Guys, you aint gonna believe this!

[Zachary]

I read an article in Shooting Times recently and there was an article about a Sauer 202 in .375 H&H that shot a .095" (yes, .095") groups at 100 yards.  I thought that it was a fluke.  Maybe it was supposed to read .95 - as in almost 1 inch - which is still great groups for a .375H&H.  Heck, 1" groups are great for ANY caliber, right?

I have a Winchester M70 Classic Stainless in .375H&H with an after market McMillan Stock.  In fact, I even wrote a post on this some time ago when I took it to the range.  At that time, I was shooting open sights at 50 yards and was getting about 1 1/2" groups or so with PMC 300 Grain Barnes X Bullets.

Since that time, I took my gun to a local gunsmith and had the following work done to it:

1)  "Jewell the action" - or something like that.  The action was very noisy and rough.  Now it's smoother than a baby's bottom.

2)  Trigger job with pull set at 3.0 lbs.

3)  Pillar bed the action with aluminum pillars.

4)  Glass bed the action and free float the barrel.

5)  Mount a Bushnell Elite 3200 1.5x-4.5x-32mm Firefly scope.

I would say that I have over $1,500 invested in this rifle.

This time I was using Plain Jane Federal Classic 300 grain Hi-Shock Round Nose Soft Points.  It was 95 degrees in Miami, so I only took 2 shots groups instead of three because it was so hot.  Time between groups was about 20 minutes or so.

Well, Guess what?  At 50 yards, I got 2 bullets virtually IN THE SAME HOLE!! :eek:  That was about 1/8" CTC!!  :eek:

I thought it was a fluke.  Then, I set the target at the 100 yard range.  Guess what?  The 2 bullets were again almost in the same hole!!  Maybe not as tight as 1/8", but it was about 1/4"!!  BUT STILL, THAT'S AMAZING!!!! :eek:  Now, I am no official measurer of groups, and maybe you guys may measure the groups a bit bigger, BUT STILL..THAT'S INCREADIBLE!!

I just wish that I had a digital camera so that I could post the pics because even I still can't beleive it.  Guys, we aren't talking about a Sisk rifle in .308, or a benchrest rifle in 6mmPPC.  WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A FREAKING .375H&H MAG!!! :-D  :-D  :-D

After about 10 shots or so, my groups started to open up a bit.  But I don't think it has anything to do with the gun, but rather me because, let me tell you, 10 shots with a .375 can cause your shoulder some damage.  I don't anyone can shoots a .375 as well at the end of a shooting session as he can at the beginning.   In fact, my worse group was never bigger than 1"!!!!!!!  WOW!!!!!!

I'm also going to create a separate post on the Elite 3200 in the optics forum, but let me just say that tracking on this scope was excellent.  And guess what?  IT HELD IT'S ZERO PERFECTLY.  Folks, if the Elite 3200 can handle all this recoil from a .375 H&H and be perfect, then you all should never have to worry about it on lesser kicking rifles.  Granted, only time will tell how well this scope will hold up, and the 4200 series has better glass, but I couldn't be any happier with the 3200!!!

I also shot my Tikka in .25-06 on this same target, but you can clearly see the difference between the .25 caliber holes and the .375 holes.  In any event, I think that I may just mail the target to one of you so that you guys can post the picture for all to see.  Any volunteers?

Zachary

[Mikey]

Zach:  you did everything to that rifle you should have done to get it to group like that.  I know you are now surprised at the difference some quality improvement work will make on accuracy.  And yes, it is incredible when you get shot group clusters smaller than the dog-gone diameter of the bullet.  Now, just thing of the long range shots you can make - ever hunt vermit with a 375?  Mikey.

[Dave in WV]

Glad your investment worked out. Sounds like a great rifle. Dave

[OOBuckshot]

Zachary, are  you shooting factory ammo? The reason I ask is I have several rifles that shoot well under an inch not having anything done to them. My Rem. Mod 700 classic has shot groups as small as .13 inch out of the box. My Ruger #1 in a six millimeter shoots .245 inch groups. I don't know what they would do with factory ammo since I never shoot any. But what ever you are shooting, aint them little tinny groups fun to shoot?
OOBuckshot

[Zachary]

Yup, I was shooting factory ammo.  Specifically, it was Federal Classics with 300 grain Hi-Shocks.

Keep in mind that, although virtually ALL of my rifles shoot 1" or better, even with factory ammo, we are talking about a .375H&H!  These guns generally are not considered to be "tack drivers."  As such, shooting groups as tight, or tighter, than say a .223, is pretty darn impressive - especially with cheap factory ammo - not even the expensive premium stuff.

The surprising thing about the 300 Hi-Shocks as that they are blunt nose - forget about areodynamics.  No plastic tips - no boat-tails, no nothing, just a "brick" flying through the air and driving tacks! :-D

Zachary

[HHI #4694]

I am not certain what exactly Winchester does to those stainless 375 model 70s, but they always shoot very well! I have handled many different 375 bolt actions and my two stainless model 70's in 375 are clearly more accurate. I have corresponded with other stainless 375 model 70 owners, all are very pleased with the reliable repeatable accuracy of these rifles. Perhaps they take more care with the rifles that may potentially be used on dangerous game?