Czechnologist
Concerned Citizen
- Mar 9, 2016
- 6,531
Waited what seemed like a long time to get the new Quad Varmint out to the range today. Actually, it was only a couple of months between the date of purchase and finally getting it all set-up but, a new Sako in the safe, unfired, is like torture. It's like having an itch you just can't scratch, in a place that's just out of reach.
Weather conditions were about as good as they get for mid-March: 60 degrees with a light, intermittent breeze and 46% humidity. Clear blue skies. It's the kind of range day you only dare dream about in March, when it's usually in the low 40's and the wind is whipping and you'd rather be almost anywhere else in the world than at the range messing with a new rifle and scope.
I had kinda made up my mind to stick with what I knew when I made the trip back to Euro Optic for new glass last week. I wanted a good range of magnification but didn't really want to go all tacticool with raised, exposed windage and elevation turrets on a Sako Quad Varmint in a wood stock. This Minox ZE5.2 5-25x56 was a little over my budget but, the quality of the glass is absolutely stunning and Euro Optic had a killer close-out deal on it. The fact that it also came with low turrets was just an aesthetic bonus I wasn't expecting to get.
So how did this set-up work? It usually takes me around 20-25 shots for a good 50 yard sight-in with a new .22 rifle but, this one holds the record for fewest shots ever needed: 10 total.
The first five shots with SK Standard Plus landed slightly above and to the right of the target. I adjusted a few clicks left and a few clicks...whoops! Huh? What does 'T' and 'H' mean? LOL I forgot that I had purchased a German scope. T is 'down' and 'H' is up. Thank God for smart phones, huh? It only took a few seconds of searching online to find the answer.
SK Standard Plus, 50 yards, 20 rounds. Five in each target.
SK Rifle Match, 50 yards, 10 fouling rounds in center target, 5 rounds each in the rest.
Eley Tenex, 50 yards, 10 fouling rounds in center target, 5 rounds each in the rest.
Fiocchi Official 300, 50 yards, 10 fouling rounds in center target, 5 rounds each in the rest.
I don't know if that's typical performance for a new Quad Varmint but, I was impressed. With the exception of the Fiocchi (which only shoots good in my Ruger for some reason), it shot everything else pretty well. No feeding or extraction issues noted. I think this one just might be a keeper.