11-21-2022, 05:05 AM
My new Savage AXIS II 6mm ARC just arrived.
I'm waiting for my scope base to get here. I selected a 0 MOA base because I couldn't find a 20 MOA base in stock at a reasonable price. Once it gets here, I'll be mounting my Bushnell 4500 Elite 8-32*44 scope on it, until I get the rifle broken in and can decide the longest distance that I will be shooting at and what scope & reticle I really want to put on it. One-thousand-yard ranges are not common here (I live in High Point, NC).
I was taken by surprise when I found my cleaning rod was too fat for this little round. I had to really look hard to find a 6mm rod, jag and brush. And I thought sourcing gear for my .32 caliber handguns was hard - LOL
I'm going to clean and lubricate this rifle tomorrow. I use Butch's Bore shine as a cleaner and have developed an affinity for gun grease in my handguns. My lubrication guideline is: "if it slides, grease it and if it rotates, oil it". My only other current rifle is an Enfield #4 Mk I. It is very accurate; sub-MOA rifle with a South African barrel with commercial 174 grain military ammo at 100 yards. The rifle ws made in 1947 and the barrel was installed as part of an FTR done by the British military in 1958. Thats OK because I was made in 1946 - LOL
I will be shooting the Savage at 100 yards to start with.
I will be adding a bi-pod and be shooting from a bench rest to begin with. My only benchrest experience was with a custom 6mm BR at a friend's 100-yard range. It had a fixed 36 power weaver scope, a 2-ounce trigger and custom ammunition. My groups started at 3/4" and ended at 1/4". Up to that time, I thought a 2" or 3" group at 100 yards was pretty good.
That day I learned the joy of shooting a really accurate rifle and the value of a light trigger on a low recoiling rifle and a high-power scope. Being able to see the target through that scope eclipsed using peep sights. Now that I'm older and have had some eye problems, I really value a clear, high-powered scope and a good cheek rest.
I am going to add an inexpensive adjustable cheek rest to the current Savage stock if I find I need one. I will be getting a low set of scope rings that have inserts which can give me up to 30 MOA if I find I need it.
The rings on my Enfield were high along with my scope mount being high. I needed room to clear the rifles wooden stock room to be able to load that rifle from the top.
I plan to eventually upgrade over time in steps with the first step being a longer barrel and the last step being the fitting of this rifle into an Oryx stock. I have 3 boxes of Hornady ammo coming in with the boat tailed hollow point ammunition. I'll use those cases for reloading until I can buy some from Hornady.
I'm looking at reloading dies. In the past, my Lee dies have served me well, but I am thinking of getting some dies with a built-in calibrated adjustment for bullet seating.
I hope these cases stay more concentric then my .303 British proved to be.
I have seen some photos of benchrest rifles using a small tripod the size of most bipods but have not been able to find a manufacturer. I am also going to need to get a chronograph that is range friendly. I feel the Lab Radar is a little out of my price range for now and will probably try that unit that mounts onto the rifles barrel. Once I get real velocity measurements to verify what my QuickLoad program estimates, I'll be more comfortable with my loads.
I realize there is a lot of gear I haven't thought of yet, so I am open to suggestions.
I'm sold on the 6mm for accuracy and availability of a wide range of bullet sizes & shapes.
For what it's worth, I personally like the idea of the Military looking at getting this round to enable continued use of M16's as a service rifle. I feel it is a cost- effective measure and a real performance enhancement. We are getting back to the effective range of our WWI & WW II rifles, and we do need that range. My Drill Instructor at MCRD San Diego said so! - LOL
I also think this will make getting ammunition a little easier in the future.
I'm waiting for my scope base to get here. I selected a 0 MOA base because I couldn't find a 20 MOA base in stock at a reasonable price. Once it gets here, I'll be mounting my Bushnell 4500 Elite 8-32*44 scope on it, until I get the rifle broken in and can decide the longest distance that I will be shooting at and what scope & reticle I really want to put on it. One-thousand-yard ranges are not common here (I live in High Point, NC).
I was taken by surprise when I found my cleaning rod was too fat for this little round. I had to really look hard to find a 6mm rod, jag and brush. And I thought sourcing gear for my .32 caliber handguns was hard - LOL
I'm going to clean and lubricate this rifle tomorrow. I use Butch's Bore shine as a cleaner and have developed an affinity for gun grease in my handguns. My lubrication guideline is: "if it slides, grease it and if it rotates, oil it". My only other current rifle is an Enfield #4 Mk I. It is very accurate; sub-MOA rifle with a South African barrel with commercial 174 grain military ammo at 100 yards. The rifle ws made in 1947 and the barrel was installed as part of an FTR done by the British military in 1958. Thats OK because I was made in 1946 - LOL
I will be shooting the Savage at 100 yards to start with.
I will be adding a bi-pod and be shooting from a bench rest to begin with. My only benchrest experience was with a custom 6mm BR at a friend's 100-yard range. It had a fixed 36 power weaver scope, a 2-ounce trigger and custom ammunition. My groups started at 3/4" and ended at 1/4". Up to that time, I thought a 2" or 3" group at 100 yards was pretty good.
That day I learned the joy of shooting a really accurate rifle and the value of a light trigger on a low recoiling rifle and a high-power scope. Being able to see the target through that scope eclipsed using peep sights. Now that I'm older and have had some eye problems, I really value a clear, high-powered scope and a good cheek rest.
I am going to add an inexpensive adjustable cheek rest to the current Savage stock if I find I need one. I will be getting a low set of scope rings that have inserts which can give me up to 30 MOA if I find I need it.
The rings on my Enfield were high along with my scope mount being high. I needed room to clear the rifles wooden stock room to be able to load that rifle from the top.
I plan to eventually upgrade over time in steps with the first step being a longer barrel and the last step being the fitting of this rifle into an Oryx stock. I have 3 boxes of Hornady ammo coming in with the boat tailed hollow point ammunition. I'll use those cases for reloading until I can buy some from Hornady.
I'm looking at reloading dies. In the past, my Lee dies have served me well, but I am thinking of getting some dies with a built-in calibrated adjustment for bullet seating.
I hope these cases stay more concentric then my .303 British proved to be.
I have seen some photos of benchrest rifles using a small tripod the size of most bipods but have not been able to find a manufacturer. I am also going to need to get a chronograph that is range friendly. I feel the Lab Radar is a little out of my price range for now and will probably try that unit that mounts onto the rifles barrel. Once I get real velocity measurements to verify what my QuickLoad program estimates, I'll be more comfortable with my loads.
I realize there is a lot of gear I haven't thought of yet, so I am open to suggestions.
I'm sold on the 6mm for accuracy and availability of a wide range of bullet sizes & shapes.
For what it's worth, I personally like the idea of the Military looking at getting this round to enable continued use of M16's as a service rifle. I feel it is a cost- effective measure and a real performance enhancement. We are getting back to the effective range of our WWI & WW II rifles, and we do need that range. My Drill Instructor at MCRD San Diego said so! - LOL
I also think this will make getting ammunition a little easier in the future.