"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.

"HENRY RIFLES MADE IN AMERICA"

This Henry Big Boy is model H006M, 357mag with a hardened brass receiver, 20" octagonal barrel, tubular magazine that holds ten rounds and it's drilled and tapped for a scope mount.  The stock is American walnut. After I cleaned this great looking rifle, I mounted a 3-9 x 42 Sightron scope with a duplex reticle.

Well I am off to the ISRA Range with all the 357mag ammo I could round up. Setting up the targets at 50 meters, it took four shots to zero this Henry. After cleaning the rifle again, I shot a three shot group
with American Eagle 158gr ammo that measured 1.5".  Well I thought with only eight rounds fired and get a group like this, it can only get better.  Over the weeks it has gotten better.  Even with Federal 180gr castcore hunting ammo out to 75 meters.  The American Eagle shot the best at 100 meters.  The action is smooth as silk on this Henry, with two hundred rounds fired and no malfunction.  Fit and finish are perfect.  My next rifle will be the Henry Big Boy H006 44mag.  Keep up the good work Henry.

By the way, I just got rid of a Marlin rifle, because the company is owned by a group that doesn't like the American way. Be sure to do your homework before you make a purchase.

Always be safe and know whats behind your target.

More to come.