Range session #2 for the 7.7 Ugly Scout.

Actually the "Ugly GPR", as I don't want to upset or insult Cooper's ghost.

I was going to shoot a 123 grain bullet, which I have a lot of, and thought it would be good for the classic scout role. But, having better rifles for that I changed my mind when I found a nice box and a half of Sierra .311" 170 grain spitzers. A better choice for exploring and woods-bumming in the mountains, which is where I would actually take it. I think a hostile bear would enjoy a 170 grain expanding slug over an itsy-bitsy 123 grain FMJ. With that short barrel, the 170 won't expand much, which is what I would prefer.

Anyhow, considering what the rifle is, and the quality of the scope, I don't think that's a bad group at 100. Only took a couple of sight adjustments to bring the group to where I wanted it. Taking one shot at a time, it only took three to walk them in, and then I shot the four shot group. POA was middle of the black dot, so I think she'd do okay out to 200, although anything I shoot at, because I had to shoot it, would be well inside of 100.

The Arisaka says: "Thanks for listening".

That measures 1.5". I think, maybe, possibly, perhaps resting the rifle a little better, and shooting several groups that I could, might, maybe get a 1" group out of it. Or not. For sure more than acceptable for my purposes.

GooseGestapo said:

Don’t under sell that Sierra 170gr. It’s been around for decades and is optimized to the velocities of the 7.7, .303Brit, 7.65 Mauser, and 7.62x54. About 2,400-2,500fps.
Many moose have been brought down with that bullet in .303’s.
I’d expect 2x expansion and 70-80% weight retention within 200yds.

Grafs sells the PPU .311” 180gr BTSPT which is a beautiful bullet! About 2/3’s the cost of the Sierra, too.

Click to expand...

That is true. But I do expect less velocity out of that 16" barrel, and a little less expansion. But a "little less" is fine with me. They will not be undersold!

I have a bunch of PPU 180 grain RN's in .311 or maybe .310", but only my Argentines get to have them. ! Those too are nice bullets. I didn't realize I had the Sierras until I was looking through my bullets to see if there were some 150's, which I thought would be better than the 123's.

BreechFace said:

And having a finer point to aim at rather than that big black circle might shrink that group a bit as well. I would be very happy with a 1.5MOA group at 100 yards with that old warhorse.

Click to expand...

That scope is a 2.5X, so the size of that dot is about as small as I can get. That's as good as it's going to get!