Range report for my new Savage 10FCP 308

[GJgo]

Took my new Savage 10 FCP w/ the HS Precision stock down to the range today to break in the barrel and try it out. I've glass bedded the action & recoil lug already. I mounted a 20 MOA Warne rail & a SWFA SS 16x scope.

Took me a long time to get the darn thing on paper! I was using some (really) old soft point Federal loads to do the shoot / clean break-in procedure, and let me tell you they were shooting about 8 MOA at 100 yds! No joke! That had me worried...

Eventually I got it to where I could at least see the hits on paper (hours of shoot / clean later) and I got out the box of Federal GMM 175gr SMK that I bought to see if this tube's a shooter. The short answer is yes. I can't wait to work up some handloads! I had the idea to screw a 260 barrel onto it, and I may still, but I think I'll explore some loads with this first with groups like that out of the box..

Anyway, here's a picture of the target. I laid down a pair of ~0.5" 3 shot groups at 100yds, and a ~0.9" 4 shot group at 200yds. (I ran out of bullets!)

This was my first experience with the Super Sniper scope, I bought it based only on reviews I read and claims of epic repeatability & ruggedness. The pro is that this is the first scope I've owned where the parallax numbers are actually spot on for focus at the indicated yardage. The con is that the image isn't as sharp at 200 yds as my Nightforce, but hey- the NF cost $1000 more! (And with groups like that for a factory rifle & ammo, who cares!)

 

[jpwilly]

Cool...good shooting. This may surprise you but the 150gr soft point federal rounds and my Savage 10 are shooting right at 1moa I even had three shots touching on one group...granted that was only one group but for cheap ammo I was impressed.

 

[C-grunt]

Good shooting. Those Savage rifles are good guns.

 

[jl1966]

Nice shooting, I have a 10fp in .308 on order, hope to pick it up today.

 

[GJgo]

Made it to the range yesterday with my first loads for the rifle, 200gr Matchkings in front of Reloder 17. Unfortunately I didn't have my Chronograph with me so I'll have to bring it next time. Looking good so far. The powder is pretty compressed at the upper end, but still no pressure signs.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Hurrah for Savage!!

GJgo--Some of those Savage rifles are just spookily accurate. Nice loading--Good shooting, on your part!

Now that you got it--and you know that it shoots--what are you gonna do with it??

 

[GJgo]

The plan for this one is to set it up for 600-1000 yd shooting. Paper punching mostly, maybe some coyote calling. I have a PPC for short range paper punching so I wanted something that would compliment it without breaking the bank.

I checked my fired cases at 3 points with the calipers, and they're identical throughout the load range. I'm going to go up anothe grain in some smaller increments and see where this accuracy node around 47 falls off. Then I'll set it inthe middle & work on seating depth. Sounds like a good plan, anyway.

 

[chaser_2332]

Good shooting and nice rifle

 

[mshootnit]

my savage 110fp 25-06 would shoot that good as well, hard to beat a heavy savage for bench shooting. I don't do the barrel break in but my groups would fit inside a nickel.

 

[jpwilly]

For long range work I'd think you will want your groups to be spread horizontal not vertical - I hope you find the sweet spot.

Also you're loading 200gr SMK's what is the load info you're working from for RL17? I cannot find any and what I have found is loaded with fewer grains than your testing.

 

[Boba Fett]

Very nice GJgo!

Try some Federal Gold Match 168gr rounds. I've used them in my 10FCP and they should give you some good sub-0.5 MOA groupings.

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/product_info.php/cPath/24_100_286/products_id/1176


Keep us posted on your loads and results!

 

[Snakum]

I'm waiting on the call to pick up my FCP-K any minute now. It'll be my first Savage and I have high hopes for it.

 

[Lone Ranger]

I picked up a 10 FCP-K last week and trying to decide what scope to put on it. After that off to the range. Glad to hear good reports on the 10 FCP.
Also looking into an extended magazine.

 

[GJgo]

This was the very first loading, I wasn't even using match primers yet since I was fire forming (Win) brass. Still have a lot of work to do! Not to mention working on the tool behind the trigger.

