Winter 2011 centerfire rifle match

[HOOfan_1]

Well I learned it is almost useless for me to try and shoot this competition with ammunition my gun is not sighted in for. I've sighted in for Winchester 45 gr. jacketed hollow points, but didn't have enough left to shoot the target. So I loaded up some Sierra 45 gr. Varminter pointed soft points. I took a couple of practice shots at a sight in target to figure a hold (didn't have enough ammo to re-zero and shoot the competition). That whole idea didn't work too well. Not to mention of the 6 bullet types I have shot through my rifle, the 45 grain Varminters were the second least consistent.

Shooting a CZ 550 Varmint Laminated Stock in .22-250 at 100 yards. Front Rest was a plastic MTM front rest, back rest was a bag resting on some particle board and a couple of 2x4s. This was actually the windiest day I have shot in a while. I tried waiting between gusts which were probably 15-20 mph. Score 24-2X

Second uploaded target is from a load workup with Sierra 50 grain BlitzKing polymer pointed boat tails and H380. It isn't benchrest quality, but pretty good for a factory gun and a person with little practice at shooting from a rest.

I'll try to re-zero for this load and try again this week.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Well I learned it is almost useless for me to try and shoot this competition with ammunition my gun is not sighted in for.

same here.

I think this match is doing a lot to raise awareness of how even the most minute details effect POI

I'm going to have to step back and do load workup and precise sightins on a couple of my rifles. I really don't see me submitting another target till much closer to the deadline. Cause one thing's for sure rushing or skipping anything to shoot one of these targets is setting yourself up for a FAIL.

 

[9X23WIN]

I think this match is doing a lot to raise awareness of how even the most minute details effect POI

I'm going to have to step back and do load workup and precise sightins on a couple of my rifles. I really don't see me submitting another target till much closer to the deadline. Cause one thing's for sure rushing or skipping anything to shoot one of these targets is setting yourself up for a FAIL.

I use to run a match at my club similar in principle to this. Only difference was it was 200yds, thirty different picture targets which also varied in size. The scoring system was either a hit or a miss. It was a truly humbling experience even for the most experienced shooters. Shooting groups are one thing, but when a shooter has to constantly move the gun and make adjustments, the fun begins.

 

[9X23WIN]

Despite the rain and high wind, I decided to shoot the match today. The forecast for the remainder of the week looks even worse. When I got to the range, the heavy rain luckily subsided and it just drizzled from there on. But the wind was at its usual glory; my wind meter at the bench clocked gusts as high as 32mph. So the fun began...

I shot two classes today and started with the Win M70 Heavy Varmint chambered in 308 using a Harris bipod. Score was 33-2x.
Sierra 190gr HPBT, Rem 9 1/2, IMR 4064 - 40.5gr, 2.800 OAL

Afterward, I shot the 40x in the unlimited class. Score was 28-0x. I accidentally pulled the Jewell trigger twice...guess which targets they were.
Sierra 175 HPBT, Fed 210M, IMR 4064 - 42.0, 2.800 OAL

Regardless, I did better than expected considering the challenging conditions. Most importantly, I had fun!

 

[HOOfan_1]

I accidentally pulled the Jewell trigger twice...guess which targets they were.

Did that one my last target and one from last month with the set trigger.

I might start shooting it without the set, it is a decent trigger even without the set.

 

[jerkface11]

I probably won't have my benchgun set up in time for this match. I may try to shoot it with my Ruger though.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Pretty frustrating day at the range for me.
Loaded up some of that Blitzking that I posted a sub .5" group with above, rezeroed my scope and dialed in the adjustment from that old target. I was actually going today to test two of my most accurate loads. I had Sierra 52gr. HPBT Matchkings and Sierra 50gr. Blitkings. I had two boxes of the Blitzkings loaded, one for groups, one for the contest. My dad had some 30 year old H380 powder lying around, so we loaded some of that (not sure if that contributed to my poor shooting or not).

So I started out shooting 5 Blitzkings as fouling shots, the estimated shift I dialed into my scope at home the night before seemed to be accurate, the group was a little over an inch and all around my point of aim, no more than .5" from the point of aim.

We have had horrible wind here this week, I thought today was supposed to be calm, it wasn't. Wind was not only gusting to 30 mph, but it was swirling all over the place down range. I went ahead and shot 4 groups with the 52gr. SMK. First two groups opened up to almost 2" I was absolutely sick, this exact load had gotten me a .75" group originally. Second 2 groups were both around .5". I went over to shoot groups with the Blitzkings, first group was about 1.5" (I had shot under .5" just last week with this load). I was so pissed off at the wind I just said the hell with trying to shoot groups and moved on to the competition targets.

