New pea shooter

[JDGray]

New pea shooter /with range report

Got me a new used, Rem 700 SPS Varmint, in .223

Previous owner equipped it nicely with a B&C Medalist Varmint Stock, and I put my Weaver T24 on it today. Worked up some loads for it, and I'll see how she shoots, tomarrow! Previous owner says it likes 40gr V-Maxes, and shot 50grainers well too..The trigger was worked on by a Gunsmith, and it has 0 creep, 0 over travel, and a very nice 2# break

 

[SASS#23149]

I think ur in for some FUN tomorrow !!
Let us know how she shoots !

 

[7mmsavage]

That is a good looking rifle, bet it will be a real shooter too. I hope you have a good varmint poulation somewhere close by.

 

[JDGray]

I hope you have a good varmint poulation somewhere close by.

A good friend of mine has a Coyote problem, seem to be eating all the rabbits! May have to pay him a visit

 

[BADUNAME37]

Excellent looking!

Very nice-looking setup!
That scope looks real nice!
I hope it shoots as well as it looks!

Congratulations!

 

[Walkalong]

Nice clean looking setup JD. Range report due now of course.

 

[JDGray]

Range Report @ 100yrds

Was kinda windy, high 30s, but it shot very well. I worked up a load with 50gr Vmaxs, and H335. It didn't like the starting load of 24.5gr, and groups got smaller towards max of 26.0grs. The rifle really liked the 52gr Sierra Match Kings, posting a .265" 3 shot group. The load was only 25.5gr H335, and a load my AR15 liked, so I only had the one charge weight. Out of 9, three shot groups, the best being .265", the worst was .991", and the average group size was .527"

I have a base to play with, now, and will try some 5 shot groups of the loads it liked best, and go from there. I have some IMR4895, IMR4198, & Varget to experiment with, also.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

That's some good shootin'!!

 

[JDGray]

Thanks for the compliments, Guys Can't wait for a calm day, to get back at it!

 

[Olympus]

I'd like to know specifically what you think of the new Weaver scopes? My dad has a lot of the OLD Weaver scopes, the ones that were actually blued! He loves them but doesn't think much of their new scopes. I've been interested in them because they offer a target dot reticle and most manufacturers now don't. What are your honest opinions of the newer Weaver scopes?

 

[JDGray]

Olympus,
Just got back in town and seen your question. The T24 I'm using, holds zero, and returns to zero with multiple elevation adjustments. I love the target dot, but you must be very precise in your technique(cheek weld), to see through it. No forgiveness in that department. I see alot of benchrest shooters use the "T" series scopes, and its a value at only $350 shipped with tax. The matte finish is really a bit glossy, and should be listed as satin, seen it listed both ways and it is not matte.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

Nice. You might as well load up and bring it here. I'm sure it wouldnt mind p-doggin with a Savage or two.

 

[rattletrap1970]

I will be interested to hear how all of your testing goes. I have a Savage 12BTCSS (1 in 9 twist) but the load data should get me in the ball park. I took mine out with some old loads I had done for my AR back in 1993 (yes, that how long it's been since I had a .223).
The loads I had were mixed (but weight matched) cases, trimmed to 1.740. Chamfered in and out, flash holes chamfered, pockets trued, and seated to just function in the magazine. I used a Sierra MatchKing 69gr HPBT with 24.0 gr of IMR4895.
I'm sure I'm rusty and couldn't do the loads justice, but I think they did well. The groups were consistently about an inch (I'll measure when I get a chance). I think from this point on I'm going to shoot 200yards to establish groups as well as chrono everything from here on out.
Can't wait to get the next ammo to the range. The new stuff is matching case, weight matched, all the prep like the last ones, neck turned, bullet seated to .009 before the rifling, same bullet, same powder (although I may bump the charge up to 25.0 gr as I've heard the bolt guns like to be pushed faster, all assembled with Redding Competition dies.
I will post the results when I have them.

 

[JDGray]

My RRA uses a 8" twist, and prefers 60gr Sierra Varminters, over a 24gr dose of H335. I didn't try that in the Remington with a slower 12" twist, afraid of not stabilizing the heavier bullet. Ya never know till you try, though. May get out this weekend, weather permitting, and Wife permitting We just returned from a 2 week stay at the Cleveland Clinic, and if Shes feeling better, I'll have another report.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

Take care of that wife first. You can shoot anytime.

 

[JDGray]

Take care of that wife first. You can shoot anytime.

This is my thoughts, exactly