Humble Pie

[sblanch]

Got my new/used Savage yesterday and got out to shoot this afternoon.

Savage 10
Heavy Barrel
Choate Ultimate Varminter Stock
Leupold Rifleman 4-12x40
Harris 1A2 Ultralight
Rem. Express Core-Lokt 180grn

Wooden picnic table shooting bench, paper target at 100 yds.
Drizzle, with a 5 mph wind from 2 o'clock.

Visually bore sighted and fired 1 round 10" low and 3" right.
Adjust scope, fired 1 round and I was on the paper.

No adjustment, fired 3 shot group, measured at 0.567"

This being around the fourth time I've ever shot a centerfire rifle, I was pretty proud. I thought, "All those guys on the Hide make it sound hard to shoot a 1/2 moa group, I should have started on the 500 yd line."

So, with a quick adjustment to get closer to point of aim, I fired another group, approached the target, and got myself a BIG serving of humble pie. It measured 1.817", next one at 1.504". So much for my sub moa shooting ability.

The rain then began to fall so I packed up and headed for the truck. I guess I'll have to stay at the 100 yd mark for a few (or few thousand) rounds more. Just wanted to give an update on my first rifle and thank all the guys who answered my questions (I'm certain there will be more). I had a great time with my first 11 rounds and hope to do a whole lot more shooting.

Thanks Again

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Re: Humble Pie

You're starting,
You're actually out there doing it!
You know where your START line is,
and you're going from there.

What's to be humble about? Pat yourself on the back, and keep it up. You have only up to go, from here. So good on ya. Being honest about things is another mark of a good person.

 

[head2h2o]

Re: Humble Pie

Welcome to the real world of shooting my friend. Some days its chicken, some days its chicken turd. I was really humbled a few times when I got into this sport, but the more I shoot and worked on my technique and just tried to learn, the better I got. It will be a progression, but one you will enjoy.

 

[Chucky]

Re: Humble Pie

Try some better ammo and see how she shoots.

 

[flyboy]

Re: Humble Pie

+1 on the better ammo. My rifle for instance will shoot corelocks pretty well, but the next rifle may not. Either way, corelocks are not the most acurate rounds avalible. Play around with the different ones you have avilibe to you, and then look into reloading.

Welcome to the hide.

 

[sblanch]

Re: Humble Pie

I'm planning on different ammo, the Rem was the only thing an the shelf in .308 at my local gun shop.

I know its been covered but who recently has good prices on FGGM and Black Hills?

Was also considering trying Wolf Gold cause it is cheap.

 

[flyboy]

Re: Humble Pie

Tap has worked well for many people also.

 

[jccobb2]

Re: Humble Pie

hornday TAP is a great round. if your low on funds and won't push the 100 yard line for a while check out the prvi match in 168g BTHP. it shows its inconsistency as you move out, but at 100 yards it will do fine to educate you. you can still find it around .75c/round. save the brass for when you start reloading, its good stuff. and you will start reloading!

 

[acttacus]

Re: Humble Pie

second on better ammo. Try CTD, they had FGMM for $21 a box not long ago, but now its $25.

I'd start off with a box of each of the following:
FGMM
Hornady Match
Blackhill

Try different grain bullets, 168gr and 175gr are great starting points.

I'm almost 90% sure that the 2MOA group is due to the ammo you were using. With quality ammo you should be sub MOA no problem with your setup.

Cheers, and keep at it!!

 

[dlc356]

Re: Humble Pie

Someone posted about $21.99/box for FGMM yesterday.

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1446658&gonew=1#UNREAD

 

[desertfox01]

Re: Humble Pie

I just took off that same stock from my rifle. I got the B&C Medalist stock on it now (arrived last night) For me, I find it a lot more comfortable.

While I have seen people shoot small groups, it can take time and practice to do the small groups all the time (well, almost all the time, everyone has a bad day).

get some more range time....I also like to tell new shoorters to get some dummy rounds, have someone else load the rifle. You will see if your flenching at all when shooting when you get to the dummy round.

 

[daxromana]

Re: Humble Pie

It is refreshing to see someone so honest online (where everyone can shoot like David Tubb).

Thanks for the range report. Keep practicing and you will get better.

I went to an Appleseed shoot this spring. The best I could score with my lever action 22 on the 25M AQT was a 154/250. I started dry firing in my basement every night for a half hour and making it to the range once a week to practice. Now I shoot 210-225 with the same gun/ammo. Still practicing!

 

[sblanch]

Re: Humble Pie

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'm not sure I can place too much blame on the ammo just yet, but I'll never know without a better load so that is on the top of my list.

jccobb is right, I've already started considering reloading and have been searching this and other sites for good info.

In doing this, I began to wonder if I should spend any money at all on factory ammo, or just take that money, buy a Lee 50th anniversary kit, 308 dies and some once fired brass and jump into reloading?

Any thoughts?

desertfox,
Funny, but I was thinking the same thing about the dummy rounds

 

[natesguns]

Re: Humble Pie

I don't know if your reloading yet. If not just wait unitl you open that bag of worms. I love it!!!! I love to see people post real results. Makes me feel like I have chance in this sport yet. Good job and Keep shooting.

 

[dontstrokeme]

Re: Humble Pie

Good times!!!


Welcome and by the way...it isn't a sport.....it is an addiction!!

To really test yourself and the rifle try 5 shot groups....gives you more chances to fuck up but it also gives you more chances to mellow out and shoot well...just thinking that..."damn...that shot was to the left 1/2"...well I have another 2 shots to make the group come out respectable".....I found myself thinking that way when I started shooting 5 shot groups...10 shots is even more relaxing.....but relaxing is a great help...try different things to make you relax and have fun...that's why we do it. It really sucks and is a bad day when you sit there going " GD rifle won't shoot 5 MOA"...relax and keep shooting...find the problem and fix it.

Best help I ever got was meeting up and shooting with other Hiders....check out the SH link-up Forum Section!

Good luck and try some different ammo.

 

[dontstrokeme]

Re: Humble Pie

BTW...go for the cheap LEE reloading kit...$130 or so?

Then learn from there..you will always be able to use those components as spares.

Go to oncefiredbrass.com pick a brand of brass and stick with it...but most of his brass has factory crimps on it and it is way cheaper than buying new brass....you won't be able to tell the difference between new and oncefired untill the oncefired brass is dead....but when looking at reloading...KISS....keep it simple at first...it is a full circle type if thing. Buy a set of FL dies and run them...if you want to know why I FL every round instead of Neck or body sizing just PM me.....