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Post by HuntMeister on Jan 31, 2011 20:34:20 GMT -5
Prohunter .243 Winchester. After spending the first two weekends of the year doing family birthday parties and the last 1-1/2 weeks lost dealing with a nasty sinus infection, this weekend I was finally healthy and had the opportunity to get out to the range. I mixed up a few development loads with some Varget and 58gr Vmax boolits starting at 40.5gr and increasing in 1/2 gr increments up to 44.0gr.  Saturday after running a box of factory 100gr ammo thru it to get the scope adjusted I started shooting the development loads. The first three loads were fairly "loose" groups...  The fourth group was much the same then on the fifth I was pleasantly surprised to see them tighten up quite a bit and then open up again with the sixth load. I thought to myself that No.5 is the sweet spot...  I proceeded on with loads seven, eight and nine and again the groups got tight with No.9...  I picked up and headed back home, now I had to make a decision, load No.5 or No. 9. After much deliberation I decided to go with lucky No.9. Sunday morning I got up early and put together 20 rounds of load No.9 and that afternoon I headed back out to the range to see if my luck would hold out and if so maybe I could dial in the scope and get this puppy ready to shoot some songdogs. First group at 100yds was OK but not what I was hoping for. I made a elevation adjustment and then really tried to get myself settled down for my best effort. It all came together and I couldn't be happier with the resulting group! This summer I think I may go back and play around with the No.5 load again to see what it can do.  I then did some 200yd shooting. I had researched some ballistic charts and everything I had read indicated that 1.5" high at 100yds should be a 200yd zero. In my case the approximate 1.5" high 100yds was about 2" high at 200yds. I then backed the 100yd groups back down to zero at 100yds and I was approximately 1" high at 200yds. My 200yd shooting ability is nowhere near what I can generally achieve at 100yds so I'm not sure if it was me or the gun but either way I now have a +200yd point and shoot rifle.  |
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Post by mrfixit on Jan 31, 2011 21:55:33 GMT -5
Sweet shootin' Looks like you got yourself a keeper!!
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Post by hornharvester on Jan 31, 2011 23:28:36 GMT -5
Try some H4350 in that gun and see what it does. I like Varget a lot but H4350 is real hard to beat in any of the .308 base cartridges. h.h.
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Post by lymanl3 on Jan 31, 2011 23:37:22 GMT -5
What scope do you have mounted? Nikon?
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Post by parson on Feb 1, 2011 8:14:16 GMT -5
I love my .243! I've owned a Savage for 25+ years and it's been a great shooter since day one. My best accuracy has come with 100 gr. bullets and near max loads of IMR 4350.
Looks like you got a good one there.
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Post by swilk on Feb 1, 2011 8:33:46 GMT -5
Factory receiver or has it had some work done to it?
I need to box both of mine up and send them to Stratton Customs this month ....
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Post by HuntMeister on Feb 1, 2011 10:19:09 GMT -5
What scope do you have mounted? Nikon? Yes, a Nikon Prostaff 3-9X40 |
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Post by HuntMeister on Feb 1, 2011 10:20:28 GMT -5
All factory at this time. The trigger isn't too bad but I do want to improve it at sometime in the future. Right now I'm thinking a Bellm, do you know of any better choices or options? Factory receiver or has it had some work done to it? I need to box both of mine up and send them to Stratton Customs this month .... |
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Post by HuntMeister on Feb 1, 2011 10:23:00 GMT -5
Thanks for the suggestion hh, would IMR4350 also work as good as H4350? I have had great results in my 30-06 with the IMR4350. Try some H4350 in that gun and see what it does. I like Varget a lot but H4350 is real hard to beat in any of the .308 base cartridges. h.h. |
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Post by dsayer on Feb 1, 2011 11:18:24 GMT -5
My buddy bought the T/C Encore Pro Hunter last season. Sweet shooting gun. He has .30-06 and 12 ga barrels for it now. Getting a .22-250 and MZ for it for next year. I really like the idea of having the same stock/trigger for every gun. It was especially good for him because he had just started hunting and didn't own any other guns.
