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June 10, 2019, 08:13 PM | #1 |
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Savage 110 LRH 338 LM and new Leupold 5HD 7x 35 w 60 MOA impact reticle
Bought the rifle this winter and so far have been very impressed with savage's execution. very adjustable, lightweight compared to the tactical space guns, and most of all soft recoiling pussycat for a very powerful cartridge. I've had a night force SHV on top, a Nikon black 1000 and even briefly an IOR valdada terminator.
Recently I decided to splurge and buy a new model of Leupold's 5HD ffp zero-stop side focus with their 60 MOA impact reticle. So far, it's proving to be one of the best scopes I've ever used, though I have to admit I'm only now getting past the load development stage and am soon ready to test tracking; and unfortunately will have to do some searching to find a place where I can reach out in range. If you're an experienced long range shooter I know what you're thinking--so what, right? I've never seen as much "short range prejudice" against the use of any cartridge as I have with the 338 Lapua Magnum. The 5HD is noticeably lighter than other high power scopes I've tried--though I have to admit I don't have a whole lot of experience with top-tier scopes. The glass is fabulously clear all the way to the edge of the glass at all magnifications, and has an ever-so-slight whiteish cast which I'm guessing is the result of their multiple coatings but IMO more than worth the tradeoff in maintaining clarity through all magnifications. If you have the chance to look through one at a store or range do it--the way it scales the reticle at all powers is really quite slick--it's so good even at lower powers I think it's a disadvantage to "use the crutch" of higher power at closer range as I often do with all my other higher magnification scopes. Here's my second go at finding a good load with hornady's 285 eldm so I can do some tracking tests on the scope. Yesterday I discovered 87.5 grs of H1000 was pretty good at 100, so I bracketed it +/- .2 grs and found that these were good as well, so I think I'm good to go to do the tall target tracking test. Unfortunately I nudged my portable shooting table and blew the flier in this group, but it otherwise has pretty good numbers and consistency.
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"Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk! Last edited by stagpanther; June 10, 2019 at 08:24 PM. |
June 12, 2019, 11:11 AM | #2 |
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Gorgeous. I also went with a 110 tactical, but in 308. I completely agree with you on the stock and adjustability. Mine has been shooting only with factory ammo and I'm sitting at about 1moa, but, as always, your attention to detail is far and above most lay people, including myself, so I don't have as much data as you. I'm excited to see some more from you on this one. Are you using a brake? Which one? What's your max range hope/are you limited in your area?
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June 12, 2019, 11:59 AM | #3 | |
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I've loaded a few rounds to try to tracking test the scope, but's it's very windy at the moment--I hope it backs off before the day is over. The scope is simply amazing--but it is a premium priced top-tier optic. I live in Maine where even 100 yds clearing in the woods is hard to find, so I have to do some "creative" weaving between trees and rocks to get much beyond that.
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"Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk! Last edited by stagpanther; June 12, 2019 at 12:04 PM. |
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June 12, 2019, 02:44 PM | #4 |
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Ohhh jeez, my apologies. I saw the grip texture and removable magazine and assumed it was also the tactical model. You went with the LRH. Slightly different, comes with it's own brake installed, and the stock is a slightly different forearm contour, and a different bolt handle. The rear of the stock is identical, still has a 20moa rail (or appears to?), and the barrel is of a heavier contour.
I agree with the felt recoil. Compared to other 308s I've shot, this would be the lowest felt recoil I've had. The stock system does help to get a good fit, though I wish it could be a tad longer. Ah, my apologies on the range news. I am lucky to live 20ish minutes away from a 1000yd range and appx 2 hours or less from the Whittington center. Come out and check it out some time! |
June 12, 2019, 02:55 PM | #5 | |
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Quote:
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"Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk! |
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June 13, 2019, 12:43 AM | #6 |
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Well, my first attempt at a tall target test was an abysmal flop..
I did the best I could in the windy conditions to get a level target with a plumb line set-up--but it was immediately obvious when I got back to the gun and rest the reticle and target line did not line up. I can't tell for sure why that was, but obviously I'm going to have to start all over again checking everything with both the scope and target set-up. I also was a bit sloppy and had only one rangefinder to verify distance to target. Things started out with promise with the first group at the scope's zero, the first two shots pretty close to bullseye shots--but then the third shot--and all the rest--shifted left. I then dialed up 5 and then another 7 MOA on the scope keeping the same POA, but the subsequent shots landed left and also opened up in group size. After doing the math, the margins of error was way beyond what I would expect so I'm going to have to try again--and with a better set-up and verified trued scope, target and distance to target.
