The "huge" scope is for the long range shooting that I hope to do. Perhaps a novice move but oh well, will enjoy.
However, went out to the range the first time today with the Remington Sendero. Brought some of my other rifles and handguns before moving to the big toys left for last. At the 50/100/200 yard range broke out the Mossberg Maverick 270, Savage 300 Win Mag, Browning A-Bolt 375 H&H and the new Remington (plus a Norinco AR-15 clone). What a fun that Norinco is. Put about 4,000 rounds down its throat so far including 300 today as fast as we could swap mags and just keeps on ticking.
The Browning was bought from a CNGer who professed it to be new and yes it appeared to be so. Cycling through a few warm up rounds with the Mossberg and Savage I moved on to the Browning (which I had yet to shoot) and the Sendero. I must say that I am impressed with both the funtionality and accuracy of the "low-budget" Mossberg/Savage combos. Cycled cleanly meaning no problems in loading 3 in the mag and then rotating through with the bolt. The Mossberg in particular is silky smooth ... who would have guessed.
The Browning was open sights (no scope) and functioned perfectly. Put through 21 rounds at 50/100 and finally 200 yards. With open sights the 200 yards was a bit of a prayer (remember I am a novice). Nice groupings for open sights and offhand stance.
Moved onto the 300 RUM. Put 2 rounds into the magazine and then rammed a cartridge home. However, I could not swing the bolt handle down into locked position. It stayed "frozen" in the "lock the bolt" position. Cycling back the bolt, the cartridge remained in the breech and picked up the second round. Good thing I wasn't testing this on a hunt with a charging grizzly. Opened the floor-plate and removed both cartidges (the first one popped out). Put in 3 cartridges (Remington flavour) and same thing - hard time to lock the bolt handle. Eventually managed to do it. Cycling to the second round still problems with ramming/locking bolt. Eventually managed to fire 9 rounds down range but the cycling was NOT SMOOTH at all and had to fight each round. A bit of a disappointment when I have a $3,000+ rifle being out-performed (ease-of-use-wise) by Mossberg and Savage "cheapies". For the record, was using Remington Premier Scirocco Bonded Power Level III 180 gr loads - so factory loaded.
Anyway, with the loading problems wasn't really concerned about sighting in so can't post pics of the target. By the way, the Savage 300 Win Mag is less than MOA at 100 yards right out of the box which is amazing for a "cheap" rifle.
Going to try the 300 RUM again next weekend but I fear it will be going to Chris at Weber & Makin to "clean up" the action and lighten the trigger to a crips, clean break. On a side note, the kick of the 300 RUM was less than the 375 H&H Browning although that might be me simply "feeling" it differently. Both were hoots to shoot, problems and all, and when Chris fixes the 300 RUM will be back to the range and see what the Vortex scope on the 700 can really do.
On a side note, must be my lucky day as I purchased a Marlin .45/70 and before I even fired it, it is at Chris' shop getting the cycling cleaned up. Jammed twice in a row cycling 5 rounds through it and the last time the lever jammed open trying to load the first round. All in all, I am getting excited about range time although the wife is starting to get suspicious of all the packages arriving on a weekly basis.
For the record, the Mossberg I have shot before but the Savage 300 Win Mag, Browning 375 H&H and 300 RUM were all "virgins" until today. Will not be putting a muzzle brake on the 300 RUM, just fine the way it is.
