Savage Staggerfeed .223 Ackley 1-8 Rock Creek Finally Done!!!

FINALLY!!!  I have been working on the project for it seems like a year!!!  I started out with a Savage action, barrel and trigger that I got from a friend in Colorado.  It was a Savage staggered Model 10 short action with a Rifle Basix SAV-2 trigger.  The orginal barrel was a 20″ 1-8 twist Benchmark, but it just never shot anything well at all. I decided to have Russell at Rock creek make me a new barrel in 1-8 twist at 26″ length, and the same contour as my new Remmy Nut 700 6BR (also made by Russell at Rock Creek).

I spent some time working on the trigger after I got the DVD and lighter trigger spring from the manufacturer, it ended being a safe 4 oz with a nice break.  Not as good as my Jewel, but very close.  Great trigger for the Savage I think!!!

I actually lucked out and bought the stock from a guy on one of the forums for $350.  It is a SSS Long Range Benchrest (LRBR) and is an incredible stock.  Nicer than even the Shehane laminate on my new 6BR.

I added a single shot follower (which had to be modified with a Dremel because this a staggerfeed…  but after speaking with SSS I was pretty confident I could make it work…  and I did).  I love their follower!!!  I also added an EGW ZERO MOA extended scope rail (I use these rails on all my rifles).

Keep in mind this is a 223 Ackley Improved…  So any loads discussed are way too hot for a standard 223.

Here is the 6BR on the left, the 223 Ackley in the middle and the 223 on the right.  The 223 Ackley chambers perfectly in the 223 Ackley chamber and will shoot crazy tiny groups even fireforming.  Not need for special cases if you don’t want too.

These are literally the barrel break in shots.  I was fighting a wicked shifting three o’clock and I was still shooting pretty dang small 5 shot groups.  This the Berger 52 Match moly and 27.5 grains of Reloader 15…

OHHH and I screwed up and these were jumping like .060″ but I still shot them because I was breaking in the barrel so I figured might as well shoot them up instead of take them back apart.  Shot pretty good huh???

This is a 10 shot group using the Sierra 80 grain VLD moly and 25.5 grains of Reloader 15.  I think that speaks for itself…  There was only about 60 shots on the barrel at this string and no cleaning.

A bunch of loads ready to go the range for testing…

ALL LOADED UP!!!