Originally Posted by
red caddy 51
In just under 6 weeks, X caliber delivered a really nice .458 socom, stainless, 26 inch heavy contour Savage prefit, polished, crowned , ready to rock, barrel.
I removed all the pits from the action and bolt, (it was rough from being left stuffed in a nylon case, wet. I did say Cheap, right) glass bead blasted and parkerized the action after blueprinting and locking lug lapping. All that's left to do is modify the bolt handle, I want a longer one.
A 20 MOA scope base and a 3 X 9 X 40 Bushnell and I was range ready. I did a half hearted sighting in drill, mostly concentrating on a 40 round barrel break in.
The 20 MOA mount was a good choice. still have "up" adjustment with the 3 X 9, now to find a set of high rings to set my 2 to 7 Leopold mill dot.
Accuracy was not stellar, ~1.5" @ 50 yards, with Hornady 305 Gr.JSP. I blame most of that on the plastic stock, the action bolts loosened twice in 40 rounds. A pretty new Boyd's laminated, thumb hole stock is on order. Acutrigger set to 2.5 Lbs, clean, no creep. That's about as light as I can manage on a meat getter.
I also loaded a few 405 Gr, 525 Gr. and 600 Gr. soft loads. What I learned: at 7 Lb. 7 oz., all up with scope, 305's are very shootable, even from the bench. (new range officer had a cow because I was shooting from sticks, sitting under the bench.) 405's @ 1500 FPS, recoil is stiff, but manageable. 525 and 600 Gr. will change your mind, and quite possibly, your sex, when fired, supersonic, from the bench. The combination of a longer barrel, heavy bullets and H-4198 is not for the recoil shy, my .416 Rigby, Mod 70, African has better table manners...I ordered a brake from SOTA arms, the same one they supply with their .458 SOCOM AR upper. 40 rounds without one is something I won't do again soon.
There is much work to be done on feeding from the blind magazine, but extraction and ejection is strong. Will likely adjust the chamber lead while I have the barrel out for threading.
Well, that's the first range update, as usual, suggestions, horror stories and general smart azzed remarks are welcomed.
Thanks, Paul
Bookmarks