I am having a problem with my 338WM, model 75 sako. It just wont shoot 1" or under 1" at 100 yards!!! I have a schmidt and bender scope, the screws are all tight.

I have tried loads using IMR4350 and IMR 4831 with both Hornady and Speer bullets but still no joy!

Lastly my 375H&H Sako shoots under 1" groups any day so I would say its not shooter error. I have tried it on several days too....

Any suggestions from model 75 owners or any accurate load data?

I noticed when I switched to IMR4831 powder, the loads were a bit tighter but not much!

Thanks,

Reddy375

Well you did not say what kind of groups you are shooting now, or what weight bullet you are using, but I would suggest the following:

Clean your barrel really good with J&B Bore Paste.

Change primers.

If that does not work try RL 19.

If that does not work, try a different bullet weight.

If that does not work, sell the SAKO and get a Blaser R 93.

dont they guarentee MOA?

Don't worry, it's going to shoot. I have a Sako 75 338WM that was shooting great and then all of a sudden quit shooting as well.
Turns out the problem was with a new batch of Virgin brass. I used an RCBS case micrometer and saw that shoulders were varying from between -.010 to -.040 headspace. Fired cases IIRC measured .000 to .001. The loads that were shooting well were with fired cases that didn't have the negative headspace problem.
That would be the first thing that I would check.
The load that shot well in mine was 70.0grs of IMR-4350 and 225gr Accubonds Fed GM215M primers. I don't remember the COAL to the lands but Sako's are typically pretty long throated so that might be something to look into.
It could be that your rifle didn't like the bullets you tried but Hornady's in particular usually seem to shoot pretty well.

But anyway if I were you I'd try some Accubonds with IMR-4350 in once fired cases and see if that fixes the problem. With Virgin brass you can neck them up to 35cal and then make a false shoulder by sizing them back down to make a snug fit in the chamber.
Good luck, let us know if you still have problems or start shooting 1/2" groups (it will probably be the latter, Sako 75's shoot!).........................DJ

Thanks for the feedback. I am using 250 grain bullets in hornady and speer, barrel is clean! also checked the bedding, was able to slide the $ bill right upto the action....

guess i will play with some more loads. beretta said i could send it back for them to look at. will report what happens.

My Sako AV will shoot any 250 grain bullet into a small cluster with the above mentioned powders. Try switching to Federal's 215M.
RL 19 is a good second choice.

I have a pre-64 M70 with a Krieger cut-rifled barrel that simply will not shoot Hornady bullets. Works fine with Barnes X and Nosler Partitions. Holds 2" at 300 yards. Took me a while to change bullets ... was pretty discouraged. Keep at it.

My Sako 75 .338 WM loves 225gr TSX's over IMR 4350 and Fed 215M primers. .6-.8 all day long.

I have a Tikka T-3 lite SS. I get 1" groups with Nosler 250 gr. partitions and Reloader 22.
My load is 75 gr. and this is max in my gun and does 2750 fps. I have found R-22 to shoot better with the heavy bullets. With 225 TSX I use R-19 with the same results.

Thanks guys will try some of the combinations suggested.

Hmm, I've had half dozen .338s, and 2 of them would only group well when I switched to a heavy round nose bullet. The extra bearing surface of the bullet may have had something to do with it. I had a .270 win, that was the same way; whenever standard weights didn't work, the long RNs always did. Good luck. . . . .

try a barnes tsx in 250 grain configuration. plenty of bearing surface. all my sakos have shot well. are all the stock screws tight? good luck.