Took two Savages to the range today, HB #69 and ML-II #III. I bought ML-II #III for Kristel to shoot! Dang I'm nice! Anyway...I took basically two powder charges, 40.0gr N-110(81.0 clicks on Harrels) and 43.4gr 5744(AGAIN 81.0 clicks) to try in both guns. I did have a bullet weight limit of 260gr for ML-II #III since I wanted a low recoil load for Kristel.
Bullets shot in HB #69
235gr .400 Hawk
250gr .452 XTP
260gr .452 Partitiion Gold
300gr .429 A-Frame
300gr SST
Bullets shot in ML-II #III
220gr .452 Red Hot
235gr .400 Hawk
250gr .452 XTP
250gr SST
260gr Dead Center
Let me sort the wheat from the chaff right away. With the powders and charges I tried TODAY, the .40 235gr Hawk just didn't group at all in either Savage, a big disappointment. Groups of 8 to 12 inches were typical. I may go back and try some 2400 and/or some sub-bases, but for now that bullet in on the back burner. Same goes for the .429 A-Frame. I used MMPs new .429 HPH sabot to no avail. Shots were just DUDs! 1200-1600fps and hitting all over the paper. Same could be said for the Partition Golds! I think a perfectly flat base bullet is practically manditory for accuracy with smokeless powder. Velocities were low and bullets hit all over the paper.
Right away the ML-II #III showed a preferance for the .452 250gr XTP and VV N-110. Groups averaged 1.7 inches which isn't too bad for the first time out with it.
The .452s and 43.4 gr 5744 didn't shoot so well. I probably need to go up to 45.0gr or so for that powder/bullet.
#III also seemed to like 260gr Dead Centers. These bullets DO have one advantage on the others here. They ARE easy to seat.. That could be and big plus for Kristel.
I'm sure I can get both to shoot better with a little range time.
I also tried the 250gr SST which didn't do so good averaging about 2.7 inches with N-110.
HB #69 did very well indeed using 5744 and the 300gr SST. So well in fact, that it may be what I hunt with in the fall. Three 3-shot groups averaged just over an inch.
The 250gr .452 XTP did well also. Groups averaging just over an inch. VV N-110 and the 250gr .452 seem to be well matched.
Overall, a nice day at the range and now I have something to work with. Nothing new that the best shooting projectiles were Hornadys. They certainly ARE doing something right!
Bullets shot in HB #69
235gr .400 Hawk
250gr .452 XTP
260gr .452 Partitiion Gold
300gr .429 A-Frame
300gr SST
Bullets shot in ML-II #III
220gr .452 Red Hot
235gr .400 Hawk
250gr .452 XTP
250gr SST
260gr Dead Center
Let me sort the wheat from the chaff right away. With the powders and charges I tried TODAY, the .40 235gr Hawk just didn't group at all in either Savage, a big disappointment. Groups of 8 to 12 inches were typical. I may go back and try some 2400 and/or some sub-bases, but for now that bullet in on the back burner. Same goes for the .429 A-Frame. I used MMPs new .429 HPH sabot to no avail. Shots were just DUDs! 1200-1600fps and hitting all over the paper. Same could be said for the Partition Golds! I think a perfectly flat base bullet is practically manditory for accuracy with smokeless powder. Velocities were low and bullets hit all over the paper.
Right away the ML-II #III showed a preferance for the .452 250gr XTP and VV N-110. Groups averaged 1.7 inches which isn't too bad for the first time out with it.
The .452s and 43.4 gr 5744 didn't shoot so well. I probably need to go up to 45.0gr or so for that powder/bullet.
#III also seemed to like 260gr Dead Centers. These bullets DO have one advantage on the others here. They ARE easy to seat.. That could be and big plus for Kristel.
I'm sure I can get both to shoot better with a little range time.
I also tried the 250gr SST which didn't do so good averaging about 2.7 inches with N-110.
HB #69 did very well indeed using 5744 and the 300gr SST. So well in fact, that it may be what I hunt with in the fall. Three 3-shot groups averaged just over an inch.
The 250gr .452 XTP did well also. Groups averaging just over an inch. VV N-110 and the 250gr .452 seem to be well matched.
Overall, a nice day at the range and now I have something to work with. Nothing new that the best shooting projectiles were Hornadys. They certainly ARE doing something right!
Some impressive work with the 300 gr. SST's also! I'm still getting my best groups with the 250 gr. SST's, with 4759, but want to try the 5744 with the 300 grainers also. Good Shooting- I see you are already off to a good start. 
