Savage BAT

[rnbra-shooter]

Thats good news. Ive read that its more of an oddball twist rate than 1:11 or 1:12 to it prefers heavier bullets, but then again, others state that its very versatile, stabilizing 150s-220's. I know its all grapevine, but it gives me things to chat about.

The distance im taking is 900-1000 meters

I understand that virtually all Savage .30 cal barrels are 1-10" twist.

Typical "TR" rifles use 1-13" twist barrels, and routinely shoot 155s to 1000 yards. A quicker twist (such as 1-10") is not needed, though they usually work just fine. Bullets don't get less stable as they go downrange, they get more stable; if they can hit paper at 100 yards, they will be stable at 1000 yards and beyond. (And you do not need a quicker twist barrel to shoot 1000 yards than you do to shoot 600 yards)

If you're shooting with the ORA, the longest range you'll probably get to shoot at is 1000 yards (Mon Range, CFB Borden) or 900m (approx 990 yards) at Connaught Ranges, Ottawa. Thousand meter ranges are quite unusual.

As I understand, your rifle has a 24" barrel. This might cost you 125-150fps vs. what it achievable in a 30" target rifle barrel. Given that nice hot loads can reasonably get a 155 going about 3000fps in a 30" bbl, you ought to be able to get 2850fps. At this muzzle velocity, a Lapua 155 or Berger 155.5 will certainly be fine at 1000 yards (1200fps). An old Sierra #2155 will be marginally subsonic (Mach 0.972), but will probably work OK. A new Sierra #2156 will be going 1163fps at 1000 yards (Mach 1.042).

In the unlikely event that you don't get good results with 155s, you could shoot Sierra 175s. At 2650fps they be going subsonic right around 1000y (M=0.998), which ought to be OK. The Sierra 175s will give you essentially identical performance (and wind drift) as the higher performance 155s (Sierra #2156, Berger 155.5, Lapua 155)

 

[TR11]

^ Thanks a lot for that info. Very helpful! Exactly the things I was hoping would be discussed upon posting my rifle.

 

[DrawBlood]

all i can say is i want 2

 

[Koshy]

Very nice, glad I found your thread

Had one in the shop to make a thread protector for the Brake threads. The owner couldn't stand the noise the gun produced with the factory brake. I owned 1 savage Bolt action in close to 150 purchases. It was very accurate but would'nt eject the emptys after 2 warrenty visits so I got rid of it.(IF they won't feed they are junk)
If someone gave me a Savage Rifle for free and it was the best shooting Rifle I had ever laid hands on I would dump it in a heart beat. I really have a basic dislike to Savage Bolt actions. To me for a few dollars more they could really have a nice rifle but they are built dirt cheap with the minimum to appease its market share.Have at it but not me. Life is too short to use an UGLY gun!!!!!!!

When I played with it, I found there were ZERO loading or extracting issues...

Overall it was a nice rifle, with a nice feeling to it. I liked the "fake" 2 stage trigger, is a good idea!

Thanks,
- Koshy

 

[TR11]

Soon to be a much sweeter rifle. Get it back within a week and a bit. Stay tuned.

 

[GunBoy]

First found this rifle summer time, recently came home.

Trigger pull is at about 2lbs, and can be adjusted down to 1 and 1 1/2 or up to 6. Scope - Nightforce 5.5-22x50 w/ Near Alphamount and the provided extended length savage base. Other than these and the Harris 6-9" HRBM-S Bipod, the rifle is how it comes factory. 10 shot magazine, muzzle brake, and an extremely adjustable butt stock. This rifle accepts most AR-15 stocks, and just threads into place with the help of the A2 buffer tube. The rest of the stock is aluminum and about 16 lbs with my setup shown.

Since Im a lefty, the first thing I did was move the cheekpiece to the other side. I went out and bought a tap and die set, and remounted and reversed everything on the left side of the buttstock. It has a lot of adjustment.

Here you can see the provided extended base, with side mount picatinny rails for mounting god knows what, may cut those off.

I took it to the range last night along with a friend from the board. Followed his cleaning schedule he did on his steyr, which was 1 shot then clean until 5 shots, then 3 shot group, clean, 5 shot group, clean, 10 shot, clean. Done.

