First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Hey guys...

Check this out... Over this past weekend, I finally went out to the outdoor rifle range with my new/used Savage 110 in .308 with the old Simmons 3-9x32 scope, and has a great time.

I warmed up at first with my Marlin 30-30 at 50 yards w/ open sights and was happy to hit the bullseye -scattered all around it- but I hit it every time. I don't have a bench rest or sandbags or anything. I just hold it propped up on my elbows at the rifle range bench.

Anyway, check out this scanned target.... This is my new/used Savage .308 from the bench at 50 yards as well. Again, I was just holding it, steady as best I could, propped up on my elbows. The first shot you see is on the far left. I adjusted the windage since I'm lefty and the previous owner must have been righty. Once I turned the turret a few clicks, I got it pretty close. After a few more shots and click turns, I got it really dialed in. {Okay, okay... I cheated a little. I was only shooting at 50 yards and had the Simmons scope maxed on 9X.} ;)

I shot half the box of Winchester Powerpoints (hey, they were cheap) at 50 yards, and was amazed at the accuracy. So, then I saved the target (as seen here) and waited for the range to get clear, then went all the way back and hung another target at 100 yards. Wow, an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper (computer printed target) looks like a postage stamp at 100 yards! :D

Anyway, I didn't get a chance to grab the 100 yard target, because the range was starting to get full and, after a box of .30-30 rounds and a box of .308 rounds, my shoulder was starting to say "enough"....

I need to pick up some differenttypes of .308 rounds and go back and sight the Savage in at 100 yards instead of 50. And see which flavor of .308 ammo this Savage likes. What do you think? Maybe borrow a bench rest from a buddy and really sight in the rifle.

In a nutshell. The Savage .308 is a heck of a rifle! It has a more pronounced kick than the Marlin 30-30 (duh!) but the range and accuracy is amazing....

Butch A.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

You might try the 165 gr Fusion. My savage shoots them real good and they are designed for deer and light-skinned game.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

I would have to recomend trying Winchester Balistic Silvertips. They have shot great out of most rifles ive put them in.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Technically, you only hit the bullseye one time.

Even then it was only half way in the center of the bullseye.

I had a cousin that had a JC Higgins .410 shotgun with open sights that could do better than that at 100 yards.

Now - in my opinion you just wasted a box or two of shells.

Why?

Because you did not make any effort to properly sight in your rifle.

Mostly all you did was make some noise and shoot at a piece of computer paper.

Where I live, the beer distributers give out 100 yard large rifle targets before deer season - along with a bunch of buisnesses.

What does a target cost? $.25!

What does a bag of play sand cost at Dollar General Store? $3.00

You could have bought a couple of Hefty Big Bags or even sewn two blue jeans pants legs and filled them with sand and had your own sand bags for less than $5.00

Even your dirty laundry in a garbage bag would have been better than nothing at all.

Plus - you did not use seperate targets for your 30 - 30 and your 308 so there is no way to know which shots were with the 30 - 30 and which was with the .308.

So what are you trying to show us? How good you can shoot?

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

someones a little grumpy today huh? Mr. Rifleman cant be proud for anyone...

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Jesus Christ.... Remind me not to post anything about targets and rifle shooting.... :eek:[:'(][&o]

Rifleman, I shot my old .30-30 first ON A TOTALLY DIFFERENT TARGET. The results you see that I scanned is the Savage .308 ONLY.

Lastly, lighten up a bit huh? [&:]

Butch A.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Lucas McCain (The Rifleman)

Was a little harsh in his delivery but does make some valid points.

The idea of "sighting in" is to test the accuracy of the gun and not the shooter and to adjust the sights so the "point of impact" (where the bullets are hitting the target) is where you want it. Also when trying to evaluate what type of ammunition will shoot best from your rifle.

Evey effort must be made to eliminate "opperator error".

Now if the shooter just wants to see if he could kill a deer at 50 yards (from a steady position) with his new (used) rifle, then we can all see that the target shows the answer to that.

ButchA, What has our Lord Jesus Christ have to do with your target and shooting?????

