100 yard shooting what would you chose?

What would you do if you were me 100 yard shooting

  • A) keep the savage as is invest in more components and just shoot it more

    Votes: 43 65.2%

  • B) Rebarrel said savage with a custom barrel

    Votes: 7 10.6%

  • C) Buy a Full on custom rig for the purpose of tiny groups from the bench

    Votes: 16 24.2%
  • Total voters
    66
  • Poll closed .
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H

horsemen61

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Oct 20, 2011
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Hey everyone ok so here is the deal I am lucky enough to have my own 100 yard range at my house I am an avid reloader I have several different rifles in several different chamberings my favorite right now for shooting at 100 yards is my savage model 12’VLP .223 it shoots well but I’m now at a point I have 400 rounds through the rifle I am wondering should I rebarrel to a custom barrel to get a little more consistency out of it or should I buy a truly dedicated bench rest gun for shooting tiny groups at 100 yards/ use the money I was going to spend on a barrel or build to buy components and just keep shooting it as is

At 100 yards what would you do if you were me?

P.S.
the rifle is a good shooter as is but could I make it better ie easier for me to shoot tiny groups
 
I don't really care about tiny groups from the bench. If it were me, I'd invest in components and practice until you can hit a 4" plate or clay pigeon offhand.

A gun that shoots 1" with a shooter that can hold reasonable offhand shots at 100 yards is more interesting than a 1/4" gun with a shooter that can't hit a 5 gallon bucket offhand.

But my opinion ain't the popular one I expect.
 
Last edited:
Bazoo said:
I don't really care about tiny groups from the bench. If it were me, I'd invest in components and practice until you can hit a 4" plate or clay pigeon offhand.

A gun that shoots 1" with a shooter they can hold reasonable offhand shots at 100 yards is more interesting than a 1/4" gun with a shooter that can't hit a 5 gallon bucket offhand.

But my opinion ain't the popular one I expect.
Click to expand...


To each their own I am after tiny groups
 
Well, we have no idea just how well it shoots. No group sizes, just it shoots well. "Well" is subjective. What is is "well" to one person might be "crappy" to another. Until we get some factual information no one can advise you.

The rifle is a tool to deliver a bullet to a target and the more accurately the rifle does this, the more accurate the shooter will be from any position. Standing is not a good way to determine the rifles ultimate capability.
 
doubleh said:
Well, we have no idea just how well it shoots. No group sizes, just it shoots well. "Well" is subjective. What is is "well" to one person might be "crappy" to another. Until we get some factual information no one can advise you.

The rifle is a tool to deliver a bullet to a target and the more accurately the rifle does this, the more accurate the shooter will be from any position. Standing is not a good way to determine the rifles ultimate capability.
Click to expand...


Excellent Point Forgive me I’m trying to recover after the China virus got me I’ll get you some groups to work with so you have an idea
 
horsemen61 said:
223 it shoots well but I’m now at a point I have 400 rounds through the rifle I am wondering should I rebarrel to a custom barrel to get a little more consistency out of it or should I buy a truly dedicated bench rest gun for shooting tiny groups at 100 yards/
Click to expand...
horsemen61 said:
To each their own I am after tiny groups
Click to expand...
Rule3 said:
Does a barrel "wear out":uhoh: after 400 rounds??
Click to expand...
I'm not really a "tiny group" type of shooter. So like Rule3, I'm curious - do .223s normally wear out their barrels so quickly that a person can't shoot "tiny groups" with them after just 400 rounds?
 
F95FF3AC-3D4F-4863-A8F3-B73C4DC6CBAF.jpeg I shot the first three in the same hole no.4 is to the right and I blew it on the fifth shot up high





F7900E2C-44E3-46CF-BC3F-7DE8A42E2665.png

95463DED-FAC0-4D4B-9866-7892C07A9307.jpeg


It shoots when I do my part the question is how much better can I make it shoot/ make those results happen much more often as in all the time
 
I would keep having fun with the rifle and load development. As a varmint model try light bullets if you haven't. 35 and 40 grain ballistic tips shot one hole from my old 1-12" varmint rig.
The model 12 action is one to hold onto. Have fun and shoot out the barrel after a few thousand rounds then spin on a new tube.
 
