Range Day - Sighting in New Rifle

[VaTom]

Went to the range today. Only the second time in last 8 months due to two major eye surgeries. Took my Savage 110 Hunter Engage XP 6.5 Creedmoor bolt action rifle. It came with a Bushnell Engage scope that was bore sighted at factory. (I won this rifle in VFW raffle back on July 4th.) Took 6 shots to get it sighted in. See picture. First two shots were to the right. Made adjustments. Second and third shot were closer. Couple of adjustments and the final two were grouped together (a little high and to the left of bullseye). I was shooting at 50 yards off a Bipod. Could have got closer but 6.5 Creedmoor is hard to find and I only had one box - Ha!

Also took the 15-22, fun and accurate as ever and my 1943 Ithaca 1911A1 which I hadn't shot in two years. A great day. Good to be back even if my eyes are still a little off until I have one more cataract surgery and new glasses.

 

[AJ]

Went to the range today. Only the second time in last 8 months due to two major eye surgeries. Took my Savage 110 Hunter Engage XP 6.5 Creedmoor bolt action rifle. It came with a Bushnell Engage scope that was bore sighted at factory. (I won this rifle in VFW raffle back on July 4th.) Took 6 shots to get it sighted in. See picture. First two shots were to the right. Made adjustments. Second and third shot were closer. Couple of adjustments and the final two were grouped together (a little high and to the left of bullseye). I was shooting at 50 yards off a Bipod. Could have got closer but 6.5 Creedmoor is hard to find and I only had one box - Ha!

Good set up. Get to know your rifle......Then tune your ammo to the rifle. A friend and I worked up this load for my Savage M11.

 

[VaTom]

Good set up. Get to know your rifle......Then tune your ammo to the rifle. A friend and I worked up this load for my Savage M11.

Great advice. I am a revolver / pistol and .22 rifle guy. First center fire rifle as I am not a hunter. Really like the Savage.

 

[Nevada Ed]

That is a great rifle and caliber, congratulation on get it.

Most new rifles need 100 rounds through them to settle the lands and groves down to where the bullets will start to group better. Less if you are lucky.
Just remember to clean out the bore every 8-10 shorts to remove any copper
and fowling, with a rod from the back, going forward and never from the muzzle, back to the chamber.

50 yards is good to get the bullets on paper but they will "Settle down"
at 100 yards, depending on the twist and bullet weights used.

Buy the cheapest ammo you can find right now and then later you can test the
lighter and heaviest bullets to see what your rifle likes best, after the break in period.

Lots of paper and "Critters" are going to find out what a great thing you have there, enjoy.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Good set up. Get to know your rifle......Then tune your ammo to the rifle. A friend and I worked up this load for my Savage M11.

Hodgdon makes 4 very good powders for mall bores: H-335, H-322, Benchmark, & Varget! BLC2 is also very good but being phased out (already discontinued)!

H-322 & IMR-8208 are both attempts to replicate the T-32 powder that worked so good in BR competition! Of the first 3 batches of 8208 two were very good, but in general it will never take the BR market back from VV! I used up my 4 pounds of 8208 loading Ball 7.62 Nato!

And Win 748 is a tried and true powder that meters well! It and H-355 are the best for progressive loading things like 223 & 308!

Ivan

 

[Nevada Ed]

BLC2 worked great in my 22-250 with the light 52 gr HPBT but it turned into a tiger with high temperatures, here in Nevada, so use caution with maximum loads and reduce your loads if 86* or warmer.

W748 was top powder for my 55gr bullets as well as 4895 and H380.

My 270 liked 4064 and 4350, in its larger case.

Good shooting and have fun, with what ever powder you end up with
if you get into loading your ammo.

 

[AJ]

I am not sure just how much different a 6.5 Creedmoor is than a 6.5X55 Swede is, but have a feeling that they may like the same powder. Below is three shots with my Swedish CG-63 Mauser in 6.5X55. This is with iron sights from a rest at 100 yards. The powder is 40.6 grains of RL-17 with a 140 grain A-Max bullet.

 

[nedlate]

Below is three shots with my Swedish CG-63 Mauser in 6.5X55. This is with iron sights from a rest at 100 yards.

Great shooting! Was that with aperture sights?
I have been wanting a CG-63 for years but keep spending money on
other things!

Ed

 

[AJ]

Great shooting! Was that with aperture sights?
I have been wanting a CG-63 for years but keep spending money on
other things!

Ed

Yes, that was with aperture sights. I have only held two CG-63's in my hands and bought both.

AJ