First frigid shooting trip of the winter...American Eagle ammo tested, more CCI SV = sub MOA!

Today, Brad and I hiked to our favorite shooting location and set up for 3 hours of trigger time. Having learned from last winter, I brought two tarps and laid one on top of the other to keep the moisture from coming through as our body heat melted the snow beneath. Weather was OK for shooting - no wind and 27 degrees F, with cloud cover. Notice the difference one month makes in conditions. You can click on the pics to make them larger.

I admit, I definitely prefer warmth and sunshine, but I enjoy shooting too much to wait for warmth.

We began by setting up targets side by side at 50 yards and shooting for group size with CCI SV. This activity never gets old. In the image below you see my first five 5-shot groups. My best came in at .44" (sub MOA) measuring center-to-center. And yes, they're all five-shot groups even though several appear to be 4-shotters. Note, the extreme low/left impact was a flyer from one of Brad's groups on the target next door. At this stage of the game I'm convinced my gun will still outshoot me and I plan to see more sub MOA groups as I improve my own performance and invest in better glass down the road.

I brought along a box of American Eagle 38gr High Velocity CPHP ammunition I picked up recently with the object of testing it through my gun. The first thing I noticed was the sharp report in comparison to the CCI SV, courtesy of the sound barrier. A full-on concentration 5-shot group landed 1.03" center-to-center. A few more groups would probably have produced at least one tighter group, but upon inspection the American Eagle (AE) had some obvious blemishes to the bullets which make me doubtful it'd ever match the CCI SV for precision. Notice how much higher it grouped compared to the CCI SV above. As expected - with higher velocity - at 100 yards it also grouped several inches higher than the CCI SV. Later, at 130 yards, we noticed the AE spun our steel knockover targets with more authority than the CCI SV. I suspect the AE is a decent hunting round, with sufficient accuracy to do the deed.    

We spent a little while at 100 yards also, doing our best to put tight groups on paper with the CCI SV. My best 100-yard group came in today at 1.375" center-to-center. I'm convinced better glass will help me improve in the future at 100 yards. The reticle mostly obscures the orange dot at this distance, 9X feels just shy of perfect, and the image just begins to haze. What other excuses can I come up with?    

It's good to have a friend who's into the sport and anxious to get to the range. Nice to have a shooting partner and competitor. Brad managed to shoot very well, despite a gloved trigger finger numb from the cold. It'll be mid-January before we hit the range again...shucks.  

   

Competition - shooting for points - tied up

This past Saturday, after some ammo testing and sighting in, Brad and I decided to have a little competition. We set up a target with two "Shoot N C" three-inch stickers at 90 yards. We took turns putting CCI Standard Velocity bullets as close the bullseye as we could, and totaled up the points. Remember, we were going for point of impact, not for group size. Breaking into the next ring gave you those points. Our system went as follows:
1. Outside ring = 8 points
2. 2nd ring = 9 points
3. Inner ring = 10 points
4. Bullseye = 20 points

In the top picture you see Brad's target. His bullseye gave him a clear points win. My target is pictured below Brad's.
It was so fun we decided to rematch. In the picture below, my target is the lower one, and Brad's is the upper one. In the rematch I beat Brad with a bullseye. We didn't shoot a third round tie breaker, so the jury's still out.

For anyone who has never used "Shoot N C" targets, I highly recommend them. At 90 yards it's difficult to make out a bullet impact on most surfaces, even through good glass. To the contrary, identifying an impact on "Shoot N C" targets is effortless, and really enhances enjoyment of the sport.

Our rifles: Savage Mark II BTV

I've never posted pictures of our rifles, and I decided it's time. Today was a gorgeous day - 65 degrees, no wind, and sunny, 5000 ft - so Brad and I hit our favorite spot to do some shooting. I took a few photos while we were setting up. The rifles are identical: Savage Mark II BTV, with the stock coloration available at Cabela's stores.

My rifle - I purchased my rifle new from Cabela's in Lehi from $398. It came as pictured - minus the bipod - with the Bushnell Banner 3-9X scope mounted from the factory. 

