Help- new sako wont shoot

[trkyman1]

Have a new sako 85 stainless in 338 fed. Can't get better than 2" groups at 100yrds. I tried factory loads,three differant handloads,and they all shoot around 2" groups. I have a nikon prostaff 3-9 mounted on the gun and everything is tight. This is the most expensive set up I have and the worst shooting one also. I have a marlin in .35 remington that will outshoot the sako all day. Anyone out there have any info? I like the gun but It does not shoot as advertized.

[longwinters]

Try breaking loose the action screws and then snugging them up.  We have 5 Sako 75's in the house and on 4 of them the action screws were so tight you could barely break them free.  In fact one had to go to the gunsmith and he said he had never seen them so tight.  I don't know why this would happen, maybe humidity changes coming from Finland but......

The accuracy on all 4 of them improved dramatically and now the worst shoots 1" with the others well under moa.  Of course the other question would be if your scope is good.

Long

[trkyman1]

I will check the the action screw today and maybe change my scope out with the one on my 300win. Thanks for the reply.

[Harry Snippe]

Just a reminder the 338 Federal is not a Sub MOA cartridge . I have a new tikka in 338 F and also in o6 . the guns grouping was at first a bit disappointing , but after about a hundred rounds things settled down .
The manual for tikka said do not use a brush to clean just patche's . I found a foam cleaner like wipe out did the job.
So check your screws then shoot it for awhile , You might end up sub MOA or just over an inch with time and or different loading some thing your rifle likes . So hang in there .
All the best
Happy

[trkyman1]

Just a heads up on the sako. I finally found a load she likes. 47gr. varget under a speer 200gr. bullet with a magnum primer.Im pushing 2500fps with a 3/4 inch group. The federal fusions fly at 2600-2640 but the accuracy stinks.

[longwinters]

Good. Glad you figured it out.

 I don't understand how a caliber can "not be a sub MOA cartridge"  Never heard of that before.

Long

[Harry Snippe]

Not everything will shoot under an inch . Some times it is the rifle, but at times you need to accept 1 1/2 " as being a good load in the mid calipier . If you read the Mags , the 338 F was noted as not being a target round , so if you found some thing that shoots close to the MOA be happy . If you got some thing under be very happy.
Happy

[Harry Snippe]

Well
The tikka at first would not put them in under an inch and a half , so having read some mags , on the 338 F , I accepted this was not going to be another 308 W round .
How ever as with the '06 Battue where in things inproved after about 100 rounds and too cleaning as instructed per the manaul ( no brush ) .also that fact and with  the heads up on the Varget powder , I thought I might try this powder too with the Serria 215 bullets I had on hand . I used the regular primers to start and with max load of powder I could get them in .05" with the gun supported at the bench . Same again with the H4895 Powder , and again with 200 Nolser accrabond with W 748 which shot a wee bit highter .
So it is more than a matter of putting a few down the bore , checking screws Etc, following the manual on cleaning , getting used to the gun too , before putting a label on the gun. or saying the shooter can not hit a barn door -with that Darn " thing "
Well now having learned something again this year with the latest Tikka , I am off a" Happy Camper "with the 338 F looking for that minute of Moose .
Happy

[trkyman1]

Glad to hear you got her shootin!!

[Harry Snippe]

Glad to hear you got her shootin!!

Yeah !! It seems to like a fouled barrel . then it lays them in . So probably fire a few before hunting and go.
I had given away my Varget powder after selling my 35 Rem lever , thinking I would not be using the powder , then saw you  Trkyman1 was using it in the sako with good results . Rats !!! I thought as one inch or 1/1/2 groups were acceptable for me until then . So I had a bit left in a can and loaded it .
I picked up a new Savage bolt in 308 on the weekend , so it was BLC2 or Varget to load it for my wife, and managed to get two pounds of varget at the gun shop . ( componets here in Ontario have been hard to get )
So I will load some more with varget powder .If you can use the same powder in more than one gun "GREAT"
One question Why the Mag primers ? Had you tried the regular large rifle primers first ? I do have some cci Mag primers reserved for the 300 WM , but the regular LR seem to work fine in the 338 F.
If your getting a bit more speed , but no pressure sign , I might try it , since I am running low .

[trkyman1]

I was trying different recipes for the 338 fed. I said what the heck and loaded a few with mag. primers and they shot a little tighter group.It may just be coincidence that the mag primer shot better. I started with a clean gun and the mag loads were the last ones I shot.

[Harry Snippe]

I tryed some mag primers once in the 06 . Holy HANNA!! too hot , real heavy bolt lift . Then some rifles like hot loads .
That is why I asked about what  brand primers you used . I take it you used Federal 338 brass.
Componets here are still almost impossable to get . I do have federal 338 brass , Winchester and CCI mag primers and speer 200 gr bullets and Varget powder . If your using any of the above I would try it , since I am runing out of regular LR primers .
Send a PM if you like
Thanking you in advance
Happy

[trkyman1]

I'm using federal brass and federal 215 mag primers.

[Harry Snippe]

Trkyman1
Thank for the info . that will get me started  with loading 10% under and working up which we all must do , since we are using different rifles ETC.

Now that we both are getting some decent groups , I find too , that there is some new pride in the cartridge . Not just ourselves but to others that might also be intersted . At the hunt camp , there is always questions and interst when some one brings in a new rifle .
Now it time to down some game this fall. This will be my primary firearm along with the 300 WM model 70 Winchester . the winchester will be used where shots might be long, while the 338 Tikka would make more sense in heavy cover with the odd across the swamp shot .

Good hunting to all .
Happy

[trkyman1]

Let me know the results.

[Harry Snippe]

One down two weeks yet to go .This is indeed an excellent round and intend to use it on all game here in the eastern bush .  Full details will come after the hunt

The 338 performed trkyman1, and i sent you a PM with all the details .

[Ghostman]

I just bought the same rifle. It shoots a 5/8" group with factory federal 180 gr. Nosler Accubonds. I'm real happy with mine!

[Harry Snippe]

Next time around , try the 200 Gr in the same . You might get a tighter group and have a bit more thump down range.
I am running the 215 Gr over Varget, hoping to meet a good sized Moose and or bear .