How did I do?

[HeathSexton]

A friend called the other day with a gun he wanted me to see. I walk in his shop, there is a Savage 10 Max 1 Predator in .260. Badger 20MOA base, Badger rings, Tactical Bolt handle, 200 rounds Cor-Bon 139gr Scenar, 1 box of 20 fired Norma Brass, 1 box Federal 120NBT Premiums with 16 live rounds left, karsten adjustable cheek piece with allen head bolts, box and paperwork. I looked it over and it is a touch heavy, I guess that the Accu-Stock adds some weight. We talked a bit and he made an offer. I have a Browning BAR .308 Win that is nothing but a safe queen, haven't fired it in 15yrs, it's in perfect shape and I will never use it. He offered me all that stuff, gun, ammo, brass, base, rings, box, paperwork, even up for the Browning. I made the trade just because I never use the Browning and this is something that will get work.


Did I get smoked?

 

[SJB358]

Heath, I think you did AWESOME. Knowing the Browning never gets used and the worth is about the same. You did well. I really looked into that Predator Max in 260-6.5x284 before I found the M70 264. You got alot of rifle there. It is a touch heavy, but not out of this world. Plus with the Badger Equipment on it, you probably have an extra 200.00 in gear on top of the rifle.

Please put some pictures of that rifle up. Those are some sweet rifles and think they are going to be the next "Sendero" like rifle. Can't wait to see how it shoots. With a 1-8 twist you can shoot just about anything you want! Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Sounds as if you did very well. Congratulations on working a good deal that has to satisfy both parties. With those trading skills, will you be running for Congress?

 

[HeathSexton]

I am not a trader, I always wind up loosing my hindend. My Dad is a trade pro, I walked in one day and he had a built 440HP engine in the floor. I said, Dad, where did you get that? "Well, I traded a guy an old Turbo 350, a radio, gave him $50 and I had to pull it myself." Hmmm, must be nice.

The gun was bought new for $729+tax and the guy added all that stuff. I figured probably around $350 extra, base, rings, cheek piece, 216 rounds CorBon and Federal, brass, and he kept the box. He fired it 24 times to zero it, took pictures of it, and traded it in for a .308 Win 700 SPST. My local pusher knows I am a 6.5 fan so he calls me and offers me the whole deal for the Browning.


I was hoping that I didn't get lit up too bad, the guy I deal with is usually very fair in his trades. I am just not much of a gun trader.

 

[SJB358]

I think you did great Heath! That is a super rifle and with the ease of switching chamberings with the Savage, if you wanted something else, you are just a barrel nut turn away! I think with the Badger gear on the rifle, it will be one solid set up. What scope are you going to put on it? Scotty

 

[HeathSexton]

Well, right now I'm not sure of the glass. I wil probably rob my 10x40 Mil-Dot Elite off my .243 for load work and targets. I have thought about the 2.5-10x40 Elite or the 3.5-10x40 Leupold. My experience with Leupold makes it hard for me to throw any other kind of glass on a rifle. I run an m8 4x on my .22.

 

[SJB358]

Seems like either of those two would be pretty sweet on that rifle. I almost wished I wouldn't have found the M70 264, I was really looking into that Savage ALOT... Oh well, I will live vicariously through your shooting! Scotty

 

[JD338]

Heath,

Sounds like a fair deal to me,
Post some pictures of the new rig.

JD338

 

[BK]

Gun you will use > gun you won't use.


I'm not a big Savage fan, but a couple of their new models have caught my eye. And I don't really like Brownings much either.

 

[Mountain Goat]

I think you came out way ahead. Here's why I say this:

If you put both rifles up for sale, each for the same price, which one would sell first and get the most attention? I say the Savage would get all the drool and sell quickly. The Browning would get a lot of looks, but mostly low-ball offers.

 

[HeathSexton]

Guys, Leupold Mark 2 3-9x40, how are these scopes? I know nothing about them. 1/2" finger adjust clicks

 

[BK]

From what I understand, it's VX II level glass. Finger clicks would be a plus, but I'm not sure I could live with the 1/2" adjustments. But I'm wrapped pretty tight that way. I haven't really looked at them that closely... Even though they are a little more expensive, I seem to lean more towards 3-9 Conquests rather than VX IIs.

 

[Elkman]

I have two Vari X II, 3x9's I think the oldest one is about 35 years old and don't remember when I bought the new one maybe in 89 or so. I have no problems with them at all. Mine do not have any clicks, you just turn the knob. I am not sure that I would like 1/2 cliks either, b :grin: ut probably not much of an issue. Great scopes

 

[BK]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I have a few Vari-X / VX II scopes (three, I think) but lately it's been mostly Zeiss.

 

[cloverleaf]

I would have no idea about the actual value of either rifle but if you bought a shooter for a sfae queen you did alright. I traded off a bargin Savage 7mm-08 for a Savage 22 MAG. Never regretted it. That Mag is fun to shoot thats what its about. CL

 

[HeathSexton]

Possible dumb question, what is the drawback to the .5" clicks?

 

[JD338]

Possible dumb question, what is the drawback to the .5" clicks?

Heath,

.5" adjustment per click instead of the standard .25" adjustment per click.
Myself, I want the more precision of .25" adjustments.

JD338

 

[HeathSexton]

I'll get some pics up tomorrow, but I took the Model 10 out for it's 1st range trip today. I robbed my 10x40 3200 Elite from my .243 and mounted it up. I used 3 federal 120 Premiums to get zero at 25yds. The 1st 3 shot group with the CorBon 139 Scenar was under 1", the 2nd was .8, the 3rd was .6 and the last was just a shade over .5 all at 100yds. I think a lot of it was getting used to the accutrigger.

I went over to the lake, 620yds. I dialed up 14.25", nothing. Fired again, nothing, again, nothing. I dialed down to 10" and hit a stump at 500. I then dialed back up to 13.25" and went 5 for 5 on our steel at 620yds. So in 20 rounds this rifle went from newly mounted scope and not zeroed to hitting steel at 620yds.

I wasn't crazy about the weight of this rifle, but I think I will get used to it.

 

[SJB358]

Wow. Sounds like a great shooter Heath! I imagine th rifle will really start to grow on you. Seems like it is already doing well and it's not even close to broke in! Scotty

 

[JD338]

Heath,

Way to go buddy. 620 yds is a looooong ways. :grin:

JD338