Months of issues resovled

[teampete]

Hey everyone. After months of handloading (first timer) and trying to put together a good rifle I have finnally got my gun to shoot some good groups. I have a Savage LRH in 300 win mag topped with a vortex 6.5-20 x 50 with egw base and burris tactical rings. After 100 rounds down th barrel and many different loads I was dumbfounded at why this rifle couldnt shoot. I let my friend take my gun and try some handloading himself. He found many problems. First the scope was not mounted right and he thought the paralex was messed up. Also, the trigger was not resetting after every shot. Long story short, I called Savage and Vortex and they sent me replacement parts asap and I was impressed with the customer service. My buddy took my gun to his gunsmith aling with my new parts and scope. The gunsmith installed everything and I was back on track. Took the gun to the range with my berger 210 gr and to my amazement I shot a great group. Next day I went to 200 with the same loads and shot 1.5 inch to 1.75 inch groups with atleast 20 mph wind. After months of problems I finnaly got my gun to shoot!

I just wanted to share my story and let everyone know that there can be so many things causing issues and to check every little thing. I assumed the scope was mounted perfect and never checked like many people recomended. Check everything! I have a hunt in a few weeks and cant wait to take this rig and harvest an elk.

I have one question. If i get a good muzzle velocity from a chrono can I expect the G7 drop chart to be accurate. I was looking at a video from vortex and they said to test the drop chart to "validate trajectory". On the video the guy was 6 inches low from what the drop chart said and I couldnt believe how off it was. I will try to validate the drop chart but if I dont can I count on the drop chart to be accurate for my hunt.

Thanks everyone!

[Broz]

Originally Posted by teampete

I will try to validate the drop chart but if I dont can I count on the drop chart to be accurate for my hunt.

No Sir you can not. I would highly recommend you only shoot at an animal as far away as you have proven your rifle, ammo, drop chart and skill level to be accurate. Just like the other problems you had earlier, drops can be off if one component is wrong. Varify and practise real world drops or get closer.

Glad you got your rifle shooting well, Have a great hunt.

Jeff

[kcebcj]

From my experience and I'm no expert the computer generated drop chart is at best a good guideline until tweaked. Works pretty good out to about 350-400 yards but beyond that it gets you on the paper. I have never been able to develop a drop chart that was "perfect" even after tweaking the ballistic program but for hunting if I can get the 330, 465 and 800 (have my own bench chronograph and range) within a inch or so of dead on at each I'm good to go with everything in between. Has worked well for me.

Don't just rely on the generated chart. Verify the drops out to your max.

[cowboy]

Listen to the above 2 posts.

If your computed chart is accurate beyond 500 yds without tweaking it - I'd go buy a lottery ticket that same day.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

After you confirm it write it down to. In your data book its refered to as DOPE

Data on previous engagements. I have range cards all built up for the areas I shot at alot so wind, station pressure and temp corrections are all I have to worry about most of the time. Its a good idea for the times I forget the range finder.

[teampete]

Those five shots were shot in the same order I wrote them down. It makes sense that the speeds rose as the barrel heated up. I probably didn't wait more than a few minutes between shots