Risk & Reward Centerfire Match:

[KSCCHTrainer]

Got a nice surprise this afternoon. Got a call from my favorite gun shop/indoor shooting range. The brand new Savage 10FLCP-K lefty .308 I ordered had arrived a day earlier than it was supposed to. The Nikon 6-18 X 40 glass I had on order from Midway also arrived. The contractors showed up a week early to install my new furnace/air conditioner, Menards showed up just after noon to deliver my wife's new kitchen appliances. She was with me when I picked up the .308 and I doggone near lost it to her. She thinks it's pretty. (Did I mention, she's actually a better rifle shot than I am?)

BTW, the Kitchen stuff wasn't a bribe as it was ordered over a week before I decided to get the new rifle - We will be sharing range time with this thing, and if it ever comes down to the "zombie shuffle", she'll either be on the .308 or the .223 tactical I also have coming. The .223 is an older Model 10 FLP with a 20" heavy barrel and no accutrigger.

The new .308 is mounted in one of Savage's new Accustocks and it certainly passes the dollar bill test with flying colors - fluted 24" threaded barrel with a really efficient muzzle brake on it. The brake can be easily removed and a suppressor installed if ever necessary. It don't get much better than that.

Gun shop gave me a real decent price on it (MSRP is $919 and I got it for $825 after tax) and they threw in a real nice (but cheap) hard case and a super sling-2. I have a good 6-9" bipod that I'll tack on as soon as the break-in ammo gets here Friday. Probably won't get to shoot it enough to get it settled down after the break-in until sometime next week, but just in case I'm gonna take a handful of the triangle targets along and if I get any decent groups will try a couple on the match targets for giggles.

Just goes to show you, "ya cain't never have too much fun!"

Jim

 

[leadaddict]

sweeeeeet!!!

 

[Caddisflied]

That's going to be a real pleasure to shoot with that brake on there!

 

[Maverick223]

Ya beat us with a MN (albeit a very nice one), now you have a Savage...I see defeat in my future!

Make sure and double up on ear-pro, as that booger is gonna be loud.

 

[NoobCannon]

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp95/Cowboy302/Enfieldtarget.jpg

Here's my first attempt. I'll try and make some improvements if I can get a few more targets printed out. Frankly though, I'm satisfied. shot from my 1943 BSA Enfield No.4 Mk. 1. Using Remington 180gr. Softpoints, and an old piece of driftwood as a shooter's stick. I'm almost certain my accuracy would be so much better with a more stable rest, but as it sits, all 5 are on paper, and that's good enough for me. 95 degrees was the temperature, but the creekbed was nice and shady. I'm sure if I wasn't sinking slightly into the mud I could do better as well. Using a 68 year old rifle, iron sights, with a stick as a support though, not too shabby.

35/100
Unmodified Sporter class.

 

[Maverick223]

Now I do believe that's a first, target shooting in a creekbed. That said, it isn't a horrible idea when it's 95&#176 outside. Kinda wish I had a creek running through my range now, sure would be nice to be able to dip a toe in on a scorching hot day.

 

[NoobCannon]

yeah, I tried uploading it through the forum here, but it took too long for my tastes, and photobucket worked a bit faster. The creekbed isn't what it sounds like. The drought down here has it completely dry. Sucks for the wildlife, but on the plus side, it gives me 300-400 yards of flat, empty land, with steep embankments on each side, as well as an embankment downstream where it turns. It'll catch my bullets anywhere I shoot, except for up.

 

[Maverick223]

I see, sounds like a great place to shoot, despite the drought. I hope you folks get some precipitation, I hear you could really use it.

BTW, you can just add image codes like this:

[IMG][COLOR="DarkRed"]insert link[/COLOR][IMG]

...it does the same thing as the "picture icon" in the reply box. PhotoBucket also gives you the option to add the image code syntax when you copy the link (last option IIRC).

 

[KSCCHTrainer]

Managed to put 20 rounds of Remington 150 gr FMJBT (Wally world cheap stuff) through the Savage 10FLCP-K this morning to get the scope proofed and close to center @ 100 yards. It actually does 3 shot groups under an inch even without being fully broken in and after 20 rounds of FMJ, it's starting to settle down. Definitely has less felt recoil than any other .308 I've had in the past.

Here's the target for the final 9 rounds I shot with it - indoors, 100 yards.

