Productive day at the range

[balexander87]

I know this group is nothing impressive compared to some of the very nice groups I see posted, but it is a huge improvement over my past groups and I feel like I had a few things “click” today.

Took the old hand-me-down Winchester M54 30-06 out with some Federal SP hunting ammo to get some practice in before deer season. Goal is hunting, but trying to apply some of the principles I have been reading and learning about when it comes to general marksmanship. My last group was like 4-5” at 75yds. This 1.75” group @ 100yds is a nice improvement (5-shot groups). Couple things I walked away with:

- Realizing it is a 2-stage trigger really helped with making a cleaner trigger pull. Easy pull up to the wall, squeeze, bang.

- Finding a consistent natural point of aim really helped.

- A steel buttplate does not make the recoil pleasant. I managed to get through this group without flinching too bad, I felt. But I pulled the first two shots on my next group baaaad, anticipating the recoil.

- On the plus side, when I pulled the two, I called them as soon as the trigger broke.

Things to focus on next time:

- Focus on the reticle. Pretty sure I was staring at the target the whole time.

- Bring snapcaps for some dry fire practice before shooting.

- Get a recoil pad and work on shoulder placement to manage the recoil better.

 

[Picher]

I sometimes use a sandbag (I made from a bank-bag) behind the buttplate when shooting hunting rifles from the bench.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

One of those PAST shoulder pads is handy to use off the bench and the thin ones could be worn under your shirt while hunting.
Getting to use a "hand me down" Winchester 54 is pretty cool.

 

[balexander87]

I sometimes use a sandbag (I made from a bank-bag) behind the buttplate when shooting hunting rifles from the bench.

One of those PAST shoulder pads is handy to use off the bench and the thin ones could be worn under your shirt while hunting.
Getting to use a "hand me down" Winchester 54 is pretty cool.

Thanks for the suggestions. I’m definitely going to have to find a solution for a shoulder pad for shooting off a bench.

Definitely fun to shoot a nice old rifle with a long family history cool to see that it can still get the job done 90 years later!

 

[GBExpat]

One of those PAST shoulder pads is handy to use off the bench ...

I got one of those years ago for when I was going to have to be benching the heavy recoilers. Works great!

 

[Picher]

Thanks for the suggestions. I’m definitely going to have to find a solution for a shoulder pad for shooting off a bench.

Definitely fun to shoot a nice old rifle with a long family history cool to see that it can still get the job done 90 years later!

I still use my PAST pad in addition to the loosely sand-filled bank bag when shooting my .270 or stronger-recoiling rifles from the bench, just so I don't flinch when leaning-into the rifle. I don't take to recoil as well as I did before turning 75.

 

[mustanger98]

One of those PAST shoulder pads is handy to use off the bench and the thin ones could be worn under your shirt while hunting.
Getting to use a "hand me down" Winchester 54 is pretty cool.

I seriously recommend the PAST pad. Mine made a huge difference shooting anything bigger than a .243Win. It'll spread out the force of recoil over a wider area and you won't feel the usual concentrated punch.

 

[saiga308]

all hand made rifle nice


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