Robin in Rocky

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

for shooting from the elbows that's an acceptable group in my opinion. i'd be satisfied.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Sorry, Duffy... I just lost my cool there... [>:]

I was just trying out my new/used Savage .308 to see what it felt like, what it could do, it's particular characteristics compared to my old Marlin 30-30.

I don't own a real rifle bench rest or device. I just went to the range and "winged it" to see what the .308 would do by just holding it up on my elbows.

Butch A.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Butch, You said it all in the first line. You had a great time. Is that not what shooting and hunting is all about? The guys that criticize your post are the same ones that probably raise holy hell if you challenge theirways and beliefs. Like you, if I want to go WASTE a box of shells, thats my own D*#N business. If you had a good time then it was sure no waste.;)

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Butch dont worry bout what they say. If you had fun thats all that matters. Ill go out and waste shells like that also. Ill try to shoot 200 yards from a standing position. Its really not that hard when you figure out(or get told)how to do it right.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Butch, you pay no mind to these folks, they get a little uptight when they see someone else having fun. I, for one, am tickled to death hearing about your new rifle, it will be a dandy, for sure. If you wanna go shoot 2 boxes of ammo, you have every right to do so.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Thanks guys... I appreciate it. I just wanted to sort of "get to know" the Savage .308 and see what it can do for starters. Nothing serious... just out having a good time and starting to tweak the scope's windage.

You see, anybody can pick up a rifle, shoulder it, sight through it, really like it, and finally buy it. But all that means nothing until you actually FIRE it. I wanted to test it out at 50 yards at first, then move out to 100. I wasn't as steady at 100 as I was a 50, therefore I need to go back to the range and make some sort of rifle rest. Then I can really sight it in for 100 yards and get it fully dialed in.

Butch A.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Thats part of the fun of buying a new rifle, getting to know the gun, and it's tendencies. Man I love this sport

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

It's what shooting the new rifle is all about. Shame on all who took the post as if it was competitionshooting.Give the guy a break, it's a new gun and he was having fun. This site is usually more possitive. Like I saidto ButhA's other post, congrats on your newgun andit's great you are having fun with it.Keep making holes. You've got lots of time for a new scope, sighting in, and practicing befor deer season.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

I agree with the other fellows,as long as you injoy the way you shoot it doesn't make any difference what others think.Congrats on your new rifle.And I bet when you get it dialed in it will surprise you of its accuracy.
Have fun.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Some people's lives must be thoroughly miserable..... I cant imagine having to make everything I do a life or death issue. The reason I (and i figure most of the rest of us) have guns and go hunting is for the relaxation and enjoyment. Could ya imagine after the trip if they had missed a deer or not seen any? Im thinking things could get suicidal...

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

:eek:Ummmm Dude. I hate to admit it but last Monday I "wasted" a box of shells at 25 yards with my 30-06. I wanted to get iton at 25 yards then move to 50 then 100 BUT! I had such a great time at 25 yards I only got 3 shots off at 50 before I had to leave. This week I plan to "waste" a box at 50 to 100. I'm not really worried about sighting it in deer season is still5 1/2 months away. WOW! Holy crap did I say that? Deer season is only 5 1/2 months away!!!! I better get busy. Lanes to clear. Plots to get ready. Corn to buy. Rifle to sight in. Camo to check. Arrrrrrrgh too much to do. lol :DI LOVE HUNTING!!!

Anywho, shoot it up man. You're not wasting shells your enjoying your gun. At least that's how I look at it. If you take a 12 year old out to the range with a BOX of 500 .22LR shells he's gonna run through them like christmas. You don't tell him he just wasted a box of shells. You tell him next week your gonna get some more and have fun. Well I'll tell ya Butch, This week get some more. Have fun. Post it up here we love it! You're excitement has really made this place fun. And I'd be pissed if you didn't keep us posted. Your an ace in my book.

