Yankee
12-23-2013, 12:04 AM
I recently bought a Predator Max from a friend and retired SWAT sniper. The gun had 30 rounds through it and is in like new condition.
I've had a Mark II FV in .22LR for some time, but his is my first Savage Centerfire.
I mounted a Redfield Revolution 4-12x40 on Leupold rings, and a bipod. It's an inexpensive, but practical setup. It was shot as pictured, bipod and bean bag in the rear, shot off the bench. http://imageshack.us/a/img62/5571/nb6p.jpg
I took it to the range with some cheap ammo and got it dialed in at 150 yards. At this point the range was closing, it was 20 degrees with 4-5mph wind, a "feel like" temperature in the single digits, and the RSO was (understandably) very eager to leave.
I loaded 4 rounds of Winchester Match (69 Grain Sierra MatchKing bullet in a factory winchester case) and shot a final group (the only one with good ammo). I knew the group would be low compared to the other ammo, but i had no time to make dope changes and was only interested in the group size. The group was very rushed due to the circumstances, and if i got 1 MOA out of it i would have been happy. The results shocked me. 1.04" group at 150 yards...or 0.66 MOA:
http://imageshack.us/a/img189/7128/6gjl.jpg
At this point, i set a goal. 5 Shot groups under 1/2 MOA. I knew there was more in the setup if i just slowed down and did my part, but i might have to experiment with different ammo to get there, maybe adjust the accu-trigger and get some trigger time.
On my second trip to the range with the Predator Max (52 degrees with 2-3mph cross winds and occasional gusts from the left) i set up a target at 200 yards, made my elevation adjustments, and shot two 5 round groups with the Winchester Match ammo. The first group was 0.8 MOA thanks to some wind gusts. The vertical spread was inside 3/4", but a few rounds were blown wide.
The wind stabilized for the second group, and i shot this:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh274/Bigbeansm3/5shot_zps5d968573.jpg?t=1387685056
That's 5 rounds, 3 of which went through the same keyhole, at 200 yards, for 0.46 MOA.
Those were the only two groups i shot with good ammo, then i switched to Winchester 45 Grain JHP Varmint rounds and my groups increased to 1.1-1.4MOA.
Needless to say, i'm thrilled with the performance for a completely out of the box rifle. No adjustments or tweeks whatsoever. The trigger is still at factory weight, and i have done no ammo testing yet. This rifle is quickly showing itself to be an honest 1/2MOA gun.
In my state we can use centerfires up to .229 from April 1 to September 30, so there is a 6 week window when it is legal to hunt Coyotes with something besides shotguns and rimfires. This is going to make an amazing Coyote gun, and it definitely won't be my last Savage 110!
I've had a Mark II FV in .22LR for some time, but his is my first Savage Centerfire.
I mounted a Redfield Revolution 4-12x40 on Leupold rings, and a bipod. It's an inexpensive, but practical setup. It was shot as pictured, bipod and bean bag in the rear, shot off the bench. http://imageshack.us/a/img62/5571/nb6p.jpg
I took it to the range with some cheap ammo and got it dialed in at 150 yards. At this point the range was closing, it was 20 degrees with 4-5mph wind, a "feel like" temperature in the single digits, and the RSO was (understandably) very eager to leave.
I loaded 4 rounds of Winchester Match (69 Grain Sierra MatchKing bullet in a factory winchester case) and shot a final group (the only one with good ammo). I knew the group would be low compared to the other ammo, but i had no time to make dope changes and was only interested in the group size. The group was very rushed due to the circumstances, and if i got 1 MOA out of it i would have been happy. The results shocked me. 1.04" group at 150 yards...or 0.66 MOA:
http://imageshack.us/a/img189/7128/6gjl.jpg
At this point, i set a goal. 5 Shot groups under 1/2 MOA. I knew there was more in the setup if i just slowed down and did my part, but i might have to experiment with different ammo to get there, maybe adjust the accu-trigger and get some trigger time.
On my second trip to the range with the Predator Max (52 degrees with 2-3mph cross winds and occasional gusts from the left) i set up a target at 200 yards, made my elevation adjustments, and shot two 5 round groups with the Winchester Match ammo. The first group was 0.8 MOA thanks to some wind gusts. The vertical spread was inside 3/4", but a few rounds were blown wide.
The wind stabilized for the second group, and i shot this:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh274/Bigbeansm3/5shot_zps5d968573.jpg?t=1387685056
That's 5 rounds, 3 of which went through the same keyhole, at 200 yards, for 0.46 MOA.
Those were the only two groups i shot with good ammo, then i switched to Winchester 45 Grain JHP Varmint rounds and my groups increased to 1.1-1.4MOA.
Needless to say, i'm thrilled with the performance for a completely out of the box rifle. No adjustments or tweeks whatsoever. The trigger is still at factory weight, and i have done no ammo testing yet. This rifle is quickly showing itself to be an honest 1/2MOA gun.
In my state we can use centerfires up to .229 from April 1 to September 30, so there is a 6 week window when it is legal to hunt Coyotes with something besides shotguns and rimfires. This is going to make an amazing Coyote gun, and it definitely won't be my last Savage 110!