I noticed last night I could use the small circles in front of the large circles, and they lined up perfect, so I put a sheet of large circles behind the small trying to see if I could score well enough for the unlimited, but figuring I would do much better on the factory class. I shot worse today on 2 targets than I did last week. Scores were about 19-2X and 23-2X on the factory targets.

Really made me depressed the rest of the day. I know the wind screwed me up, and hopefully I also was just not on today especially worried about the wind. I'd hate to think my gun is just being inconsistent, or my load testing for the past 2 months was all for naught.

 

[9X23WIN]

Really made me depressed the rest of the day. I know the wind screwed me up, and hopefully I also was just not on today especially worried about the wind. I'd hate to think my gun is just being inconsistent, or my load testing for the past 2 months was all for naught.

I wouldn't get too depressed as you got in range time and hopefully you learned more about your gun, loads and ability. The winds are just an added bonus to keep you on your toes. Your scores aren't bad; try again when there is less wind.

 

[P51D]

Here's another entry from me with a different rifle. A factory CZ 527 in 22 Hornet, Redfield 4-12 x 40 scope, sandbags and benchrest. Wind 15 mph from 5 o'clock, 70 degrees and sunny.

Handloads, Hornady 40 gr. V-Max, Lil' Gun powder.

I score this as a 39 3x.

Man, I hope to get at least one more poke at this!

P51D

 

[kis2]

I went out today with a perfectly clean barrel and 16 rounds of ammo. Winds didn't help me out at all! 3-13mph shifting winds across the target and they increased by the end of my shooting. What was really cool was seeing how that wind and my compensation for it played out in 15 individual shots. This competition is excellent practice!

Long story short, I learned about some wind and that as my barrel fouls and heats up a little, the POI shifts down about .25 a minute. Overall a 27-3x.

I might give it another try this weekend, I will give it another try this month!

 

[JDGray]

After a good cleaning, my Savage needs a few rounds to settle back in, but usually by the 5th round its back on target. My LTR shoots very good clean or fouled, with no moving around. Kinda blows to have only 16rds on a 15rd target, with no room to settle in. I gotta get back out with my Savage, and shoot the factory target, but with the major thaw we've been having I'll probably get stuck in the mud, not the snow this time

 

[kis2]

my 700 doesnt seem to move around a lot either, but regardless I like to start something like this by doing at least a three shot group to see where I'm at. sadly, no time to reload all last week left me with 16 rounds. good chance to learn though!

mudding just adds to the fun of shooting, good luck!

 

[Whiskey11]

Not sure why, but my 700 really likes to run dirty. Went out and shot 150 more rounds down range in the following config:

Federal .308 brass - Neck Sized Only
CCI 200 Primers
168gr Sierra Match Kings
COAL of 2.815"
43.4gr Hodgdon Varget

Quick Load puts the load at right around 2650 FPS. My gun seems to like this load for 100 yard shooting. Gun is the same except I painted the Dark Earth to a more traditional green/brown/black style camo.

Went to the range, overcast, around 50*F with a cold and windy front moving in around 1600 hrs, hurried up and shot all 150 before 1530 and got the heck out of dodge before it started gusting BAD. Calm winds for the most part. Got really windy when I was packing up.

First target was a 33-4x and the barrel started warming up. The second to last target I shot was a 19-2x Started shooting for groups and after about 10 minutes of cool down shot a sub MOA 10 shot group. Then it opened up again.

Decided to move to the 200 yard range to shoot off 10 rounds, forgot that 1/4MOA clicks are half an inch at 200 yards :banghead: Couldn't get any groups. Moved back to the 100 yard range and then shot a 35-3x on my final Palma target of the day. These shots where shots 135-150 with ZERO cleaning between. Guess it likes dirty Personal best so far!

Less talk, I know these don't qualify in the Factory class, but I was excited for a new personal best so you get to see them anyway, even if they are not that great Less talk, right, pictures!!!!

Best 15 shot target, one shot questionable 3, but it technically broke the bull. You'll have to forgive the shot through the 35 at the top, I went down to the target and scored it, then was shooting at the target above it for groups and had a pretty big "OOPS" flier and it hit this target.


10 shot sub MOA bullet center to center, or 1 MOA edge to edge:


Gun as painted (not that ya'll care!):

 

[kis2]

very nice looking rifle and looks like it shoots great! what's the barrel length?

