"SAVAGE MODEL 10P"

I was looking around my favorite store (Blyth's Sport Shop in Griffith, In) for a short barrel 308 win when I saw that red Savage Arms sticker on the stock of an all black bolt action rifle. I picked it up to read the price and info sticker which read, new Savage Model 10P, 20" heavy barrel, accutrigger, detachable box magazine, and over sized bolt handle. After some haggling I left Blyth's with this Model 10P and a Nightforce one piece base with built in moa and a set of Nightforce rings. I then went back home and stripped this rifle and gave it good cleaning and lube before mounting a Leupold MarkIII 6.5 x 20 x 40 with a Varmint retical.

Two days later I am out at the ISRA range. I brought four boxes of 308 win ammo, Black Hill 175gr BTHP match, Remington 168gr BTHP match, Federal Gold Medal 168gr and 175gr BTHP Sierra Matchking. I set up targets at 50 and 100 meters. Four shots at 50 meters and I had my zero. Now at 100 meters a few minor adjustments and I was hitting center on a 3 inch dot. The first ten shots I cleaned the barrel after every shot and for the next ten shots I cleaned after every three shots. The next four times out I was down state at the farm where we have a 50 foot pistol range and a 200 yard rifle range. Today, with more mud then I wanted to wade through, I set two targets with two 3 inch red dots on each. I re zeroed at 190 yards with the Federal Gold Match 168gr had three shots touching looked like a very small triangle. Now I re cleaned the rifle and re zeroed with 175gr Federal Gold Match, shooting off a Dog-Gone-Good bag three shots in a little ragged one hole. This rifle shoots as good as my Savage F/TR and my LRPV's. I don't know how Savage makes rifles so accurate but keep up the good work. I'm a proud owner of many Savage rifles, if you too want an accurate rifle go Savage Arms.

Always be safe and know whats behind your target.

*Update on this Savage with 175gr Federal Gold Match ammo and a target at 300 yards, I had a five shot 2.5 inch group with two fliers which were my fault. Some rifle.

"BULLET SLICK THE BEST"

I've been using Bullet Slick for a long long time and my hunting and shooting friends are always saying tell people about this stuff. Many years ago I read about this Bullet Slick in Shot Gun News, its made by Lubrication Specialists, Inc. in Ca. It's all natural and easy to use. The night before I go hunting or shooting, I dry patch my rifle or handgun, then I run a wet patch of Bullet Slick down the barrel, and let it set two to three minutes, then dry patch. With the wet patch I coat all the bullets on my loaded ammo, one wet patch is good for forty to fifty rounds. What I found by using Bullet Slick you never need a fouling shot, first shot is always on target, bore fouling is reduced a lot. Impact point did not shift when putting a lot of rounds down range. I use Bullet Slick in rifles from 22LR to 375 H & H and handguns from 22LR to 45acp. Once you use it, you'll know its great. I order by calling 858-565-7399.

Always be safe and know whats behing your target.

"HENRY BIG BOY 44 MAGNUM"

This Henry has a 20" octagonal with a 1:38 twist, American walnut stock, adjustable semi-buck horn r/sight, solid brass receiver, brass butt plate , barrel band, plus second generation Big Boys receiver are now drilled and tapped, which is a plus for me. I am not a big fan of cantilever mounts. As usual I took my Henry apart for a good cleaning, then mounted a Sightron 3 x 9 scope.

Its off to the range. I decided to setup a target at 50 meters. It took five shots to hit a 2 1/2 inch red dot, I had my zero, all five shots were shot with American Eagle 240gr soft point. I then cleaned the barrel.  I also brought with me Fiocchi 200gr Semi JHP, Hornady 240gr XTPJHP, and Remington 240gr Semi JHP. Now I moved my target to 100 meters and started with the same American Eagle ammo, it took a couple of adjustments and I zeroed again.  I cleaned the barrel again and did the same after every sixth shot as I changed ammo brands.  While shooting this Henry Big Boy it was flawless in every way, plus fit and finish were perfect.  All of the ammo's shot 3 inches or less, but the American Eagle 240gr soft point shot a 1 3/4 inch four shot group off a Dog-Gone-Good bag rest. I've used this Henry five times now and its very accurate,  the lever action is very smooth, and its American made.  Out west its taken some good sized varmints. This is my third Henry Big Boy, I've never had a miss feed, failure to fire or any other problem with any of them. Thanks again Henry rifles.

Be safe and know whats behind your target.

More to come

"RUGER BISLEY SUPER BLACKHAWK"

I've always wanted a single action Blackhawk in 44mag, but the grips never fit my hands, they were just too small for me.  While on the Ruger sight a few months back, I see Ruger was building an exclusive run on Super Bisley Blackhawks for a big distributor named Lipsey.  This Ruger is stainless with black laminated Bisley grips, a 3 3/4in barrel, Lange frame, adjustable sights, and non fluted cylinder. It's single action and weighs 44oz.  The Bisley gripframe is the best for recoil control.

Now I was off to Blyth's Sport shop located in Griffith In. to order this revolver. After picking up my new Ruger, I took it apart for a good cleaning, which did not take long, this Blackhawk was already very clean.

Tuesday I was off to the range with five boxes of 44mag ammo, American Eagle 240gr soft point, Fiocchi 240gr jacketed soft point, Federal 300gr castcore flat point, Buffalo Bore 200gr hard cast wadcutter and Remington 240gr semi jacketed hollow point.  I set up a few targets at 25ft to see how this Ruger would shoot.  After six shots I had to adjust the rear sight, I was four inches left of center. That first day I shot forty rounds of mixed ammo that I brought.  Then home and a good cleaning so I'd be ready for next week. 

