Savage Predator/Nikon Coyote Special Range Report (2 pics)

Pruson

Pruson

New member
Honestly, I was a little skeptical of the reticle in this Nikon Coyote Special 3x9x40. Wasn't sure I would be satified with it. Well, I was wrong, I'm very satified!

I had done some load development for this rifle with a Leupold VX3 6.5x20x50, target dot mounted on it, so I knew what the rifle was capable of doing.

After bore sighting, I fired the first round, @ 100yds, just outside the black box on the upper left corner. Down two clicks and right one click and then shot two more times. THINK I'LL LEAVE THINGS ALONE. I checked it at various calling ranges and now I am just getting used to it at undetermined ranges. At this setting, at 50 yds, it is 5/8th of an inch high of deadcenter red dot.

PredatorNikontarget.jpg


Savage Predator 22-250, with a Nikon Coyote Special 3x9x40, shooting 50 grain Blitzkings over 35 grains of N-540
SavagePredator22-250.jpg
 
How much of the target does the circle cover when aiming, do you feel this type of reticle will allow fine tuning? Your grouping looks great. Do you think you could pick out a ground hogs head at 100yds with it, or a small digger?
Thanks,
brokeagain
 
At 100yds, the circle reticle covers just a tad more than the actual center red sticky dot that I had stuck to this target, you just do see a white ring around the red sticky. The sticky is 1.5 inches in diameter. So, it would not totally cover up a groundhog's head at 100 yds. You just gotta know where your bullet is going to strike in relation to the circle. Not really designed for precision shooting of 1/2" and under groups, but it can still happen I guess. I feel as though it is easily a one inch group capable reticle. It is a great hunting rig for predator sized animals though.

It would not be my choice for hunting groundhogs. There are much better reticles for that.

It is not in the same league as my Leupold VX3 Illuminated German #4 Dot scopes, but it is $500 cheaper than them. Good quality glass as well, thats for sure, after all it's a Nikon.
 
tecumseh, I went up all the way to 37 grains of the N540, at 1/2 grain increases each time and the accuracy stay pretty much the same. At 37 grains the point of impact did change significantly, but the group remained really tight, of course with the exception of the clean barrel flyer. If you noticed, there is one of those after each clean barrel session.

Wished I had been measuring speed that day. I know the original 35 grain load runs in the mid 3500's.
 
Hey, I'm in Calif shooting the same gun....I just wanted to shoot the gun to start with. so I loaded up some Barnes Varmit Grenades 36 gr and some Sierra Gamekings (1365) 55gr SPBT.

36 Gr Barnes Varmit Grenade
CCI 200 Primer
WW case
IMR4320 37gr
COAL 2.350
Velocity Measured 3830 FPS

55 Gr Sierra GameKing
CCI 200 Primer
WW Case
Vargets 33.0 gr
COAL 2.350
Velocity 3260 FPS

I shot the Gamekings at 50 yards and the gun was able to out shoot me..I could put 5 and six bullets into one hole. some strings and some flyers...This rifle shoots superbly.

I'm Getting serious now and i have to work up some loads..
I am going Deer hunting and will be using the 55gr Barnes TSX. I have been trying to measure the Free bore using a fired case and bullet.. I got some readings with the bullet in deep.They measured 2.389 and then some with the bullet seated only .3 inches. The readings didn't make sense..

Have you measured the COAL max for your rifle.. I called Savage arms and they indicated that they don't give out that dimension.. But that they have more free bore than the other vendors..

I sure would appreciate your help... I changed my scope to the Leupold 4.5 to 14 x 40mm With the Varmit Graticle..
 
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