Savage Model 11, 6.5CM for long-ish range fun - Input?

[Lenny62]

Hello friends!

Looking for some constructive input if I may...

Just acquired a Savage Model 11 in 6.5 Creed, 24" barrel, (26" if you include the factory muzzle brake) as new-old stock. accu-trigger and adjustable cheek riser. Plan on using it for semi-casual longish-range fun (Local ranges go out to about 500 yards, which be the furthest I've shot so far..)
Most all reviews I've seen are positive.

Your thoughts on...

- ?Scope? Rifle has no scope yet, my budget for an optic will be about $500-600.
- ?Muzzle brake? The factory muzzle brake - switchable - "on" or "off" - (I'm partial to Ultradyne brakes myself...) What size threads does Savage use? I've heard they're oddball, I haven't taken this brake off yet.
- ?Ammo? 'm planning on shooting 140gr HPBT Nosler, and/or Hornady ELD-M - have a bunch of new Starline large primer brass - and a little Staball 6.5. 4350 is another powder that seems quite popular...

Many thanks!

 

[LoonWulf]

Good rifle, if youve got the on/off brake then last i checked they were non-standard threads. That was a while ago tho, dont know if they stuck with the same threads thru the whole run.

Scope wise....Id suggest picking the features you want and seeing what scopes have them in your price range, then ask about specific models. In MY opinion 5-600 bucks will get you a pretty good scope from every major manufacturer, some specific feature will set them apart and change the recommendations.

We shoot pretty much whatever bullets I find cheap, recently been using Barnes Match burners or Nosler RDFs, and for our non-critical (slapping 4" plates out to 400, and a 10" gong, or silhouette target out to 1K+/-) shooting, those have worked very well. I do get better results in terms of consistent group sizes with certain bullets, but they all generally shoot within moa or better with the same loads in our rifles.

 

[Lenny62]

Good rifle, if youve got the on/off brake then last i checked they were non-standard threads. That was a while ago tho, dont know if they stuck with the same threads thru the whole run.

Scope wise....Id suggest picking the features you want and seeing what scopes have them in your price range, then ask about specific models. In MY opinion 5-600 bucks will get you a pretty good scope from every major manufacturer, some specific feature will set them apart and change the recommendations.

We shoot pretty much whatever bullets I find cheap, recently been using Barnes Match burners or Nosler RDFs, and for our non-critical (slapping 4" plates out to 400, and a 10" gong, or silhouette target out to 1K+/-) those have worked very well. I do get better results in terms of consistent group sizes with certain bullets, but they all generally shoot within moa or better with the same loads in our rifles.

The muzzle brake isn't a big concern, no worries there -
Scope-wise, I'd be looking for at least 24-25 power, FFP, MOA reticle, and side parallax adjustment. Illuminated would be nice to have but not a gotta-have.
I'm generally a Vortex guy, I have rifles so equipped, and may go ahead and stick with that brand - However, Arkin scopes look interesting...

 

[jmr40]

I haven't tried a 140ish gr bullet that didn't shoot well. I like 139 gr Lapua Scenars best, but I've also used Hornady 143 gr ELD-X bullets. A guy who also shoots at the range I use talked me into trying the Barnes 140 gr Match Burners. They were relatively inexpensive compared to the others but shot just as well.

 

[12Bravo20]

I do love my left handed Savage rifles with their heavy varmint barrels. All of mine are very accurate. I have a Model 12 FVL in 308 along with two MkII's - GVL in 17m2 and BTVLSS in 22LR. Your Model 11 will suit just fine for your use.

I can answer some questions about Arken scopes. I own the Arken SH4 6-24 MIL Reticle scope. Yes Arken scopes are good for the price point. But no they will not compete with a higher end scope. On my SH4, the edge of the reticle does start to get dark and I loose a little clarity at 16x and above. But it is nothing that stops me from using it. The SH4 is the least expensive of the Arken scopes. I don't have any experience with their EPL5 so I can't comment on them. I will warn you that the SH4 is definitely a big heavy scope and the turrets are huge compared to other scopes. But the turrets track well and have positive clicks. For me, the illumination is not very bright. This is especially true in bright sunlight.

I can't tell you which one to pick between Vortex and Arken, that is something you will have to decide yourself.

I won't be any help on ammo choices since I do not own a 6.5CM yet.

