Two good outings so far with the 10 FCP-K at 545 yds this weekend...

[Joe L]

Last weekend I changed out the medium height scope rings on my one and only bolt gun to low height and re-zeroed at 300 yards. Went to the mountains to shoot at 545 yards on Friday and again this morning. After shooting OK on Friday, I decided to take the Accustock off and back off the Accutrigger spring 1-3/4 turns to lower the trigger pull to around 2 lb. Went back to the range this morning and went straight to the 545 yard target. Took 10 rounds and .3 mil correction compared to yesterday to get as close to POA as possible on the 1st target.

Then I moved over to a fresh target (a 3x4 file card) and shot rounds 11-15 and was very, very happy with the results, as shown below.

http://joelynch.smugmug.com/Firearms/Savage-Model-10/i-F52h8Xw/0/M/545%20yd%205-25-13%20group-M.jpg

I had 5 more rounds left but no more targets set up, so I decided to put rounds 16-20 on the same target. First 3 (16-18) were good, but I got sloppy on the last two (19-20) and those two widened up my second group to 7-1/4", compared to 2-3/4" for the first group on the second target. I just couldn't do everything right for 20 rounds for the day.

I know which round was which because I had a target camera set up and was noting each hit.

Rifle/scope/ammo are excellent. Shooter needs work.

One of these days, I am going to shoot a 10 round 3" group at 545 yards! Maybe after I get my XLR stock and feel a little more comfortable behind the gun.

Joe

[Westcliffe01]

My experience seems to be that in the absence of a life threatening situation, I tend to get a little ragged after about 20 rounds of 308. I just spent a couple of hours this morning looking for the "right" load for my 308. I shot 42, 42.5, 43, 43.5 and 44gr of Varget behind a 185gr Berger VLD. The guy to my right was shooting a braked 308. I was using ear plugs and muffs and it was still loud.

The first 4 shots at the beginning I used PPU 168gr match ammo and the recoil is significantly less than with the 185's. Of course, in a hunting scenario, one shoots so little that one hardly notices the recoil given the other excitement...

[Joe L]

Westcliffe01--I think you have a point. I went out again this morning, but limited the 545 yard session with the .308 to 15 rounds. Difference today was some variable wind and it definitely affected my shooting. I am getting used to the trigger. Here is the first five round group, no changes from yesterday, same ammo, added 0.1 mil up to dial-in. This range can have some wind from the left with the streamer showing wind from right up the valley.

http://joelynch.smugmug.com/Firearms/Savage-Model-10/i-frJr294/0/M/EE505759-M.jpg

I then tried some Remington Premier match for rounds 6-10 and then went back to the Southwest Ammunition 168 for rounds 11-15. And the wind came up and I didn't adjust. Here is what the overall target looked like when I drove out to it.

http://joelynch.smugmug.com/Firearms/Savage-Model-10/i-34DpZTK/0/M/EE505754-M.jpg

Here is what the target looked like from the home made target camera.

http://joelynch.smugmug.com/Firearms/Savage-Model-10/i-JKX26Bj/0/M/EE505751-M.jpg

The set up at the mat.

http://joelynch.smugmug.com/Firearms/Savage-Model-10/i-hFw5rb3/0/M/EE505750-M.jpg

The target cam makes it easy to see where each shot has hit, but I have to get settled in behind the gun again after each shot if I want to look at the monitor between shots. Here is the target marked from my notes.

http://joelynch.smugmug.com/Firearms/Savage-Model-10/i-tb6NTwm/0/M/EE505758-M.jpg

Looks today like I should have stopped at the the 12th shot and stuck with the Southwest Ammunition 168's. Also, when I reassembled the stapled cards on the paper and made my notes, I taped the left card down rotated 180 degrees from the way it should have been. I didn't notice this until after I made the notes and taken the photos so I didn't correct it.

Next, was 15 seconds with the AR-15, zeroed for Fed GMM 69 gr ammo, but I shot the 55 gr Accutip ammo today. The 100 yard zero is obviously off, but the group was excellent for me for 10 rounds.

http://joelynch.smugmug.com/Firearms/Savage-Model-10/i-T6dHG5G/0/M/EE505757-M.jpg

Dang it was fun to shoot the little AR semi-auto without ever taking my eyes off the scope. After I finished with the two rifles, I went to the pistol range and shot 100 rounds of 22LR through a CZ pistol, with 40 rounds at 50 yards standing. A great range trip today.

So, I guess I have now had 3 good sessions this week. Looking forward to Monday.

Joe