Need help with scope - Savage mod 11

One_Rook

One_Rook

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First of all thanks very much for all of the advice during this long process of figuring out the right gun for the coyote hunting. I finally settled on a Savage mod 11 (pre acu-trigger, in .243 win.). I picked it up yesterday with a box of ammo and headed to the range, that's where the trouble began.

I set up a target (large prairie dog) at 50m, which is the lowest stop on the range that I was at. I was on a bench/table with a gun rest (no extra money for the bi-pod just yet) with a spotting scope as well as the rifle scope. I popped off a few rounds, with the "dog" in my cross hairs and... total miss, nothing even on the paper, or on the backing that I could tell although the backing was quite chewed up.

My problem is that on this outdoor range, since I was missing the target, backdrop, and paper - I have no idea where the bullet was landing. Let me add that I'm not a bad shot - certainly not miss the entire target kind of a shot. So I tried to dial down the scope, thinking it was too high - nothing. I set an old bucket at about 25m and still was missing - sitting and standing. The long story short is that I went through a box of ammo (20 cart.) and didn't touch the paper once. So, being a noob, I'm asking for some help.

Is it possible that the scope is not properly installed on the bore? It came mounted.. Or is there some way that I can figure this out?

Any advice would be appreciated!
 
After this first shot (miss) this is what you should have done:

Remove the bolt.

Dial the scope to the lowest power.

Look through the bore and use the rest, sandbag, whatever, to aim the barrel at a target. Any feature at 100 yards would be just fine.

Without disturbing the rifle, look through the scope to see where it is aimed.

Adjust the scope so it is aimed at the target when the bore is also on target.

It is much easier to do if another person can crank the scope while you are looking through it.

This is called "boresighting" and is something you can do out the back window of your house before you leave for the range. Requires no tools and will get you on paper every time.
 
Thanks very much Ganderite I'll give that a try.

Someone who came to the range just as I was leaving said that I should "zero" in the scope. I don't know exactly what that means, but would that be something else that I can try if needs be after boresighting?
 
Zero usually means adjusting the scope so the bullets hit where you want. That is what you were trying to do. You were trying to zero your rifle.


After your rifle is zeroed for the distance you want (say 200 yards or 2 " hi at 100, or whatever you want) it is probable that there is a scale on the wind and elevation you can move so it reads "0". This way you can easily return to zero if you ever make any click adjustments.
 
I bought the same rifle, probably at the same store, and zeroed it at the same range on Wednesday lol. Fortunately, my first shot was on paper and I had it zeroed at 50m in a few shots. Zeroing is simply a matter of setting the scope for hitting the bullseye at the distance you want to. With the ammo I was using, zero (bullseye) at 50m = .7 inch high at 100m and zero again at 200m. That is under a swirling wind and cold cold hands so those results may change a very little bit under more favourable conditions. It means I can hold the crosshairs on anything from right in front of me out to 200m and be within one inch of point of aim if I do my part. I was freezing my fingers by then so I didnt try it at 300m. It is not likely that I will do that until I start reloading for it (waiting on dies). Good luck getting squared away, Ganderite has you dialed in on how to get there.
 
Take it to a gunshop if you have one nearby and have someone there actually put a boresighter on the rifle, might cost you $5 but it'll be on paper next time you get to the range.

You gotta go to the gunshop anyways to get more ammo by the sounds of it.
 
When you are at the Gun Shop buying ammo and having your scope bore sighted, might want to have the person also check to ensure that the base and ring screws are correctly tightened.
 
When you are at the Gun Shop buying ammo and having your scope bore sighted, might want to have the person also check to ensure that the base and ring screws are correctly tightened.
Click to expand...

X2 on this comment.

I had a friend who just mounted a scope on a new rifle and at the lowest elevation adjustment he was still about a foot high at 25 yards. It was about then that we noticed that one of the scope mounts was actually higher than the other. Apparently when he bought the mounts, one of them in the package was a different mount. He did get the correct ones.
 
I have the same gun, once you get it dialed in you will be a happy man. I have found mine to be a great gun. Its my first savage but it wont be the last. Do as the post above said and have fun dropping yotes!
 
If you can't hit a fifty yard target, move it closer.
Or do the old style way of sighting it in by
looking down the bore and adjust x to the bullseye.
 
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