I joined the brotherhood...

[barrel-nut]

Thanks for the compliment. It's a Savage Model 11 package rifle from Wally World in .308 that I bought for around $400 because I wanted the action as a donor, but it shot so well that I couldn't bring myself to butcher it. So I ditched the Tupperware and dropped it in a Stocky's Heritage Classic laminate in their Timber color. I already had the Weaver scope, rail, and rings laying around. Turned out to be my favorite deer rifle. But I still need another action for other projects, lol. So it goes with this habit....

[therichardpowell]

Same thing happened to me. Picked up this Stephens as a donor and low and behold, it shoots. I burned out before getting loads fully developed and it went in the safe. Now I'm gonna work up a 175 grain Berger load for it and get serious about putting a bear down past 500 yards. That's my goal anyway. We'll see if I can get to that comfort zone before season. Not much time.

[therichardpowell]

Dem Bergers... http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/27/abyvapet.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/27/ejyhuvan.jpg

[scooterf79]

Let us know how they shoot for ya. They shoot well out of my 257wby (115gr). With the freebore there wasnt anyway I could get them close to the lands, so I just load them factory length.
Scooter

[therichardpowell]

I haven't tried yet, but I think I can get them to the lands if need be. I loaded .020" off the lands for OCW and I'll mess with seating depth after. But at .020" I stuck one in the mag and by eyeball I'd figure I have .020"-.030" to go in the mag. But I'd rather not. I'd like some jump if it's what my barrel likes.

[barrel-nut]

Dem Bergers... http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/27/abyvapet.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/27/ejyhuvan.jpg

Dem's puurty boolits........
Hope they shoot as good as they look.

[therichardpowell]

You and me both. I have read good things about Bergers in savage tubes. Guess we'll see.

[therichardpowell]

Well my rings showed up and I just spent the last two hours getting it all set up. Lapped the rings and got the scope all installed. Found something I'm worried about but I hope it's just my tired eyes. I used levels to level the scope to the gun and my vortex level to the scope, but my reticle doesn't even look close to level. It's dark and I'm in the house so I will recheck tomorrow. Sure hope my reticle is level with the turret. If not I'll have to send the scope back.

[therichardpowell]

All is well. I dunno what the hell I was seeing last night but it's dialed today. Looking good. Ready to shoot. http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/29/ujuqyses.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/29/y6yrysu5.jpg

[therichardpowell]

Went out to test a load I have worked up. Shooting 175 grain Berger hunting VLD, 45 grains of varget, Winchester case and wlr primer. Bullet is seated .010 in the lands.

To be honest this is part of a 4 shot group but I knew I threw the flyer, without question, so I settled back in and shot one more and ended up with this. I am about ecstatic. I want to shoot another one to verify group size, maybe tomorrow.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/03/ygapuqyn.jpg

Then I shot from 500 and 650 to true my data and our spotting wasn't really correct so that info got a bit boogered. We were shooting at a gong hanging from a stand on a landing and it was real hard to tell where I was hitting. Need to shoot at something against a hill. Lesson learned.

[cowtownup]

I have this same rifle and have had much the same experience as you... I'm still working with it and enjoy it... I've always heard you need to spend twice as much on the scope as you do the rifle, well I've finally did that with this rifle... $200 for the rifle and $500 on the optic... LOL...