MTMilitiaman
Member
And what do I wish to accomplish here? I said to myself, huffing and sweating profusely as I finally reached my shooting perch and turned around. I can't even see the thing? Did the wind blow it over? I pulled up the only form of magnification I had, a 6x Nikon range finder, and scanned the power line maintenance road along the right side tree line. Nope. There is was. I pressed the button on the rangefinder and the invisible beam shot out, bounced back, and told me what I needed to know. Six-hundred-thirteen yards away the 16x32 inch silhouette target still stood erect, having been stapled to an old stump. I removed the rangefinder from my eye and squinted down range again. The 8.5x11 inch piece of standard printer paper with the 4 inch black circle wasn't nearly as visible as I hoped it would be, and the brown cardboard the target was cut from served very well to camouflage it into the environment. The whole thing was nearly invisible, in fact, and completely indiscernible from the dozens of other stumps that littered the tree line.
(above) View from my perch with M1A. 600 yards down that power line maintenance road near the right-hand treeline is the target.
"Maybe I was a bit optimistic," I said aloud to myself as I plopped down in the sitting position and started adjusting the Tanner leather M1907 military shooting sling, "There's no way I am going to hit this thing...not even close."
I adjusted the elevation knob to "6," pulled the rifle in tight, with sweat dripping from my brow and heart still racing from the hike back up to my shooting perch after placing the target. At least it ought to be fun, I thought to myself as I picked out the shape I thought was the target, and reminded myself to focus on the fundamentals. Besides, I apparently need the exercise. Front sight, natural respiratory pause, slow, steady squeeze.
(above) View from perch with camera at full zoom. The target is still barely visible, and my Mk I eyeball doesn't have the advantage of a zoom feature.
The first round broke with a "crack" that echoed through the mountains like a thunder clap. It being spring, the ground was too wet to show any dust at the bullet's impact. With no spotter to call for me either, I was truly on my own. I lined up the sights once more and sent nine more rounds down range--all of them S&B 147 gr FMJ. "Hmm," I wondered to myself as the bolt locked back on the last round, "now comes the fun part," already dreading the hike there and back. Still not sure if I had been shooting at the target or just another one of the many stumps, I contemplated saving myself the effort and leaving the target still stapled to the stump down range. If I hit it once, it'll be a miracle. But curiosity compelled me onward.
Imagine my surprise when the target revealed not just one, but two bullet impacts! I patted myself on the back and let out a congratulatory holler that also echoed through the mountains, and began the return hike back to my perch, the truck, and a Nalgene of water that I needed with increasing desperation in the 80 degree spring heat.
(above) Recovered 600 yard target, rangefinder, and the Springfield Armory M1A Loaded used to shoot it.
The whole event was really eye opening for me. As I sat there, still breathing hard, fighting the stinging sensation of sweat in my eyes, I couldn't help but think about the soldiers sucking that thin Himalayan air in Afghanistan, and being thankful that hit or miss, I didn't have to worry about return fire, and taking comfort of knowing I would be home in another hour or so. I know this test could never be considered realistic because of this. But I consider them more realistic than match shooting. I can remember shooting and qualifying at 500 yards with an M16A2 in boot camp, but the targets used were much larger, the range conditions were better, and we spent an entire week practicing for qualification. We also had spotters, and we were able to shoot prone. This was 100 yards further in range, on a more life-size target, with no practice or previous experience at that range with this rifle, beyond shooting at the occasional rock or stump during hunting season. I had no spotter, and vegetation prevented me from shooting prone. I had to make due slung up in the sitting position.
Overall, I am optimistic about my results. It was hard trying to make out that target at that range with the naked eye--much harder than I expected. But I learned that if you stick to the fundamentals, hits are possible, and with practice, I know I could do better. I don't know how practical shooting this range with iron sights is, especially under duress, but it is an interesting challenge that I highly recommend everyone attempt at least once.
(above) View from my perch with M1A. 600 yards down that power line maintenance road near the right-hand treeline is the target.
"Maybe I was a bit optimistic," I said aloud to myself as I plopped down in the sitting position and started adjusting the Tanner leather M1907 military shooting sling, "There's no way I am going to hit this thing...not even close."
I adjusted the elevation knob to "6," pulled the rifle in tight, with sweat dripping from my brow and heart still racing from the hike back up to my shooting perch after placing the target. At least it ought to be fun, I thought to myself as I picked out the shape I thought was the target, and reminded myself to focus on the fundamentals. Besides, I apparently need the exercise. Front sight, natural respiratory pause, slow, steady squeeze.
(above) View from perch with camera at full zoom. The target is still barely visible, and my Mk I eyeball doesn't have the advantage of a zoom feature.
The first round broke with a "crack" that echoed through the mountains like a thunder clap. It being spring, the ground was too wet to show any dust at the bullet's impact. With no spotter to call for me either, I was truly on my own. I lined up the sights once more and sent nine more rounds down range--all of them S&B 147 gr FMJ. "Hmm," I wondered to myself as the bolt locked back on the last round, "now comes the fun part," already dreading the hike there and back. Still not sure if I had been shooting at the target or just another one of the many stumps, I contemplated saving myself the effort and leaving the target still stapled to the stump down range. If I hit it once, it'll be a miracle. But curiosity compelled me onward.
Imagine my surprise when the target revealed not just one, but two bullet impacts! I patted myself on the back and let out a congratulatory holler that also echoed through the mountains, and began the return hike back to my perch, the truck, and a Nalgene of water that I needed with increasing desperation in the 80 degree spring heat.
(above) Recovered 600 yard target, rangefinder, and the Springfield Armory M1A Loaded used to shoot it.
The whole event was really eye opening for me. As I sat there, still breathing hard, fighting the stinging sensation of sweat in my eyes, I couldn't help but think about the soldiers sucking that thin Himalayan air in Afghanistan, and being thankful that hit or miss, I didn't have to worry about return fire, and taking comfort of knowing I would be home in another hour or so. I know this test could never be considered realistic because of this. But I consider them more realistic than match shooting. I can remember shooting and qualifying at 500 yards with an M16A2 in boot camp, but the targets used were much larger, the range conditions were better, and we spent an entire week practicing for qualification. We also had spotters, and we were able to shoot prone. This was 100 yards further in range, on a more life-size target, with no practice or previous experience at that range with this rifle, beyond shooting at the occasional rock or stump during hunting season. I had no spotter, and vegetation prevented me from shooting prone. I had to make due slung up in the sitting position.
Overall, I am optimistic about my results. It was hard trying to make out that target at that range with the naked eye--much harder than I expected. But I learned that if you stick to the fundamentals, hits are possible, and with practice, I know I could do better. I don't know how practical shooting this range with iron sights is, especially under duress, but it is an interesting challenge that I highly recommend everyone attempt at least once.
A lot of times they're no where near as fine as they advertise.
