Attempting 2k with the 338 LM in the morning

[esheato]

Go big or go home right?

Tomorrow morning, I'm attempting 2k yards (1.14 miles) with my 338 Lapua Mag. Previously in Texas, I was shooting at 1500 yards on some private property and it wasn't that bad. Of course, the mirage was killer most of the time.

The target I'm using is a 2x2 piece of AR500 steel.

Sunrise is 0540, and I plan to have the target up and be back at the shooting between 0530 and 0600. Wind is forecast at 1 mph out of the SSW at 0600 so there shouldn't be too many problems there.

Gun is an HS Precision HTR in 338 LM, left handed with a S&B 5-25 with a P4F reticle on a 40 MOA canted base. Dope is estimated at 32 mils. Considering I can only dial 26 mils on the elevation knob, and only 8 mils are visible below the crosshair on max magnification, I'll most likely dial 25 mils and hold the remaining 7 mils. Load is Lapua brass, Fed GMM LR-Mag primers, 83.3 H1000 under a Hornady 285 for a measly 2600 fps. Bullet flight time is estimated at just a hair over 4 seconds with velocity at impact predicted at 975 fps. I'm also using the Shooter app for Android on my phone for real time dope and a Kestrel to firm up the wind numbers at the shooting location.

Bullet impact will be monitored over FRS radios, one taped to the back of the target and one next to me at the shooting location.

More pics and a report to come tomorrow.

Oh by the way...this is in Southern California. No, I won't tell you where either. Just know that I'm being safe and representing gun owners responsibly.

As far as the roads between the target and I, I was out there mapping the area earlier today and nary a soul around. At 6am, I will thoroughly drive the area downrange before setting up the target. Also, the only way in is down a road adjacent to the shooting location, so there is no way anyone will get downrange without me seeing them.

Wish me luck.

Ed

 

[TurtlePhish]

That is AWESOME. I wish I could be there! Can't wait to see how you do.

 

[SilentStalker]

Good luck. That is quite a shot to pull off. You want to teach a guy how to make a shot like that? Not that I have ever tried but I am sure there is a lot more to it than setting up and shooting !

 

[C-grunt]

Good luck man. Have fun.

 

[blarby]

Good luck !

If you don't want to show the loc, take the lat/long out of your pic

 

[esheato]

Derp....Roger that.

 

[esheato]

You want to teach a guy how to make a shot like that? Not that I have ever tried but I am sure there is a lot more to it than setting up and shooting

Absolutely. Come on down!

It's really not that difficult. Having the right tools can take you far. A bit of load development, some time running the ballistics and, unfortunately, knowing the right dudes that own property is all you really need.

 

[BJ Orange]

Good luck! Would love to see pictures of the results and the rifle. A video wouldn't be amiss.

 

[esheato]

Link to me shooting 1500, including rifle pics.

 

[Centurian22]

Absolutely AWEOSME!!! Good luck and as others have said I greatly look forward to the report and any forms of documentation (pics or video) that accompany said report! If I ever find myself in the california region (I live in Maine), I would gladly pay for a brief opportunity to be walked through a shot like this!

 

[Salmoneye]

 

[CmpsdNoMore]

Wow! Looking forward to more!

 

[58BlackFlag]

That's awesome!
I'm going to try and get out to 750 yards today. I feel like half a man now, haha!
I have a stock remington 700 .308 with a Zeiss Conquest scope. I'm not sure if I will have enough elevation at 750 in the scope but I'm going to get out as far as I can. My longest so far has been 504 yards. I'm shooting at a 10 inch steel gong.
Best of luck with your shooting today!!

 

[esheato]

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing...three hits on steel!

Perfect day to shoot..weather was a crisp 62 degrees and dead calm. Sun was at my back also so the target was lit up like a Christmas tree.

Shooter was advising 30.1 mils of elevation, so I dialed 25 and held center crosshair. :banghead:

When I saw the bullet strike way low, I realized my error. A sniper I am not.

