redshooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
I say yes!
So I recently purchased a Savage 10T-SR, and a few other items to have a go at an upcoming LR event, and maybe shoot a PRS Match, or two. Since I didn't win the lottery, you might say this is an exercise in Max Performance for the $$$.
I started with the Rifle, price range I was considering was $500-$800...pretty slim pickings if your goal is a heavy barrel bolt action repeater with a useful detachable magazine. As usual there's always a catch, in my case the catch is too much abuse on my body from my first profession. Multiple injuries mean nothing larger than 6.5mm, and even a 140 gr projectile is likely going to give my shoulder a bad time. I settled on 6mm Creedmoor, not exactly a dollar friendly cartridge when it comes to barrel life, but Match projectiles are relatively cheap, and let's face it the performance is pretty spectacular, at least that's been my experience to date! Finding a Rifle turned out to be pretty simple, a nice tidy sale price on a Rifle (and an Army buddy living near the store), resulted in a impulse road trip to the Nation's Capital (well almost). I left the store with a Savage 10T-SR, and a few other goodies.
If you are unfamiliar with the Rifle, it's a Savage model 10 action (bottom bolt release), 26" 1 in 8 twist barrel, 20 MOA rail, and a detachable staggered feed magazine. After one range session I concluded that my 2.5-10X44 just wasn't going to cut it, $200, free shipping, and a good return policy made taking the risk on the Covenant 4-16X44 sfp not living up to the hype easy. Since the magazine capacity isn't suitable for PRS I added a ten round Savage magazine. Brass (Starline srp), dies (Lee), and assorted gear/foam/elastic bandage laying about finished the package. Finally I got a SureFire ProComp, the price was right, and I wasn't yet sure if the first brake I bought had a "generous" bore, or my 5/8" is stunted. Hahaha, the SureFire screwed right on, didn't even need a washer, timed perfectly. What's funny about that is I got the ProComp, because SFRC had this slick shim kit, and one of their weekend sales. No shim required...it's not all roses though, they call it a Comp for a reason, regardless, does exactly what its supposed to do. A little more recoil reduction would be nice, and more is inbound. Along with a Forester BR Seater.
What's it been like? Well it's not as nose heavy as I first thought, but I still intend to put a bit of weight in the back, just not until I settle on a few other things first, it's still a work in progress after all. Its precision leaves me giggling every time I take it to the range. I'd have to go through my targets to be sure, but I don't think I've shot one five shot group over 2". Well over half MOA, or under, and I'm still working on the upper node. I've had a few challenges with my reduced loads that turned out to be my small rifle primer pockets. It took a few attempts to realize small rifle primers weren't going to do the job (should have known better), I had 20 pcs. of Hdy 6mm CM and a handful of 6.5 CM with large rifle pockets, enough to work up a load, problem solved, followed by more giggling.
What's with all the giggiling? Beside being half mad, I've never had such an easy time working up a load. Most five shot groups were MOA or better. A nice gentle 105 gr Hornady BTHP/36.6 gr H4350 load gives me an average of 2704 fps at this point. I had a few hangfires with CCI BR4 primers, but switching to Fed 205M seems to have put a halt to that. The best group I've fired was using the BR4's and this rifle, was under 0.5", two days later, and 205M's, about 0.333". My reduced loads are looking very promising as well. 75 gr V-Max/32.5 gr H4895 just over 0.5", and 33.5 a hair smaller.
Thanks to Jerry aka Mystic Precision for being a good guy with sound advice and giving me a nice deal on Projectiles, some gear, and producing a 1/2 dozen invoices for two orders.
So I recently purchased a Savage 10T-SR, and a few other items to have a go at an upcoming LR event, and maybe shoot a PRS Match, or two. Since I didn't win the lottery, you might say this is an exercise in Max Performance for the $$$.
I started with the Rifle, price range I was considering was $500-$800...pretty slim pickings if your goal is a heavy barrel bolt action repeater with a useful detachable magazine. As usual there's always a catch, in my case the catch is too much abuse on my body from my first profession. Multiple injuries mean nothing larger than 6.5mm, and even a 140 gr projectile is likely going to give my shoulder a bad time. I settled on 6mm Creedmoor, not exactly a dollar friendly cartridge when it comes to barrel life, but Match projectiles are relatively cheap, and let's face it the performance is pretty spectacular, at least that's been my experience to date! Finding a Rifle turned out to be pretty simple, a nice tidy sale price on a Rifle (and an Army buddy living near the store), resulted in a impulse road trip to the Nation's Capital (well almost). I left the store with a Savage 10T-SR, and a few other goodies.
If you are unfamiliar with the Rifle, it's a Savage model 10 action (bottom bolt release), 26" 1 in 8 twist barrel, 20 MOA rail, and a detachable staggered feed magazine. After one range session I concluded that my 2.5-10X44 just wasn't going to cut it, $200, free shipping, and a good return policy made taking the risk on the Covenant 4-16X44 sfp not living up to the hype easy. Since the magazine capacity isn't suitable for PRS I added a ten round Savage magazine. Brass (Starline srp), dies (Lee), and assorted gear/foam/elastic bandage laying about finished the package. Finally I got a SureFire ProComp, the price was right, and I wasn't yet sure if the first brake I bought had a "generous" bore, or my 5/8" is stunted. Hahaha, the SureFire screwed right on, didn't even need a washer, timed perfectly. What's funny about that is I got the ProComp, because SFRC had this slick shim kit, and one of their weekend sales. No shim required...it's not all roses though, they call it a Comp for a reason, regardless, does exactly what its supposed to do. A little more recoil reduction would be nice, and more is inbound. Along with a Forester BR Seater.
What's it been like? Well it's not as nose heavy as I first thought, but I still intend to put a bit of weight in the back, just not until I settle on a few other things first, it's still a work in progress after all. Its precision leaves me giggling every time I take it to the range. I'd have to go through my targets to be sure, but I don't think I've shot one five shot group over 2". Well over half MOA, or under, and I'm still working on the upper node. I've had a few challenges with my reduced loads that turned out to be my small rifle primer pockets. It took a few attempts to realize small rifle primers weren't going to do the job (should have known better), I had 20 pcs. of Hdy 6mm CM and a handful of 6.5 CM with large rifle pockets, enough to work up a load, problem solved, followed by more giggling.
What's with all the giggiling? Beside being half mad, I've never had such an easy time working up a load. Most five shot groups were MOA or better. A nice gentle 105 gr Hornady BTHP/36.6 gr H4350 load gives me an average of 2704 fps at this point. I had a few hangfires with CCI BR4 primers, but switching to Fed 205M seems to have put a halt to that. The best group I've fired was using the BR4's and this rifle, was under 0.5", two days later, and 205M's, about 0.333". My reduced loads are looking very promising as well. 75 gr V-Max/32.5 gr H4895 just over 0.5", and 33.5 a hair smaller.
Thanks to Jerry aka Mystic Precision for being a good guy with sound advice and giving me a nice deal on Projectiles, some gear, and producing a 1/2 dozen invoices for two orders.
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