Range Report: Savage 16 FCSS (308)

[Weetabix]

The weather was nice enough, and I couldn't wait, so I took the afternoon off, and took the new rifle to the range. For reference, it's a Savage 16 FCSS, Weather Warrior series, in .308 Win. 22" barrel. AccuTrigger - by the picture in the manual, it's set on the heaviest setting - ~6 lbs, IIRC. I left it as is. AccuStock. Vortex Diamondback HP 3-12x42. Weaver 46 bases, Burriss Zee rings.

The bolt operates OK, but oddly, not as quite as smoothly or tightly as my other rifles (all milsurp or old .22's). Seems to lock tightly, but the back end rattles a bit. The body is jeweled, if that makes a difference.

I need to read the manual again about how/when to put the magazine in. I was loading the mag (4 rounds), putting a round in the chamber, closing the bolt, then seating the mag. Once, the mag dropped out on the first shot. It may need a bit of breaking in. Later, I was loading the mag, seating it, firing 4, then loading a 5th in the chamber. It seats most easily with the bolt open.

The recoil pad that comes with the stock seems good enough. My experience is with steel butt plates, so obviously, this would be better. 50 rounds with just a shirt, and my shoulder was getting tired, but it didn't hurt.

The trigger broke clean. The gadget that releases the sear felt like take up on other triggers. I liked it. I think I need to set it a bit lighter. I was also shooting an old Remington 22 - TargetMaster, I think. I liked the weight of that trigger better, so I think I prefer a lighter trigger.

I was shooting 5 brands of ammo that I found locally:
- Remington CoreLokt, 150 gr, PSP
- Winchester SuperX 180 gr, didn't write down the bullet shape, but I think it was soft point
- Prvi Partizan, Winchester Match, 175 gr, FMJ BT
- Hornady Match, 168 gr, BTHP
- Fiocchi, 150 gr, FMJ

On any of these, I see that I'm mixing manufacturers, weights, and bullet types, so I'll need a statistician to sort this out scientifically. Also, I would have been breaking in the barrel. When I had the scope mounted, they put 4 rounds of the Winchester through her from a vise to set the zero dead on at 100 yds. I was shooting at 50 yds from a rest on a bench.

I shot 5 shots of each mfr once through, then shot another 5 rounds of each mfr again. 50 rounds total of 308. At the end, I shot 10 rounds of .22 at two targets, again at 50 rounds to check myself. Both targets were in a 2" 10-ring. Probably a 1-1/2" group on the first target and 1" on the second.

She didn't like the Winchester. It scattered all over.

Hornady seemed to shoot best. Don't have a quarter handy, but it looks like a quarter would cover the 2nd group.

2nd Prvi group was about 1-1/2" high and 2" wide.

2nd Remington group was about 3/4" high and 2" wide.

The Fiocchi was about 1-1/2" high and 2" wide not counting one that I know I pulled down and left when I shot. A quarter would cover 3 of them.

I think I'll take it back out with all but the Winchester. I have 3 boxes of Federal GMM, 168 gr Sierra BT coming. It will go with me, too.

The .22 has the Simmons 3-9x .22mag scope that several people seemed to like in another thread. Oddly, I think I like it better than the Vortex. I need to spend more time with the Vortex to make sure the reticle is focused properly (it's very close now) and playing with the focus knob. I was not trying to adjust the POA/POI yet. Just looking at groups.

I don't have very much room to adjust the eye relief based on how it's mounted. The Zee rings have the bolt that goes through the slots in the bases. The bases are turned to minimize the distance between the rings, and the scope still doesn't have much play. I could try some rings that don't go through the slot, but I'd think those would be higher. The height seemed pretty good.

I also need to bring something to put under my elbow on the bench next time.

[PawPaw]

Let me just say this about that. 43.0 grains of Reloder 15, anybody's 165/168. WLR primer. Shoots into an inch with any .308 I've tried it in. That's my go-to load for the .308 and we've shot some mighty fine groups with that load. 10-shot groups under an inch. Some 10-shot groups flirting with 1/2 inch. But, you've got to do all the silly stuff, like trimming brass, and camfering it before you load.

That's the best .308 load I've ever found. And I've tried lots of them.

[Weetabix]

Got a number for that? I find 9 different ones on Midway's site.

ETA: I googled before I finished reading. 15 it is!

[Weetabix]

Oh, yeah... the rifle

[Weetabix]

And the 2nd Hornady group. The range makes you hang targets sideways so their target holder posts get shot less.

[First Shirt]

The bolt operates OK, but oddly, not as quite as smoothly or tightly as my other rifles (all milsurp or old .22's). Seems to lock tightly, but the back end rattles a bit. The body is jeweled, if that makes a difference.

The bolt handle on Savage rifles is not an integral part of the bolt, it's a separate piece. (That's how you change from large to small knob, or install one of the "tactical" bolt handles. All it takes is the new handle and a 1/4-inch allen wrench.)

The bolt will smooth up with use. The "slop" is a result of the modular design, where the bolt body, bolt head, and bolt handle are distinctly separate pieces.

ETA: That's not a bad group, from a new barrel, using factory ammo!

[Netpackrat]

ETA: That's not a bad group, from a new barrel, using factory ammo!

What he said.

[First Shirt]

Along the ammuntion line, Hornady produces a line of loaded ammo called "American Whitetail." It usually sells for 2-5 bucks less than anything else (I bought 5 boxes for $106.95, which includes sales tax) and it actually seems to work pretty well. Not as good as my handloads, but The Minions can keep three shots of it under an inch at 100 yards. I bought it just to get the brass, but I wouldn't be afraid to take it after deer in our neck of the woods.

If it's available in your area, you might want to check out a box or two. Don't know what bullet weights they use for the .308 version, but the 7/08 uses the 139 gr. plain-base spitzer, so I'm pretty sure the .308 uses something similar. And Hornady makes some really nice brass for reloading!

[Denis]

Looks good! You're zeroing in on the right choice of ammunition, getting to know the rifle, and it all sounds like fun, apart from the elbow. Happy days!

[Weetabix]

ETA: That's not a bad group, from a new barrel, using factory ammo!

What he said.

Thanks. Still only 50 yards, but I'll be moving out.

First Shirt - tell the Minions that my goal is to reach their level of proficiency.