Wannabe Sniper Rifle Finished! (Dial-Up warning)

[Falconeer]

First off, much thanks to everyone who's helped me with the project. Mucho thanks to Kimbernut who mounted the scope!! The rifle is all set for breaking in and zeroing (hopefully this weekend). Here are the specs:

Savage 10FP in .308 Winchester
SWFA Super Sniper 10X42M
Ken Farrell 20 MOA Base
Ken Farrell Standard Rings
Harris LMS Bipod

 

[Farnham]

Looks awful familiar. Needless to say, I like it!



Mine's a Savage 10FP, SWFA Super Sniper 10x42 MilDot, and Harris bipod. Only difference seems to be my Leupold mounts and rings, and my B&C Duramaxx.

Check out the new B&C Tactical stock for the 10FP, it looks like it might be a cool replacement for that factory stock. Then take a picture so I can see what my rifle will look like with it!

S/F

Farnham

 

[Farnham]

Here's what I got mine to do off the bipod (haven't tried sandbags) last weekend.

100 yards, 168gr SMK, 43.7gr W748, R-P brass, WLR primer. Gusting tailwind, overcast, 75 degrees. Maybe not the best it can do, but I finally got everything put together last week, and was pleasantly surprised.

Incidentally, the first shot (using 42gr of IMR4895 in another load I'm trying) was dead center 10 ring on another shoot'n'see. Almost went home and called it good right there!

Have fun with that rifle!

S/F (either Semper Fi or Savage Fanboy )

Farnham

 

[SilentStalker]

Ok this is def. a newb/stupid question but what do you use all of those dials for? How are they used? I am assuming it has something to do with distance, focus, and elevation at least. I am probably forgetting something but when you shoot that thing how do you dial all of that crap in? Yes, I know I need a basic gun course but they won't teach you this kind of stuff in schools, at least none I know if so I am curious as to how you learned. Thanks for the help.

 

[lawson]

stalker, here's a simplified explanation.

on a variable power scope, you have dials to adjust magnification (distance, like you said), windage and elevation (left-right and up-down) and a focus.

so when sighting in your rifle, you set up a target at the desired range, set your magnification power, focus, and adjust windage and elevation until the reticle is exactly where the bullet will impact.

shoot, adjust, shoot, adjust, etc.

 

[Farnham]

Windage and elevation, that's all the dials you get. The eyepiece on the SS also can be focused on a distance like 100 or 200 yards. It's a fixed 10 power scope, so no power adjustment, and it lacks the parallax adjustment of some of the high dollar scopes. I don't really understand parallax that well, but there is a post stickied at the top of this forum on long range optics that explains a lot of the more technical aspects of scopes.

The Super Sniper knobs can be loosened, and when you've got it zeroed (point of aim is the same as point of impact) for 100/200/500 yards (whatever you want) you loosen them up, and set them at zero elevation and zero windage. You then figure out the number of clicks up and down that are required to hit at shorter/longer ranges. You then figure out wind calls (degree of wind and speed of wind) for your particular ammo, like in a 5 mph wind 90 degrees from the left, requires 4 clicks left at 100 yards (that's just hypothetical, don't use it!).

Once you know your "dope" you can then estimate the range to a target using the mildots in the scope reticle, read the wind, set the windage and elevation knobs, and your first shot should be right on target.

That's a rambling response to a simple question, and as I'm an amateur, probably not the best response you could get around here. Hope it helps.

S/F

Farnham

 

[Falconeer]

Check out the new B&C Tactical stock for the 10FP, it looks like it might be a cool replacement for that factory stock. Then take a picture so I can see what my rifle will look like with it!

Thanks kindly! I can't see your pics at the moment (work firewall) but I'll check them out when I get home.

As for the stock, I'll take a look at it. Which one are you referring to? I'm looking at Bell and Carlson's web page but don't see a 'tactical' stock. Do you mean their Medalist or DuraMaxx stocks?

 

[Falconeer]

SilentStalker: The scope is a SWFA Super Sniper 10X42M. It's a fixed 10x power mildot scope. The 'mil-dot' refers to the recticle in the scope. There are dots placed at known distances along the vertical and horizontal wires. If you also know (or can estimate) the height of the target, a couple of calculations will give you range. At that point you refer to a range card you've set up for the combination of range and round (bullet, powder charge, environment) and that will tell you how many MOA (minutes of angle) you need to set the elevation to to hit the target. Windage is done the same way, only the range card refers to adjustment based on wind speed.

There's a very slick program called Shooter Ready that teaches this stuff on the computer as well as providing a 'shooting simulator'. It's lacking a bit in a couple of areas (especially the windage portion) but once you've figured it out how to do the calculations the simulation portion is helpful for practice.

On my scope if you look at the top down picture, the dial on the right is for windage adjustment, the top is elevation adjustment, and the left dial is for parallax adjustment (the non 'M' model has the parallax adjustment on the barrel of the scope I believe). Here is a web site which explains parallax.

They're certainly not newb/stupid questions. This is my first rifle, so I'm learning too.

 

[Farnham]

I think it's the Medalist. It's the one that looks like a McMillan A2. I'll see if I can find the review I read a couple days ago about it and post a link. In short, the guy that did the review compared it very favorably against the McMillan stock on one of his other rifles.

Here's the review of the B&C Medalist.

S/F

Farnham

 

[Falconeer]

I think it's the Medalist. It's the one that looks like a McMillan A2. I'll see if I can find the review I read a couple days ago about it and post a link. In short, the guy that did the review compared it very favorably against the McMillan stock on one of his other rifles.

Thanks for the link. Can't get to it now so I'll check it out this evening. I'm sure I'll eventually be putting a better stock on but if I tried to do it now my wife would tap me gently between the eyes with the reality bat. I've spent a touch more on this project than I originally planned. I'll definitely keep researching though.

