Rifle Scopes New Guy ! Just getting into LRP Seriously

[SOE_technician]

hello Snipers Hide ,

I have been a reader of many articles for some time but have taken the plunge into the sport of long range precision lately and am throughly addicted. I up until recently had been shooting a Tikka T3 lite stainless in 308 but it just was not made for many continuous shoots and so I got a new gun. I now am the happy owner of a SAVAGE 10 FCP-SR 5R in 308. I really love the gun! i was prescribed a "break in" and after my first cleaning and the inital 1 shot clean for 10 rounds then 10 shot clean for a round my friend said to start just going to town. I have had 2 outings with it now and my round count it at 78. I figure copper EQ probably has not been reached yet but the rifle is already producing some fantastic performances. Got it out to 544 yards yesterday and was easily popping those big green balls that hang from trees( we call them bodocks) as well as milk jugs and some water bottles. I dont have great glass yet but my Nikon 3x9x40 prostaff seems to be ok, luckily it tracks well and I love ballistic math so dialing exact ranges is something I am good at since i don't have a mil dot reticle just a Nikoplex or Crosshair you know I'm sure. I have mainly done my shooting with Hornady 168 grain A-MAX and HTBP and they seem to do well but of course I am interested in reloading in the future. This was my first decent group only from 200 on my initial day out with my new rifle. At any rate glad to be part of the site and hope to learn more and meet plenty of cool fokes.

 

[ClearwaterKen]

Welcome to the hide!

This is a great forum where with nearly any questions regarding shooting, there is typically a subject matter expert or 100 lol. There are even factory personal and reps here at the hide from some of the top tier names in the industry. Great place to get started in the LRP aspect and if there is anything optically I can help with, please don't hesitate to ask.

Welcome aboard and enjoy,
Ken

 

[SOE_technician]

Thanks man, I am on hunt while acquiring funds for some new glass. My nikon prostaff 3x9x40 is not suited for my new obsession lol. I have taken it out to 540 yds but of course it is not a crisp image that far and with only 9 power things are still are good ways away.

 

[ClearwaterKen]

That's a great start and in my opinion, the best way to start. If you were to start into this game with a Kahles or another top tier producer right off the bat, may of the things that set apart the high end from the mass production are not as easy to identify. Starting off this way, working first on your shooting and then tailoring your gear to keep up with your shooting demands, is by far the best way to go at least to me. Would also recommend a good shooting course as well if you have the time, K&M in Florida is tough to beat and they offer classes from beginning to advanced and the cadre down there is top tier!

 

[Supergyro]

Welcome. I too have a savage (in .260 though) and am having a blast learning all I can from reading and shooting.
One tip I have that has really helped me is to keep a data book/shooting journal and to write down and record every piece of data you can. No matter how small. That can definitely help you see patterns of where you're doing well and where you can improve.

 

[sib1948]

Great start, but your adventure is just starting! Good Luck

 

[SOE_technician]

Agree totally on the data book, and I am keep a pretty intensive one thus far, Im a biotechnology student and many hours in labs have me trained to gather all data for true interpolation and forming solutions to any and all problems. Plus i like to have a in depth degree of understanding of all my hobbies lol.
Thanks for the welcome I know I will meet some quality fokes on here. Also I was very close on a 260 or 6.5 creedmor but I have only been shooting for couple years and to truly improve LRP i figured 308 would give me the longest life to hone my skills. But ... lol hoping i can get my a model 12 6.5 or 260 by christmas !! lol

 

[SOE_technician]

Great start, but your adventure is just starting! Good Luck

thanks for the welcome man ! yea I am glad to be starting this adventure for sure

 

[SOE_technician]

Welcome. I too have a savage (in .260 though) and am having a blast learning all I can from reading and shooting.
One tip I have that has really helped me is to keep a data book/shooting journal and to write down and record every piece of data you can. No matter how small. That can definitely help you see patterns of where you're doing well and where you can improve.

