[koger]

Well I final got around to zeroing my ,204 Savage, with a heavy Varmint Pac Nor barrel. took 7 shots to get I zeroed at 100 yds, then shooting at a bullet hole, managed to crowd 5 more 40 gr V max into a group that was .300 even, outside to outside. I was shooting between gusts, and using factory ammo. To make sure it was not a fluke, I shot 5 more into a tight .285 at 100 yds! I was running a Vortex 6-18 scope on it, factory stock and trigger. When I get some handloads worked up with JR's load data will be good to go!


I also shot a 1990 model Savage 112FV, that I have had since that year, gun has always been a shooter, and has had moly coated bullets shot out of it most of its life. I changed scopes on it a little while back, to a Sightron 6x24 FCH with a dot and scrubbed the barrel till clean. I loaded up 100 rounds of my go to load, but did not moly coat them. On my first trip out, gun shot terribly, had me thinking the barrel was shot, or the scope was bad. Yesterday I gave the barrel a light cleaning, and shot some more of the non moly bullets, 2 first shots were about a 1 " apart, then the next 3 went into 3/4", still not good. I then shot5 rounds of old ammo, moly coated, and they went into .400 even, shot 5 more and they went into .385. Then went back and shot 5 more of the uncoated into .600. This gun has mostly had molyed bullets ran thru it, and apparently likes them much better than bare, so I will be molying some more slugs to say the least.

 

[Kentucky Fisherman]

Well I final got around to zeroing my ,204 Savage, with a heavy Varmint Pac Nor barrel. took 7 shots to get I zeroed at 100 yds, then shooting at a bullet hole, managed to crowd 5 more 40 gr V max into a group that was .300 even, outside to outside. I was shooting between gusts, and using factory ammo. To make sure it was not a fluke, I shot 5 more into a tight .285 at 100 yds! I was running a Vortex 6-18 scope on it, factory stock and trigger. When I get some handloads worked up with JR's load data will be good to go!

I can't tell if the whole rifle is new, just the PacNor barrel, just the scope or what. But if you weren't a "regular" here, I'd be rolling my eyes, Koger. I don't say that to flame you, just being honest. Two groups that size with what is basically a newly assembled rig is more than impressive. And with a factory trigger and a stock with no bedding? Were you at least shooting off a SEB Neo, or was it a stack of sandbags?

To what do you attribute this kind of accuracy on the first time out with this combo? We need you to put your magic touch on a factory Savage and come shoot with Team Savage at the BBB the second Saturday of May.

Carpman

 

[koger]

I built the gun a few years ago for a guy, and he shot it about 200 rounds, got a divorce and the gun left! I knew it like 39 and 40 grain bullets, hates 32 grainers from when we shot it years ago. It was bedded with steel bed by myself, and the trigger tweaked with a new spring in it. I also indicated and trued the receiver up in my lathe, and the barrel nut along with adding a 1/4 Holland surface ground recoil lug. The three guys that had owned the gun, had never cleaned it, none of them had a rod small enough and too dumb to buy one. I think, the gun has about 320 rounds before I got it, and spent the better part of an hour cleaning it with Barnes copper remover, and patches. And lastly, no I did not have a fancy rest, but I did use a version of the bulls bag, with a deep, long pocket, that holds the rifle very well, with a bunny bag on the back. I was pleased with the unexpected accuracy, as I figured half to 3/4 " would be as good as it gets, but I got lucky. I don't shoot as much now, but a few years back I averaged shooting around 5000 rounds a year centerfire doing load work for guns I had went thru or built from the get go. I also at the same time shot Muzzleloaders in local, state and National Competition, around 3500 rounds per year. I have medaled 31 times in the nationals at Friendship, and Placed 4th in the International 50 meters off hand iron sights, and placed 7th in the International Mini Creedmoor at 500 meters, shooting prone with sling and peep sights. This was in direct comeption from shooters all over the USA, along with Canada, Great Britain and Europe.I have tweaked many Savage factory rifles that would shoot under 1/2" for 5 shots, and built several 6xc's with the same thing done to them as described above, that shoot bugholes. Now can I do that every day, the answer to that is no, but no one can shoot great groups all the time. But, I can often enough with the guns I know, if I am having a good day, not struggling with nerve pain and other issues from 3 strokes. Come down some time and we will go shoot, and you can decide if I am truthful or not. The point is, folks who know me, know I don't BS about shooting, period. Now everything else is up for BS! Hope I answered your questions.

 

[koger]

Reflecting back on black powder competition, all the nuances involved in getting pinpoint accuracy out of them, which can be achieved, makes shooting modern centerfires seem easy. There is a lot of lock time, physical issues when shooting prone or off hand, weighing and sorting bullets, specific type lube for different guns, caffeine intake and staying hydrated, wearing hard soled shoes, and mainly doing everything the same exact way, as you the shooter are the weakest link in the chain.

 

[savage.243]

I tell ya them savages just shoot!

 

[Kentucky Fisherman]

Now can I do that every day, the answer to that is no, but no one can shoot great groups all the time. But, I can often enough with the guns I know, if I am having a good day, not struggling with nerve pain and other issues from 3 strokes. Come down some time and we will go shoot, and you can decide if I am truthful or not. The point is, folks who know me, know I don't BS about shooting, period. Now everything else is up for BS! Hope I answered your questions.

Didn't mean to question whether you were being truthful, Buff, hope you know that. It just sounded to me like this was a new gun to you and maybe had some recent changes, then you took it out on an iffy day and quickly got two bughole groups. Any doubts were erased by your explanation that you actually built the rifle, know it well, and have great competitive credentials. As for your bench setup, I, too, have a Bud's Bull Bag and if it's filled right you can lock a rifle in pretty darned tight.

Keep us updated on that rifle, I think it's a special one.

Carpman

 

[DASHER DOME]

Nice shooting. I just started coating with BN about 3 or 4 years ago and love it.

 

[koger]

Randy I just started coating with HBN, haven't loaded any or shot them yet, but will soon. According to David Tubb there is no down side to it. A buddy of mine recently switched to it loading some 107 Sierra MK's in his 6xc, and it helped somewhat, as he was already shooting very tight groups at 100, where he noticed the biggest difference was at 200-500 yds, groups tightened up, and his last shot hit where his first one did, had a pretty rounded group, if that is the correct term, instead of getting a flyer from a clean bore or one after fouling. He said cleanup was breeze also.