mitch
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by mitch on Oct 7, 2023 17:32:05 GMT -5
40-cal SML barrel on my Savage Axis got its first kill today. 150yd offhand on a whitetail buck quartering towards. Bullet placement wasn’t perfect, hit about 2” right of POA but aim point wasn’t ideal so that’s not the gun’s fault haha. Regardless, one bullet still did the job, deer piled up after 50-75yd. Terminal performance was awesome, got the job done even though it hit forward of the vitals.
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Post by buckeye68 on Oct 7, 2023 17:39:48 GMT -5
Good deal!
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ronc
Junior Member
Posts: 90
Member is Online
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Post by ronc on Oct 8, 2023 18:07:57 GMT -5
Congrats...sometimes a less than perfect shot still gets the job done, a lot of us have done it...
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Post by jimbob on Oct 8, 2023 18:15:14 GMT -5
Congratulations
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Post by shindig on Oct 9, 2023 4:23:10 GMT -5
Congratulations
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mitch
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by mitch on Oct 10, 2023 18:46:45 GMT -5
Shot a porcupine with it at 100yd yesterday.
Let’s just say the results were… emphatic.
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Post by saskquach on Oct 11, 2023 1:44:13 GMT -5
Its awesome that you have your 40 cal up and running! I was wondering how those pistol bullets were working out.
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mitch
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by mitch on Oct 11, 2023 8:23:53 GMT -5
I actually started shooting the 300gr Arrowhead XLDs that I bought 2yr ago when I started piecing the build together. Found a powder combo that QuickLoad showed should be good and tried them out just before the season started (shout-outs to SEW for the help sanity-checking my QL work to make sure the gun didn’t blow up with the first trigger squeeze). With the winds up here I was really struggling with the pistol bullets and their 0.16G1 BC. The 300’s and their 0.54G1 is much more stable.
I’ll still use the pistol bullets for practice and testing to refine my techniques. And depending on the situation might still try them out on deer at some point. But especially right now as I also have a moose tag to fill I feel much more comfortable with the heavier bullet that was designed for SML. And am eager to try out the 225 Pittmans I bought too
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yule
New Member
Posts: 26
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Post by yule on Oct 11, 2023 9:54:45 GMT -5
Glad to hear your 40 is working well. The 225 / 228 bullets do well, in my 40, with 62grains of H322. Velocity is 2764 fps. Another bullet you may want to try is the Parker 250 MH. Varget gives me 2722 fps and excellent groups.
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Post by saskquach on Oct 11, 2023 19:27:19 GMT -5
Which zone are you hunting moose in? We were out Oct 1st in the Saskatoon zone and saw 4. That 300gr bullet will be more than up to the task for moose. My 7mm has been working great. Took a whitetail doe and a mulie buck on saturday. Handed the rifle to my son and he took his mule buck within minutes of mine. Moments after squeezin the trigger he says "you have to make one for me for next year." Once you use smokeless there is no goin back! I hope you catch up to your moose!
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mitch
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by mitch on Oct 11, 2023 20:14:28 GMT -5
Hey Sask, I’m in 38.
That’s awesome, man a 7mm or 308 SML would be awesome. Maybe some year…
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Post by ballistic on Oct 15, 2023 16:53:37 GMT -5
I actually started shooting the 300gr Arrowhead XLDs that I bought 2yr ago when I started piecing the build together. Found a powder combo that QuickLoad showed should be good and tried them out just before the season started (shout-outs to SEW for the help sanity-checking my QL work to make sure the gun didn’t blow up with the first trigger squeeze). With the winds up here I was really struggling with the pistol bullets and their 0.16G1 BC. The 300’s and their 0.54G1 is much more stable. I’ll still use the pistol bullets for practice and testing to refine my techniques. And depending on the situation might still try them out on deer at some point. But especially right now as I also have a moose tag to fill I feel much more comfortable with the heavier bullet that was designed for SML. And am eager to try out the 225 Pittmans I bought too Congrats ! What powder/booster/ combo did you use on the 300 grain bullet ? Those higher Bc bullets sure make a difference when the wind blows. Thanks Ballistic
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mitch
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by mitch on Oct 15, 2023 17:54:34 GMT -5
I actually started shooting the 300gr Arrowhead XLDs that I bought 2yr ago when I started piecing the build together. Found a powder combo that QuickLoad showed should be good and tried them out just before the season started (shout-outs to SEW for the help sanity-checking my QL work to make sure the gun didn’t blow up with the first trigger squeeze). With the winds up here I was really struggling with the pistol bullets and their 0.16G1 BC. The 300’s and their 0.54G1 is much more stable. I’ll still use the pistol bullets for practice and testing to refine my techniques. And depending on the situation might still try them out on deer at some point. But especially right now as I also have a moose tag to fill I feel much more comfortable with the heavier bullet that was designed for SML. And am eager to try out the 225 Pittmans I bought too Congrats ! What powder/booster/ combo did you use on the 300 grain bullet ? Those higher Bc bullets sure make a difference when the wind blows. Thanks Ballistic Just using IMR 4831, haven’t tested using a booster yet. Using a wool wad, haven’t tested it without yet. Threw the load together pretty quick before hunting season so haven’t really developed it yet other than finding a decent velocity powder load that isn’t over pressure. Really looking forward to tuning it (likely in the spring) and developing my practices to get more accurate as well. Right now I’m pretty steady at 1.8MOA which is huntable but not at all what I’m looking for. But almost no testing other than some very basic loads and zeroing it and checking drop, so the sky is still the limit
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mitch
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by mitch on Oct 15, 2023 17:56:12 GMT -5
Gun got its second deer kill on Sat. Little whitetail for at 100yd. In one rib and out the other for a double-lung. Almost no meat loss but still left about a 4” hole on the far side rib. Fantastic performance.
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