Agree totally on the data book, and I am keep a pretty intensive one thus far, Im a biotechnology student and many hours in labs have me trained to gather all data for true interpolation and forming solutions to any and all problems. Plus i like to have a in depth degree of understanding of all my hobbies lol.
Thanks for the welcome I know I will meet some quality fokes on here. Also I was very close on a 260 or 6.5 creedmor but I have only been shooting for couple years and to truly improve LRP i figured 308 would give me the longest life to hone my skills. But ... lol hoping i can get my a model 12 6.5 or 260 by christmas !! lol

 

[Coopracing]

I am new to it myself and noticed we are in the same town. May see you around the range. I am sure you are aware we have a 1K range around now.

 

[SOE_technician]

I am new to it myself and noticed we are in the same town. May see you around the range. I am sure you are aware we have a 1K range around now.

Speaking on the one in chapel hill?
Welcome my fellow beginner/novice.
What rig you shooting?

 

[Done Vida]

Welcome tnblueraider. I'm right there with you and coopracing. Just moved back to the boro went to school here as well a few years ago. Still have some work to do on my rifle but plan on getting chapel hill soon. We may have to get a group together since we have a few guys in the area. Looks like your off to a great start. This site will be awesome for learning and not so good to your wallet. ? Happy shooting and go raiders

 

[SOE_technician]

Welcome tnblueraider. I'm right there with you and coopracing. Just moved back to the boro went to school here as well a few years ago. Still have some work to do on my rifle but plan on getting chapel hill soon. We may have to get a group together since we have a few guys in the area. Looks like your off to a great start. This site will be awesome for learning and not so good to your wallet. Happy shooting and go raiders

MTSU Alumni? I been at MTSU for 3 yrs grad in december! What ya doing to your rifle? And yea be cool to get a group together of local and anyone else to go shoot. I definitely want to hit up chapel hill since the family farm only has a 600 stretch to max out. And locally ive just been practicing at OK Corral.

 

[Coopracing]

Speaking on the one in chapel hill?
Welcome my fellow beginner/novice.
What rig you shooting?

Yea the Chapel Hill Range, Strategic Edge, super nice place. I just got into a GAP .308 and set a Premier 5-25 on it. Still working on my load, but love the rifle. I truly appreciate and enjoy the challenge of shooting long distance. I have a lot to learn though and this site is great for information.

Didn't mean to sidetrack your thread though.........

 

[SOE_technician]

Yea the Chapel Hill Range, Strategic Edge, super nice place. I just got into a GAP .308 and set a Premier 5-25 on it. Still working on my load, but love the rifle. I truly appreciate and enjoy the challenge of shooting long distance. I have a lot to learn though and this site is great for information.

Didn't mean to sidetrack your thread though.........

Naw man your good im glad to be meeting others especially in the area, I want to get into reloading but trying to get my setup done first . gotta have me some better glass, trying to get the fixed 16x leupold this lady is selling. nice glass is so expensive and deal are hard to find

 

[Done Vida]

Not technically alum but spent a couple good years there. Im having the barrel cut and recrowned. Maybe we can sometime soon. Again happy shooting

 

[ArmyJerry]

Welcome, the 10 is a good rifle, I suggest you get a good cheapish scope until you figure out what you really want and have the $ to get it, a used super sniper has all the functionality you will need to get started and learn. If you are reloading, I suggest 43 grains of Varget pushing a 175 smk in a Win case as a start. I have the same 5R 10 FP, love it, it sits in a Mcrees chassis and shoots 1/2 - 5/8th inch holes when I don't have too much coffee in me.

 

[SOE_technician]

Welcome, the 10 is a good rifle, I suggest you get a good cheapish scope until you figure out what you really want and have the $ to get it, a used super sniper has all the functionality you will need to get started and learn. If you are reloading, I suggest 43 grains of Varget pushing a 175 smk in a Win case as a start. I have the same 5R 10 FP, love it, it sits in a Mcrees chassis and shoots 1/2 - 5/8th inch holes when I don't have too much coffee in me.