Glass - I am still using the factory scope with great results. The picture is clear and eye relief is just right. On one of the first shooting trips I found there was not enough elevation adjustment to compensate for drop at 100 yards with subsonic velocity. I cut small squares out of the clear plastic packaging (from some Weaver scope rings), and used them to shim up the rear of the scope. I now have plenty of elevation adjustment for shooting high-velocity and subsonic ammunition at both 50 and 100 yards. 

Trigger - The Accu-trigger is fantastic, with zero creep and a light, clean break. I have not tampered with the trigger or action in any way on my rifle. 

Stock - I love the stock on this rifle. The coloration is very attractive, and the profile/design suites the rifle's intended purpose. I find it's easy to get a good cheek weld. The display rifle Cabela's let me handle at the counter had a floated barrel, but after purchasing mine I discovered that the stock touches the barrel lightly. Brad's floats. It seems some do, and some don't. I have not yet made any efforts to float the barrel. 

Bipod - Brad and I both ordered matching UTG brand bipods off Amazon for around $36, and we've been pleased with their performance.

Magazines - The rifle came with one 5-round detachable magazine. I purchased three 10-round Savage brand magazines and those are what Brad and I prefer. 

To sum it up, I love this rifle. It's appearance, function, and accuracy have exceeded my expectations.   

Brad's rifle is identical to mine. I found his rifle for sale, used, at Gunnie's in Orem for an incredible $150. It was in new condition, without an optic. With my nudge, Brad purchased the gun. Brad and I work together, and we had discussed getting into rimfire shooting. This purchase was the first step in that direction. The first time I shot it, I knew had to have one just like it. He later purchased and mounted a gorgeous new Vortex Viper scope with exposed turrets. The super-clear sight picture, fine cross hair with subtensions, external turrets, and 16X magnification (plus a few other features) really give Brad the advantage in the optics department. Otherwise our rigs are equal and that makes for some really fun competition.  

Tested: Wold Match Target, CCI Standard Velocity, Winchester 22 Long CB-Match, amazing results!

On July 2nd, Brad and I got to our favorite shooting spot before 6:00am and set up targets at 50 and 100 yards. By 7:30am wind and rain had chased us off the mountain, but I'd say I did my best shooting EVER during that short, breezy, wet time. It was so fun!!

I started by opening a box of Winchester 22 Long CB-Match ammunition I'd gotten my hands on several months ago. I've wondered how this stuff might shoot through my Savage, and I had already decided I was not concerned about putting it through my rifle, chambered in 22 LR. Shooting prone, I sent six rounds at my 50 yard target, but I couldn't see where I was grouping. Upon inspecting the target up close, I discovered what looked more like a shotgun pattern than a "group." Obviously my rifle doesn't like this ammo. As a comparison, I followed up with 5 rounds of CCI SV, and you can see the difference. (click on images to blow them up)

I spent a few more minutes putting groups on paper with the CCI Standard Velocity ammunition. Brad and I have found this to be our go-to cartridge for accuracy - our Savages love it! Below you will see a picture of my best 50-yard, 5-shot group. By measuring edge to edge, and subtracting .22, I came away with a .47" group! Frankly, it's difficult to shoot poorly with this stuff.  

On to the Wolf ammo, and what follows is the honest truth: Brad just got in a shipment of Wofd Target Match ammunition that he ordered months ago. We have been very excited to try this stuff out, and we anxiously awaited its arrival. Storm clouds were moving toward us, and suddenly the wind picked up, bringing with it a light, steady sprinkle of rain. Sensing the weather was about to kill our shooting session, I quickly turned from the 50 yard target to the 100, came up 22 clicks, and loaded the magazine with 5 rounds of Wolf Target Match ammunition. Now, with a rifle/scope glistening wet, and wind blowing directly toward me, I focused on the 100 yard target and squeezed off all five rounds at about a 90% effort, hoping to get a few rounds on paper. With only a 3-9X scope, and bad conditions, I couldn't see my point of impact. I ran out to the target, and stared in disbelief. Then I started laughing and hollering at Brad. I was, and still am, extremely pleased with the ONLY group I put on paper that day, at 100 yards. It measures 1.09". The weather chased us off, soon after. Needless to say, we are pumped to get out again and do some real testing with this Wolf ammunition. 

