200 yard shooting with Savage smokeless
07-21-2008, 05:12 AM
#1
Nontypical Buck
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200 yard shooting with Savage smokeless
I finally got an opportunity to shoot at 200 yards. I didn't do very good to start out with. 200 laser yards, 67g of 4198 smokeless powder, Barnes Origonal 300g, Crushed Rib sabot, Winchester primer.
Here are my first 5 shots, note there is only 4 holes, so I missed the target on one shot.
Here are my first 5 shots, note there is only 4 holes, so I missed the target on one shot.
07-21-2008, 05:18 AM
#3
Nontypical Buck
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RE: 200 yard shooting with Savage smokeless
I then figured out what I was doing wrong. I was not bring the front part of the Lead Sled up level with the target, I was pushing down on the rear of the stock and that was not good. Here are the next 5 shots, which are much better, 3" group at 200 yards. Will have to move it 5 click right, but it is pretty good for my first try at 200.
07-21-2008, 05:22 AM
#4
Nontypical Buck
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RE: 200 yard shooting with Savage smokeless
Well I only had 3 charges left so I moved it in to 150 and tried it there. I was expecting to be 1" high, since I had a 3" high at 100 yard zero. Here is what I got.
My conclusion is, I can hit at 200, but I need a lot more paractice. Gun worked fine, shooter was the problem. Plenty of accuracy on the last 8 shots to take an elk out to 200. 150 is a better range for me right now. If I can shot all 200 yard shots inside the orange outer square then I would say I am ready for 200 yards with a muzzleloader. That is my self assessment.
Chap
My conclusion is, I can hit at 200, but I need a lot more paractice. Gun worked fine, shooter was the problem. Plenty of accuracy on the last 8 shots to take an elk out to 200. 150 is a better range for me right now. If I can shot all 200 yard shots inside the orange outer square then I would say I am ready for 200 yards with a muzzleloader. That is my self assessment.
Chap
07-21-2008, 09:41 AM
#5
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
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RE: 200 yard shooting with Savage smokeless
If I can shoot all 200 yard shots inside the orange outer square then I would say I am ready for 200 yards with a muzzleloader.
07-21-2008, 10:12 AM
#6
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
RE: 200 yard shooting with Savage smokeless
WOW!! that's mind blowing to think of shooting a muzzleloader that far. There are those that can do it, but I have never tried it yet. When I do I want to shoot some conicals and watch the drop.. 
07-21-2008, 10:25 AM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
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RE: 200 yard shooting with Savage smokeless
Good shooting. I second the comment on testing yourself under field conditions once you have the load, drop, and expected group size in ideal conditions established.
I highly, highly recommend investing in a good bipod, like a Harris swivel H model, for any shooting over 150 yds. The H goes up high enough that it can be used in a very low sitting position to get over grass, and can still shrink enough to be used in a "high" (ie up on elbows a bit) prone position when conditions allow it.
I actually shoot better with the bipod prone than I do off a bench. The legs grip in dirt so I can push forward slightly to "load" the bipod, forcing the gun tightly into my shoulder and helping keep a perfect alignment and consistent cheek weld. I never shoot at game over 150 yds without setting up prone this way as it is most accurate for me. 3-for-3 bang-flops last year 209,108, and 339 can't be wrong. It also has the benefit of removing all chances for scope-to-forehead contact upon recoil, so if you have ANY flinching tendencies it can help alleviate it when the shot counts most. I have never shot a Savage but I understand many of the loads would recoil heavier than what I shoot in my Omega.
I highly, highly recommend investing in a good bipod, like a Harris swivel H model, for any shooting over 150 yds. The H goes up high enough that it can be used in a very low sitting position to get over grass, and can still shrink enough to be used in a "high" (ie up on elbows a bit) prone position when conditions allow it.
I actually shoot better with the bipod prone than I do off a bench. The legs grip in dirt so I can push forward slightly to "load" the bipod, forcing the gun tightly into my shoulder and helping keep a perfect alignment and consistent cheek weld. I never shoot at game over 150 yds without setting up prone this way as it is most accurate for me. 3-for-3 bang-flops last year 209,108, and 339 can't be wrong. It also has the benefit of removing all chances for scope-to-forehead contact upon recoil, so if you have ANY flinching tendencies it can help alleviate it when the shot counts most. I have never shot a Savage but I understand many of the loads would recoil heavier than what I shoot in my Omega.
