Shot a Savage 10FCP this morning. Is 1/2 MOA the new standard?

[Ranb]

I have a couple of Savages that I like. 308, 338 whisper and one that gets 243, 7mm-08 and a slim 308 barrel swapped around with. One thing I have noticed is that there is a big diffference between a 3-5 round group and one that is ten rounds or more. My ten round groups usually open up to at least 1 to 1.5 moa. The group will usually look like two small groups overlapping each other. This is something that the average plinker does not notice unless they shoot a ten round group to test for accuracy.

Here is something to try if you want to only shoot 3-5 round groups. See where each group positions itself against the bulls eye. If they are all in the same spot group after group all day, then you are very fortunate to have a nice rifle that actually "shoots <1 moa all day" like experienced bench rest shooters can expect with their high dollar custom rigs.

I like my Savage rifles, but they are realisticallly 1.5 moa guns except for the one I rebarreled with a 26" heavy palma barrel. It will shoot 1.5" ten round groups at 200 yards.

Ranb

 

[BP Hunter]

I used to have a Savage 10ML - the ONLY muzzleloader which accepted smokeless gunpowder. I took a good number of animals with it. It would group nicely 1" groups at 100 yards shooting a 250 grain bullet. My best kill with that rifle was a coyote at 176 yards. I know it was an overkill, but that that rifle was all I had then.

I just purchased a Marlin XL7 chambered at .270 Winchester for a measily $298 2 weeks ago. I have not fired it but I am hoping to see how well in groups as claimed by reviewers.

 

[blue_ridge]

It's the ammo as much as the rifle. The best 20# benchrest rifle won't shoot 1/2 MOA without ammo capable of even better. I would say you were probably somewhat lucky to get factory ammo to match up that well with your rifle. Usually, even if the ammo is well made, it won't necessarily have an ideal velocity, diameter, seating depth and bullet weight for any given rifle.

But yeah, sounds like Savage has found a way to mass produce a darn accurate platform at a reasonable price. You could tell, with new management, they have been hard at work towards that goal for the last 8-10 yrs or so.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

At 100 paces - which with my long chicken legs is about 110 yards

Not to nit-pick, but that's 100 steps. To count steps, you count every time either hits the ground. To count paces, you step off on the left foot and count every time the right foot hits the ground.

The word "mile" comes from the Latin "mille," meaning "thousand." A Roman mile was a thousand paces, or just over 5,000 feet.

 

[btaylor73]

Man, I couldn't be happier with my savage rifles (6 of them). I have a 10fcp and shoot 1/2 to 3/4 on a consistant basis after a lot of messing with handloads. I have to admit that that is without much wind. I also have the f/tr in .308 and shoot under 1/2 fairly consistanly. My first rifle that I bought for accuracy was a savage and I don't know much else. All I know is that they shoot great. I am going to try to post a 3 shot group from a couple of weeks ago that has to be the best group that I have ever shot. .068"! Of course NO WIND.

 

[Boba Fett]

Nice shooting!

 

[Snakum]

Not to nit-pick, but that's 100 steps. To count steps, you count every time either hits the ground. To count paces, you step off on the left foot and count every time the right foot hits the ground.

That's why I said "paces" ... I always start with my left feetuses.

From my days in Uncle Sam's Hunt Club I know that 110 of my paces is 100 meters. But I've shrunk an inch and I walk shorter now. I may need 115 paces for 100 meters. From recent shooting I've lased my 100 paces and read it a few yards over 100. I need to put up distance markers if I can find a place to shoot regularly.

Back to Savage ... I was looking for a Sendero in 25-06 which can still be found sometimes as NOS in shops, or a 700 tactical in .308. But shooting the Savage and reading up on the FP models I think that makes a whole lot more sense. Killer accuracy, excellent reliability, and for around $700 or so, depending on the model.

 

[RobMoore]

btaylor, you didn't mention the distance, though I assume 100yds.

 

[btaylor73]

yes sir

 

[Gunfighter123]

I've owned four Savage 10FPs --- 2 in .308 and 2 in .223 --- all older Pre-Accutrigger -- ALL of them would shoot 1 MOA with ease

 

[rangerruck]

while everyone nowadays makes a much better bbl, it is savage that keeps up with the equipment that cuts the bbls, better than most of your factory makers.
Also the new accustock- i was reading an article or 2 on this; and the savage engineers said, they could not only guaranty 1 moa on their rifles, they could proly get away with guaranteeing .5 moa, but lawyers would freak a bit.
They also tested regular made savage rifles, took them apart, and put them in the accustocks, and all of them improved in accuracy across the board; every one of the rifles improved, some as much as a 50% drop in group size.
that is impressive.

 

[solvability]

I have two Savages that are right there in accuracy - 223 and the .243 varmint gun they made for a while. I have feeding problems with both when single feeding - it is a nuisance.

I have an FN 308 PBR that is every bit that accurate and it feeds great. I think the new production guns are pretty darn right - amazing.

 

[Boba Fett]

...they could proly get away with guaranteeing .5 moa, but lawyers would freak a bit.

Oh but think of what a great marketing piece that would be!



And I would imagine the disclaimer would also be a work of art...something along the lines of no guarantee that you can get a 0.5 MOA, but if you want to bring your rifle to our testing center, we'll prove that it gets 0.5MOA or your money back or replacement gun."


Maybe they could get around the legal bit by including a target that they certify has been shot with that rifle and made a 5 shot, 100 yard, 0.5 MOA.

 

[dubbleA]

Maybe they could get around the legal bit by including a target that they certify has been shot with that rifle and made a 5 shot, 100 yard, 0.5 MOA.

A single 5 shot group at 100 yards doesnt make a 1/2moa rifle niether do a few cherry picked groups. To me to claim that a rifle is 1/2 moa it had better do that each and every time, day in and day out and under various conditions and yardages. Dont throw out fliers or cold bore shots count every round that exits the barrel.

Call me a skeptic, but there are very very few factory rifles that can shoot 1/2 moa every time out. I am with the guy that accepts his rifles are 1.5 moa and is happy with that.

I guess I have a sub 1/4 moa Rem spsv 308 NOT, it's just another 1.5 moa rifle in the stable.