The pics below are how I shot. Note, this was only a 50 yard indoor range, so it doesnt mean much. All shots were shot a bipod. Ammo is Federal 150 grain Vital Shok.

3 shot group

My friend's first two shots out of the rifle (bastard)

5 shots

3 shots

10 quick shots to see how much the barrel would heat up

Can anyone recommend a rear bag. Im thinking a Protektor coming off recomendation. Any other favorites?

Nice!, At lease you got good taste!

 

[mightyhunter]

Damn good shooting! and nice rifle too.
Who needs a $5000 custom.

 

[noneck180]

Damn good shooting! and nice rifle too.
Who needs a $5000 custom.

Its 50 yards,, nice groups, but really 50 yards....

 

[GunBoy]

50yards, not 800yard, at lease the guy is Honest about it, got to give him that!.

 

[noneck180]

Okay,,

 

[mightyhunter]

Its 50 yards,, nice groups, but really 50 yards....

Ahhhh...nice rifle.

 

[GunBoy]

there was one there today at P&D, but with rubber stock, Paul told me that there were PGW Timberwolf there today behind the counter.

 

[TR11]

but really 50 yards....

totally agree

 

[Gunnerlove]

Bullets don't get less stable as they go downrange, they get more stable; if they can hit paper at 100 yards, they will be stable at 1000 yards and beyond. (And you do not need a quicker twist barrel to shoot 1000 yards than you do to shoot 600 yards)

They can and do, .308 Norma match ammo (168 SMK at 2600 fps) lovely little groups at 100m, and start flying through the target sideways at 700m.

 

[armorman]

They can and do, .308 Norma match ammo (168 SMK at 2600 fps) lovely little groups at 100m, and start flying through the target sideways at 700m.

The 168 gr SMK is the exception to the rule. According to many people it has a unique stability problem that prevents it from remaining stable past 800 yards....in most cases.

 

[GunBoy]

They can and do, .308 Norma match ammo (168 SMK at 2600 fps) lovely little groups at 100m, and start flying through the target sideways at 700m.

What kind of twist does the barrel have in this case, maybe not 1-12, with 1-12 is stable bullet up to 178grain amax on my rifles out to 700meter no problem, I load them quite hot 45 grain at lease for 175grain BTHP, going over 2700fps. with 168grain over 2760fps.

Maybe you should load it alittle hotter, try 1grain increment up to 46grain depended on type of power, I like Varget, BC-2, IMR4064 for 308win.

 

[Jamie]

try some GMM 175 gr should be gtg

 

[TR11]

Thought Id give an update to what its looking like currently...

The lighting is kind of throwing off the colors, but it'll give an idea...

Added a folding stock adapter, moved cheek piece to other side (lefty), new muzzle brake, blueprinted the action, bushed the firing pin hole, upgraded bipod parts (tilt lever lock/pod claws) and of course, paint (can you find the maple leaf?). Desert digital/ashphalt/coyote/OD mist. For some reason, plastic parts look greenish/more grey (pistol grip, cheek piece), but everyone knows its hard to get realistic white balance indoors for an amateur.

All work was done by Grizzly Gunworks, in Hamilton, Ontario. Very impressed with the service, communication and effort put forth.

I have 10 different grain loads to test tomorrow with 175 SMK's, varget, WLR, Lapua brass, both jumped and jammed. Picked up a chronograph as well. First time using one. I had issues with my stoney point comparator I was waiting for, so I did a smoke test again on the bullets to estimate distance to the lands.

Sunday, with Koshy (SSG08), we have our first time at distances 300m+

Just thought I'd share what the rifle currently looks like in case anyone is interested.

Cheers

 

[GunBoy]

Cool Set up. Very Nice!, did you do the color youself?
308win is Very enjoyable and pleasant to shoot!

 

[TR11]

Cool Set up. Very Nice!, did you do the color youself?
308win is Very enjoyable and pleasant to shoot!

I knew I wanted desert'ish scheme, and then I got the basic color scheme from another persons rifle that I really liked, and I handed the brush over to Grizzly Gunworks to do as he sees fit. I just spec'd that I wanted digital camo, and the canadian flag as an added touch. The asphalt and greens I believe are custom mixes.

Its KG GunKote bake on...