07-21-2008, 10:36 AM
#8
Nontypical Buck
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RE: 200 yard shooting with Savage smokeless
ORIGINAL: Semisane
I think that's a reasonable goal and it looks like you're well on your way. But once you get there with the Lead Sled, you'll needto switch over to a likely hunting condition hold, withjust your hand resting on the bench or maybe against the side of a tree. I've never tried 200 with my MLs. Keep saying I will but never seem to get around to it.
If I can shoot all 200 yard shots inside the orange outer square then I would say I am ready for 200 yards with a muzzleloader.
Chap
07-21-2008, 10:45 AM
#9
Nontypical Buck
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Join Date: Dec 2005
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RE: 200 yard shooting with Savage smokeless
ORIGINAL: cayugad
WOW!! that's mind blowing to think of shooting a muzzleloader that far. There are those that can do it, but I have never tried it yet. When I do I want to shoot some conicals and watch the drop..
WOW!! that's mind blowing to think of shooting a muzzleloader that far. There are those that can do it, but I have never tried it yet. When I do I want to shoot some conicals and watch the drop..
As for big conicals, I think they would shoot no problem to 150 with a 3" high a 100 yards. After 170 most of those type of bullets are dropping off the table and I think 200 is unreachable practically. 200 is reachable for me with the Savage because I have it sighted in 3" high at 100, I know my ballistics of the bullet and powder and I am getting about the drop I expected. I don't have any BDC reticule or anything like that, only the 3" over method, which I have always used with my 30-06 for years and years.
Chap
07-21-2008, 10:58 AM
#10
Nontypical Buck
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Join Date: Dec 2005
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RE: 200 yard shooting with Savage smokeless
ORIGINAL: spaniel
Good shooting. I second the comment on testing yourself under field conditions once you have the load, drop, and expected group size in ideal conditions established.
I highly, highly recommend investing in a good bipod, like a Harris swivel H model, for any shooting over 150 yds. The H goes up high enough that it can be used in a very low sitting position to get over grass, and can still shrink enough to be used in a "high" (ie up on elbows a bit) prone position when conditions allow it.
I actually shoot better with the bipod prone than I do off a bench. The legs grip in dirt so I can push forward slightly to "load" the bipod, forcing the gun tightly into my shoulder and helping keep a perfect alignment and consistent cheek weld. I never shoot at game over 150 yds without setting up prone this way as it is most accurate for me. 3-for-3 bang-flops last year 209,108, and 339 can't be wrong. It also has the benefit of removing all chances for scope-to-forehead contact upon recoil, so if you have ANY flinching tendencies it can help alleviate it when the shot counts most. I have never shot a Savage but I understand many of the loads would recoil heavier than what I shoot in my Omega.
Good shooting. I second the comment on testing yourself under field conditions once you have the load, drop, and expected group size in ideal conditions established.
I highly, highly recommend investing in a good bipod, like a Harris swivel H model, for any shooting over 150 yds. The H goes up high enough that it can be used in a very low sitting position to get over grass, and can still shrink enough to be used in a "high" (ie up on elbows a bit) prone position when conditions allow it.
I actually shoot better with the bipod prone than I do off a bench. The legs grip in dirt so I can push forward slightly to "load" the bipod, forcing the gun tightly into my shoulder and helping keep a perfect alignment and consistent cheek weld. I never shoot at game over 150 yds without setting up prone this way as it is most accurate for me. 3-for-3 bang-flops last year 209,108, and 339 can't be wrong. It also has the benefit of removing all chances for scope-to-forehead contact upon recoil, so if you have ANY flinching tendencies it can help alleviate it when the shot counts most. I have never shot a Savage but I understand many of the loads would recoil heavier than what I shoot in my Omega.
I have a Limbsaver recoil pad on my Savage and that takes away the most of the recoil, and I shoot in a Lead Sled for practice. I couldn't take 20 shots without the lead sled. Last year I didn't have the lead sled, I could shoot 10 shot, after that I was so tender in my shoulder it was impossilble to shoot. I figured also that I was not getting good accuracy because I was fearing the squeezing of the trigger. After this hunting season I plan on going back to 5744, I don't need to shoot 200 yards back east here, only have 1 place that has a 150 yard shot and I can do that all day with just a standard load, signted in 3" high at 100. Thanks for your wisdom on shooting prone, I am not that flexable and it is hard for me to get in that position.
Chap
