Rebarreling question....

[clatch]

Hi guys, I'm new here. I've lurked before but never posted.

In ~2004, I bought a Savage ML-II, laminated stock, and installed a Leupold 2.5-8x in warne mounts. I then installed Rifle Basix trigger and started shooting.

The first couple of years, i shot Lil'Gun exclusively; based on what I read on another board, I used 28-gauge shotgun wads, cut down, as sub-bases and used the hornady 250-grain SSt bullet (actually, i think I started with something else but forget what it was...). Accuracy was great (in cool weather, anyway) and I shot several deer with this load. In 2006, I (stupidly!) got in a hurry one evening, got distracted, and shot a ramrod out of my savage.

Accuracy went downhill. 

(And yes, I've cleaned it meticulously and changed the vent liner....that shouldn't be my problem...)


For the last several years now, I've hunted with the savage using 45 grains of 5744 and a 250-grain hornady XTP or SST (I prefer the SST, but the XTP works well enough at short ranges; I shot a doe at 83 yards over the weekend and she just plain flopped). However, after the ramrod incident, accuracy has never been the same. The best 5-shot groups I get now are in the 4" range; sometimes they'll open up to 8" or more at 100 yards....so when I hunt with this rifle, I have to limit myself to shots under 100 yards.

(Oddly, most groups will put 3-4 shots into 3", then throw a couple of fliers wildly)


Anyway, the upshot is this: I love the idea of the savage, but hate the poor accuracy (which is entirely my fault, of course). As such, I'm curious as to the possibility of having the savage rebarreled. I'd like a 1-24" twist .50 barrel, SS, preferably a bit longer than the standard barrel (but that's really not needed).



Who offers aftermarket barrels?

[doegirl]

Could you have bulged the barrel?  Very real possibility.  Would explain the sudden loss in accuracy.  Why don't you give Savage a holler and have them take a look at that gun....

[RandyWakeman]

Have Savage rebarrel it-- just send the gun to Savage, attn. Joe DeGrande, and they will do a good job for you. Under no circumstances would I fire a barrel that has had the ramrod shot out of it.

[clatch]

Thanks, guys.

I don't think the barrel is bulged - if it was, I think I'd notice when I loaded it, but, anyway, thanks. I'm going to consider a new Savage barrel, but I'm really more interested in an aftermarket barrel.

[EFBell]

Pac-Nor does MLII barrels.

[Forester]

The ramrod must have caused some sort of problem whether it bulged the barrel or destroyed some rifling or what I don't know.  Seems like the only choices are have savage take a look at it, or give pacnor a call.

Personally it would be just the excuse I need to call pacnor...and buying the barrel should be all the reminder you need to remove the ramrod before firing next time

[clambdin]

3rd the pac-nor ! I have one in .45 cal it shoots sub MOA all day long !

[RandyWakeman]

The first couple of years, i shot Lil'Gun exclusively; based on what I read on another board, I used 28-gauge shotgun wads, cut down, as sub-bases and used the hornady 250-grain SSt bullet (actually, i think I started with something else but forget what it was...). Accuracy was great (in cool weather, anyway) and I shot several deer with this load. In 2006, I (stupidly!) got in a hurry one evening, got distracted, and shot a ramrod out of my savage.

Accuracy went downhill. 

(And yes, I've cleaned it meticulously and changed the vent liner....that shouldn't be my problem...)


For the last several years now, I've hunted with the savage using 45 grains of 5744 and a 250-grain hornady XTP or SST (I prefer the SST, but the XTP works well enough at short ranges; I shot a doe at 83 yards over the weekend and she just plain flopped). However, after the ramrod incident, accuracy has never been the same. The best 5-shot groups I get now are in the 4" range; sometimes they'll open up to 8" or more at 100 yards....so when I hunt with this rifle, I have to limit myself to shots under 100 yards.

Clatch, you have most assuredly damaged that rifle. Savage prohibits Lil'Gun specifically, and Savage prohibits anything between the sabot and powder-- that means sub-bases and of course 28 gauge wads. Savage also suggests NOT shooting out a ramrod.

Here we have all three! Your barrel is damaged and under no circumstances should that gun be fired without getting a clean bill of health from Savage Arms.

[jpdown]

I've seen several Savage ML-II barrels in the classifieds for sale on "Doug's Message Boards". Switching out factory barrels to .40 and .45 caliber Pac-nor barrels seems to be the latest project for many of the members. So they are selling good, used .50 caliber barrels for around $50.00.

[ellobo]

Check for damage around the muzzle and crown. That is the most common damage seen by those firing military muzzleloaders like Springfield 1862's etc. That ramrod isn't going in a straight line, it is flexing as it goes down the barrel and slapping the crap out of the rifling as it goes. If the head of the ramrod had moved away from the charge on firing it could have bulged the barrel and it may not be apparent. In any event, change barrels and stick to substitue powders like Pyrodex. Just clean thoughroly after shooting.

[Forester]

Check for damage around the muzzle and crown. That is the most common damage seen by those firing military muzzleloaders like Springfield 1862's etc. That ramrod isn't going in a straight line, it is flexing as it goes down the barrel and slapping the crap out of the rifling as it goes. If the head of the ramrod had moved away from the charge on firing it could have bulged the barrel and it may not be apparent. In any event, change barrels and stick to substitue powders like Pyrodex. Just clean thoughroly after shooting.

Sticking to Substitute powders like Pyrodex is a waste of the Savage's potential.  The gun was designed to shoot smokeless, and in my experience shoots it best of all.

LilGun is fine in appropriate amounts even though its not in the book, it does fall in the "at your own risk" category, but what doesn't?

Sub-bases have never helped anything in my Savage...my usual load is 61.5gr of (not in the book) N120, Harvester Black Crush Rib sabot and 300gr Barnes Original.

I do agree the barrel is damaged, possibly significantly.  I would swap it out for either the pacnor, or pick up a replacement Savage from the classifieds here or on Doug's Board.