Now its back to the range, this time I put targets at 50ft. Now I'm in a standing position using a rest and getting 2 1/2 to 3in groups with the Remington and American Eagle ammo was easy.  What surprised me was the 300gr castcore Federal ammo would constantly shoot 2in groups if I did my part.  The Buffalo Bore ammo shot around 2 1/2in.  This Blackhawk did not like the Fiocchi ammo at all, results were 4 or more inches.  Been at the range three more times and the farthest I've shot is 25yds using the same ammo with about the same results.  This Bisley Superhawk is one of the finest revolvers I've ever had.  Never a malfunction, fit, finish and accuracy are outstanding.  Thank you Ruger.

Be safe and always know whats behind your target.

"SMITH & WESSON 351PD REVOLVER"

This Smith & Wesson is perfect for small varmints and snakes.  Its a J frame model 351PD in 22 magnum holds seven rounds, has a fiber optic front sight, and a nice pair of wood grips. The frame and cylinder are matte black and aluminum alloy which makes it very light.

I bought this just to carry it loaded with CCI shot shell for snakes when we are up in the mountains or out in the fields. The shot shell is #12 shot with about 250 pellets, works well out to eight feet for me.  When breaking this J frame in I was using Hornaby 45gr Critical Defense and Fiocchi 40gr JSP.  I set the target a 25ft, both the Hornaby and Fiocchi shot good.  I then set the target at 10ft and the Hornaby and Fiocchi grouped very good, with no rear sight and 1.875in barrel, I thought this was great.  We then put a steel 12in round target at 25ft and my wife hit the target six times out of seven.  I've used this Smith & Wesson around the barn and in the field on small and medium size varmints and a lot of rattle snakes.  After firing 145 rounds through this great little Smith & Wesson 22mag, I've never had a miss fire or any other problem.  Fit and finish are perfect.  I'd give this 22mag an A plus rating.  It's a lot of fun to shoot and easy to carry.  If you are looking for a small caliber that's light weight and compact, this is it.

Be safe and always know whats behind your target.

More to come.

"A NEW SAVAGE AND A NEW RUGER"

As I said earlier , my buddy John had a new Savage Model 10 precision carbine in 308, with accustock, accutrigger and a 20" medium weight barrel with 1 in 10 twist. Good looking rifle. The other rifle is a Ruger Model 77 hawkeye tactical. The stock is a black hogue over molded with a 20" heavy barrel with a 1 in 10 twist and a two stage adjustable trigger. Both rifles had Leupold Mark 4 LF/T 3.5-10 x 40 mil dot scopes. When John was breaking them in he zeroed them at 200 yds and the only changes he made was bedding the action on the Ruger to float the barrel.

Now lets try these two rifles. We setup targets at 200 yds at daybreak when there's not much wind.  I had five boxes of 308 ammo, Federal and Fiocchi between 150 and 175 gr. I started with the Savage first.  I put ten rounds down range and was impressed.  If you read my stuff you know I like Savage rifles. Next was the Ruger, it felt heavier when I picked it up. I put ten rounds down range with the same ammo I used in the Savage, the Ruger did a little better.

John had to go away for three days and left me with the rifles. I brought five more boxes of Federal 308 ammo. I shot early morning and late afternoon all three days. Both rifles shot great depending on bullet weight. The Savage and the Ruger shot equal using the Federal 168 gr Sierra matchking boat tail.

Now the pros and cons. I liked the Savage accutrigger, smooth bolt operation and the fast handling. I did not like the feel of the stock or the recoil pad. I also had five rounds that were hard to feed. The Ruger was the best shooting Ruger I have shot in a while, good trigger, all rounds fed good. I did not like the stock at all and don't know why it had the muzzle break. All in all both rifles performed great. One last thing, both rifles also shot great at 500 yds. I would recommend buying either one, but you know me, I would buy the Savage.

Always be safe and know whats behind your target.

More to come soon.

"RUGER 77/44 MAG"

Hello again, its been awhile since I posted anything. We have been traveling and also visiting family members that have moved to new places.  Spent two months between South Dakota and Wyoming.  My best friend John in Wyoming had two new rifles to try out, a Savage and a Ruger and I had a new Ruger 77/44 mag I bought in October.  My Ruger is a bolt action model 77/44 mag, black synthetic stock with a 18.5" brushed stainless barrel.  I made sure to give it a good cleaning.

I am off to the range with four brands of 44 mag ammo. I set up the targets at 50 yards.  The first ten shots were shoot one and then clean.  I took my time not letting the barrel get hot and shot for accuracy. My shots were bad 3 1/2" to 4" groups.  The trigger was just too heavy.  I called Midway USA and ordered a Volquarten Target  sear and sear spring which gave me a 1.5 trigger pull for my 77/44 mag.  After installing the sear and sear spring the action was bedded and the barrel free floated.  I then changed scopes and put on a Sightron SII 3-9 x 42 HHR.

Now its back to the range.  After re zeroing, it was like shooting a different rifle.  At 100 yards this Ruger liked American Eagle 240gr jph and Federal 300gr Castcore hunting ammo. With either the 240gr or the 300 gr this Ruger will shoot a very descent group at 100 yards.  Using the 300gr ammo I dropped a wolf at 72 yards with one shot, it never moved.  So, for less than one hundred dollars parts and labor this Ruger 77/44 became a very good rifle.

More to come, about my friend John and his two new rifles.

Always be safe and know whats behind your target.