What twist rate is your barrel? 1-7 or 1-9.
What bullets weights are you shooting?
I've got an old Savage 12 FLVSS 1-9 twist with over 5k rounds out of it, that will still shoot 1/4 - 1/2 moa groups at 100 yards. This rifle loves to shoot 75 gr BTHP's and 77 gr SMK bullets.
Other than installing a SSS Competition trigger, and changing the stock, this rifle is factory stock.

MrgPW6e.jpg
 
I would keep it and really drill down on your technique... not only shooting technique, but reloading as well... and save your money. When you finally do wear that barrel out, you should have enough saved to either rebarrel it (cheap enough, for sure...) or buy a completely new platform, and possibly a different cartridge.

Further... and, understand, I'm envious of your 100yd range right out the back door... you might pack it up and take it somewhere and stretch it's legs out. For a properly setup rifle, and it sounds like it is, 100yds is a starter kit. Challenge yourself, sir!
 
Thanks for the thoughts everyone and for those who asked it’s a 1~ 7 twist that enjoys the 69 SMK or I’ve had good luck with the 52 grain HPBT bullet from Sierra as far as the trigger it’s stock the whole rifle is I’m shooting off of bags I also have an adjustable Bald Eagle front rear I use from time to time
 
I'd start with a replacement trigger like a Trigger Tech Diamond and pillar bed the action and free float the barrel if not already done. Make certain the barrel crown is perfect.
 
I voted you keep it. 400 rounds is not even enough for it to be broken in, nor for you and the rifle to become the man and machine system you should be. There's a lot to do with a new rifle that can't be done in 400 rounds. Finding the best factory ammo for that rifle, or loading your own best. Lots of tweaks and mods that others have mentioned. If it shoots that well now it can only get better with time and a little TLC.
 
The 223 you have is enough rifle for at least 600 yards, and 400 rounds is just barely broken in. Some cartridges will wear out a barrel in as little as 2000 rounds, but not 223. When you get to 10,000 rounds you might want to consider replacing it.

If you want a challenge and cheap fun at 100 yards buy an accurate 22 rifle. If looking for an excuse to buy a new gun I'd go this way. Most people never really try shooting a 22 past about 50 yards, but there is no reason not to. I've shot out to 250 yards in the past and done surprisingly well. I've heard others say that a 22 at 200 yards is comparable to shooting a 308 at 600 yards. I'd say that is a pretty fair assessment. If limited to only 100 yards a 223 quickly becomes too easy.
 
My 1/7 twist Ar likes heavier bullets like 75gr BTHP. My 1/9 barrels like 50 to 62gr better. I would try some lighter bullets in that 1/9 and do some seating tests.
 
Nature Boy said:
B) Keep the Savage, and get a .223 match grade barrel from Northland Shooters Supply. Shoot tiny groups in the 1’s and 2’s until you get bored. Post bragging photos on THR
Click to expand...
Good advise.

Keep shooting your Savage as long as it makes you happy, when you wear the barrel out you'll be even more ready for a step up in barrel quality. Buy a match barrel for the Savage, and have fun trying to shoot up to its capabilities.

Ignore the people who don't like shooting tiny groups. :)

Keep an eye out in places like Sniper's Hyde for top quality items (Actions/barreled actions/stocks/scopes) being sold reasonable by people changing equipment.
 
If I can send 5 through the same hole at 100yards with a Savage Axis, wearing a boyds stock and shooting handloads you should be able to do the same. Try 55gr Nosler Varmageddon Ballistic tip and close to Hodgdon max on Benchmark. I can regularly shoot groups like Natureboys bottom group at 100yards with this combo. Some days even better.
 
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