jackjacker
New member
I just picked up this Savage Lightweight hunter from Bud's Gun Shop. I topped it with a Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40 with BDC. This rifle weighs 5.5 Pounds!!! Feels like a toy. It has a light taper 20 inch barrel. I knew it would be FAIRLY accurate and wanted a nice light rifle for hunting in mountainous terrain.
I took it out basically to break in the barrel and sight in the scope. I was shooting Hornady Superformance 165g GMX in .308 (factory load). When I finally sighted in this the 3 shot group I got. You can only see 2 but I assure you there are three shots. The accutrigger was nice and crisp. The action was a little rough but I know is will get smoother with break in like the other savages I own.
Next I set a 9 inch gong out at 300 yards. I didn't bring my chrono to confirm velocity but I used the Nikon Spot On program to decide how much to hold. This is my four shot group. I would like to think that flyer is a shot I made prior to a final adjustment but can't confirm that.
This suggests to me that the velocity drop on this 20 inch barrel is negligible. I have a Savage Precision Carbine in the same caliber and with this ammo it only drop 5 fps from the published velocity.
I have to say that I was floored by this rifle's accuracy. With a 5.5 pound rifle with a 20 inch barrel, shooting off of bags and not a bench, I would have been happy with 1 MOA or a just a bit over. I measured the group at 100 yds at .27 MOA. This rifle well exceeded my expectations. I think one would be hard pressed to find another rifle this light and this accurate for $729.
I took it out basically to break in the barrel and sight in the scope. I was shooting Hornady Superformance 165g GMX in .308 (factory load). When I finally sighted in this the 3 shot group I got. You can only see 2 but I assure you there are three shots. The accutrigger was nice and crisp. The action was a little rough but I know is will get smoother with break in like the other savages I own.
Next I set a 9 inch gong out at 300 yards. I didn't bring my chrono to confirm velocity but I used the Nikon Spot On program to decide how much to hold. This is my four shot group. I would like to think that flyer is a shot I made prior to a final adjustment but can't confirm that.
This suggests to me that the velocity drop on this 20 inch barrel is negligible. I have a Savage Precision Carbine in the same caliber and with this ammo it only drop 5 fps from the published velocity.
I have to say that I was floored by this rifle's accuracy. With a 5.5 pound rifle with a 20 inch barrel, shooting off of bags and not a bench, I would have been happy with 1 MOA or a just a bit over. I measured the group at 100 yds at .27 MOA. This rifle well exceeded my expectations. I think one would be hard pressed to find another rifle this light and this accurate for $729.