 

[LoonWulf]

I do love my left handed Savage rifles with their heavy varmint barrels. All of mine are very accurate. I have a Model 12 FVL in 308 along with two MkII's - GVL in 17m2 and BTVLSS in 22LR. Your Model 11 will suit just fine for your use.

I can answer some questions about Arken scopes. I own the Arken SH4 6-24 MIL Reticle scope. Yes Arken scopes are good for the price point. But no they will not compete with a higher end scope. On my SH4, the edge of the reticle does start to get dark and I loose a little clarity at 16x and above. But it is nothing that stops me from using it. The SH4 is the least expensive of the Arken scopes. I don't have any experience with their EPL5 so I can't comment on them. I will warn you that the SH4 is definitely a big heavy scope and the turrets are huge compared to other scopes. But the turret track well and have positive clicks. For me, the illumination is not very bright. This is especially true in bright sunlight.

I can't tell you which one to pick between Vortex and Arken, that is something you will have to decide yourself.

I won't be any help on ammo choices since I do not own a 6.5CM yet.

My comments would be the same for the Arken, and I have the same model scope.
Havent had an issue resolving and hitting targets with it, but not as nice optically as some of my other options.

 

[12Bravo20]

I won't lie, the ARKEN SH4 is a pretty good scope for the money.

I just looked and Arken has raised the price a bit on the SH4 6-24 scopes. In December they were $299.99 and they are now $339.99. That still isn't a bad price for what you get.

And you can get rings and other goodies for an very good price when you use the ARKEN discount code that supports the Navy Seal Foundation. You can get everything needed plus some extras for $382

 

[Lenny62]

The Arken goodie/essentials package is pretty tempting...

 

[mountain_man]

If you don't mind fixed power, look at swfa

 

[Varminterror]

The Arken goodie/essentials package is pretty tempting...

Which is the reason they include it.

 

[Lenny62]

Which is the reason they include it.

The rings and lens caps at least -

 

[Lenny62]

Vortex - Venom - 5-25x56 and FFP - Ordering today...

 

[Charlie98]

I haven't tried a 140ish gr bullet that didn't shoot well.

+1 I've loaded the 142grn SMK's, and the Hornady 140grn ELD-M's. Last range session, the Hornady's edged slightly the SMK, which surprised me.

 

[12Bravo20]

I did a side by side comparison of the Arken SH4 6-24 and the Swampfox Optics Patriot 6-24 scopes in the following thread: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/swampfox-vs-arken.911404/

There are definitely better scopes available. But for one on a tight budget then the Arken SH4 and Swampfox Patriot will suit their needs. And neither scope comes close to my older Bushnell Elite 4500 6-24 scope which had a MSRP of around $500 when they were still being made.

@Lenny62 if you are familiar with the Vortex scopes and you like them, then stick with a Vortex scope.

 

[mavracer]

Vortex - Venom - 5-25x56 and FFP - Ordering today...

Should be a very workable solution.

 

[Varminterror]

- ?Scope? Rifle has no scope yet, my budget for an optic will be about $500-600.

At that price point, the Vortex Venom would get my money - IF - I were planning on variable distance shooting, and worrying more about impacts than raw group size. If I were shooting for small groups, an open, simple reticle, in a second focal plane optic, preferably with 1/8moa turrets and exceptional glass - but I don’t do that kind of shooting, so I’m not sure who makes a scope in that price class. For what I do, a First Focal Plane scope with a graduated, Christmas tree reticle is favorable, and the Vortex Venom checks a lot of boxes, and the class isn’t bad for the price class.

- ?Muzzle brake? The factory muzzle brake - switchable - "on" or "off" - (I'm partial to Ultradyne brakes myself...) What size threads does Savage use? I've heard they're oddball, I haven't taken this brake off yet.

The Savages with the on/off brakes have 9/16”-28tpi threads. Uncommon, but not unavailable.

You also have the option of having a gunsmith cut, recrown, and re-thread with 5/8”-24.

I’m a big fan of American Precision Arms Fat Bastard Gen 2 or 3 brakes for 6.5 Creed, or Area419 Hellfire and Hellfire Match.

- ?Ammo? 'm planning on shooting 140gr HPBT Nosler, and/or Hornady ELD-M - have a bunch of new Starline large primer brass - and a little Staball 6.5. 4350 is another powder that seems quite popular...

