Well, I'm pretty new to precision long rifles/scopes, maybe started in March. I started with Savage Custom Model 12 in 6.5 Creedmoor with crappy scope. I got an affordable but fantastic scope, and once I found best ammo, I succeeded at hitting the 1-mile target in Cresson, TX. But I'd always been a Steyr AUG fan, and my wife and I discovered their handguns at Christmas time, justifying my love of all guns Steyr.
I made an email inquiry of Steyr HQ in Austria, a day later I got an email saying, "Call me" from American Steyr HQ. I laid out my case as to why I believed Steyr should offer the SSG 08 A1 Sniper platform in 6.5 Creedmoor, 2 days later, their first and only Steyr SSG 08 A1 in 6.5 Creedmoor arrived at my Steyr Rep store. I didn't pick up until June, along with a Schmidt and Bender 12-50x56 FFP scope. I'd been waiting for my separately ordered ZRO Delta Muzzle Break, but didn't follow break in procedure, in my defense I didn't know one existed, nor was I informed....but it's all good.
Anyway, Hornady ELD Match 120 gr seemed tighter than the 147 gr that the Savage liked. I finally got muzzle brake on before a competition last Sunday shooting tiddly winks at 200 yards against benchrest guns and handloads. The 147 gr was untenable, so after first rd I switched to Hornady ELD Match 140 gr, as yet untested...I got 3 of 10 in first rd, but I got 6 of 10 in 2nd rd. I was happy, but I was still not happy yet.
Last Tuesday I had Alamo precision rifle remove the muzzle brake and turned me onto Optimal Barrel Time paper, and I knew I'd have to come to grips to handload, but in the present, I bought a total of 8 different box ammo to test in underground 100 yard cavern, I tested in 5 shot groups to narrow down to best 5, then shot 3 shot groups and both Hornady ELD Match in 140 and 120 gr both shot sub half MOA, but the 140 actually shot a 0.111 MOA 3 shot group. I did 2 final shots of 120 and 140 and again, 140 gr won.
Fast forward to Saturday's annual Clay pidgeon shoot at 550 yards in Graham, TX. There's two 2 in, three 3 in, three 4 in pidgeons that we get 10 rds to shoot at per round. But here's the kicker, we only got 5 zero rds to put on paper for score, it took first 3 rds to get DOPE, but then I put best two shots back-to-back of anyone there, and closest to X center, for a 0.095 MOA. This SSG 08 A1 platform, whether in .308, .300 WM or .338 LM, can perform at par with box ammo what benchrest guns with handloads can do.
I plan on also getting the SSG 08 M1 (.308/.338 interchangable in the field) as well as an HS.50 M1. And of course an Anniversary AUG too. My wife and I own 2 L9-A1s and a C9-A1 as well. And I shot the Savage in Tactical class with the 147 gr. My Steyr has also hit the mile fwiw, but it outscored the Savage 260%, so I'm convinced that within 1 year I'll be competing for the win against benchrest....but yes, I'll be handloading too.
