New Savage 11VT

[shoalwater]

Have to say I am pretty impressed with this little rifle. I took it out this morning to start breaking in the barrel with some factory Federal Gold Medal Match in 77gr SMK's and this was the results of shots 11-15 at 100yds. I was cleaning between every shot 1-10 and then decided to rip off a 5 shoot string. Shot's 6-9 where in a .244 group but the wind got a hold of shot number 10 to stretch that group out to .612, and that was while I was cleaning between each shot. The wind was killing me at about a steady 14 to 17 with gust up to 25 from my 2 Oclock. I ordered a Manners stock for this thing, but now I am kind of afraid to touch it, as I think in no wind, hand loading, and more break in, this will be a sub .25 MOA gun.

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b504/Shoalwater10/Savage2231stGroup_zps50ee7c26.jpg

[ellobo]

Can't do a lot better than that with factory ammo. Why a Manners stock? Way to pricey for me. As for accuracy, minute of moose is OK for me. But then again, we don't get many 100 yd shots at anything here. The trees and bushes get in the way. Last month my editor got a 200 yds shot at a coyote............and missed.

El Lobo

[shoalwater]

No real reason on the Manners other than I wanted to try one and Stockys had a T2 in stock. I also have a B&C Medalist and HS M24 on other rifles, so thought I would try something different. Going to find one that I like the best and replace all the others over time with that brand.

[natesatt]

Nice shooting...I just noticed this model at Dick's. I'm trying to find out what calibers it comes in...i'm guessing yours is a 243?

Thanks.

[natesatt]

Correction...I just notice you're shooting .224 bullets so a 223? Also, did yours come w/ the bushnell scope and if so what do you think of it?

[shoalwater]

Yes mine is 223 and yes it did come with he Bushnell 4-12X40 scope. I never even really looked through the scope as I had a Vortex Viper PST 4-16X50 FFP that I did not end up using on another gun waiting for it. Looking through the Bushnell out my window it does seem to have decent glass for a lower end scope. I believe these are the Banner series of scopes. I believe these guns come in 223 and 308. I'm pretty happy with it and looking forward to seeing what some handloads will do, if I can ever get a hold of more Varget powder.

[natesatt]

Hmm...i'm really looking for a 7-08 but this package (less the scope) seems about right! Thanks for the additional info.

[expfcwintergreen]

shoalwater,

I have been interested in the Savage 11 VT in .223 ever since it was mentioned in another thread.

Thank you for posting some of your range results. I know you were breaking in the barrel, so the early groups may not have as much validity as later ones will, but did you keep up with the average size of all the groups you shot? Have you shot it anymore since your first post?

Did you find the 77 grain Federal Gold Medal Match ammunition on line or locally? I haven't seen any .223 ammunition in a store or on line in the two months I have been looking in preparation for buying a .223.

I know the barrel on the VT has a 9 inch twist. I am glad to know it will stabilize a 77 grain bullet, which is what I was hoping to use. That might save me buying a 7 or 8 inch twist barrel. The 26 inch barrel may have helped.

After having read your post, I feel comfortable buying one if my local DSG still has it in stock.

[nking1776]

Shoalwater,
First off, nice shooting. I just picked up my VT in .308 a couple weeks ago and have yet to shoot it but it does my heart good to see it perform as I hoped it would after checking it out in the store. I am eagerly awaiting my chance to break mine in and then I'll see what I can do to post some range results. Hopefully we get some more discussions going on about the VT.

[BoilerUP]

I know the barrel on the VT has a 9 inch twist. I am glad to know it will stabilize a 77 grain bullet, which is what I was hoping to use. That might save me buying a 7 or 8 inch twist barrel. The 26 inch barrel may have helped.

1:9 will stabilize a tangent ogive match bullet in the 75-77gr range (Hornady 75gr HPBT, Sierra 77gr SMK, Nosler 77gr CC) but will be exceedingly marginal if not outright unusable for a VLD-style secant ogive bullet in the same weight range (75gr A-Max, Berger VLD).

Lots of folks on the interwebs (especially in the AR world) say you can't run 75/77s in a 1:9...but my experience in three different rifles/barrels says otherwise.

[1ShotKing]

1:9 will stabilize a tangent ogive match bullet in the 75-77gr range (Hornady 75gr HPBT, Sierra 77gr SMK, Nosler 77gr CC) but will be exceedingly marginal if not outright unusable for a VLD-style secant ogive bullet in the same weight range (75gr A-Max, Berger VLD).

Lots of folks on the interwebs (especially in the AR world) say you can't run 75/77s in a 1:9...but my experience in three different rifles/barrels says otherwise.
I took BoilerUP's advice in this matter and also can confirm that my VLP with a 9 twist barrel will stabilize the 75 grain hornady HPBT bullet. I am shooting it in their steel match ammo.