Rifle: Savage model 10FLCP-K, .308 Winchester
Scope: Nikon Buckmasters 3-18 X 40 Mil Dot 1/8 MOA clicks
Ammo: Remington 150 grain FMJ BT
Rest: Caldwell swivelling bipod, 6-9", rear sand-sock squeeze bag

3 round high group was the initial, fairly rapid fire group to insure it was on paper at 100 yards. It wound up being just about 2" high as I expected from being center bull at 25 yards so I dialed in 16 clicks down elevation and fired two 3 round groups which were just about 1/2" still high. I left it alone for the time being as the normal ammo I'll be using is Federal 168 grain FMJBT Match.

Looks like this thing is going to be competitive once I find the exact ammo or load it likes best.

Jim

 

[Maverick223]

Not bad at all, and with cheap ammo to boot. I expect groups will tighten up to about half that size (perhaps better) with good match or handloads.

 

[KSCCHTrainer]

Funny thing, Jeff, Savage's website, when you access it from the front end doesn't really have anything you can find on barrel break-in. When you do, the pretty much parrot what all the target shooters say - shoot 1, clean, repeat 3 times. Shoot 3, clean, repeat 5 times, shoot 5 clean, repeat 5 times, but they sort of hint that you don't really need to do it with their barrels, just shoot a few jacketed bullets to take down any minor left-over tool marks. I didn't see any of these with a good borescope exam at the dealer's so decided on the 40 round, no-clean method I've always used.

Yesterday, I shot 20 rounds total and didn't clean it until I got home. Next trip will be 20 more rounds of the cheap Remmy ammo to finish off the 40 round box I got from Wally World and then I'll shoot a few groups with the 168 grain match ammo. Thought I'd ordered Federal, but I actually ordered the Prvi Partizan that AIM Surplus has advertised for a VERY reasonable price. I've used a lot of Prvi brass to reload with and it turns out that they make a lot of the brass for Winchester and other American ammo manufacturers. I had really good luck using their 7.62X54R and 8mm Mauser brass. It didn't break the bank either.

My 300 round shipment of match ammo from AIM arrived late yesterday and it looks really good. The bullets are hollow point boat tail and look just about like the Sierra Match Kings. I have used 174 grain Prvi match bullets when loading for the MN 9130 and they performed as well as the far more expensive Sierra & Hornady match bullets, so I have nothing bad to say about the Serbian ammo, brass and bullet manufacturers at all.

Jim

 

[Orlando]

I tried Privi .223 Match ammo and wasnt impressed. In a five rd group a few rds would group well and then have bad flyers.
Hopefully the 308 will work out for you

 

[Maverick223]

Orlando, that mimics my results, but I, too, was using .223Rem. The consistency was terrible, and my rifle isn't super picky on ammo. Don't know about their .308Win.

 

[Caddisflied]

I've started to order Privi Partizan ammo several times then found something else I wanted instead

Same here. The price is right on that stuff.
Hopefully it will shoot well, but if not, at least you've got some brass to work with.
Nice 6-shot group KSC!

Here's a target I shot with my 6.5 swedish mauser.
I knew I'd screwed up the 5th shot,
might have had a decent group if not for that.
(Since this shoots 8-9" high at 100, I placed a big dot at the appropriate POA,
to get the shots to land on the target, Is that ok Mav?)

Non-magnified Target div.
1920 Carl Gustav 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser, 96(B)
Iron sights, 100 yards
Bench with sandbags
Rem. 140 Gr. Core-Lokt, soft pt
Score 64?

 

[KSCCHTrainer]

It seemed like every time I was ready to pull the trigger a concussion wave would push me over enough to make me miss by a couple of inches.

Hey Jeff,
Now you know why I bought that Savage 10FLCP-K. It's got a muzzle brake on it and I can produce bigger concussion waves than the guy next to me with the AR (who showers cases on me) and force HIM to move -

Now all I gotta do is get enough rounds through it so that It will settle down and become the long range coyote thumper I know it will surely turn out to be.

The used Savage 10FLP with the 20" heavy barrel in .223 I bought off a guy over on Predator Masters ought to hit my FFL holder's place about the middle of the week. It's going to get the 8.5-25 X 50 Sightmark that I had on my 8mm Mauser and it's already broke in so we'll see what it does. Got invited to a buddy's place out in Western Kansas in a couple weeks for a serious coyote hunt. Was going to pass on it, but he says no slogging through the sagebrush, we gonna use ATV's and weatherproof blinds. He's got the calling equipment so it's gonna be fool the "songdogs" & pop 'em.