      

CCI 40gr target standard velocity - June 6th shooting trip

Yesterday, Brad and I went to our favorite shooting spot and spent a few hours with the Savages. We did a variety of things to push our abilities, then we wrapped up the morning by putting our best groups on paper. All shooting was done off bipods, lying prone. The group to the right belongs to me. The distance was 50 yards and I threw five rounds at the 1" orange sticker. As you can see, four of them clover-leafed and one was a flyer. The flyer (high, left) was my second shot and I called it - very aggravating. The last three hit where I wanted them to. I measured the group, and subtracted .22" for a 5-shot group size of .97" at 50 yards. Eliminate the flyer, use the same method and I get .41" for the cloverleaf.

I shot very poorly at 100 yards. It was one of those days where I lacked confidence at 100 yards, but I felt great at 50 yards. Sometimes I feel the opposite. It simply depends on the day.

Brad was the dead eye of the day, as usual. He put down the five-shot group seen left, at 100 yards. It measures 1.22" after subtracting the caliber. Eliminate the flyer and it's well under an inch.

Both rifles are identical, Savage Mark II BTV with a uniquely-colored stock, as sold at Cabelas. Mine has the factory mounted Bushnell 3-9X scope, and Brad's has a Vortex 4-16X scope with exposed turrets.

Federal Champion 40gr ammunition - results at 50 yards

This image is from a competition Brad and I had about two months ago. I was using the 40gr Federal Champion 1200fps lead round nose ammunition. As you can see, my second shot was a flyer, and I called it, but besides that I was very pleased with the results. We each had eight shots at eight boxes. The outer circle is about the size of a quarter, and the inner circle the size of a dime. This is an 8.5"x11" sheet, and you're only seeing part of it. This was at 50 yards.

my buddy Shawn shooting the Mark II (video)

I took a friend, Shawn (image at right) shooting at West Mountain on a beautiful spring morning. This was his first experience shooting my Savage, and he did very well. He's shooting off a shaky card table, at a distance of 50 yards. In the video (link below), the target is an orange juice jug, filled with water, with small dots drawn from top to bottom on the side of the jug using a Sharpie marker. If you watch closely, you'll notice he hits the cap (intended target) on his first shot, then he works his way down the jug shooting the dots. Each shot takes him about 1.5" further down the jug, and slowly drains the water from the top down. By the last shot the jug is empty and is easily knocked off. To see the video, click on this link: Video: Shawn shooting Savage

Gun: Savage Mark II BTV in .22LR with uniquely-colored stock - Cabelas special
Ammunition: Winchester Super-X 40gr 1280fps CPHP
Scope: factory-mounted Bushnell 3-9X

1.78" group at 100 yards with Winchester Super-X 37gr

Two weeks ago I won (barely) a small competition that me and my shooting partner held, just the two of us. The competition was simple and consisted of a point system and targets at 60-yard and 100-yard distances. I sent these five rounds (see image) 100 yards downrange at a silhouette target on an 8.5"x11" sheet. This group, at 1.78 inches, was good enough edge me ahead of Brad, my shooting partner. This group measures 2" edge to edge, and following standard practice I subtracted .22" for a group size of 1.78 inches. Rifle: Savage Mark II BTV with uniquely-colored stock from Cabelas. Factory-mounted Bushnell 3-9X scope. I used the following ammunition: Winchester Super-X 37gr CPHP 1330 fps. I have found that my rifle likes Winchester Super-X cartridges, at least the varieties I've tried. I generally buy the 100-round stick and use between 60-100 rounds per outing. Thus far I've cleaned my rifle every other outing - the entire rifle - including the bore. Brad's rifle is identical to mine, including the stock. His scope is far superior to mine. Honestly, he's a better shot than I am.