAG
308 WIN
338 LAPUA MAG--???

Everybody is guessing yours is a .308???
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Old September 19, 2013, 03:07 PM   #7
precision_shooter
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Model 10 indicates it's a short action, at least for current production rifles. I don't recall that Savage made a long action 10 FCP. Also his OAL measurements indicate a short action cartridge.

Model 110 would be a long action such as 30-06, 300 Mag, etc.
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Old September 23, 2013, 08:50 PM   #8
deerhunter13
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Sorry, I was away for a few days. It is a 308. Have used 40gr. 4064 with cci primers and sierra 168 and berger 168 . Also 41gr. Varget with same heads and same primers. Also 46.7 W760 with Lapua 155 same primer. Rings are tight to 30lbs. Scope is a new Sightron s3 8x32x50. Forgot to mentioned, I bought the rifle from someone in the south. Supposedly, it had less than 100rds through it. I have been out with it 4 times. Very erratic. First time, out of 4 different loads, 40gr/4064 went into 7/8, pretty decent. the other loads 1.5 to 2.5.{horrible} giving it plenty of cooling time. Next time out, same load 40gr/4064 almost 3". My Tikka light 308 and Browning a-bolt 30-06 {both light hunting rifles} shoot 5sh. into 1" or 1.4. consistently for years. Can't figure it out. Last time out, just to see went to 300yds. Tikka and Browning 2gr. each 2.5 to 3". This Sav. all over 7 to 9". Any sugg. greatly appreciated
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Old September 23, 2013, 09:08 PM   #9
603Country
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I'd suspect the scope. A couple of years ago I had a new rifle with a rather low grade scope. It shot pretty good, but I wanted a better scope. With the new scope it shot real well for a short time, but then started giving me what I'll call random groups. As it happens, I was doing load workup at that time, so I blamed the bad groups on the loads and the fact that I thought I had a finicky rifle. Then one afternoon, in a pile of old targets, I noticed a really nice group that I had shot with that rifle and the 'cheap' scope. I loaded up a few of that powder/bullet combo and it shot terrible. So I put the cheap scope back on it and proceeded to shoot little groups. Dang. So I then went and got a really good scope and my problems are behind me. Swap out the scope and try again.
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Old September 23, 2013, 09:58 PM   #10
Brian Pfleuger
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Could be the scope but Sightron doesn't put out a lot of junk. Wouldn't hurt to swap for another, just to be sure. 30 In-lbs on the rings is pretty darn tight, even for the action screws. Most rings are 25 tops, my Minox scope says not to tighten rings beyond 15 In-lbs or it voids the warranty.

Last edited by Brian Pfleuger; September 23, 2013 at 11:37 PM.
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Old September 24, 2013, 04:02 AM   #11
Jimro
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40gr of 4064 is a low charge, still safe to shoot though. Try working up to 42 grains with a 168 or 175 match bullet. Look for groups to tighten up around 41.5gr.

Seat to magazine length for now.

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Old September 24, 2013, 06:24 AM   #12
precision_shooter
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Agree with jimro, I think you'll find better accuracy with a little heavier powder charge weight. For the Varget, work up from the 41grs you're using to 44-45grs with same 168gr bullets. I think you'll find somewhere around the 44grs range will be most accurate, but as with any reloading, always look for pressure signs.
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Old September 24, 2013, 09:31 AM   #13
Brian Pfleuger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deerhunter13 View Post
Sorry, I was away for a few days. It is a 308. Have used 40gr. 4064 with cci primers and sierra 168 and berger 168 . Also 41gr. Varget with same heads and same primers. Also 46.7 W760 with Lapua 155 same primer. Rings are tight to 30lbs. Scope is a new Sightron s3 8x32x50. Forgot to mentioned, I bought the rifle from someone in the south. Supposedly, it had less than 100rds through it. I have been out with it 4 times. Very erratic. First time, out of 4 different loads, 40gr/4064 went into 7/8, pretty decent. the other loads 1.5 to 2.5.{horrible} giving it plenty of cooling time. Next time out, same load 40gr/4064 almost 3". My Tikka light 308 and Browning a-bolt 30-06 {both light hunting rifles} shoot 5sh. into 1" or 1.4. consistently for years. Can't figure it out. Last time out, just to see went to 300yds. Tikka and Browning 2gr. each 2.5 to 3". This Sav. all over 7 to 9". Any sugg. greatly appreciated
The gentlemen above have a good point. Your loads are below starting charge levels. You're probably get low pressure and erratic ignition. W760 in particular May not like being loaded low.
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Old September 24, 2013, 11:31 AM   #14
603Country
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I'd still try another scope. I'm not knocking Sightron, but my new scope that died was a Nikon Monarch 4-16, and I sure didn't expect it to be defective.

Ya'll made a good case for low powder charges and erratic ignition, but I've used 4064 for decades, and in low and high charge weights and it always shot pretty darn well.

So swap the scope out and see what happens. If it's the scope, then problem solved easily. If it's not the scope, then you've at least eliminated that variable once and for all.
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Old September 26, 2013, 09:04 PM   #15
deerhunter13
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thank you

Thanks for all the suggestions, really appreciate it. I don't think is the scope, it is the sightron s3, $1000 scope. I am leaning towards the low powder charge or maybe I am jamming into the lands. Just order the seating gauge from Hornady. Plan on using it instead of the dummy round with an empty case. Also the stock is an HS Precision. Aluminum bedded and free floating. Truthfully, did not check the action screws. Will do it immediately. Would changing primers make that much of a difference? Been using the cci but i also have Win. I will keep you updated on my progress.
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