New to shooting.

B

Ben..

Guest
Hey :D

As the title suggests I'm a newb to shooting and I'm after a bit of help.

I have decided I want to do target shooting from different ranges, from 50 yards to hopefully 1000 yards once I get a handle on the sport.

This is what I have chossen so far.

Savage 12 LRPV .223 1 in 9" twist (repeater)

Topped with a Nightforce NXS 8-32x56mm scope :)

I was wondering if this is a good choice of kit for what I want to do.


Thanks heaps for any help and or advice.
 
Hey thanks for the reply :)

I'm glad you think it's a good choice, The main thing I'm worried about is the twist rate. I would really like an 1 in 8" but with this model I can only get 1:9 in the repeater and both the 1:9 and 1:7 in the single shot, will a 1 in 9" be good enough for shooting at long distances?

Also I questioned my choice after reading through this thread =\

http://www.benchrest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33868

I will be ordering it all in a few weeks so I really need to be 100% on my choice as soon as possible :) If this rifle isn't going to hold up to what I want it to do I'd rather know now so I can go for something else.
 
ben

It does sound like a good combo. pick up a benchrest primer book and a set of wind flags ( if you dont have them already ) scratch your head for awile, and go out and have some fun ! see you out there.
Tom G
 
You might want to think about the 6BR chambering. I might be tempted to go that route although there too a faster twist barrel would be better for long range shooting.
 
1-9 twist & "long range"

Ben: yes, you are on the right track: excellent combination, but as you suspect, the 1-9 is going to limit you to approx. 600 yd. maximum. Even at that, you will pay a high price if there is any amount of wind involved, since the bullet weight will be limited to approx. 69 gr. For 5 & 600 yd. the 77 & 80 gr. are a better choice, but they require at least a 1-8 or 1-7. For 1K yd., it's a whole 'nuther issue. Been there, done that. Just replaced my shot-out factory Savage 1-9 ( a very good barrel), with a Hart 1-8. In your case, I would seriously consider the single-shot in 1-7: any type of long range is single load anyway.
 
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f d shuster said:
Ben: yes, you are on the right track: excellent combination, but as you suspect, the 1-9 is going to limit you to approx. 600 yd. maximum. Even at that, you will pay a high price if there is any amount of wind involved, since the bullet weight will be limited to approx. 69 gr. For 5 & 600 yd. the 77 & 80 gr. are a better choice, but they require at least a 1-8 or 1-7. For 1K yd., it's a whole 'nuther issue. Been there, done that. Just replaced my shot-out factory Savage 1-9 ( a very good barrel), with a Hart 1-8. In your case, I would seriously consider the single-shot in 1-7: any type of long range is single load anyway.
Click to expand...

So for what I want to do a 1:7 single shot version would be best? and will a 1:7 perform well at 50-200 yards?
 
might want to upgrade

I am upgrading my stuff and wishing I had gone first class the first time. If you can afford a Nightforce Scope you should consider a benchrest action/trigger/barrel. The rifle you are considering will get you started and you will get your hands on it sooner, but this is the Benchrest forum: buy the very best action and barrel you can afford.
 
realm-aw said:
I am upgrading my stuff and wishing I had gone first class the first time. If you can afford a Nightforce Scope you should consider a benchrest action/trigger/barrel. The rifle you are considering will get you started and you will get your hands on it sooner, but this is the Benchrest forum: buy the very best action and barrel you can afford.
Click to expand...

Well I have kinda reached my budget about $1000 ago :eek: so spending anymore at the moment isn't really a possibility. I won't be shooting 1000 yards for quite some time, I'm only going for the good quality gear because 1. I don't want to have to upgrade it and 2. because I want it to grow with me as I develope in the sport.

I guess if I get to a point where I'm not happy with it I can always replace the barrel and action then?
 
Savage/ again

Ben: Again, you are on the right track. The Savge is a nice place to start. Learn all the ins and outs, while shooting the factory barrel ( I replaced mine at a documented 2500 rds., it was really looking ugly w/ my "Hawkeye"), then replace it with a Shilen, Hart, or whatever. I cannot comment on a 1-7 at close range. I have 2 Kriegers, advertised as 1-8, but actually 1-7.8, and they both do extremely well at short range w/ bullets as light as 55 gr. ( Hornady V-Max). My new Hart 1-8 also shoots extremly small groups w/ any quality bullet from 55 to 80 gr. Chamber cut with my spec'ed Pacific reamer. Your decision on the Nightforce is also top choice: goes without saying.
 
f d shuster said:
Ben: Again, you are on the right track. The Savge is a nice place to start. Learn all the ins and outs, while shooting the factory barrel ( I replaced mine at a documented 2500 rds., it was really looking ugly w/ my "Hawkeye"), then replace it with a Shilen, Hart, or whatever. I cannot comment on a 1-7 at close range. I have 2 Kriegers, advertised as 1-8, but actually 1-7.8, and they both do extremely well at short range w/ bullets as light as 55 gr. ( Hornady V-Max). My new Hart 1-8 also shoots extremly small groups w/ any quality bullet from 55 to 80 gr. Chamber cut with my spec'ed Pacific reamer. Your decision on the Nightforce is also top choice: goes without saying.
Click to expand...