My load data is working more around consensus & personal experience. The load programs I don't think have wrapped their curves around how RL17 works yet. All published data is real conservative. I'm measuring all my fired cases, watching for pressure signs, etc., and so far it's good to go in my rifle.

If I can't get the velocity I'll need for 1K shooting I'll try some 190 SMKs next. No plans on trying the 168 SMK since it's a short range projectile. I'm sure it's very accurate, though.

 

[TheHighRoadDude]

I can't wait until my 10FP comes in! I will have to eventually get one of those fancy stocks lol

Curious though, I paid 550 for mine. What do they run in other places in the country? I feel like a got a good deal for a brand new gun. But who knows maybe a got took.

 

[wormserco]

Glad to hear you're enjoying the rifle, I picked up a 10FP last year too. Great rifles!

 

[Snakum]

Just picked up my FCP-K. Wish my rings and base were here.

 

[Lone Ranger]

Please post what scope you decided on?

 

[Snakum]

Because I couldn't find a Vortex Viper PST mil/mil anywhere, and I can't quite afford a NightForce mil/mil yet, I went with a Bushnell ELite 3200 10x. I'll break the weapoin in with that and perhaps revisit a higher end scope next month. Almost bought an Elite 6500 a couple of times, though, and I may still come back to a higher end Bushnell Elite. A 4200 or 6500. The 10x fixed is fine for tactical comps but I'll need more magnification for F-T/R in Butner and I'll need more light from a 50mm objective for hunting this Fall.

 

[GJgo]

Went back to the range today with the chronograph, worked up to 48 grains. It was pretty compressed up there. 47 shot the same as last week, and 47.5 shot the same as that. At 48 grains however I dropped 4 shots into .250"!! That was as hot as I loaded. The chrony reported 2635 fps. No pressure signs on the brass, none on the bolt lift, and the calipers measure the cases to be the same as all the colder loads. Might try working on some seating depths around this charge & see if it backs up. This load so far is SAFE IN MY RIFLE. Start low and work up.

 

[Snakum]

I really need to start reloading. I have powder and primers and cases out the ying-yang.

I went ahead and picked up the new Bushnell 4200 mil/mil with FFP for my FCP-K. Moved the 3200 to the Marlin. Killer rifle so far. Shooting MOA or better to 350 yards from a bipod. I'm sure it will do much better with a solid bag on the rear and taking time to set up. I'm pretty impressed with my first Savage and glad I didn't go with the 700P.

 

[GJgo]

So I backed up good, repeatable 5 shot 1/2" loads today using the 200 SMK, 47.5gr RL17, around .010" off the lands for 2615 fps. I shot some better 5 shot groups above & below, but I also had some flier groups. at 47.5 it was much more consistent.

I also did some initial testing on a 190 SMK load with all other components the same. At 49gr I put down a 5 shot 1/2" group at 2725 fps, so I'll do some more testing around that node to dial it in.

Looking at these two loads out to 1000 yds it looks like they're very similar in all aspects other than drop, where the 190 wins by around 20". Overall I'm really happy with how this project is turning out.

 

[Snakum]

Wow ... that's a pretty stout load and heavy bullet for a .308. Mine seems to prefer 168gr SMKs or Amaxes and with the SMKs over 4895 I'm holding a minute from 400 to 600 yards and half a minute from 100 to 300. Still got a lot of work to do with both loading and long range basics.

 

[GJgo]

The 200gr load actually has some headroom, which I think is good because I've read RL17 isn't as temp insensitive as some others. In my rig the very first indications I'm getting of pressure of any kind come around 49.5gr / 2685 FPS. Just a faint bit of headstamp wipe & an eek more bolt lift. Groups are vertical stringing by that point though...

 

[hadmanysons]

GJgo,

You might try a program called OnTarget. Once you scan or take a picture of your target you can load it into the program and it will measure group size, MOA and i'll kinds of nifty stuff for you.

http://www.ontargetshooting.com/

P.S. I don't work for them or anything, I just noticed you were using a "analog" tools to measure groups when you had the ability to take "digital" photos