mixed results

[cecil30-30]

Took my savage out for the first time this morning,put the target at 50yds just to make sure I hit the board.I shot the first 4 shots at 50yds,and as you can see where #4 hit,I backed off to 100yds.The first shot (#5) hit right in the bottom of the bullseye.Gave it 2 clicks up,and #6,7 hit right in the bullseye.I thought great!! Now where cooking.So for kicks and giggles I thought i'd shoot another, and as you can see where #8 hit,I was confused,thought maybe I pulled the shot.So I loaded it up and shot again,and you can see where #9 hit.I stopped shooting after that,It was getting very warm and humid.

Gonna give it another try next cool non humid day we get.I was shooting 43grains of AA5744 with 250gr XTP MMP black sabot.I think when I go back im gonna premeasure 5 vials of 43grns, 5 vials of 43.5grns,and 5 vials of 44grns and just shoot at different spots on the board and see which one gives me the tightest group.I was giving a few mins between shots so I wouldn't heat up the barrel.I've heard these barrels get hot and your accuracy goes out the window when they do.I wonder if that is what happend with shots #8,9??

 

[mike243]

as hot as its been the barrel would take a lot longer to cool down i would think.i always take other guns to fool with between shots .ck scope mounts ect before the next round,had some loosen on my 300wm & couldnt hit a barn lol.

 

[Deer Assassin]

on hot days i cold rag soaked in ice water helps cool the bbl

 

[cecil30-30]

So what do you do with the rag? Just keep wipeing the barrel with it?I might take me a little cooler full of ice water with me next time.

 

[JohnP]

I use ice packs on my Savage in hot weather. The heat really affects accuracy. They are fussy about powder & bullets also. Mine will only shoot good groups with 60 grs. of VV n120 powder & it loves 275 gr. Parker Ballistic Extreme bullets.

 

[majg1234]

those look like shooter error, but if you'll notice several were very good,check scope mounts allow barrel to cool prior to shots ,sand bag her down and as a last resort let a buddy shoot her.Once had a friend with a new 300win mag he was about ready to trade it off saying it wouldn't shoot another buddy and I went to the range and we each put 4 shots in almost the same hole @100yrds...moral of the story is it not always the gun

 

[cecil30-30]

I don't believe they are shooter error.I was shooting out of a vise off a bench.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

You should expect much, much better results than that. I shoot the same load except with 44 grains of powder. I expect you might have a scope or scope mounting issues if it wasn't shooters error. What kind of scope set up do you have?

 

[cecil30-30]

I have talley 1 piece rings/bases,with a new redfield 3x9x40 scope.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

I have seen groups like that with Hornady and tradition sabots out of a Savage, but never a MMP black sabot.

 

[MUP]

Forgive me Cec b/c I'm not familiar with the powder you're using, but do you think you'd have more consistent results if the barrel was cleaned after 3-4 shots? Or, is smokeless able to shoot many shots before even needing a cleaning?

 

[cecil30-30]

Mup,My understanding is that you don't need to swab or clean between shots with a smokeless.I shot it 9 times and cleaned it when I got home,just to make sure there was no plastic in the barrel from the sabots melting.And the barrel was extreamly clean.I ran the wire brush through the barrel and 2 swabs and I was done.I guess time will tell.Im itching to take it back out,since this heat broke,I may give it another try this weekend.