1ShotKing

[expfcwintergreen]

[QUOTE=BoilerUP;175111]1:9 will stabilize a tangent ogive match bullet in the 75-77gr range (Hornady 75gr HPBT, Sierra 77gr SMK, Nosler 77gr CC)

=================

So the Federal Gold Medal Match 77 grain with the Sierra MatchKing BTHP bullet should stabilize in the 9inch twist barrel?That is the load I most wanted to shoot assuming I can actually find some locally?

Thanks for the clarification. I am new to being particular about ammunition or aware of the twist of a barrel so am swimming in deep water right now.

[shoalwater]

I did find the Federal Match ammo here locally, though they would only sell me one box at the time. I have not had a chance to shoot it anymore as I have no ammo right now, other than ball ammo for my AR. As the others mentioned you should be fine to shoot 75 HPBT's, 77 SMK's, or 70gr VLD's. My plans will be to load Hornady 75gr HPBT as they have a little better BC than the 77gr SMK's. I've got brass, primers, powder, but no bullets to be found anywhere. I'm anxious to get a load figured out so I can start shooting in a local monthly F class T/R matches. I can get Hornady Match ammo, both Superformance and Regular in the 75gr HPBT here locally, but I can't stand to buy more ammo when all I need is bullets to load it at a sixth of the price. If you need ammo I'd be happy to pick some up for you, just pay the cost plus shipping. Let me know.

[BoilerUP]

So the Federal Gold Medal Match 77 grain with the Sierra MatchKing BTHP bullet should stabilize in the 9inch twist barrel?

Yes.

Now you very well might find that 69gr FGMM shoots "better" in your rifle, but that does mean 77s are unstable.

[expfcwintergreen]

Thanks, BoilerUp. I realized early this morning that mine was a stupid question when it occurred to me that "SMK" is "Sierra Match King" not a style of bullet like "BT." You had already answered my question before I asked it.

[expfcwintergreen]

Thank you, shoalwater for your generous offer, but the lack of .223 ammo locally is making me consider waiting until things calm down to decide whether to buy the Savage 11 VT in .223. Also, at present, there doesn't seem to be a price advantage to shooting .223 like I thought there would be.

Thank you very much for the offer.

[762X51]

I've been looking for a .223 varmint rifle and I've been considering something in the model 12 line up but when I saw this target and the price I hot-footed it down to the local Dick's. As my good fortune would have it they had an 11VT in 223. Cursory examination said it was just your basic Savage, detachable magazine action. WRONG!!! When I got it home and started taking it apart to clean it I discovered where the cost cutting was made. First, the bottom "metal" isn't metal! It's plastic. It looks EXACTLY like my model 10 PC bottom metal but alas it's just plastic as is the trigger guard. Secondly the magazine set up LOOKS like Savage's normal detachable magazine set up but it's not...it uses Axis magazines! And the icing on the cake is that my new rifle, in typical Savage fashion, will not feed the last round out of the magazine unless I put upward pressure on the rear of the magazine. So far Savage is 1 for 4 with me; first model 10 Precision Carbine wouldn't eject properly, model 16 223 wouldn't feed but first 2 rounds from the magazine, latest model 10 5R Precision Carbine is way less than accurate but happily my stainless 223 Axis is superbly accurate! Anybody want to buy a new, unfired 11VT? $500 and it's yours.

[1ShotKing]

The "Axis" magazine is an inaccurate generalization. Savage has put this magazine type in several different models, including those which are more expensive than the 11 VT. For example, the Lady Hunter and also the Lightweight Hunter (yes plastic saves weight so it makes sense), just to name a few models. Also, if you didn't realize that the rifle had that magazine type until you got it home, who is to blame? That's almost as bad as talking a rifle home without thoroughly examining it.

[762X51]

The "Axis" magazine is an inaccurate generalization. Savage has put this magazine type in several different models, including those which are more expensive than the 11 VT. For example, the Lady Hunter and also the Lightweight Hunter (yes plastic saves weight so it makes sense), just to name a few models. Also, if you didn't realize that the rifle had that magazine type until you got it home, who is to blame? That's almost as bad as talking a rifle home without thoroughly examining it.

I don't really care that it uses the cheaper of the two detachable magazine styles but I most certainly DO CARE if the rifle can feed from the magazine. Mine won't. While the magazines may in fact be used with other Savage products they are as I stated the same magazines as are used in the Axis. As you may or may not know this rifle is an exclusive Dick's product. Dick's has trigger locks on all their guns which makes it impossible to remove the bolt or inspect the trigger guard.

[BoilerUP]

They'll remove the lock if you ask...