I have been practicing and trying to improve my long range shooting abilities for a few years now.

These are the two rifles I use most often.

Savage 10 FCP-SR (308) with a Bushnell Elite Tactical 6-24x50mm, mil dot reticle.





A also have a Savage 10 FCP-K (.223) the glass on it is a Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x40mm duplex reticle.







Anyone else do any precision shooting? If so what are you using???

I have a few Savages also. In 308 I use a 10 BAS, with a Nightforce Benchrest 8-32 x56mm NPR-2 redical on it. In 338 Lapua I have a 110 BA, With a Nightforce 5.5-22x 56mm NPR-1 redical. And in 223 I have a Model 12, 1:8 twist, all stainless, right bolt, left port, it has a stainless Leopold 6.5x 20 50mm long range scope (Leopold dot redical)on it. I have an old 340 (pre 1961)in 22 Hornet that is one of the most accurate rifles I've ever seen. And I have 3 o/u combo rifles (You can say I like Savage Rifles.) We refer to the 223 as "The M&M Gun" at 200 yards it struck 5 M&M's in a row. I plan on shooting the 308 and the 223 on July 5th at Rayner's Range in southern Ohio. With Good handloads the 308 will do 5" at 1000 yards and the 223 has done 3" twice (In better hands than mine). The 308 load for distance is 155 Sierra Palma and the 223 is the 75 A-Max, both over lots of Varget!

You may want to go to heavier Bi-pods for the longer distances or shoot off the saddle shaped bags. Harris' have a little too much wobble for most of the guys I know. The BA and BAS both have Sinclair International's "Tactical" bi-pod on them the 223 has a Harris sometimes and is off a rest others (involves a stock change).

What are your groups and loads?

Your 308 looks set up for a suppressor, is it? And how is it performing? I have been using a suppressor on an AR-15 and the Best I'm getting is 2 1/4" at 234 yards The rifle will do 3/4" at that distance un-suppressed. At that distance the 10 BAS will be sub 1/2" un-supressed. I haven't tried suppressing it yet, I started loading some sub-sonic 190 grain ammo and never finished that project. Ivan

The barrel on my 308 is threaded, however I don't have a suppressor for it yet.

I am just getting into reloading and don't have a lot of experience with it.

So far I am loading Federal cases with 39 grains of Hodgdon Benchmark powder and 168 gr Hornandy BTHP bullets and Federal 210m primers.

I also have some 175 gr Sierra MatchKing HPBT bullets and Varget powder. But I haven't used it yet.

As for my groups??? Well, they are getting better. I found that long distance shooting is a little harder than I thought.

I can usually produce 3-5 inch groups consistently at 250 yards and under....

I haven't worked with Hornady 168's in over 25 years, but look into that SMK 175 over Varget. Has about the same BC as the 155's. The 168 Sierra MK seem to fall off around 8 or 900 yards, where the 175 and 155 will get you through 1200. I have had some outstanding 223 and 22BR groups with Benchmark and they get some speed too. Unless you have a 1:8 or 1:7 twist in the 223 Rem, I suggest you set up for you close and medium range shooting say 600-650, and work on Long Range with the 308. The Mag on you 308 looks like the copy of Accuracy International's 10 round mag. I have 5 mags total in 3 brands, most only hold 8 rounds or so. Still they are good mags. If you have more than one, measure the inside max overall length and set you ammo max OAL to .05 shorter than the shortest length mag. If you get into competing and you stick with 308 don't plan on winning often. Many guys use more efficient rounds like 6 x 47 or 6.5 x47, in fact 3 of my friends have or started with 6 BR 1:7 twists Savage Target rifles and 105 VLD bullets and beat a lot of people with rifles costing 3 to 5 times as much.

On your brass Federal regular brass is not what it used to be. I had 300 to 350 brass I scrapped because it was so inconsistent. I'm working with a batch of around 450 Hornady Match 308 (forget their regular brass) these are in their 8th or 9th reloading and except for length trimming have been great from the start, but I really don't expect to get many more than 15 reloadings out of them. I already have my next batch of brass on the shelf Lapua match, and may replace it with Lapua Palma instead as it handles high pressure much better. The Winchester plastic bag brass has been pretty good for the price but you need to prep the necks, primer pockets and flash holes. It boils down to do all the work or buy Lapua (and maybe Hornady).

On primers I really like the 210 Match Federal and buy them by the 5000. But if I go to Palma brass, I'll need to go to a small primer and may go with Rem 7 1/2 instead of the 5000 205 Match i already have.

It is easy for me to say this but once you find your load, order 2000 to 3000 rounds worth of components. (3000 is your expected barrel life and one friend got 6000 on a Savage by shooting a VERY mild load.). I look at my shooting for the next year or 2 and order it in. Back Orders are OK, because I don't need it for a year or 2. I have 2015's already and most of 2016's. If you change something in the mean time, many suppliers are taking single lot quantity trade ins, and the stuff is not getting any cheaper.

Last thing (I think). Make sure you have good reloading dies and a good press. I use Redding Bench Rest dies (If you're not familiar, the price is way out there) These and other good dies size the neck with little tubes called collets, these are available in .001" increments to fit the neck thickness. Good shell holders are a must also. (YOU CAN LOAD CHEAP OR YOU CAN LOAD GOOD!) You don't have to buy new equipment just good equipment! Neck size and Full Length sizing are a choice you get to make, there are benefits to both. and I usually have both type of dies, but I'm obsessive.

Have fun and PM me when you need help. Ivan

Nice guns, I like Savage rifles, too. I have a Model 12 LPV in .223 with a Weaver 36T on it. I just wish they made a full size heavy .22 LR.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed