New to me Savage 110 Storm!

[Cgraham97]

I walked into my local gun store and found this Left handed 110 Storm chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor on the used rack. It was the right price and I decided to pull the trigger! I had been looking for a deer/pronghorn solution and was getting ready to rebarrel an old 110 in 30-06 until I found this! Ended up buying the rifle and a box of ammo for a few hundred dollars less than what the barrel and tools would have cost.

I shot it yesterday and was impressed. A few things to note:

- I shot my best ever 3 shot group at 100yds (right at or under 1/2” with some Hornady Precision Hunter ammo). This was exciting especially since I had a cheap folding table, a blanket, and some towels to build a shooting rest. I know that to many this is a typical group people shoot with regularity, but having a rifle capable of shooting this kind of group at that range is very new to me!

- Sighting in was pretty slow going due to the barrel heating up and this summer heat made cooling down a long process between shot strings.

- The rifle is a joy to shoot. Very different from anything I already have. I’m excited to stretch the legs on it hopefully soon on some steel at longer ranges.

- I have noticed some feeding issues where the cartridges do not want to always go into the chamber smoothly. Especially when you try to rapidly load the next shot. Upon my limited investigation, it appears that the angle in which the cartridge gets pushed up out of the magazine is very steep and can cause the bullet to catch or hang up on the top of the barrel/chamber. This is somewhat concerning due to this being a hunting rig and the need for a quick follow-up shot can arise. (I know, I know… if you hit what you are aiming at the first time it’s no need for a follow up.)

I would love to hear if anyone has had that experience with the feeding issues and any remedies to look into. It’s not a deal breaker, however I would love to get it remedied!

Also, any recommendations on what ammo these Savage 6.5 “Needmoors” like in the way of factory ammo would be very welcome!

 

[ONE-TEN]

Nice grab! Yeah, a 110 in 6.5 CM can’t help but be accurate! It’s a high precision cartridge without any work really.

Your chambering issue is not rare. Happens to many. It’s inherent in the very straight wall case of the Creedmoor, unfortunately. Two things you can do to help the issue. Replace the factory Extractor with an Enhanced version & .140” BearingBall. Also, if the magazine bury & feedlios are made of Steel, try adjusting the magazine feedlips. This can raise/lower the seated round just a bit. But sometimes, just a few thousands height change makes all the difference.

There are two different Kits. I’ve used both. I prefer the Lumley’s Extractor, but I prefer the Kinney’s Ejector. But they both work.

Kinney’s Enhanced Kit:
https://kinneysshootingsupply.com/ss-2402-deluxe-savage-enhanced-extractor-ejector-kit/

Lumley Enhanced Kit:
https://lumleyarms.us/savage-cf-extractor-ejector-kit

And here is the magazine Feed Lip adjusting tool. Or you can try using pliers. Works, but needs to be delicate.
https://ki-precision.com/ki-precision-mag-lip-tool/

 

[Cgraham97]

Nice grab! Yeah, a 110 in 6.5 CM can’t help but be accurate! It’s a high precision cartridge without any work really.

Your chambering issue is not rare. Happens to many. It’s inherent in the very straight wall case of the Creedmoor, unfortunately. Two things you can do to help the issue. Replace the factory Extractor with an Enhanced version & .140” BearingBall. Also, if the magazine bury & feedlios are made of Steel, try adjusting the magazine feedlips. This can raise/lower the seated round just a bit. But sometimes, just a few thousands height change makes all the difference.

There are two different Kits. I’ve used both. I prefer the Lumley’s Extractor, but I prefer the Kinney’s Ejector. But they both work.

Kinney’s Enhanced Kit:
https://kinneysshootingsupply.com/ss-2402-deluxe-savage-enhanced-extractor-ejector-kit/

Lumley Enhanced Kit:
https://lumleyarms.us/savage-cf-extractor-ejector-kit

And here is the magazine Feed Lip adjusting tool. Or you can try using pliers. Works, but needs to be delicate.
https://ki-precision.com/ki-precision-mag-lip-tool/

This is great info! Thank you. I will probably try the magazine first. I think the rounds are sitting too low. I am completely new to what AICS magazines are so I am assuming that is what is in my gun. It is a single feed but the rounds stack like a double stack magazine in a handgun.

 

[CFJunkie]

My three Savage 6.5mm CMs with factory barrels have shot pretty much every bullet I've tried accurately.
One of them seems to favor light bullets, the other two prefer heavier bullets, but the differences are not significant.
For hunting, I would try 143 ELD-X hunting bullets. They performed well in all my factory barrels. I believe that they come in factory ammo and should be great for hunting.
I shot them last week in my new 28-inch Shilen Select Match 416 R Stainless steel barrel and the results are on the range reports forum on this site.

My factory barrels all averaged under 0.350 MOA as a average for all groups they shot.
Two of my three factory barrels shot well over 4,000 rounds. I replaced one factory barrel with the Shilen at about 4,800 rounds.

 

[Cgraham97]

My three Savage 6.5mm CMs with factory barrels have shot pretty much every bullet I've tried accurately.
One of them seems to favor light bullets, the other two prefer heavier bullets, but the differences are not significant.
For hunting, I would try 143 ELD-X hunting bullets. They performed well in all my factory barrels. I believe that they come in factory ammo and should be great for hunting.
I shot them last week in my new 28-inch Shilen Select Match 416 R Stainless steel barrel and the results are on the range reports forum on this site.