H4350 is the absolute easy button for the Creedmoor case. StaBall 6.5 is serviceable, but doesn’t seem to be quite as user-friendly, and also not as temperature stable.

 

[KansasTrapper77]

I didn’t look too closely so I don’t know if it has the features you were looking for but Midway was running a promotion with Zeiss Scopes, some of them were under $1000.

 

[C-grunt]

In my experience H4350 and 140 grain bullets have been stupid easy to load for. 41.5 grains of powder and loaded to a OAL of 2.8 inches with 140 ELD-M and 140 SMK.

Im not a super involved handloader. Definitely on the amatuer side of it. But both of those loads shoot fantastic.

Screenshot_20210329-141840_Range Buddy by chase, on Flickr

2020-01-13_03-25-21 by chase, on Flickr

Here is when I was testing loads. Same as above but with 42 grains. Ended up settling on 41.5 though.

2020-01-13_03-24-38 by chase, on Flickr

 

[Lenny62]

In my experience H4350 and 140 grain bullets have been stupid easy to load for. 41.5 grains of powder and loaded to a OAL of 2.8 inches with 140 ELD-M and 140 SMK.

Im not a super involved handloader. Definitely on the amatuer side of it. But both of those loads shoot fantastic.

View attachment 1133150Screenshot_20210329-141840_Range Buddy by chase, on Flickr

View attachment 11331512020-01-13_03-25-21 by chase, on Flickr

Here is when I was testing loads. Same as above but with 42 grains. Ended up settling on 41.5 though.

View attachment 11331522020-01-13_03-24-38 by chase, on Flickr

Nice printings !
I'm not super-involved with handloading either - regular full-length dies, but I do use a micrometer seating die and careful trimming.

 

[Lenny62]

At that price point, the Vortex Venom would get my money - IF - I were planning on variable distance shooting, and worrying more about impacts than raw group size. If I were shooting for small groups, an open, simple reticle, in a second focal plane optic, preferably with 1/8moa turrets and exceptional glass - but I don’t do that kind of shooting, so I’m not sure who makes a scope in that price class. For what I do, a First Focal Plane scope with a graduated, Christmas tree reticle is favorable, and the Vortex Venom checks a lot of boxes, and the class isn’t bad for the price class.



The Savages with the on/off brakes have 9/16”-28tpi threads. Uncommon, but not unavailable.

You also have the option of having a gunsmith cut, recrown, and re-thread with 5/8”-24.

I’m a big fan of American Precision Arms Fat Bastard Gen 2 or 3 brakes for 6.5 Creed, or Area419 Hellfire and Hellfire Match.



H4350 is the absolute easy button for the Creedmoor case. StaBall 6.5 is serviceable, but doesn’t seem to be quite as user-friendly, and also not as temperature stable.

I've found 9/16-28 x 5/8-24 adapters easy enough onine...

And feedback on scopes has got me thinking plenty, too!

 

[Varminterror]

I’m not an adapter guy for muzzle brakes. I’d much, much rather contact the brake manufacturer and pay that cost as the difference to have uncommon threading done than to use an adapter.

 

[12Bravo20]

I have to agree about using any type of thread adaptors to go from one size to another. That is just one more part that can go wrong. If the outside threads on an adaptor are not concentric with the inside threads, then any muzzle device will be off center and/or at an angle.

 

[Switup]

I've got one in '06 that I bought from Walmart on sale a few years ago. I picked it up for a beater and it's been a great gun. I've loaned it to my nephew and he took his first deer with it. I put a $60 take off youth stock on it and my wife shot her first deer with it. It shoots sub moa off the bench and I don't think I could have got a better gun that I can easily loan out without worrying about it.

 

[Walkalong]

That will be a nice setup and be a lot of fun to shoot at 500 yards, a lot of fun.

As posted. H-4350 and ELDs are the easy button, it's what I went with for my older brothers rifle.

 

[Charlie98]

And feedback on scopes has got me thinking plenty, too!

When I needed glass for my Savage... something better than the 30 year old Banner I had on it to start... I went looking for something used. Not having any idea about glass, besides knowing you get what you pay for, I didn't want to plow a bunch of money into a scope, and find out it wasn't what I needed (with the understanding that I really didn't have a clue what I needed.) Over on the Savage forum, I found a used Burris Veracity 4-20x50 for about $500, current retail on it is $860. He said it was lightly used... I couldn't even find ring marks on it. So... aside from buying new, there is always used.