The best ammo I've ever made!

[densa44]

I've been at this a long time, so it stands to reason that I shoot better than I used to, my friends too, and that the components have gotten better.

The experts here have mentioned a number of times that the SD in bullet weights has gone down (the bullets are closer to being identical) and the new powders are better. The rifles are better too, and that is a fact.

We are shooting .243 savage's with a 55 gr. Nos bullet in front of 45 gr. of Varget.

The Nosler site says the max load is 45.5 gr. of Varget and the Hodgdon says 39.5, just one of the features of reloading.

At any rate the loads can shoot sub 1/2 moa at 500 yards. We are hitting gophers at 200. Lots of fun.

[elkhunter11]

It sounds like you are having fun. When I come down next time, I may have to bring some gear, and see if we can kill some ground squirrels at 300 or 400 yards.

[gatorr]

1/2 inch groups at 500 yards? What kind of scope? I can barely see the target at 500 yards.

[catnthehat]

1/2 inch groups at 500 yards? What kind of scope? I can barely see the target at 500 yards.

Dansa44 stated 1/2MOA not which is completely doable, NOT 1/2"!:thinking-006:
Cat

[elkhunter11]

1/2 inch groups at 500 yards? What kind of scope? I can barely see the target at 500 yards.


1/2 moa at 500 yards is approximately 2-1/2" .

[J0HN_R1]

Congrats densa44, what model Savage are you using & do you have an aftermarket barrel ?

I'm getting really good groups with 58gr Vmax & 43.8 grains IMR4064 @ 3930fps.

About 2/3 MOA... At 300m I'm putting 3-5 shots into 2".

[gatorr]

Oops my bad I mis read that.

[sns2]

That's dang good shooting, but the real question is, are the girls retrieving the gophers to hand?

[densa44]

My friend cannot resist a bargain and as he sees it, if he doesn't spend it his wf will just buy a new purse with the $$$. So he has 3 savage .243 one left handed, one with a mussel break, they all have accu triggers, mine has a basix trigger.

The scopes are more expensive than the rifles, mine has a Millet tactical.

The bullet is stepping out at very close to 4000 fps.

I don't know the twist or the barrel lengths but we must be just about right as far as the harmonics are concerned.

At 200 M the hits touch on the gong. At 500 yds. as Cat said we are on the edge of the 3" bull. So a bit less that 1/2 moa but we don't shoot any better than that so we'll call it 1/2 moa.

The bullet lifted a gopher right out of the hole and he did 2 back flips before he hit the ground.

Elk, I may take you up on your offer once I recover a bit more. You can bring that fuzzy dog with you.

[elkhunter11]

My friend cannot resist a bargain and as he sees it, if he doesn't spend it his wf will just buy a new purse with the $$$. So he has 3 savage .243 one left handed, one with a mussel break, they all have accu triggers, mine has a basix trigger.

The scopes are more expensive than the rifles, mine has a Millet tactical.

The bullet is stepping out at very close to 4000 fps.

I don't know the twist or the barrel lengths but we must be just about right as far as the harmonics are concerned.

At 200 M the hits touch on the gong. At 500 yds. as Cat said we are on the edge of the 3" bull. So a bit less that 1/2 moa but we don't shoot any better than that so we'll call it 1/2 moa.

The bullet lifted a gopher right out of the hole and he did 2 back flips before he hit the ground.

Elk, I may take you up on your offer once I recover a bit more. You can bring that fuzzy dog with you.

Don't rush the recovery, take things gentle. That fuzzy faced dog was 32lbs last night. He has more than doubled his weight in just over five weeks., and he is now tall enough to reach everything. I am off to Saskatchewan tomorrow for a few days, and the Mrs is looking after him, it should be interesting.:)