Model 11 Trophy Predator Hunter .223 vs. Something else comparable price.

[FiveInADime]

Learned some valuable info today.

- Vortex scopes are terribly overrated in the glass department. My scope was not clear at all at 24X. Adjustments were dead nuts, however.

- My Savage can shoot *really well with FGMM 69gr SMK *2"-3" with Hornady 55gr SP * Ok 1"-1.5" with Hornady Match 75gr HPBT.

- Gotta be fouled good before it'll shoot

- I think it's gonna be a real fun gun for me

- I don't think I need a barrel or a stock

Half of the 69smk below; the other two groups had 1 flyer each but were around the same as these discounting the flyers.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c234/Nibeck02/20160421_185508_zpskxojnbrs.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Nibeck02/media/20160421_185508_zpskxojnbrs.jpg.html)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c234/Nibeck02/20160421_185536_zpsb24buzn5.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Nibeck02/media/20160421_185536_zpsb24buzn5.jpg.html)

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[tufrthnails]

Looks like a great starting point.

[md7989]

That's a bold statement to try and cover all vortex scopes in terms of being overrated. Sounds like a prime time to use their awesome customer service??

[tufrthnails]

That's a bold statement to try and cover all vortex scopes in terms of being overrated. Sounds like a prime time to use their awesome customer service??

X2 My cousins PST is super clear all the way out to 24x. Sure makes 800 yards look awful close!

[FiveInADime]

That's a bold statement to try and cover all vortex scopes in terms of being overrated. Sounds like a prime time to use their awesome customer service??
Sorry for the hyperbole. I don't think there's anything wrong with it, I just wasn't impressed glass-wise. Maybe Vortex coatings just don't match my eyes very well because I was underwhelmed buy a pair of Vortex Viper HD binos (15x50mm) that the owner thought was awesome. We were looking at two different binoculars on tripod that day on an elk hunt. The other was a Nikon 16x56mm Monarch 5 and I much preferred them.

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[md7989]

Sorry for the hyperbole. I don't think there's anything wrong with it, I just wasn't impressed glass-wise. Maybe Vortex coatings just don't match my eyes very well because I was underwhelmed buy a pair of Vortex Viper HD binos (15x50mm) that the owner thought was awesome. We were looking at two different binoculars on tripod that day on an elk hunt. The other was a Nikon 16x56mm Monarch 5 and I much preferred them.

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Good points. I too will admit I wasn't impressed with the Viper 6-24x44 that I got on sale for $329 earlier this year from Midway. The glass just didn't seem to be there either so I sold it locally. However, the glass on my Viper PST 4-16x50 EBR-1 MRAD has been excellent for the price I paid ($550 from EuroOptic).

I will give Monarch 5s credit where credit is due...also an excellent piece for the price point

[GrumpyGuns]

Once you get a 100 or so rounds down the barrel it should shrink those groups up a bit.

[strut64]

I have a 204R in a model 11 trophy hunter. With ammo it likes It shoots about .5 MOA. I have been working on reloading but can't beat Hornady super performance 32 Gr ammo yet. Starting on Sierra 39 Gr stuff next outing. Replaced the original 3-9 Nikon with a 4-12 I swapped from a Tikka 223 had

[FiveInADime]

I just went out and stretched the legs of my .223 today.

I really have to say that this is the best gun/scope-purchase I've ever made.

We hauled a target stand with a metal drip pan hanging in it and a milk jug out to 600-yards this morning and let some bullets fly. We couldn't hear the bullets hitting the drip pan like I thought we would but the dirt splash behind it let us know we were hitting it. Then my buddy took a few shots at the milk jug and missed. I could see he was hitting high so I dialed 1 MOA down and when I shot I was below the target. So, I dialed back to my original solution and held 1MOA for left-to-right wind and BAM. Drilled the milk-jug dead center. This was with Australian Outback 69gr SMK factory loads, btw.

I have my .223 Forster Bench-Rest dies on standby with a bunch of 68gr Hornady HPBT bullets and Varget. I'll probably load up some 75gr Hornady HPBT and 77gr SMK once I get rolling just to experiment.

I've got a bunch of ADI brass now, has anyone ever loaded it?

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[Bill C]

My 1x9 223 shoots/stabilizes the hornady 75 bthp very well. I seat mine close to the lands and use ar-comp. Excellent 300 yard load

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[Ryfulman]

Not a 223 but I just bought an 11 predator hunter with a medium contour barrel. Off bags out of the box with Winchester varmint X factory loads I put the first 4 shots out of the rifle into the same hole,so these rifles can shoot.
My dimensions both print half moa with my handmade loads.
I've never seen a savage,even an axis not print 1/2moa with load development

[FiveInADime]

I've never seen a savage,even an axis not print 1/2moa with load development

The only other Savage I've ever shot was my mom's .243 in a birch stock. It wasn't a great shooter but it was old, old.

All the modern Savage rifles I've seen at the range were shooting good groups. I figured if mine wasn't a shooter I was just going to do a CBI barrel in .223AI with a 1:8" twist. Glad I didn't have to do that and it's shooting factory ammo easily sub-moa so I have no doubt I will be able to drive tacks with hand-loads.

I'm setting up an 8" gong at my shooting spot at 600 yards so I don't have to walk out as much. It's kind of a let-down how easy it was to accomplish my goal of "milk-jug at 600-yards", lol. I'll have to push it out to 700 now. Shooting at 2000ft elevation helps.


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[tufrthnails]

The only other Savage I've ever shot was my mom's .243 in a birch stock. It wasn't a great shooter but it was old, old.

All the modern Savage rifles I've seen at the range were shooting good groups. I figured if mine wasn't a shooter I was just going to do a CBI barrel in .223AI with a 1:8" twist. Glad I didn't have to do that and it's shooting factory ammo easily sub-moa so I have no doubt I will be able to drive tacks with hand-loads.

I'm setting up an 8" gong at my shooting spot at 600 yards so I don't have to walk out as much. It's kind of a let-down how easy it was to accomplish my goal of "milk-jug at 600-yards", lol. I'll have to push it out to 700 now. Shooting at 2000ft elevation helps.


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Glad to hear you got it figured out.