ssnole
11-24-2013, 12:20 AM
Hi all, first post, just had to pass on my impressions of my first Savage rifle.
So I decided to jump into the Tactical Rifle pool. After doing a lot of research, a lot of it here on SS, I set my sights on a 20" 10TR. Then I found out they were as easy to find as teeth belonging to a leprechaun's hen. I got lucky and found one, and had it shipped.
I took it apart, cleaned it and remounted the stock torquing the accustock per Savage's instructions. I mounted my 15 year old Nikon Monarch 3.5x10x50 with the EGW base and a set of Burris XTR low rings. I also put on a Beartooth comb raising kit which I already had (may get a stock pack going forward). Here is how it turned out:
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/11020639636_4a31913743_b.jpg
I picked up three different boxes of ammunition, Federal Gold Match Sierra Matchking 168, and two inexpensive 180grain hunting loads (Remington Core Lokts and Winchester Power Points). I was hoping the SMKs would shoot well and also hoped to luck into a relatively inexpensive deer round that was accurate.
The rifle shot great with recoil very managable. I had planned on putting on a brake, but I will see. I started at 25 firing 1 shot, cleaning, then went to 3 shot groups and cleaning. After 9 rounds fired, I moved to 100 yards and shot a 3 round group with the SMKs, it was .58" on a clean barrel (no fouling shot). I wasn't sure if that was a fluke, but I was pretty impressed. I wound up shooting 4 groups with the SMKs and they measured .58, .51. .22:eek: and a 1.4 that was operator error.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3790/11020639066_19749ca729_b.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3690/11020705374_f7a1f0dddc_b.jpg
I realize the .22" group looks like a two shot, but it is three. Unfortunately, the rifle did not like the Remington or Winchester 180s. Those groups were all over 1". Any recommendations on a good hunting factory load? I have heard that the Ballistic Tips shoot well, but can't find any of their 180s.
There was one thing that concerned me about the rifle. A couple of times the bolt failed to pick up the next round out of the magazine. It could have been me failing to properly seat the mag, it seems a little finicky to seat. Other than that, I am thoroughly blown away by this rifle. A few years ago I would never have believed that a 20" barrel (especially on a Savage) would have been capable of such accuracy. I am now a true believer!
Thank you for a great forum, it really shortened my learning curve and put me on track.
So I decided to jump into the Tactical Rifle pool. After doing a lot of research, a lot of it here on SS, I set my sights on a 20" 10TR. Then I found out they were as easy to find as teeth belonging to a leprechaun's hen. I got lucky and found one, and had it shipped.
I took it apart, cleaned it and remounted the stock torquing the accustock per Savage's instructions. I mounted my 15 year old Nikon Monarch 3.5x10x50 with the EGW base and a set of Burris XTR low rings. I also put on a Beartooth comb raising kit which I already had (may get a stock pack going forward). Here is how it turned out:
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/11020639636_4a31913743_b.jpg
I picked up three different boxes of ammunition, Federal Gold Match Sierra Matchking 168, and two inexpensive 180grain hunting loads (Remington Core Lokts and Winchester Power Points). I was hoping the SMKs would shoot well and also hoped to luck into a relatively inexpensive deer round that was accurate.
The rifle shot great with recoil very managable. I had planned on putting on a brake, but I will see. I started at 25 firing 1 shot, cleaning, then went to 3 shot groups and cleaning. After 9 rounds fired, I moved to 100 yards and shot a 3 round group with the SMKs, it was .58" on a clean barrel (no fouling shot). I wasn't sure if that was a fluke, but I was pretty impressed. I wound up shooting 4 groups with the SMKs and they measured .58, .51. .22:eek: and a 1.4 that was operator error.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3790/11020639066_19749ca729_b.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3690/11020705374_f7a1f0dddc_b.jpg
I realize the .22" group looks like a two shot, but it is three. Unfortunately, the rifle did not like the Remington or Winchester 180s. Those groups were all over 1". Any recommendations on a good hunting factory load? I have heard that the Ballistic Tips shoot well, but can't find any of their 180s.
There was one thing that concerned me about the rifle. A couple of times the bolt failed to pick up the next round out of the magazine. It could have been me failing to properly seat the mag, it seems a little finicky to seat. Other than that, I am thoroughly blown away by this rifle. A few years ago I would never have believed that a 20" barrel (especially on a Savage) would have been capable of such accuracy. I am now a true believer!
Thank you for a great forum, it really shortened my learning curve and put me on track.