Savage Precision Carbine at 700 yards

[Suputin]

Since getting this 308 Win Precision Carbine I have been impressed with its accuracy. I am reloading 125gr Ballistic Tips and 125gr Match bullets with 49 grains of Varget pushing them over 3000 fps. Optics are Sightron 16x Mil Dot.

Today was only the second time I have shot this rifle outdoors. The targets were grapefruit to head sized rocks and a few small propane cylinders. Distance was laser ranged.

Once i got the range figured out, I was amazed at how regularly I was able to connect with this combination.

My shooting buddy kept saying how shocked he was that a relatively short 20" barrel and lightweight bullets could be so effective at long range.

At the end of the day we re-zero'd the rifle at 200 yds using a small steel plate target. The terminal energy of a 125gr bullet running at 3000 fps was impressive. It easily punched through the mild steel plate.

It was a gorgeous and nearly windless day but fairly warm. With the spotter set up behind the shooter we were able to see the swirl off the bullet nearly every shot. That was very cool.

 

[beavis_m305]

Might be a bit harder to do with those pills when the wind picks up

 

[Suputin]

The first time out I shot it at 500 yds on a 18" gong with a swirling crosswind and basically couldn't miss.

The interesting thing about the higher velocity is that the hit happens perceptably faster than normal.

I'm not sure I'd want to shoot it at moose but this thing would be deadly on deer at any decent range.

 

[clatartar]

go with a faster powder with the lightweight 125s...

 

[rnbra-shooter]

Nosler Ballistic Tips are nice bullets; the ones I have shot all seemed to be capable of match-bullet accuracy. The 125BT in a .308W is a fun combination.

I just ran your numbers through JBM (fortunately he even has a "Litz" entry for that bullet). Under standard atmospheric conditions, your 125 BTs will be arriving at 700 yards at 1320fps, which is quicker than I would have SWAGged.

Although the 125s will get blown around more than a heavier match bullet, its not so much more as to make it laughable. The rule for thumb for wind drift for a 155 match bullet is 10MOA of drift at 1000 yards in a 10MPH crosswind (e.g. fired at 3000fps from a 30" barreled target rifle). Your 125 BTs fired at 3000fps will drift 15MOA at 1000 yards in a 10mph crosswind; while that would be a competitive disadvantage in a 1000 yard match if you were firing against someone shooting proper long range target ammo, it is not at all hopeless for some very rewarding long range plinking.

 

[Suputin]

go with a faster powder with the lightweight 125s...

I'm out of the Varget now and have a bunch of H322 to use up which is a bit faster but still very accurate.

Really I just wanted somethig I could use out to 500 yds or so that was fun to shoot and this combination really seems to work. So I am happy with it.

 

[Dezol]

I have a similar setup, I am shooting the Savage Precision 10 in .308 as well, however I am using Hornady Superformance 150gr, 3000fps muzzle velocity and I am thoroughly impressed. Nice tight group at 500yds, haven't tried at any further distances yet. All in all an awesome rifle.

 

[Suputin]

Is that a book velocity or have you chronod it? I can't get enough powder in the case to meet the book velocities with the 125gr bullets.

 

[clatartar]

Which is why you go with a faster powder, IMR 8208xbr perhaps?

 

[Suputin]

I just happened to have a pound of Varget on the bench. It is gone now so the next loads will be with H322 which is a bit faster IIRC.

Doesn't really matter though I just wanted a fairly accurate and fun rifle to plink with and this thing has that in spades.

 

[ginnz]

awesome stuff.... I just bought a Savage 12 .308 with 26" stainless fluted heavy BBL.... and i'm almost out of varget, and have FIVE 155 gn palma's left.. :-(

off to the city next week. I'm gonna get at least 3 lbs varget, 2 lbs H322, i'm considering getting a 500 pack of 155 gn Palma's, but i may just get 100 again, and try 100 168gn hornady A-Max, and a bunch of .223 stuff.... It's amazing how fast the Varget dissapeared once i got a .308!

 

[lmcc]

Since getting this 308 Win Precision Carbine I have been impressed with its accuracy....

How do you like the accustock?

-L

 

[pilot2001]

Nosler Ballistic Tips are nice bullets; the ones I have shot all seemed to be capable of match-bullet accuracy. The 125BT in a .308W is a fun combination.

I just ran your numbers through JBM (fortunately he even has a "Litz" entry for that bullet). Under standard atmospheric conditions, your 125 BTs will be arriving at 700 yards at 1320fps, which is quicker than I would have SWAGged.

Although the 125s will get blown around more than a heavier match bullet, its not so much more as to make it laughable. The rule for thumb for wind drift for a 155 match bullet is 10MOA of drift at 1000 yards in a 10MPH crosswind (e.g. fired at 3000fps from a 30" barreled target rifle). Your 125 BTs fired at 3000fps will drift 15MOA at 1000 yards in a 10mph crosswind; while that would be a competitive disadvantage in a 1000 yard match if you were firing against someone shooting proper long range target ammo, it is not at all hopeless for some very rewarding long range plinking.

Im not sure if your windage data is correct... Im shooting a 7rem mag with a 180 berger G1 BC of 659 at 2750fps, at 500 yards in a 10 mph cross wind i hold 2.7 minutes = about 13 inches. Just ran that on my ballistic computer which is bang on for me.

 

[pilot2001]

oh Sh*t srry , you said 10 MOA at a 1000 , my bad thought you said 10 inches