As for Jesus Christ. If you don't know He has EVERYTHING to do with it. ;)Let me share this quick story with you.Students walked into theclassroom and the professor had a box of doughnuts. The Professor said "anyone in the classroom can have a doughnut BUT one of you must do 20 push ups for each doughnut taken." One boyagreed he would do the push ups. As the professor went around the room offering food the boy got to work. To everyone's horror even when someone refused a doughnut the boy was told to do 20 push ups. Which he did.By the end the boy was exaused. The prof asked him if he wanted a doughnut. The boy said no. The professor said "good do 20 for you and 20 for me. I want one." At that time the professor told the class that Jesus Christ died on the cross for all of us. Even if we choose to turn it down.

I can't remember who told me this story but it has remained in my heart since I heard it. Thought some of you might want to hear it too. Thanks Butch for bringing it up. ;)

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Wow... Thank you!!! :D[8D]

Yeah, I mainly wanted to see the difference between the Marlin .30-30 and the Savage .308 from the range. I mean, I love my .30-30 and have such a strong bond with it. I know that rifle like the back of my hand. ;) I mean, heck, I could shoot the .30-30 with my eyes closed and hit the target. It just feels great and is just a sweet shooter. I guess that's why I wanted to keep it traditional w/ open sights. I just couldn't bring myself to put a scope on it again. It's an "old school" thing... ;)

Now.... I have the Savage .308 that I want to form the same kind of bond with. Practice repeatedly with the .308 and learn everything about it and how it shoots and what flavor of ammo it likes, etc...etc... As it stands now, I fell in love with it, because I can close my eyes, shoulder the rifle, open my eyes, and I'm lookingstraight down the scope - every single time. It's a beautiful rifle...

Butch A.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

I know what you mean. I came close to putting a scope on my 30-30 but just didn't think it was "right".

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Good for you on having fun with your new gun, but if I were you, I would take "The Rifleman's" advice, 'cause if you're going to hunt in deer season, you want to have the confidence, that your gun can do the job accurately, so I would get some Caldwell shooting bags, not the sled, but the bags, there's one for the stock, and one for the grip, all for about $25.00 at Gander Mtn.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

i agree, nice shooting. Most people can't shot that well without sands bags. Most think they can but can't. you didn't waste anything. it was good practice and those groups are fine. Glad you had fun.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Thanks... I found a really cool sight-in target off the internet. I'm going to use this with a bench rest out to 100 yards and see how good I can shoot.

http://www.uspalma.com/Targets/PDFs/Medium%20Distance%20Scope%20Target.pdf

Butch A.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Y'all forgot,
I never miss!

Gun's are made for killing, they aren't good for nothing else.

If you get some sick perverse pleasure from shooting a '06 at 25 yards - then you must not be much of a shot.

I believe that the longest known documented shot with a '06 was over2000 yards, which is more than a mile.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

:eek:

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Sir, you seem to be very opinionated for a guy who just got here. As YOU can see, Butch has been around for a while and has always offered helpfull advice to everyone w/o passing judgement. If YOU have any more advice for the good folks here, how about improving your delivery a bit? For now, have yourself a BIG SLICE OF HUMBLE PIE & i'm sure we'll see each other around in the future.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Well us mere mortals will have to stick with the less than a mile shots for now. And if you check your stats you'd find that most GA and AL deer kills are within 45 yards. So if going by your logic if I use a bow and want to practice 20 to 15 yard shots it's a waste of time. But practicing a 200 yard lob shot is exceptional. I would rutenly practice 100 yard rifle shots but I should be trying 2000 yard lob shots into where? at what? Just trying to get this figured out so I can be more of a MAN. Now when I go turkey hunting should I leave my 12 ga at home and throw a rock at the bird instead? At 75 yards min of course. Give ole gobble gobble a sportin' chance.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

While I do agree Butch needs to accurately sight in his rifle, I must say I am one of those sick perverse people who enjoy shooting a gun at 25 yards, with an '06, at shotgun shells, provided that the '06 has a Limb-Saver recoil pad on.:D

I don't think guns are just for killing, I think a .22 LR suits me better for shooting at spent shotgun shells at 15-20 yards, and shooting the box that held a brick of .22 LRammo.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

I know a lot of bench rest, skeet and trap shooters that would really dissagree with that statement. I know many people that are very into the shooting sports that do not hunt, I used to be one of them. Same goes for archery.

