Shooting the Savage this afternoon

[Andy S.]

I took the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful afternoon by verifying that my Savage was still zeroed in from last year, and to do some fine tuning on it if it were warranted. I am shooting 43 grains of IMR SR4759 and pushing the Hornady 250 grain SST bullets about 2100fps. My first "foul" shot at 100 yards surprisingly hit almost dead center, maybe 1/2" high. I was thinking that something was amiss because I was sure I had it set 3" high at 100 yards last year. The next three shots confirmed what I was thinking, about 3" high and 1" to the right. Considering I primarily hunt woods, and rarely hunt open fields these days, especially during muzzleloader, my goal was 2" high at 100 yards this year for a zero at 150 yards. I clicked my scope 3 clicks down and 3 clicks to the left and my last two shots hit about 2" high and basically dead on horizontally (100 yards). That was good enough for me for today as my free time was running out. :) I plan to go back and shoot it a few more times at 150 and 200 just so I'll know what it is indeed doing at those ranges. Below are an assortment of pics that better tell the story.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Ive got to shoot mine this week

 

[HMHunters75]

Hope that lead sled doesn't cost you a scope.

 

[Andy S.]

Hope that lead sled doesn't cost you a scope.

Please elaborate. I have heard people say this repeatedly over the years, but I am not sure exactly what they are referring to. I do not anchor the gun down, more like just sit it in there, thus the gun still has plenty of vertical mobility for recoil, all within reason. I have sighted/shot ALL of my guns off of this setup for the last decade (numerous rifles, MZers, shotguns, etc), along with some of my friends' guns, and we have never encountered any problems that we are aware of. Maybe I am missing something?

 

[fairchaser]

Nice set up. Your first shot you think was low due to a clean barrel or a cold barrel? If its a cold barrel it might affect a 200 yarder. I guess you can go back to the range with a cold and fouled barrel for a confirmation shot. Nice shooting btw.

 

[Deer Assassin]

good shooting

 

[Deer Assassin]

send that zeiss back have them put target knobs on it

115 bucks


sight in dead on at 100 if the need arises dial it up

 

[barkscraper]

I did not know your first shot with smokeless powder was a foul shot. Mine shoots the first shot as good as the last shot as long as i dont foul the barrel from to many sabots.

 

[EastTNHunter]

Many people shoot a foul shot with smokeless centerfire rifles to clean out the oil and leave that first coat of carbon residue. The gun shoots far more consistently thereafter. My MLII is very similar, along with several other of my centerfire rifles.

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

Many people shoot a foul shot with smokeless centerfire rifles to clean out the oil and leave that first coat of carbon residue. The gun shoots far more consistently thereafter. My MLII is very similar, along with several other of my centerfire rifles.

Ditto,
Most ever gun I have shots totally different with a clean barrel, I usually have to take a few shots to "soil" the barrel as we say. LOL.

FDXX75

 

[Andy S.]

Many people shoot a foul shot with smokeless centerfire rifles to clean out the oil and leave that first coat of carbon residue. The gun shoots far more consistently thereafter. My MLII is very similar, along with several other of my centerfire rifles.

My line of thinking exactly. This has been my experience over the years.

 

[barkscraper]

With a stainless barrel ive never used oil or seasoned the barrel so the first shot should be like the last as long as you keep the plastic out of the barrel. When i go to the woods my rifle is clean along with the breech plug and i still dont beleive you foul the the barrel on a stainless barrel.

 

[Andy S.]

How does a "stainless barrel" relate to my story and pics above?

 

[barkscraper]

I beleive you said you shot a foul shot and i had never heard that with a smokeless stainless barrel muzzleloader before. I think it would be like shooting your stainless 25-06 a couple shots to foul the barrel. I know there a small difference just not enough to see a difference. Sorry got off track i guess . Nice rifle

 

[TheLBLman]

Andy,
Thanks for posting your shooting experience.
I've got a good bit of shooting to do myself with my Savage.
Am trying out the Harvester Scorpion PT Gold bullets in both the .260 and .300 gr versions, using the red crushed rib sabots (which Harvester said was designed specifically for these bullets in a Savage smokeless).

Hope that lead sled doesn't cost you a scope.

Please elaborate. I have heard people say this repeatedly over the years, but I am not sure exactly what they are referring to. I do not anchor the gun down, more like just sit it in there, thus the gun still has plenty of vertical mobility for recoil, all within reason. I have sighted/shot ALL of my guns off of this setup for the last decade (numerous rifles, MZers, shotguns, etc), along with some of my friends' guns, and we have never encountered any problems that we are aware of. Maybe I am missing something?

I'm using a similar set-up, but have backed off on some of the weight due to concerns too much weight MIGHT shift your point of impact will a bit. Try shooting your guns with just sandbags, gun butt on your shoulder and see if POI is same.

The concern about the sudden "stop" in recoil by using the weights on a "Lead Sled" should be more for the rifle than the scope, imo, since it's the rifle's action and butt stock that is suddenly under much greater stress.

 

[HMHunters75]

Andy- The gun must be strapped down to cause damage. As long as the rifle can have some "bounce" all should be well. I should have included this information.

 

[Andy S.]

That is good to hear as that was what I was thinking as well. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[tasaman]

I shoot the same powder. 43 gr and a 250 gr bullet you should be getting 100 to 200 fps better than that. Do you have a loose bore?

 

[Andy S.]

I shoot the same powder.

Are you shooting old tin can 4759 or new plastic jug 4759? I shoot the plastic jug and it is not as hot as the old tin can 4759. Furthermore, unless we are comparing exact lot numbers, I would still think even two different cans of plastic 4759 could produce different velocities at the same charge. I have always been told powder can be different from lot to lot. With that said, I basically assume every jug is a new animal until I chrono it.

I would not describe my bore as overly loose, but it is not tight either. I would think it would fall somewhere in the middle. I can tell you that loading the 250 grain SSTs after numerous shots (5-7) is fairly easy, at least it seems that way to me.

FWIW, I loaded up 47 grains (plastic jug 4759) that day just to check the velocity and it only chronoed 2240fps at 15 feet from the barrel, so maybe 2250fps tops. I only shot that charge through one time, so that is the only data I have at the moment. I know there have been numerous guys that have got 2250-2300 fps out of 43 grains of the old tin can 4759.

 

[TheLBLman]

Could be a little difference in your cronies, too. :D

 

[Andy S.]

Very true Wes. 100 fps on 2000 fps is just 5%, so that could definitely be some of the variation here.

 

[tasaman]

Andy and Wes you are both right. I didn't account for either variable. I am shooting plastic jug and don't shoot 250s I shoot 300s. I just know on the other site the velocity is higher for the 250s than 300s and I'm getting almost 2200 fps.

Andy was there any pressure signs when you shot 47 gr?

 

[Andy S.]

Andy was there any pressure signs when you shot 47 gr?

I did not check that day because I was running out of light and I was mainly focused on the velocity. I will shoot 47 grains again in the near future and make sure I check.