Sounds exactly like my situation. I'm a 21 year old trying to survive on a paramedics salary in ohio (about the same salary as a fast food worker). So everything is on a budget. I've recently started reloading for my 44 mag handi with a lee loader and have been able to cater a 180gr low recoil round to minute of bowling pin for the girlfriend to deer hunt with. I've now acquired a lee loader in 25-06 to start loading for my savage. I have about 80 once fired in my rifle hornady brass sized, trimmed, deprimed and cleaned ready to go.
Suggestions to better my rifle for long range shooting
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Sounds exactly like my situation. I'm a 21 year old trying to survive on a paramedics salary in ohio (about the same salary as a fast food worker). So everything is on a budget. I've recently started reloading for my 44 mag handi with a lee loader and have been able to cater a 180gr low recoil round to minute of bowling pin for the girlfriend to deer hunt with. I've now acquired a lee loader in 25-06 to start loading for my savage. I have about 80 once fired in my rifle hornady brass sized, trimmed, deprimed and cleaned ready to go.
Those Lee Loaders are great reloading tools. The two things I suggest you get is an arbor press (from harbor freight) and a primer seating tool. These will dramatically speed up your reloading.
If you look at the Lee Loader, it's basically a budget LE Wilson die set. You can get very good results with it, much better than conventional dies and a cheap press.
If you look at the Lee Loader, it's basically a budget LE Wilson die set. You can get very good results with it, much better than conventional dies and a cheap press.
I have some powder dippers and a cheapish hornady scale that I will be using to measure my powder. I'm not overly concerned with reloading speed as I will not being shooting high quantities more then 50-75 rounds at a time.
redneck2
Member
I think I got rid of all my .25 caliber bullets, but if I find any you can have them.
DonP
Member
Timney drop in trigger as a first step
I have the first version of the Axis in 30-06, without the good Savage Accu-trigger that's in the Axis II.
After trying several adjustments I finally popped for the Timney adjustable trigger. Cost about $100, but what a world of difference on the bench. I set mine at about 2 and 3/4 pounds, and it shoots sub moa at 200 yards.
I'm still playing with the best loads at different distances. I bought 3 extra magazines to make it easy to keep track of which specific load I'm using.
FWIW I also have a Lee Loader I use for precise handloads too, as well as a regular Turret press set up.
I'd do the optics second, after a good trigger, and get a spotting scope for anything over 200 yards, but that's just me.
I have the first version of the Axis in 30-06, without the good Savage Accu-trigger that's in the Axis II.
After trying several adjustments I finally popped for the Timney adjustable trigger. Cost about $100, but what a world of difference on the bench. I set mine at about 2 and 3/4 pounds, and it shoots sub moa at 200 yards.
I'm still playing with the best loads at different distances. I bought 3 extra magazines to make it easy to keep track of which specific load I'm using.
FWIW I also have a Lee Loader I use for precise handloads too, as well as a regular Turret press set up.
I'd do the optics second, after a good trigger, and get a spotting scope for anything over 200 yards, but that's just me.
redneck2
Member
I believe David Tubb used a Lee Loader to set a bunch of records at Camp Perry. If you don't mind the rather slow speed, I suspect it will do as good as anything.
IMO, high quality bullets with properly tuned loads help as much as anything.
IMO, high quality bullets with properly tuned loads help as much as anything.
Sheepdog1968
Member
I would suggest joining a local club that does some long range shooting and meet with them on shooting events. Also, take an Appleseed glass with a 22 rifle if you have one. Your shooting is good. Appleseeds will fill in any gaps in your shooting style.
Be sure your barrel and action sits in the stock the same way every time. Watch out for unusual pressure on the barrel from the stock. Free floated is always better but some rifles do fine without it. Watch for trends as your barrel heats up. Do your groups open up as your rifle warms up? If so chances are something is pressing against the barrel and it presses more as the heat increases. And probably most important is to practice with your trigger. Get a snap cap and tape a laser on your barrel (temporary of course). Put the light from the laser on a spot and practice pulling the trigger and keeping the dot on the spot as you do. Do that about 1000 times and it will certainly make you better at pulling the trigger. Also watch for any signs of flinching. It can happen without you noticing. If your groups are unstable that might be the problem.
And most of all, practice - a lot.
And most of all, practice - a lot.
A little updates for you guys. I reloaded some 75gr v max's to start trying to find a load. Powder selection was pretty weak at my local store so I ended up with some Reloader 15. The only powder I could find to match my bullet in the hornady reloading manual. I will hopefully be able to get it out to my 100 yard range tomorrow to see what I can do.
This is how she sits right now. My buddy had an extra cheek riser sitting around that I felt much my comfortable shouldering with with high scope so that will probably stay. If I can find a load that works I'll be shooting for 300 yard groups next week.
This is how she sits right now. My buddy had an extra cheek riser sitting around that I felt much my comfortable shouldering with with high scope so that will probably stay. If I can find a load that works I'll be shooting for 300 yard groups next week.
I'd go to a savage forum and read up. I'd probably start by modifying the trigger, if you have one of the older axises without the accutrigger. Both my savages have the accutrigger, but some claim there is an easy mod for the non adjustable triggers that will help.
I am not against custom barrels, but I suspect that barrel will do better then you can for now. I went with a heavy barrel on my .243 just because I didn't want to wait to cool it down between shots.
I am not against custom barrels, but I suspect that barrel will do better then you can for now. I went with a heavy barrel on my .243 just because I didn't want to wait to cool it down between shots.
I forgot to add I did the DIY trigger job for my non accu trigger. I can't complain. No creep and brakes clean at around 2.5-3lbs
Got out on the 100 yard range this morning to test a few of my reloads. Got this one awesome group, I'll have to confirm after I load a few more up. I was only three shots, from a bench with bipod front and bag in the back.
All the other groups were around .75-1.25" with my reloads. Rifle defiantly prefers no crimp. I shot some factory American whitetail 117gr and got about 1.5" so it looks like my first reloads are improving somewhat.
All the other groups were around .75-1.25" with my reloads. Rifle defiantly prefers no crimp. I shot some factory American whitetail 117gr and got about 1.5" so it looks like my first reloads are improving somewhat.
Well the five shot groups did not go as well as I hoped, I buzzed right around .75" with the two groups. I noticed my barrel getting pretty hot by the 3rd or 4th shot in the groups. I'm happy with the results this far as this will be my 1-400 yard groundhog gun. If I can get out to my buddy's house this week or next I'll try for some 300 yard groups.
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