Finally got to the range to shoot my new ULA .50. I mounted the new VX-L 3.5-10X50 in low Talley LW mounts. I'll tell you...that scope is a piece of WORK! I LOVE it! I really can't quit looking at it! 
ANYWAYS.... Concerning the rifle....This ULA was ordered with a heavier barrel contour AND a longer barrel. The barrel actually turned out a good deal longer. Here are some figures:
OEM Savage 10ML-II useable barrel-22.2 inches.. LOA-44.0 inches
ULA .50 I...useable barrel-23.6 inches.. LOA-43.0 inches
ULA .50 II..useable barrel-26.0 inches.. LOA-45.0 inches
The longer, heavier barrel didn't create a heavy gun at all either:
10ML-II, Talley LW mounts, Ziess 3.5-10X44--10.25lbs
ULA .50 I, Talley LW mounts, Leupold VX-III 2.5-8--7lbs
ULA .50 II, Talley LW mounts, Leupold VX-L 3.5-10X50--8lbs
I got the heavier, longer barrel to help with recoil a little with heavier loads. This gun has long range as a priority!
Here are a couple of PICS!
LOVE that SCOPE: 8)
Well to start off..I wanted this rifle to be a flat shooting as possible. I tried several newer bullets, those being the Parker HydraCon 300gr and Parker Ballistic Extreme 275gr. To get started, I tried the 275gr Ballistic Extreme with 40gr N-110:
Sorry so blury.. That was the first group out of the rifle. Average velocity 2222fps.
Next up was 42gr N-110, same bullet:
Average velocity 2290fps. Next I tried several combinations of 300gr HydraCons and 4759/N-110 and never got anything to group like I wanted. Groups in the 1.5 inch area...not bad but not what I was looking for. Velocites also were not as expected. It seems that the shorted barrel ULA really gives about all the velocity that is available with the faster N-110/SR-4759 powders. It's too hot to shoot anymore so I go home and weigh some N-120!
This afternoon I went back to the range to try some N-120 with the 275gr Ballistic Extremes. I'm glad I DID! First group:
Velocities were MUCH better! 57gr N-120/275gr Ballistic Extreme averaged 2358fps! My GOAL was 2400fps.
NEXT group was same sabot/bullet but 58gr N-120:
Well as you can see the GROUP got larger but the velocity was right where I wanted, 2407fps. So next I shot the exact same load EXCEPT I used a different sabot:
Best group of the DAY! And truth of the matter..I could tell I was shooting better. Velocity went up a tad to an average of 2442fps. This is the load I'm going to work with next range trip. If this load works out I can have a realistic 190yd zero and still be within 3 inches at 221yds.
ANYWAYS.... Concerning the rifle....This ULA was ordered with a heavier barrel contour AND a longer barrel. The barrel actually turned out a good deal longer. Here are some figures:OEM Savage 10ML-II useable barrel-22.2 inches.. LOA-44.0 inches
ULA .50 I...useable barrel-23.6 inches.. LOA-43.0 inches
ULA .50 II..useable barrel-26.0 inches.. LOA-45.0 inches
The longer, heavier barrel didn't create a heavy gun at all either:
10ML-II, Talley LW mounts, Ziess 3.5-10X44--10.25lbs
ULA .50 I, Talley LW mounts, Leupold VX-III 2.5-8--7lbs
ULA .50 II, Talley LW mounts, Leupold VX-L 3.5-10X50--8lbs
I got the heavier, longer barrel to help with recoil a little with heavier loads. This gun has long range as a priority!
Here are a couple of PICS!
LOVE that SCOPE: 8)
Well to start off..I wanted this rifle to be a flat shooting as possible. I tried several newer bullets, those being the Parker HydraCon 300gr and Parker Ballistic Extreme 275gr. To get started, I tried the 275gr Ballistic Extreme with 40gr N-110:
Sorry so blury..
That was the first group out of the rifle. Average velocity 2222fps. Next up was 42gr N-110, same bullet:
Average velocity 2290fps. Next I tried several combinations of 300gr HydraCons and 4759/N-110 and never got anything to group like I wanted. Groups in the 1.5 inch area...not bad but not what I was looking for. Velocites also were not as expected. It seems that the shorted barrel ULA really gives about all the velocity that is available with the faster N-110/SR-4759 powders. It's too hot to shoot anymore so I go home and weigh some N-120!
This afternoon I went back to the range to try some N-120 with the 275gr Ballistic Extremes. I'm glad I DID! First group:
Velocities were MUCH better! 57gr N-120/275gr Ballistic Extreme averaged 2358fps! My GOAL was 2400fps.
NEXT group was same sabot/bullet but 58gr N-120:
Well as you can see the GROUP got larger but the velocity was right where I wanted, 2407fps. So next I shot the exact same load EXCEPT I used a different sabot:
Best group of the DAY! And truth of the matter..I could tell I was shooting better. Velocity went up a tad to an average of 2442fps. This is the load I'm going to work with next range trip. If this load works out I can have a realistic 190yd zero and still be within 3 inches at 221yds.