However, hunting "yotes" is just like combat - no battle plan ever survives first contact with the enemy -

 

[Maverick223]

Since this shoots 8-9" high at 100, I placed a big dot at the appropriate POA,
to get the shots to land on the target, Is that ok Mav?

Sure thing, Caddisflied.

 

[jperkins]

Risk & Reward

Finally got out to shoot at the targets. The first one I stayed conservative, then I moved up POA for the second one, would have been a good one except for the one that slipped. But that's the risk right.

Unlimited/Magnified
Rem 700 .223
50 gr V-Max over RL7
Prone with bipod front and squeeze bag rear
Nikko-sterling 4-16x44 Nighteater scope

Looks like a 78 for the first one and a 70 for the second.

 

[Maverick223]

Welcome to the match, jperkins! Great shooting.

 

[dc.fireman]

Going out tomorrow, rain or not. You ladies just might be in trouble...

 

[Tim the student]

Going out tomorrow, rain or not. You ladies just might be in trouble...

And I'll be going out Friday or Saturday, so you guys may not be in trouble!

Nice shooting jperkins.

 

[KSCCHTrainer]

Took the new (to me) Savage 10FLP in .223 with the 24" heavy barrel to the range this morning to sight it in. Took some match targets along just in case it performed well. It DID!

Shot 4 targets and here are the two best ones. Unlimited Target, Magnified category

Rifle - Savage 10FLP .223, 24" heavy barrel (Pix taken before putting bipod on it)
Scope - Sightmark (8.5-25 X 50 set to 12 power) side focus.
Distance 100 yards indoors, no wind.
Rest - bipod with rear sandbag
Ammo - Prvi Partisan 5.56 NATO surplus, 55 grain FMJ
Point of aim - crosshair on "20" line, centered on the point of the triangle.
Both targets lost 1 due to cutting the red. Score 77 (3 19's and 1 20, 1 20 lost).

 

[Caddisflied]

That's one fine set-up there KSC!
You don't see groups like that everyday.
Well done!

 

[KSCCHTrainer]

Very nice Jim. Very nice. I knew you would like that Savage! Dang you're putting the pressure on us now. Hopefully I will get one more chance to shoot this month. Maybe I won't have cannons going off in both ears this time.

Yeah Jeff,
By the way, the ammo was PPU 5.56 NATO surplus I bought from AIM Surplus. I grabbed 1000 rounds of it before I remembered that you ain't supposed to shoot NATO surplus 5.56 in a .223 Remington with a SAAMI standard chamber because of the slightly different shoulder angle between the two. I got lucky because the guy I bought the rifle from had had it rechambered with a Wylde chambering reamer and it is okay for either the SAAMI .223 Remington or the 5.56 NATO stuff. Certainly seems to like the 55 grain 5.56 PPU stuff as evidenced by the two targets. It's also thumped quite a few coyotes for it's previous owner, so I'd say it's pretty well broke in.

As for liking Savages, I got rid of my old WW2 Mosin and Mauser rifles and the only ones I own now are Savage. I have 3 rimfires and two centerfires. The rimfires are a Mark II in .17Mach2 (pre-accutrigger/wood stock), a 93R17 in .17HMR (accutrigger/wood stock) and a Mark IIG (accutrigger/wood stock/open sights) in .22LR. The Centerfires are the used, pre-accutrigger/synthetic stock 10FLP in .223 and the brand new accutrigger/accustock 10FLCP-K in .308. All are left hand actions as I'm a lefty and now that I'm used to not having to reach over the top to work the bolt, they feel really nice. Bipods on all but the .22 plinker. I have BSA Sweet series glass on the rimfires and they are all tack drivers like the .223. The .308 ain't even broke in yet and it's starting to come round as well. Gotta love them "Cheep" rifles from Savage.

Jim

 

[Orlando]

Nice shooting, I never had any luck with the Privi.
Dont know if I'll make this months shoot or not. They are reworking the benchs at the range

 

[Brian Williams]

My Savage came from the factory with the ability to shoot either round (5.56 or .223) according to the Savage rep I talked to. A lot of rifles are coming out that way now. I gave Savage my serial number just to make sure and the rep said it was definitely not a problem. All gun makers should do that IMO because a lot of people don't know you can't shoot a 5.56 in a rifle chambered only for .223.

Then it should have been marked either as a 223 Wylde or 5.56, I would not shoot anything but 223 in that rifle, to each his own, I like my big nose.