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"Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk! |
June 13, 2019, 03:08 AM | #7 |
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Silly, Stag!!!
Everybody know not to go heavier than 250gr with the LM.... Oh well, since you already have the bullets, you'll just have to get a 338-378 Weatherby, or Lazzeroni 8.59 Titan, so you can shoot em long range.. Just mess'n. Glad you like the new scope! One day i'll win the lottery too...
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June 13, 2019, 06:20 AM | #8 |
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There's definitely "something special" about the 338LM. I'm learning about mystical gyroscopic forces that actually improve the projectile's accuracy as the range increases.
As for affording a top-tier scope; I thought you had already built a doghouse in the backyard for temporary residency to accommodate your firearm's habit?
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"Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk! Last edited by stagpanther; June 13, 2019 at 06:27 AM. |
June 13, 2019, 10:26 AM | #9 |
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Still have to pay the mortgage on the big house.
Kinda like paying lot rent on a trailer.
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When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope... |
June 16, 2019, 09:42 AM | #10 |
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What rings are you using? I can't say I've ever seen them before.
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June 16, 2019, 11:54 AM | #11 |
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American rifle company. Best Rings I’ve ever used
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"Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk! |
June 16, 2019, 01:57 PM | #12 |
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Thanks, I'll have to give them a look.
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June 17, 2019, 04:24 AM | #13 |
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I've been messing with the scope some more--as mentioned above, the only slight negative I have observed about it is that the lens coatings tend to wash color definitions out slightly, say like yellowish leaves in green grass might not stand out as well color-wise but the focus definition is still very sharp. That appears to be a "trade" for maintaining over-all clarity through the entire field of view, and, it seems to me anyway, a reduction of mirage and parallax makes bringing in and keeping focus on the point of aim easier.
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"Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk! |
June 18, 2019, 05:00 AM | #14 |
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Finally found something I definitely do not like about the scope--and leaves me scratching my head as to why Leupold did this. The windage turret zero is offset so that it appears higher up on the scope body--say at roughly 10:30 instead of the normal 9:00 or 12:00. Presumably this is to make it easier to see, but I find it confusing/difficult to figure out what the setting actually is (if you're not carefully keeping count of the clicks). I'm sure the intent is to make it easier to adjust without coming off the sight picture; but I find I have to do the opposite--and in fact have to get above the scope to see if the hash line is properly lined up, which itself is hard to discern since it's at an angle to the turret.
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"Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk! Last edited by stagpanther; June 18, 2019 at 08:01 AM. |
June 20, 2019, 01:00 PM | #15 |
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Thanks for the report! Now I’ll have to go to my old standby therapy for every time I think about buying one of those good deals on a .338LM: Punching myself in the shoulder and throwing a $5 bill in the fire.
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June 20, 2019, 01:51 PM | #16 | |
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Quote:
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"Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk! |
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June 20, 2019, 05:29 PM | #17 |
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Actually, I usually do well with rifles. I’ve fired a single-shot .50 and a .375 H&H and was OK with the recoil of both. I’ve fired about 60 rounds of .375 in a single session (speaking of throwing money downrange) and that left a mark.
For me the worst recoil is an 870 with 3” turkey loads. That just rattles me from stem to stern. |
June 20, 2019, 07:56 PM | #18 | |
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"Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk! |
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June 22, 2019, 02:16 PM | #19 |
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That's quite the rifle and excellent report.
Might be a weird question on my part, but why is the front ring for the scope not further forward? Additional comment on recoil: my .375 RUM is definitely brutal ( in a good way! ).
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June 22, 2019, 02:37 PM | #20 | |
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Quote:
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"Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk! |
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June 22, 2019, 03:30 PM | #21 |
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After magnifying the pic I see that.
Oh, so close!
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June 22, 2019, 03:52 PM | #22 | |
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"Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk! Last edited by stagpanther; June 22, 2019 at 04:03 PM. |
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June 22, 2019, 07:00 PM | #23 |
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That would be an aesthetic PITA!
Looks good as is. Happy shooting.
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