Shot 8 99's this morning, but had some hick-ups.
2 piece Redfield base on the 358 Carbine was low in the back and I could not sight it in even with offset rings. Replaced the Redfield with one piece base when I got home. Never seen a set so far out of alignment.
DL in 250 w 1-10"barrel didn't like RL15 and 80 grain ttsx's seated 50 thousandths off lands. Have 6 more loads to try. Would really like to get them to shoot in case I need to poke a bear at a bit of an angle while I'm deer hunting.
PE in 308 didn't like my AR10 loads with 125 Nosler Ballistic tips. Was hoping I'd get lucky with the PE since I've got 700 rounds loaded for the AR.
308 EG ran out of elevation adjustment on the Leupold scope before I could get it sighted in. Bases out of alignment on this one too! Holy cow what's going on here?
The 375 carbine shot perfectly at 100 so I held a little high and dropped one right in there at 200. Thought, wow, that was fun let's try 300. Then 400! Believe it or not it's like shooting a 22LR at long range and seemed pretty intuitive. Amazed since we've been taught that's a "brush gun". Makes sense they used to shoot the 38-55 long. I had a ball and feel good to 300 yards. For you 375 guys, try some long shooting, I promise you'll have fun!
I had really high hopes for the 99 in 22-250. Savage 99 barrel, DL donor rifle with RT forearm. A really solid feeling rifle. It hated some handloads I had for another rifle and Hornady 50 grain factory loads. Then I tried some Remington 55 grain soft point factory loads. 5 shots touching at 100! Decided to sight in for 200 so after a couple adjustments I was busting sticks and rocks with ease at 200. My buddy wanted to try it so he focused it for his eyes and POI changed 2"! I changed the focus back for me and then it wouldn't shoot near as well as before, also 2" off but a different direction. Leupold 2.5-8 scope. Very frustrated with that. Plan to try again tomorrow to see what's going on with the scope. The gun sure does shoot if I can land on the right optics for it.
99F .284 has been a stone cold killer and sighted in for 225 yards. First few shots at 100 were 3-4" off and the scope refused to track. Another Leupold 2.5-8. Tried 200 and 300 and it was all over the map. Everything tight. Scope going back to Leupold. There goes my Plan A deer rifle. Got home and found another scope to try on it.
The 99 in .338 federal with 160 grain Barnes ttsx shoots about 4-5" at 300 yards, which I've decided is about max for that load. I wish it was 2-3" but it just isn't. That'll be a good bear load inside 300 and should be great for deer.
Not accustomed to so many problems with the baby's. Got a few wrinkles ironed out and am ready to go back out for round two.
Get out and shoot fellow Savage nuts.
