Savage 30Br build

[DaveC]

I finally got to shoot my new 30BR Savage at Melvin & Roberts match last weekend. If you’ve never been to a shoot in Lincolnton (population 1,556) you’ve missed a visit to a great range and a chance to eat at The Chicken House restaurant – serving every part of the chicken, even the last part that went over the fence. I love the Chicken House, I save all my “fried food” credits and don’t tell my wife when I eat there, I don’t have many other vices anymore so I don’t feel that guilty. Back to the 30BR.

I started this build before some heart problems in January of last year so I didn’t shoot it until January of this year. It’s a Savage “Target” action (3 screw) with a Broughton 5C 1:17 barrel chambered by Ronnie Long then finished by Nat Lambeth. I always planned to shoot a Lapua 100gr bullet, that’s why the 1:17 twist, and try to get close to 2,700fps out of the 12” barrel. I also want one pistol that I can shoot in 4 classes; Unlimited, Unlimited Half Scale, UAS and HS.

I started with 28gr of H4198 and worked up to 32gr, all the bench rest shooters use 34gr of H-4198 but with the Lapua bullet that’s a crush load so I stopped at 32gr. That turned out to be a very good load hitting 2,300fps but it’s stout even with the OP muzzle break.

Last week I had a chance to try loads with N-133 and N-110. The N-133 load I tried was 28gr with 100gr Lapua and 110gr Speer bullets. The 110gr Speer’s rang one ram and the load overall was accurate but not what I was looking for - fast and flat shooting. The N-110 loads were 22gr of powder with the 100gr Lapua and 110gr Sierra, this was a great load with zero clicks for pigs, 2 clicks for turkeys, and 2 clicks for rams (no ringers) – 1/4 MOA clicks.

I’m looking forward to trying both the H-4198 and N-100 loads at the East Coast Regional match the end of April and we’ll see if they take over the rams at that range.

[Richard Pickering]

Dave's culinary review of the ''Chicken House'' while correct, is lacking one key aspect. They are also known for their Catfish dinners. I wont go into all the details-----let's just say I can attest to the fact. Hushpuppies, Coleslaw, Fries and Tea. RP

[ole95]

Wooooo how come i was not told about this place to
Eat fried food last Saturday?????
Spare me the gun details and tell me more
About fried Catfish with the trimmimgs

[DaveC]

Richard is right, the catfish is well above average at The Chicken House but it’s like going to a steak house and ordering sushi, they may have it on the menu but… For great catfish I go to Troy Alabama or Jackson Mississippi.

http://www.singlepage.com/chicken-house-14/menu -- I hear my cardiologist calling.

[braud357]

Dave, I am curious - why did you decide on the 1-17" twist ? I know your intention of shooting light bullets, but doesn't this severely limit the guns versatility ? Not being judgmental, just curious ! A bullet you may consider if the 100's and the 110's don't work out is the Sierra 125 grain spitzer. I used to shoot it in my 30 Carbine TC, and even in that cartridge it did OK on rams. It did leave a few, but at your velocities it may be what you are looking for !

[DaveC]

I use to shoot a 256 Win Mag in a Contender using 117gr bullets the 256WM always took over the rams it was 1:10. My goal was a really fast flat shooting bullet around 100gr in 308 without a lot of recoil (I'm old) so I landed on the 30BR. I picked the Lapua 100gr and had the gun chambered for that bullet, the 1:17 twist was to get the speed up. I have tried 110gr bullets in it and they are accurate but I buy the 100 Lapua’s in lots of 1,000 (for FP & BB with the 30 Carbine I use 180gr GC lead). The Lapua's don't work well past about 250 meters but out to 200 they are good and hard enough not to evaporate on the rams.