Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors What else can I do?

OK guys, here's the latest, shot 15 rounds today, 7 buffalo lead 65gr, 8 hornady 70 gr @ .228.the fired cases with the lead bullet measured .257 at the case mouth, the Hornady measures between .256 and .260. Then I pushed through a .32 caliber lead ball which came out measuring .227-.228.What do you guys think now?

I think it's a 22HP, maybe with a few thousandths wore down in the bore.

The Hornady's can be problematic in old Savage 22HP's for stabilization. They work in some, they don't in others.

How did the bullets work on paper? Hit dead on, or sideways, or ??

One of the problems that was hard for me to get a grip on, is it's not the exact weight that makes them tumble, it's the length. The 70 Hornady is longer and pointier than the 71 Norma. The Norma is kind of squat. The ROT will stabilize the squat Norma, but not the Hornady. There is only 1 gr difference in weight, but the length is the killer. I'll try and get you some of those Norma's tomorrow. I have to work Saturday. If I don't get them off tomorrow I'll be busy till Monday or Tuesday.

Boox i sent you a pm.

Try a copper remover. I have a 99F in .243 from 1966 and the barrel had never been cleaned well as far as I could tell. It looked dark and nasty. I got some Sweet's 762 and some Tetra copper remover and did a series of liberally soaking for 20 minutes, Bronze brush 4 or 5 times, and clean patches for about every evening for a week, alternating between the two. I did about 4 sessions a night. The crud that came out was impressive. After every evening session, I'd run really hot water thru it to kill the ammonia, dry it and then Hoppes. At the end of the week, I could see a shiny bore like it is supposed to look. You know when to stop after the black and green sludge stops coming out. It changed the POI so much I had to sight in the scope again. In your case, after you get it cleaned...if you can...you might want to slug your bore to see what diameter it really is.

Sorry I've been working alot and haven't followed up.

here's a picture at 25 yards...forget it.. the real link is below,
thanx 99 guy...

Link doesn't work.

SELL IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Never saw a target like that.

The sideways silhouettes remind me of the time I tried to shoot 117gr roundnose .257" out of an old 250-3000.

You're going to need shorter bullets. Not lighter, necessarily, but shorter.

The slugging of the barrel showed .228, right? That .257 you mentioned is the OD of the case neck, right? Jeez, I wish I were looking over your shoulder in person!!

The easy route is to sell it. But, then it becomes someone else's headache. The moral dilemma is "do I lick the problem or do I foist it off on someone else?" Not knowing your predilections (or the state of your pocketbook), were it me I would take it as a challenge and do whatever it takes to make the old girl shoot again, even if it meant a complete makeover as discussed earlier. Would you let your dear old Mom shiver in an unheated shack or would you build her a warm house?

Next try the shortest lightest .228's that Buffalo offers. If that doesn't work then you are fortunate to have a grossly oversize bore- but, your report of .228 groove diameter is baffling.

The last time I saw a target like that was when I shot an Enfield No.1MkIII with a pristine bore- said pristine bore being darn near .320 groove diameter. The .311 bullets I sent through it keyholed all over the place. Finding some .318 bullets fixed the problem and it would then ring the 200 yard gong every time.

yes, and yes...And I agree, It is a challenge I want to overcome, although a barrel replacement is in the works, I wish I was in maryland so you could see it. BTW, some of those were bullets put through your jig.

Boox I'm not convinced a different barrel will improve your situation but this one is here if you need it. It would most likely need to be fitted by a gunsmith. Be patient, working long hours....

not to worry, I got some sweets and it seems to be working after a few 10-15 minute soaks

Yours will be fine get the right bullets.