Very cool , might I ask how good your 10 with the 5R rifling is performing since I am guessing you have shot it more then I have my new rifle only 79 times right now. And do you feel the 5R has made any real difference down range compared to your other rifles? Yea im leaning to the fixed 16x SWFA . Thanks for the post on the thread!

 

[ArmyJerry]

Well, I don't think the 5R makes any difference, I do think when they make a 5 R they pay attention more ans its a cleaner cut, I think the barrel maker is a bigger factor than 5 vs 6 grooves, Kreiger has some thoughts on this on his website. Hand loaded ammo will make the biggest difference, buy a box of Gold Medal Match 308 and shoot it against your normal ammo and that will begin to show you the potential with hand loads, wait til you get the 16x scope though. I don't know who makes the barrels for Savage but I have 3 of them as well as many many rifles in other brands, the Savages outshoot all the others out of the box. The 16 x SS is a good choice, I have one on my 308 AR, you should buy one used so you can sell it for the same price basically when you decide what scope you want to upgrade to in the future. I have 3k + rounds down this tube, I will get a Brux barrel on it next. If you don't have a muzzle brake get one, a cheap one will work, it will help you develop your skills without getting beat up. Also YouTube how to adjust our accutrigger, it makes a big difference, don't lose the yellow adjustment tool. As far as comparing this against my other rifles, I have 3 gas 308's, but only one bolt 308, the 260, 223, 300 WM, 300 WSM, 30/06, and 270 all have different purposes so its hard to compare. The 308 is the best learner rifle, when you get a bit of experience you will probably start looking at the 6 or 6.5 family or even a 300 WM for longer distances but the 308 will get you out to 1k meters.

Very cool , might I ask how good your 10 with the 5R rifling is performing since I am guessing you have shot it more then I have my new rifle only 79 times right now. And do you feel the 5R has made any real difference down range compared to your other rifles? Yea im leaning to the fixed 16x SWFA . Thanks for the post on the thread!

 

[SOE_technician]

Well, I don't think the 5R makes any difference, I do think when they make a 5 R they pay attention more ans its a cleaner cut, I think the barrel maker is a bigger factor than 5 vs 6 grooves, Kreiger has some thoughts on this on his website. Hand loaded ammo will make the biggest difference, buy a box of Gold Medal Match 308 and shoot it against your normal ammo and that will begin to show you the potential with hand loads, wait til you get the 16x scope though. I don't know who makes the barrels for Savage but I have 3 of them as well as many many rifles in other brands, the Savages outshoot all the others out of the box. The 16 x SS is a good choice, I have one on my 308 AR, you should buy one used so you can sell it for the same price basically when you decide what scope you want to upgrade to in the future. I have 3k + rounds down this tube, I will get a Brux barrel on it next. If you don't have a muzzle brake get one, a cheap one will work, it will help you develop your skills without getting beat up. Also YouTube how to adjust our accutrigger, it makes a big difference, don't lose the yellow adjustment tool. As far as comparing this against my other rifles, I have 3 gas 308's, but only one bolt 308, the 260, 223, 300 WM, 300 WSM, 30/06, and 270 all have different purposes so its hard to compare. The 308 is the best learner rifle, when you get a bit of experience you will probably start looking at the 6 or 6.5 family or even a 300 WM for longer distances but the 308 will get you out to 1k meters.

Very cool, I Share many of your opinions and I agree with the good barrels. I had a Tikka prior to this in 308 and was very impressed with its accuracy from the sako made barrel. So I was kinda wondering if Savage would be better, So far it has been very impressive even despite not having stellar optics applying all the practical fundamentals I had with the Tikka to the Savage seems to make accuracy easy. I most likely will end up with the fixed 16X as they are so easy to come by on Sample List.