...forgive my probable ignorance...but what is quick load?

 

[Whiskey11]

24" Sporter Barrel It shoots alright when the barrel isn't warm. It has it's good groups and it's bad groups. "Rapid" and aimed shots at 100 yards would put 15 rounds within 2MOA, but slower shooting and even breaks between sets will bring it right around MOA.

QuickLoad is a internal ballistics software that is packaged with QuickTarget (an external ballistics software) that is a powerful tool when figuring out loads for ammunition. It takes in a considerable amount of data and data it has stored as averages and can out put data such as estimated muzzle velocity (for a generic barrel of whatever length you put in). It will also do Pressure spikes and output graphs with pressure vs velocity, time, etc. QuickTarget can import that data and then put it to practical use by estimating bullet drop and velocity at range as well as rough guides for scope changes at different ranges. It is a powerful TOOL but it does not trump experience. I will take QL's "data" on the velocity of the round at it's face value and for a relative truth as I lack a chrono that I'm willing to shoot over (but one I'd like to shoot as it's kinda broken ).

 

[9X23WIN]

Wow Whiskey...150 rounds in one session and a bolt action to boot! Regardless, good shooting especially the 10 shot group! Was that the same rifle you used the last time around?

 

[Heavies]

Got out today to shoot this one more time. Same rig as before. Savage PTA, Mcgowen barrel, Sightron 20x42, 6mmbr. Unlimited/open class. 35-2X


Again, gun shot great, but the trigger puller failed.





At least it was a beautiful day!

 

[9X23WIN]

Nice shooting Heavies! I like your setup too! What bipod and stock do you have there? I have a 116 action and thinking of building another gun up, but it may be cheaper to just buy a stock Savage F-class 6br for 1300 bucks. I shoot with a guy who has one in 6.5-284 and it does well.

 

[Whiskey11]

Wow Whiskey...150 rounds in one session and a bolt action to boot! Regardless, good shooting especially the 10 shot group! Was that the same rifle you used the last time around?

Yup, same Remington 700 as before, just with the stock painted 150 rounds in one day is the norm. Plenty of trigger time. Was only there about 3-3.5 hours. Shooting is a great hobby for me, nice and stress relieving so I tend to over indulge in the shooting. I've shot right around 700 rounds through this 700 in little over 4 months.

 

[Heavies]

Nice shooting Heavies! I like your setup too! What bipod and stock do you have there? I have a 116 action and thinking of building another gun up, but it may be cheaper to just buy a stock Savage F-class 6br for 1300 bucks. I shoot with a guy who has one in 6.5-284 and it does well.

Thanks,
I know that the rifle can group them well within the 3 point area of the target, but I think the style of the target is what makes it challenging. It is very difficult, for me anyway, to find an aim point within the empty space in the ring.

The stock is a Sharp Shooters Supply varmint tactical laminate, the bipod is a MWerksllc F-class bipod, and the rear bag is a Protektor grabhandle.
Use caution with SSS, if you decide to get a stock from them. A search on their CS and you will see what I mean.

I am pretty happy with this build, but one issue I have is ejecting the 6br case. I have tried all the tips and tricks, but I still only get about 60% ejection. I have now just removed the ejector, and I'll just pick the cases off the extractor. Kinda ticks me off cause it is a dual port action and without an eject function it's kinda pointless.

Thanks for the support, and I am really enjoying the matches here on THR.
Looking forward to next month.

 

[gregj]

Went to the range this am, trIed two more times, shot a 35-5x and a 30-5x. Maybe next time I can bring my scores up a little.

 

[JDGray]

Would have shot today but this is the veiw off my deck

So I loaded 50rds of .223, and worked on the bath project

4" of slush on the roads that now have frozen solid, terrible ruts in the slush its like driving on an old logging trail.

 

[9X23WIN]

Whiskey, at your rate, it will be time for a new barrel soon. Maybe a heavier barrel in the future?

 

[9X23WIN]

I am pretty happy with this build, but one issue I have is ejecting the 6br case. I have tried all the tips and tricks, but I still only get about 60% ejection. I have now just removed the ejector, and I'll just pick the cases off the extractor. Kinda ticks me off cause it is a dual port action and without an eject function it's kinda pointless.

Why are you having ejection problems? Is the port too small? The problem is probably slowing you down when you're trying to send a flurry of lead downrange quickly!

 

[9X23WIN]

JD, those icicles hanging from the branches make nice targets for a pellet gun!