still looking Report post Posted January 26, 2015 So after a 4 year hiatus, I am finally in a place where I can hunt Coues deer again. During that time, I manage to beat the heck out of my .270 trying to call lions in South Dakota, and have both made the longest shot I have ever made (325 yards) and had two spectacular misses with the same gun (one on my first antelope and one by a buddy on a big whitetail). So, I have a couple of questions. First, the gun in question is a Savage 110 wearing a Bushnell 4-12 with a now dented wood stock that will shoot one inch groups (I'm sure the rifle shoots better, I just can't) at 100 yards with any 140 grain ammo I feed it. I am wondering if the issue that cause the misses might be scope/bases related and if so if this rifle can be saved by upgrading to either a Leupold VX3 or a Vortex Viper? In the alternative am I better off looking into a Remington 700 Mountain SS, because it has a synthetic stock that I have to work much harder to dent/scratch, and a stainless steel barrel that is less likely to rust. Additionally, the odds are as good as not that this rifle will not like 140 grain bullets, which means that I can hunt anywhere and not have to take up hand loading as copper bullets are a lot easier to find in 130/150 grain factory loads. I would like to get a Kimber Mountain Ascent in 270 and top it with a Swaro, but that is out of my price range. The last alternative is to admit that I had a bad case of buck fever on the antelope and that my buddy admitted to the same on his deer and there is nothing wrong with either the rifle or the glass, which might not stop me from still upgrading at least the scope. Either way, looking at/buying new gear is always fun, and I can't wait to chase Coues deer ( or mulies if that is what I draw) again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeithV Report post Posted January 27, 2015 Im not an expert by any means but that savage you have can be upgraded fairly easy, you can get a synthetic stock for it or a laminate. you can even change the barrell without a gun smith, I higly recommend the luepold put it in some burris signature rings and your good to go. check out savage shooters loads of info there but anew rifle is always nice. GOOD LUCK Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke-BE Report post Posted January 27, 2015 I have a tikka .270 with a Vortex Viper scope. I love my gun. Just this year an Antelope and a mule right at 300 yards for both. Check you mounts on your scope. Sometimes either to tight or not enough will cause you to hit off paper on 2 shots and the third to be on paper. Your loads if you hand load. I was working on a load and I would hit paper with a 1-1/2" spread and the third would just miss paper. It was real strange. My load is now set up on 1" grouping at 200 yards and scope is sighted in for 300 yards. I'll hit a tennis ball all day at 300 and been hitting steel out to 600 yards. But a huge factor is how you were position when you took the shot. If you just took a knee and shooting with no support out to 300 yard with buck fever you will have a grouping of 5 feet. So what's the details on the missed shots??? If you had a bipod and it was 150 yards in a prone position then you might have a scope mount related problem? Let us know if you decide to buy a new rifle for the fun of it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
still looking Report post Posted January 27, 2015 The details on the antelope are that I missed three times from in this order a kneeling position, and twice off a buddy's shoulder, from 68 yards, with about a 35-40mph crosswind. The details on the deer is my buddy was in a tree stand, "all I saw was mass and decided to shoot" and he missed four times. It is looking more and more like this might be a ring issue,or two cases of buck fever, but I will let you know either way Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke-BE Report post Posted January 27, 2015 68 yards wow. It's your scope! Put your gun on a gun bench rest and take out your bolt and bore sight it. Put that bore on the target and see how far off your cross hairs are. I'm not a savage fan but I can't deny they are truly accurate guns and real easy to up grade, so the cheaper route is probably a scope, but check those scope rings first. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PRDATR Report post Posted January 27, 2015 So if it shoots one inch groups I 'd say a case of Buck Fever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
STOMP442 Report post Posted January 27, 2015 Sounds to me like there is nothing wrong with your rifle. I would definitely get rid of the Bushnell but I wouldn't swap it out for more junk like a viper. Get a leupold and don't look back. If you really want a plastic stock you can find them all day for pretty cheap like less than $50 if you look around. Personally I think you are much better off with the wood, get the rifle bedded make sure the barrel and tang are floated and don't beat it up so much. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roninflag Report post Posted January 27, 2015 i would get the 700 mtn in 280 and put a vx-3 on it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lancetkenyon Report post Posted January 27, 2015 .270 Win is plenty for any AZ big game with proper bullet selection and shot placement. But proper shot placement is priority #1. A $6000 custom rifle will shoot like crap with a cheap $100 scope and bad mounting. A cheap, $400 rifle will shoot better with a $1K scope mounted correctly. I would beg/borrow a decent scope and mounts to actually check your rifle's capabilities, and maybe even have another shooter help out in the testing. THAT will tell you a lot. Then you can decide if you need a new stock, new optics, or complete new rifle/optics set up. Trigger work helps a lot too. Always start with the easiest and cheapest solution. I wouldn't automatically buy a new rifle. Figure out what your issue is, and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and make sure you are practicing CORRECTLY. It is easy to miss when you shoot once or twice a year. Kneeling or off a shoulder is not necessarily a steady rest. Buy a bi-pod, either mounted to your rifle or one like a Bog Pod you can carry. At least one solid rest helps immensely. If you decide your rifle is fine, and need to upgrade your optics/mounts, watch the classifieds here for optics. There are a lot of quality scopes that get posted here, saving a lot over retail. And get a good base and rings. You can have a $2K scope on a $5K rifle, and bad mounts make it all for nothing. You can't be repeatable if the scope moves around. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
452b264 Report post Posted February 1, 2015 I have a Savage, and there is another member here that has a tack driver (Savage) who will also be glad to help you. You wont need another rifle unless you really want one,good mounts and scope, with proper bedding, and a trigger is were I would start. If you dont like your stock I would suggest a Boyds laminate, pillar and glass bedded, these are a very good option for the older long action Savages. The mounts listed below are excellent for the older savages, these are for a flat back action, if yours is newer it will have a round receiver, midway has those in stock as well. For a scope look at Leupold, or a Nikon if you are on a budget. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1548661544/burris-1-signature-zee-weaver-style-rings?cm_vc=ProductFinding http://www.midwayusa.com/product/386926/burris-2-piece-xtreme-tactical-scope-base-picatinny-style-savage-10-through-16-110-through-116-flat-rear-reversible-front?cm_vc=ProductFinding http://www.midwayusa.com/product/223896/timney-rifle-trigger-savage-10-through-16-110-through-116-210-without-accutrigger-2-to-4-lb-blue?cm_vc=ProductFinding Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
