Sako TRG M10

I had a change to shoot the new Sako TRG M10 in .308 WIN caliber. A few years ago I shot the preproduction model in .338 Lapua Magnum, so this allowed for comparison between the two caliber setups.

The civilian model of M10 comes in two caliber choices, 308 WIN and .338 LM. The .308 WIN has two barrel lengths available, 509,5 mm and 656 mm, and the .338 LM has a 689 mm long barrel.

The rear stock is fully adjustable without tools and it also folds. Rifle's aluminum chassis has a full length 30 MOA picatinny rail and positions on side and bottom for accessories. 

The trigger set is adjustable and barrel change can be done without gunsmith tools in minutes.

The test rifle had a Steiner Military 5-25x56 MSR scope on it, which is one of the best scopes on the market today. The reticle is designed by Finnish snipers, and it allows fine range estimation and corrections for second shot.

As the rifle is designed around .338 LM caliber, it's not at it's best when in .308 configuration. The bolt movement is long and the magazines are comically large. The rifle is quite heavy, around 6 kg without optics. Magazine release and safety switch can easily be operated on both sides. Barrel has a muzzle thread, which allows installation of muzzle break or suppressor.

The rifle is really nice, but for non-military personnel it might not be the best choice. Sako TRG-42 or TRG-22 are less than half the cost of TRG M10, and they perform on the range as well as the M10. But for military operations the M10 is the ideal sniper rifle.

Long range .22 LR shooting

I visited my parents this weekend and had a chance to shoot my father's old trusty rimfire rifle. It's an old Baikal Toz-17, made in Soviet Russia. I put a Pilad 4x32 "mildot" scope on it, using Sako Optilock bases and rings. I had some trouble zeroing it, as the dovetail wasn't centered over the rifle's receiver. Fine Russian craftmanship indeed!

After zeroing the rifle, I used a chronograph to measure  muzzle velocity. Then I added the velocity and bullet information to Applied Ballistics software on my tablet. After tapping in the atmospheric conditions, it gave out a range table.

The Pilad scope isn't a true mildot scope, as the dots aren't 1 mrad (mils) apart from eachother. In reality, they are 3 mrad apart. So I had to do little calculation the get the range table right for the scope.

I went out to a nearby field, where I set up a few 30 cm x 20 cm metal targets at ranges 100 m, 160 m and 210 m. 100 meters was easy, first shot hit. 160 meters was bit more difficult, my wind call was a bit off, so after correction I got a second shot hit. 210 meters was quite hard, as the magnification of the scope wasn't high enough to see splashes at that range on muddy ground. I got a few lucky hits, but nothing consistent.

The ammunition I was using was Remington Thunderbolt, which isn't the best choice for long range shooting. That's because it's muzzle velocity is supersonic, which causes it to fly at transsonic speed at one point, which lowers accuracy at longer ranges.
But shooting the Baikal was fun, it made me start planning on building my own long range rimfire rifle. Cheap to shoot and good training.

Ruska's first birthday

My dog had it's first birthday this week. Here are some photos starting from the day she came to my house.

 First toy in the new home.

Tiny tail!

Getting used to car rides.

First time in the woods.

Ruska with her great-grandmother Ronja.

Blueberries as a snack.

 

First kill.

Ruska's best buddy, Rötkö-Pötkö.

Little problem with eyes.

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Winter hunting.

 

 

Enjoying Easter-leftovers.

 

Gotta keep eye on the ducks.

 

 Getting ready for training time with a dead hazel grouse.

 

 

 Damn rabbits!