My first long range stick

[Ryan327]

Took the new rifle out for my first range trip and man it's a shooter! I had some really good groups and some that were just okay. Can tell that when they aren't so good it's me causing it. The range I went to was only 50 yards so not even really getting to see what it can do yet, but here are the pictures from the day.

I bought the gun from a local guy who needed the cash, I think I got a great deal on this one!

The gun:
Savage 10SA .308 w/ boots bolt handle/knob
22" Lilja stainless match barrel 1:10 (126 rounds)
Choate stock w/ bipod and Karsten cheek rest
FTE muzzle brake
Millett 4-16x50 TRS-1
duracoated in digital camo.

The load:
178gr A-MAX, 41.2 gr of 4064, 2.811 OAL

From the bench off bipod and my hand as my rear bag (need to get one)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/PaveFE/Savage10-01.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/PaveFE/Savage10-02.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/PaveFE/Savage10-03.jpg

Next groups, all 3 rounds working on zeroing in just a bit more
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/PaveFE/IMG_20110714_222252.jpg

Best groups
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/PaveFE/IMG_20110714_222224.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/PaveFE/IMG_20110714_222156.jpg

Silhouette, mixed group, three to the chest, two to the head
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/PaveFE/IMG_20110714_222539.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/PaveFE/IMG_20110714_222503.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/PaveFE/IMG_20110714_222528.jpg


Last rounds of the day, 10 shot group
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/PaveFE/IMG_20110714_222333.jpg

[GIJew766]

Good looking stick you got there, my good man. Who did the Duracoat job, if you don't mind me asking?

Also, can't wait to see how this thing shoots at range. Seems to be good for some pretty tight groups.

One more question though. Was the load in question something you've used before in another rifle or is it something that was cooked up by the previous owner for this specific rifle?


H

[Ryan327]

Good looking stick you got there, my good man. Who did the Duracoat job, if you don't mind me asking?

Also, can't wait to see how this thing shoots at range. Seems to be good for some pretty tight groups.

One more question though. Was the load in question something you've used before in another rifle or is it something that was cooked up by the previous owner for this specific rifle?


H

The guy I bought it from did the duracoat himself, I told him I would pass along his info to anyone interested. Lives down near richmond, va and said he would paint for people if the $$$ were right.

Shoot me a PM if you are really interested and I'll talk to him real quick, make sure he doesn't mine me sending you his info.

He gave me his load data to date when I bought the gun. Really helped me out and saved me a ton of time. Will probably still need some tweaking at longer range, but a good start!

[GIJew766]

Looks like a couple tweaks could be done with the load, but I'd test that load at longer ranges first and make sure to keep a log of how they are performing, including the conditions on the range.

I gotta take a look and see if I want any of my rifles painted again as my brother and I have most of them painted for hunting purposes (and no, I don't mean Mossy Oak). If I find one I'd like done, I'll let you know.

Enjoy the rifle man. Looks like a winner.


H

[arizona98tj]

The Savage 10 series (they make a lot of variants in the 10 series) is usually a pretty darn good shooter, as you experienced.

I picked up a 10 FCP HS-Precision around the first of the year. It has gotten to warm to work up any loads now here in Phoenix (takes sooooooo long for the barrel to cool down) so that will have to wait until later this year when cooler weather comes. I had a chance to work on a few loads and got to the range twice to check them out. First trip, 6 out of 7 were sub-MOA, shooting at 100 yds. The second trip uncovered one or two good possibilities....more on those when it cools down.

Here is a pic of the best 5 shot group @ 100 yds with 168 SMK over Varget. Each 5 shot group was a different weight charge.

http://www.stu-offroad.com/temp/savage-6.jpg


And the 10 FCP.....

http://www.stu-offroad.com/firearms/karsten/karsten-6.jpg

[Ryan327]

I'm new to reloading rifle and the brass I have right now is new. Do you normally trim each time, or do you trim to a set length and then not trim again until it reaches max?