TEST RESULTS: SAVAGE’S 110 CARBON PREDATOR RIFLE

When organizing the ammunition for this test, I took into consideration the rifle’s rather slow twist rate of one in 12 inches. As a result, I stayed away from any of the 60-plus grain weights to avoid any stabilization issues that could be associated with such heavier bullets. I kept all my handloaded bullets to 55 grains or less.

With an overall average of 0.771 inches, the factory ammo delivered the type of accuracy I expected. Not so with my handloads at 1.02 inches, at least not initially. Not only was the overall average shaky, but so was the precision, with nary a sub-0.5-inch group. At that, I decided to organize another round of handloads, this time using a variance in seating depths, powder, powder weight and bullets. The resulting 0.65-inch average was a notable improvement. As for which round would be my top choice for predator hunting, I’d go with the Berger 55-grain Varmint Match, with its 0.375 precision accuracy. It pays to experiment!

Note: All groups were three shots @100 yards and velocities were measured with a Garmin Xero C1 Pro and averaged. 

COMPLETE TEST RESULTS

Factory Ammunition

BRAND	BULLET	VELOCICTY (FPS)	GROUP SIZE
Hornady Varmint Express	55 grain V Max	3437	.680
Hornady Varmint Express	50 grain V Max	3647	.818
Hornady Varmint Express	40 grain V Max	3948	.505
Federal Premium	55 grain Sierra GameKing	3549	.555
Federal Premium	55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip	3465	.860
Federal Premium	43 grain Speer TNT Green	3840	.798
Winchester Ballistic Silvertip	50 grain Silvertip	3737	.795
Winchester Varmint X	55 grain Polymer Tip Rapid Expansion	3612	.725
Sako Gamehead	55 grain Soft Point	3543	1.230
Barnes VOR-TX	50 grain TSX FB	3569	.660
Remington AccuTip	50 grain AccuTip-V BT	3634	.860

 

Handloads: (Group Series Test 1)

Bullet	Powder	Case	Velocity (fps)	Group Size (inches)
Hornady 52 grain BTHP Match	Varget	Hornady	3474	.660
Hornady 55 grain SP	W 760	Hornady	3430	1.485
Sierra 53 grain HP Match	Varget	Hornady	3463	.815
Berger 52 grain Varmint Match	Varget	Hornady	3477	.930
Berger 50 grain FB Varmint Match	W 760	Hornady	3625	1.105
Barnes 50 grain TTSX FB	Varget	Hornady	3569	1.175

 

Handloads : (Group Series Test 2)

Bullet	Powder	Case	Velocity (fps)	Group Size (inches)
Berger 55 grain Varmint Match	StaBall Match	Hornady	3457	.375
Barnes 50 grain TTSX FB	Benchmark	Hornady	3694	1.050
Speer 52 grain HP BT Match	Varget	Hornady	3515	.660
Sierra GameKing 55 grain BT	Varget	Hornady	3500	.725
Sierra High Velocity 45 grain Spitzer	Varget	Hornady	3642	.440