After I pulled my head out, I held the additional elevation on the reticle and fired. Miss, but not by much. Alright, now we're getting somewhere.

Fired another two times fine tuning my hold. On the fifth shot I connected, with a nice *DING* over the radio. If I could do a cartwheel, I probably would have!

Then I burned up the ammo. Went through another 10-15 rounds, all within 2-6 feet around the target before I finally connected again.

The weirdest part of the whole experience was looking for the strike. Four seconds between firing and impact is an eternity. I was frequently second guessing myself about whether the impact kicked up any dust...when I was about ready to give up, I'd see the cloud of dirt.

Again, I burned up the ammo. Went through another 10-15 rounds, all within 2-6 feet around the target before I finally connected for a third time.

After three hits, the wind picked up and my shots were missing by more than I was comfortable with. At that point, I felt like I was just wasting money. So I called it a day.

Here is my rifle in the shooting position:



My 4 year old son is my photographer, so sorry if they're a little crazy. Here is me behind the gun.

Here he is "wanting to shoot long range like Dad".

Here is the target. Hits are hits as far as I'm concerned at this distance. That target is only 2x2 feet and the center circle is 1/2 MOA (10 inches) at that distance.

Lastly, and probably most interesting, when I went to check the target, I could see my misses in the dirt. I found numerous bullets fragments (jackets and cores separate and together) sitting on top of the ground. I collected them for this photo:

All in all, I'd call it a success. Surely some real training or more practice would do me some good, but not bad for a self-taught guy.

Ed

 

[Centurian22]

Congrats!!! That is absolutely amazing! I'm afraid to ask but it must be said... What's Next!?!?

 

[50 Shooter]

Looks like you're shooting in the high desert, the wind was flat this morning but is expected to pick up as the day goes by. That's the hardest part of shooting up here, the morning is the best time as the day goes by and the sun heats up the desert, the winds pick up.

Nice shooting, my best to date with my .50 is 1 mile.

 

[esheato]

Close...I'm 'bout a half hour south of Riverside. What size target were you shooting at a mile?

 

[danweasel]

WoooWeee!!!!

That is all.

 

[brian923]

Curious to what you bullet drop is at 2000 yards... Thanks

 

[rugerdude]

I attended a long range shooting course in Texas where we were able to shoot a 20x40 steel plate at 1 mile with our M40A3's (.308 remington 700) and 12 power Shmidt and Benders.

You know you're pushing it when you run out of adjustment in the scope. And the tiniest amount of wind, or more importantly, wind inconsistency can have you dancing left and right around the target forever.

Most of the guys I shot with were snipers (Marine-type) and hits were about every 10 rounds. The wind was light, but it was really messing with us.

Shot.....wait.......wait........wait.......wait.......wait........wait......ting

Good shooting!

 

[esheato]

Curious to what you bullet drop is at 2000 yards

Shooter was telling me I needed 30.1 mils, but in reality I had around 33 dialed. I chased my tail a bit too; a click up here, two clicks down there.

At 30 mils, drop was approximately 180 feet or 60 yards (however your brain sees it).

True trajectory was having me aiming over (or nearly over) the mountain the target was on, and the bullet essentially "fell into it".

Crazy when you think about it huh?

 

[SwissArmyDad]

So cool!

 

[68wj]

I am glad I missed this thread yesterday so that I wouldn't have to wait for the results. Good shooting.

 

[MtnCreek]

What's the big deal, I shot 4,000 yds the other evening. 40 rds @ 100 yds ea.

That looks like a ton of fun! Great Shooting!

 

[50 Shooter]

E,
The Target was close to the size of yours, if I remember right it was about 18" square. Our 2000 yard target is 36" in diameter. It's to hot for the desert now but we should plan a trip out to my spot, we set up targets along a road with a mountain for a backstop.

A friend is on the list to get his BFG-50A soon so we might have to brave the triple digits and go out to have some fun. If you want to come I'll pm you and we can make a day of it.