Savage 116 FHSS 300Win Mag Is A Real Consistent Shooter

You all have all ready seen some of the groups with my Savage 116 FHSS 300Win Mag. Here are the four groups I shot today which illustrates the consistency of this rifle.

[img width=477 height=450]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/Savage%20116%20-%20300Win%20Mag/IMG_0123_2.jpg[/img]


165gr HPBT - H1000 3114fps - 5 shot group Win brass 9 1/2M primer
[img width=600 height=400]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0130.jpg[/img]

165gr HPBT - (1gr more) H1000 3119fps - 5 shot group Win brass 9 1/2M primer
[img width=600 height=400]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0131.jpg[/img]

165gr HPBT - IMR4350 3218fps - 5 shot group Win brass CCI250 primer
[img width=300 height=450]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0133.jpg[/img]

180gr Ballistic Tip - IMR4350 3091fps - 5 shot group Win brass CCI250 primers
[img width=600 height=400]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0134.jpg[/img]

Great shooting, just picked up a 116 as an action donor.

Yes, for a hunting rifle this one is really coming around and shots great.

Just to keep things in perspective here are 9 groups in unbroken succession of different bullets, powders and primers after the break-in. This shows the consistency of this Savage 116 FHSS 300Win Mag.

Here is the break-in target with the group in the middle being the last five rounds fired in the break-in process
[img width=600 height=400]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0091-1.jpg[/img]


210gr Berger four shot group
[img width=600 height=400]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0100-1.jpg[/img]

180gr Ballistic Tip
[img width=600 height=400]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0099.jpg[/img]

165gr Sierra HPBT three shot group with H4350 at 3057fps
[img width=600 height=400]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0095-1.jpg[/img]


165gr Sierra HPBT using H1000 at 3118fps five shot group I pulled the 2nd and 3rd rounds and called them when I did trying to get use to the Accutrigger.
[img width=600 height=400]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0101-1.jpg[/img]

165gr Sierra HPBT using H1000 at 3123fps five shot group and I pulled the 1st round and called it, still the trigger but I am getting better with it.
[img width=600 height=400]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0105.jpg[/img]


165gr HPBT - H1000 3114fps - 5 shot group Win brass 9 1/2M primer
[img width=600 height=400]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0130.jpg[/img]

165gr HPBT - (1/10gr more) H1000 3119fps - 5 shot group Win brass 9 1/2M primer
[img width=600 height=400]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0131.jpg[/img]

165gr HPBT - IMR4350 3218fps - 5 shot group Win brass CCI250 primer
[img width=300 height=450]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0133.jpg[/img]

180gr Ballistic Tip - IMR4350 3091fps - 5 shot group Win brass CCI250 primers
[img width=600 height=407]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0134.jpg[/img]

Mike, it's really coming together. I do wonder how the 210's would group compared to the others at 300yds. & more. They may start showing their worth at that point. i would also wonder about 200 gr. Accubonds.

I am fixing to do more work with the heavier bullets including the 200gr Accubonds.

Well, it was bugging me about the group using the 165gr HPBT in front of IMR4350 using CCI250 primers. I wanted to see if it was a consistent load and also checking the consistency of my barrel. I cleaned my barrel before I went to shoot this group because it had fired 45 rounds since my last cleaning. I wanted to see if it would shoot with a clean barrel as well as it shot with a fouled barrel. So this morning early before I had to go to work I stopped buy the range and shot this group.

Well my barrel is truly a shooter and my load is good and consistent. Here is a six shot group out of a clean barrel. The flyer is the first shot out of the totally cleaned barrel. I am pleased to say the least. It should even tighten up a little more after firing these six rounds.

165gr Sierra HPBT, IMR4350, Win Brass, CCI primers. With flyer the group is 1.276" and without the flyer the next five measure .662 and the average velocity over the six rounds was 3228fps.
[img width=600 height=400]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/IMG_0135.jpg[/img]

I have settled on a load after much testing now. I tried this load with different primers to make sure. 165gr Sierra HPBT, 74grs IMR4350, Win Brass, CCI250 primers, COAL, 3.340" moving 3218fps (average over five 5 shot groups), Extreme Spread 22 and Deviaton of 9.47. Average group size of five 5 shot groups including flyers is 1/2" without flyers 1/4".

I believe I have not done my best shooting with this rifle. I am still getting use to it, plus, I know that my last three times to the range were not my best or what I really could do. When I settle back down with my shooting and get back into the groove, I will begin to eliminate these periodic fliers. Hopefully I will be going to South Louisiana this Friday and shoot at a range where I can shoot 300, 400, 500 and 600 yards. That should tell me if I have a good load and I hope my shooting becomes consistent and steady once again. NO COFFEE FRIDAY MORNING, JUST A GOOD BREAKFAST WITH JUICE. :)

Mike,

I'd like to point out that shooting distance is fun but your shots are also much more influenced by the wind. Shooting at 100 yards, your bullet is flying faster and has less time for the environment to manipulate the bullet.

Please take your camera with you and share your pics with us.

Adrian

Yes, I know, I have made long shots on targets and deer. Longest shot while hunting was 618yds, had plenty of time to assess my situation and made a clean shot with my last 300mag using the 165gr bullet. Thank you for the warning but I will not be a stranger to my practice session Friday. I always take my camera for my own records as well as sharing with others. If the weather permits we will be shooting Friday. :)