Sounds like you had some fun Butch, and that is what's important. I sometimes shoot off a rolled up blanket if I don't have anything else. A feed bag full or corn or something works pretty well too.

I went and got me one of those plastic Bench Buddy rests for not much money and it works pretty well for what it is. I would like to have a better rest, but I really can't afford it and this thing works for what I need it to do. I can manage sub MOA groups with my 17 HMR using it, so it must be ok.

Let us know what happens on your next outing.

Oh, and when I actually sight in a gun I don't aim at a round bullseye. I aim at a square or crossed lines on a plain target. One verticle and one horizontal. Aim at the line that runs from left to right to set your elevation. Only worry about where the bullet impacts high or low, not left or right. Then aim at the line that runs up and down to set your windage. Again, no concern for where the bullet strikes up and down, only concentrate on left to right keeping the cross hair on the verticle line.

And only make one adjustment at a time! Don't take a couple of shots and then move the scope 10 clicks to the right and 7 clicks up. Work on one axis at a time. Set your windage first, then work on your elevation. You can also set your windage at 50 yards if you want, then re check it or fine tune it at 100 yards or whatever distance you decide to sight in for Zero on your elevation. Remember the farther out you get the more wind will effect your windage. So don't adjust your windage on a windy day at 150 yards;).

It may take more time and more ammo, but it's a more precise method because you are only concentrating on one axis at a time and it's easier to hold steady that way. Once you try it you will see what I mean.

Paul

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Thanks, Paul... ;)

Yeah, I plan on going back to the range and go out 100 yards with a bench rest.

Butch A.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

No, guns are made to fire projectiles at extremely high speed, hunting is just one of the many things you can do with a gun. You sir, are one of the most arrogant people I have ever seen on this forum, you seem to be an expert in your own mind, why don't you just take your elementary school attitude somewhere else, because nobody wants to put up with it here.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

I'll agree that shooting off the bench is the only way to see how well a gun shoots, but shooting ( practicing) in field positions is the only way to see how well you shoot. It is recommended that we practice shooting standing, kneeling, prone so that when the oportunity knocks we can answer the door. Keep up the good work and have fun doing it. Unless someones carrying a portable bench rest with them they better practice as you have too.

BTW I shoot off the bench to test new ammo or rerloads then I shoot standing off hand because that is the poition I plan on shooting my game from yardage varries depending on the gun ( some are scoped and intended for longer shots and some are open sights intended for close range work)

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

MM300 rides again...lmao.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

I thank you too Paul, I have two 308s that I recently switched the scopes on so I need to re-sight both in, I'll try your method, it makes alot of sense.

As for the rifleman, ah forget it, not worth my time or energy to reply to him.

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

I am going to have to change my ways I guess I have been going about shooting for the past 60+ years all wrong.I didn't know I was shooting for fun and was susposed to shoot only to kill something.I guess me and my shooting buddie is going to have to quit going to the range one day a week where we shoot around 200 bullets a day with 4 to 15 different rifles.Don't guess he knows he an't susposed to be shooting for fun (he don't hunt he just shoots)think I had better break the news to him next tuesday.Is he going to be disappointed I know he MUST have thought he was haveing fun.
Week before we were shooting clay birds at 300 yds with a 17 hmr all you fellows think we should try to glue all those birds back together and wipe the smile off our face???
Oh and I can be serious with a gun also I grew up pretty poor and was out hunting and putting game on the table at a very early age,and if I or my brothers came in with a squrrel that wasn't a head shot you better prepare for a butt chewing,(my dad was one hell of a shot)I have taken a lot of game over the years and amitt I have even missed some easy shots but just think if I hadn't had all that fun shooting tin cans,paper,bottles,match heads and etc how much wounded game would have been running around out there or died a slow painfull death.
My susgestion for you fun shooters is to wipe the smile off your face and keep shooting,now that I know you are only susposed to kill something,its going to be hard but I know you can do it.
Was going to say Have fun but don't guess I had better.:D

RE: First time out with my Savage .308 rifle!
 

Man I don't want to go practice at the range if it's not gonna be fun.