My factory barrels all averaged under 0.350 MOA as a average for all groups they shot.
Two of my three factory barrels shot well over 4,000 rounds. I replaced one factory barrel with the Shilen at about 4,800 rounds.

That’s great info! The ammo I shot was with the 143 ELDX bullets and I was pleased! I’m hoping it likes the barnes 127 LRX’s.

 

[ONE-TEN]

Yes, your Rifle uses a Factory Savage Magazine. It’s proprietary to the Savage rifles.

I believe this is your magazine, correct? Should use the Savage PN# 55109


These are AICS magazines, which are available for every Centerfire rifle. They are available in both Steel & Polymer. Only the Steel magazines can be adjusted. AICS stands for Accuracy International Chassis Magazines, because the company Accuracy International, created them. However, other manufacturers make them.



Regardless, your magazine uses Steel body & feedlips and CAN be adjusted in the same manner.

 

[K9TXS]

Glad you got a good deal on the rifle. After you work out the minor bugs in it, it will be time to turn your attention to the rebarrel of the other rifle. Since you now have a 6.5 CM maybe a 22-250 will be in your future.

 

[Cgraham97]

Yes, your Rifle uses a Factory Savage Magazine. It’s proprietary to the Savage rifles.

I believe this is your magazine, correct? Should use the Savage PN# 55109


These are AICS magazines, which are available for every Centerfire rifle. They are available in both Steel & Polymer. Only the Steel magazines can be adjusted. AICS stands for Accuracy International Chassis Magazines, because the company Accuracy International, created them. However, other manufacturers make them.



Regardless, your magazine uses Steel body & feedlips and CAN be adjusted in the same manner.

Yes that first magazine is the one that is in the gun. Thank you for the information!

I also found a forum thread that leads me to believe it could be the ejector needing to be modified. It sounds like the symptoms they are describing match what is going on with mine.

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/savage-elite-precision-feeding-problems.7002986/page-2

I have ordered a second ejector and will try that.

 

[ONE-TEN]

Yes that first magazine is the one that is in the gun. Thank you for the information!

I also found a forum thread that leads me to believe it could be the ejector needing to be modified. It sounds like the symptoms they are describing match what is going on with mine.

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/savage-elite-precision-feeding-problems.7002986/page-2

I have ordered a second ejector and will try that.

What (sorry, meant Extractor) did you get? If you got a factory Extractor/Ejector and no larger Steel ball, it will likely did the same thing. You need the “Enhanced Extractor” & .140” Steel ball as I pointed out.

Also, are you able to do your own work? Replacing the Ejector/Extractor isn’t terrible, but can be a bit tricky the first time. Also, Savage 110’s sometimes need a bit of massaging. Some like a FLAT Ejector, some like that little angle. They both should be replaced.

 

[CFJunkie]

Today's range report posted on the range report forum was shot with an AICS steel 5-round mag. The longest COAL I loaded was 2.866 and that easily fed from the AICS Mag.

I shot 130 gr Hornady ELD-Ms, 130 gr Sierra TMKs and 140 gr Hornady ELD-Ms.
Had some barrel heating issues when the temperatures climbed from 73 to 80 degrees.

My 28-inch Shilen 416R SS barrel finished the session showing well over 140 degs F. on my temp monitoring strip, even though I was trying to cool the barrel down with battery -powered air mattress blowers pumping air into the chamber on breaks in the shooting. The second blower's battery wore down with more than 20 rounds left to shoot. The temp strip on the barrel was pegged over 140 degrees so I have no idea how hot the barrel was when I finished.

 

[ONE-TEN]

That’s the problem with HEAVY barrels and consistent shorting of multiple groups. The Heavy Barrels take a long time to heat up, but then remain hot for a long time afterwards.

 

[Cgraham97]

What (sorry, meant Extractor) did you get? If you got a factory Extractor/Ejector and no larger Steel ball, it will likely did the same thing. You need the “Enhanced Extractor” & .140” Steel ball as I pointed out.

Also, are you able to do your own work? Replacing the Ejector/Extractor isn’t terrible, but can be a bit tricky the first time. Also, Savage 110’s sometimes need a bit of massaging. Some like a FLAT Ejector, some like that little angle. They both should be replaced.

I got a factory ejector. Based on what I was reading, it can be a fairly simple fix if you remove the ejector, add a bevel to it and maybe take .001~.003 off of the end. I bought this one to do the modifications on so I am not risking ruining the original. Some of the folks on that thread said that doing this was the only thing that was required to fix theirs.

I’m not opposed to getting the extractor and ball. I may do that if just modifying the ejector doesn’t cut it.

I am not a gunsmith but I love to learn and tinker so I think I will give it a shot to see how it goes!

 

[ONE-TEN]

It may well take care of it. I just always recommend doing both at the same time. That way, chamberlains, Extraction & Ejection are covered.


BTW: Those articles about fixing Savages, you see on Snipers-hideaway Camp or any other Gun Forum, were found & perfected by members at Savage Shooters. Savage Shooters is gone, but this Forum started. And MANY of the members from Savage Shooters are now here. This is a Savage Forum, and any problem on a Savage can be answered here. Trust me, we aren’t getting the answered from Snipers-Hideaway Camp. LOL!