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Post by hornharvester on Feb 1, 2011 13:48:52 GMT -5
Thanks for the suggestion hh, would IMR4350 also work as good as H4350? I have had great results in my 30-06 with the IMR4350. Try some H4350 in that gun and see what it does. I like Varget a lot but H4350 is real hard to beat in any of the .308 base cartridges. h.h. Huntmeister, Yes you can sub. IMR is a little slower in burn rate but not by much. Loading manuals will list IMR about .1 to .5 grain more than H. 4350 will give you more speed than Varget. Varget seems to work better with heavier bullets in the caliber your reloading for. I use it for 69grain .223 loads but lighter bullets in that caliber will shoot better with a different powder, like 4198 or Benchmark. In my .260 Rem with 120 Noslers 44.0 of H4350 would shoot .5 in groups @ 200 yards. The 260 is the next caliber up in the .308 line of cartridges base on the case. I would imagine somewhere in the 42.0-45.0 grain range will work for you. Remember Encores cant handle the pressures a bolt gun does so any manual you use work up. Good luck, h.h. |
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Post by HuntMeister on Feb 1, 2011 13:51:37 GMT -5
Thanks for the suggestion hh, would IMR4350 also work as good as H4350? I have had great results in my 30-06 with the IMR4350. Huntmeister, Yes you can sub. IMR is a little slower in burn rate but not by much. Loading manuals will list IMR about .1 to .5 grain more than H. 4350 will give you more speed than Varget. Varget seems to work better with heavier bullets in the caliber your reloading for. I use it for 69grain .223 loads but lighter bullets in that caliber will shoot better with a different powder, like 4198 or Benchmark. In my .260 Rem with 120 Noslers 44.0 of H4350 would shoot .5 in groups @ 200 yards. The 260 is the next caliber up in the .308 line of cartridges base on the case. I would imagine somewhere in the 42.0-45.0 grain range will work for you. Remember Encores cant handle the pressures a bolt gun does so any manual you use work up. Good luck, h.h. Thanks hh! |
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Post by HighCotton on Feb 1, 2011 18:36:28 GMT -5
Beautiful! I love the setup. I've had a Nikon Buckmaster 3x9-40 on my Encore goin' on 15 years. Great glass/great performance.
Congrats!
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Post by danf on Feb 1, 2011 20:15:15 GMT -5
All factory at this time. The trigger isn't too bad but I do want to improve it at sometime in the future. Right now I'm thinking a Bellm, do you know of any better choices or options? Blem does a lot of things to and for the T/C's that aren't needed. Stratton will likely do trigger work, Jim Henry is who a LOT of silhouette shooters use (and from what I understand, he doesn't take ANY money from you until you are happy with the work), or you can do it yourself: specialtypistols.infopop.cc/Articles/sp4.pdf |
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Post by HuntMeister on Feb 1, 2011 21:26:02 GMT -5
All factory at this time. The trigger isn't too bad but I do want to improve it at sometime in the future. Right now I'm thinking a Bellm, do you know of any better choices or options? Blem does a lot of things to and for the T/C's that aren't needed. Stratton will likely do trigger work, Jim Henry is who a LOT of silhouette shooters use (and from what I understand, he doesn't take ANY money from you until you are happy with the work), or you can do it yourself: specialtypistols.infopop.cc/Articles/sp4.pdfThanks for the info. You meant Bellm? If so I agree but, I've heard nothing bad of his trigger upgrade. I do hope to DIY the trigger improvement. Anyone know of a local smith (central Indy) that does T/C trigger work? |
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Post by danf on Feb 1, 2011 21:30:24 GMT -5
Blem/Bellm, one in the same  He sells a lot of snake oil, depending on who you talk to. ;D |
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Post by swilk on Feb 2, 2011 8:23:25 GMT -5
All factory at this time. The trigger isn't too bad but I do want to improve it at sometime in the future. Right now I'm thinking a Bellm, do you know of any better choices or options? Factory receiver or has it had some work done to it? I need to box both of mine up and send them to Stratton Customs this month .... I dont have a lot of experience with encores but I have shot a couple with trigger jobs by Stratton. After feeling the difference and seeing the difference in group sizing I decided that is where I would send mine. |
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He sells a lot of snake oil, depending on who you talk to. ;D