Thanks heaps for the info! I will take your recommendation, get the savage and later on swap the barrel :)


However just to ease my mind what are some other good quality rifle brands I can look into just to see if there's anything ele I might like :)
 
Ben, I would take a look at the Tikka heavy barreled varmint rifle. It has a 1-8 twist barrel that you can shoot 80gr bullets at long range, and 60gr FB from Sierra and Berger work really well at close range. Berger even goes up to 64gr FB.

The Tikka comes with a much better barrel than a Savage, IME its not even close. You can also get some parts for the stock that make it more stable in a rest. There is also an optional single set trigger.

I will look up the exact model and edit into my post.

Go to www.tikka.fi/ and look up the Super Varmint. It comes with a picatinny rail, has an optional single set trigger and 3rd magazine. The attachments on the stock are also removable so you can try different configurations.
 
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What exactly are you wanting to accomplish. Are you a casual shooter and want to have fun or are you wanting to get into full blown competition. It would be a long stretch to say your on the right track, if you want to compete in Benchrest. There is no do it all chambering or rifle....even on the custom side. Short range Benchrest is 100yd-300yds and is dominated by the 6ppc. There are some clubs which fire Factory rifles in a factory class...this is where you are fitting in right now. Then you have 600yds...this class has different weight limitations and differnet stock rules. Then F-class comes along (not a actual benchrest class) and has yet another set of rules but I believe most are very close to the 600yd rules. Then you have 1000yd...Again...another set of rules and weight classes.

In order to give you the best answers....we really need to know exactly what your expectations are at this point. Have you been to and looked around at any competitions? You basically said you wanted to start out right (the ol' buy once-cry once). Please let us keep asking you questions (if you don't understand them...don't be afraid to say so, as most on here, including myself, wondered around like a lost dog at first), so that you have a full understanding of what you are looking at and we have a full understainding of what you want.

Hovis
 
Well I'm not entirely sure to be honest :(

I have never owned a rifle and only ever shot a .22 when I was a kid. I'm looking to start off with just a bit of shooting at my local indoor range which is 50 meters. After a month or so when I have an idea of how the scope works and how to handle the rifle with a bit of confidence I will move on to a 200m range which is also up the road from me :)

And once again, when I have a handle on that I will be going down to canberra a couple of times a month to shoot at their 900 meter outdoor range.

So I was hoping to gt a rifle which would work with me through these different distances without falling too short on either one.

That's the general idea I had, whether it be plausable or not I'm not sure as I have only been studying rifles over the last few weeks :)


Thanks heaps for all the help! I really appreciate it :)

P.S. I had a look at the Tikka varmint while at my local firearms dealer and to be honest I really don't like the look of it :( I'll have another look when I go down there and see how it feels.
 
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Hi Ben,
I have the Savage M12 .223 Rem. 1:7. Most BR matches are single shot.
I out grew this in yr. But, a real nice Custom 6PPC was offered to me. I could not pass it up.
My local range has a factory class in the Score league. I had a 188/200 avg.
And no wind flags. The 5 closest ranges(45 min. to 4hrs drive) are 100-200y. Score and Group Benchrest.
Here is some reading material. These books and what people say here will save you some money.
Only until you see what a Custom firearm will do.

Mike Ratigan's book
http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/...200&type=store
and The Benchrest Shooting Primer
http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/...100&type=store
And Glen Newick has a book.

Another great site.
http://www.6mmbr.com/index.html
 
zippy06 said:
Hi Ben,
I have the Savage M12 .223 Rem. 1:7. Most BR matches are single shot.
I out grew this in yr. But, a real nice Custom 6PPC was offered to me. I could not pass it up.
My local range has a factory class in the Score league. I had a 188/200 avg.
And no wind flags. The 5 closest ranges(45 min. to 4hrs drive) are 100-200y. Score and Group Benchrest.
Here is some reading material. These books and what people say here will save you some money.
Only until you see what a Custom firearm will do.

Mike Ratigan's book
http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/...200&type=store
and The Benchrest Shooting Primer
http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/...100&type=store
And Glen Newick has a book.

Another great site.
http://www.6mmbr.com/index.html
Click to expand...

Hey thanks :D Unfortunately the two first links 404.. I'm looking at the custom rifles on the 3rd link.. They are incredible! look pretty expenssive though :D
 
Ben,
It sounds to me your shooting or want to shoot a prone or off hand style shooting? Is this correct. What kind of format do they shoot. There are a lot of formats out there. This forum is basically a Benchrest 100yd-300yd shooting format. What I mean buy a "No one gun can do it all". Is kinda like racing cars. For instance....you can't buy a NASCAR..because you want to race NASCAR...and think you can use it in Formula 1, Indy Car or Drags. Same thing for guns....or the other way....would you buy a drag car to race in NASCAR because it's what you could find.

I sure hope I'm not offending you....just trying to explain things a little. Your new to guns and that's alright. For you first purchase and being new to guns....I think you have got yourself a good rifle....even though it may not be exactly what you need....I'm impressed. A lot of new shooters think they can buy a SKS and compete with 4000.00 dollar across the course rifles.

Hovis
 
Ben, where are you located? Let's find you a local range and get you hooked up with a mentor or two.
 
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