 

[carnaby]

Nice! When are you gonna shoot it? Range report!

 

[Falconeer]

Nice! When are you gonna shoot it? Range report!

If all goes well this Saturday. Break in the barrel and zero the scope. Hopefully I'll even get a chance to just shoot!

 

[chakup]

same package here as well except rings/base. still deciding on what I'll end up with permantly there.

 

[Falconeer]

same package here as well except rings/base. still deciding on what I'll end up with permantly there.

Definately check out Ken Farrell. Great stuff, good prices. Very sturdy mount, and he's very helpful to talk to.

 

[colt.45]

hey, if it gets the job done its all the sniper rifle youl ever need

a suggestion for the stock: some guy on snipers hide said he put bondo auto body filler in the stock.

 

[Falconeer]

Thanks for the suggestion Colt. I'll keep it in mind.

 

[Henry Bowman]

Very nice! Glad to see you got your setup -- and that you tried the long range simulation. Yes, it has limitations, but is a great learning tool. Is your scope a mildot? Since distance is such a critical factor (when not shooting at a range with fixed distances) I figured that investing in a good rangefinder would beat trying to get perfectly proficient with a mildot.

Now all you need is trigger time.


Colt.45, I have thought about filling the butstock with spray in (insulation-type) foam. I think that Bond-o would be unnecessarily heavy.

 

[Falconeer]

Very nice! Glad to see you got your setup -- and that you tried the long range simulation. Yes, it has limitations, but is a great learning tool. Is your scope a mildot? Since distance is such a critical factor (when not shooting at a range with fixed distances) I figgured that investing in a good rangefinder would beat trying to get perfectly proficient with a mildot.

Now all you need is trigger time.

Thanks kindly!

Overall I'm pleased with 'Shooter Ready'. As a simulator it seems top notch. The teaching sections are lacking a bit, but I'm hoping to do my own reading with other sources to improve that.

The scope is a mil-dot. I did a bunch of research and it seems to be the best 'bang for the buck' in terms of quality vs price vs features. It's not variable but that's about the only thing it doesn't do.

The only concern I have with this setup is the cheek weld. The scope seems a bit high so I may be upgrading the stock sooner than expected. I'll have a better idea how 'urgent' the upgrade is after I actually shoot it. I'm currently thinking Bell & Carlson Medalist (Heavy barrel “Varmint/Target/Tactical” replacement stock for the Savage Short Actions). It looks like the cheek section is high enough, and I can probably swing it, price wise. I believe it's in the $200 range. I'd love to go with one of the MacMillans or the Sharp Shooter Supply SVT but there's no way I can afford $400-$500 for a stock this soon after the rifle. I've heard enough bad things about the Choate 'Ultimate Sniper' or 'Ultimate Varmint' that I'm leery of going that route. The B&C seems the best mix of price and performance.

And yes, I definately need trigger time. I have my first 50 rounds loaded up (LC91 brass trimmed and full length resized, 44grn Varget, 150grn Rem Corelokt bullet, Winchester primer), and hope to have another 50 before I head out this weekend. Besides I have a Sig P229 I haven't shot yet!!

 

[USSR]

The only concern I have with this setup is the cheek weld. The scope seems a bit high so I may be upgrading the stock sooner than expected.

Falconeer,

Yeah, that's the only problem with the 20MOA Farrell base, it's too d@mn high. Would suggest you take a look at Eagle Industries' stock pack. It attaches to your buttstock and raises your cheek position. It's very "tactical" and only costs about $35.

Don

 

[WayneConrad]

Pretty rifle, nice group. I am very, very jealous.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Very nice! I happen to know an Army Special Forces weapons instructor whose personal sniper rifle of choice is a Savage similarly outfitted. Says he got it used for $300.00 and it shoots as well as a fifteen hundred dollar Remington...

 

[Falconeer]

Yeah, that's the only problem with the 20MOA Farrell base, it's too d@mn high. Would suggest you take a look at Eagle Industries' stock pack. It attaches to your buttstock and raises your cheek position. It's very "tactical" and only costs about $35.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'd much rather do something like that instead of having to spend $200 on a new stock, then spend more money down the road to get what I REALLY want (McMillan ).

Is the Ken Farrell base really that much higher than other bases? I haven't seen any others except in pics but they all look about the same.

Very nice! I happen to know an Army Special Forces weapons instructor whose personal sniper rifle of choice is a Savage similarly outfitted. Says he got it used for $300.00 and it shoots as well as a fifteen hundred dollar Remington...

Thanks kindly! It's nice to know this type of rifle is capable of that kind of accuracy, though with the type of ability and training SF types have they could outshoot me with a slingshot.

 

[Henry Bowman]

I have the same cheek/chin weld problem. How much does that Eagle stock pack raise the comb?

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

Wannabe Sniper Rifle Finished! (Dial-Up warning)

There's nothing wannabe about that rig. While it's not what our military, or anyone else's military is using as their sniper rifle...the rig you put together is much, much more accurate than what dozens of past snipers ever had. You've got better glass than most great snipers ever had, more accuracy, and probably a better trigger too.


That gives credit to them for what they pulled off with old tech, but on the other hand, your gear is so good that you can do a lot of things with minimal effort that took others in the past a LOT of effort to do.


Practically speaking, that rig is 99.9% of the accuracy and quality you'd ever need for 'sniping'.

 

[Falconeer]

I have the same cheek/chin weld problem. How much does that Eagle stock pack raise the comb?

I don't know, but Tactical Shop has them for $24 + s&h so I'm going to give it a shot. I'll report when I get it/try it out.