Cold Bore Coke Can at 100 yards.

[M118LR]

Once upon a time (80's) outside of Dover Foxcroft Maine near the board eddy road, there was an annual hunting rendezvous. A multitude of Blooded Maine Woodsman and a handful of Navy Folks (maybe 15-20 people in all) gathered to await opening day. Obviously that inspired the 100 yard coke can shoot-out. Everyone got to take 4 unsupported shots standing with thier actual hunting rifle. Sounds simple. The first two years I attended it only took my lone cold bore hit to take the bragging rights. Yup, 15 to 20 seasoned successful hunters with four shot's each were not able to topple a single coke can at 100 yards shooting unsupported while standing. My rifle at that time was a .444 Marlin Lever Action using Williams peep sight setup.

So due to the overwhelming problems of accessing 200 yard rifle ranges with a stack of paper plates, here are 2 different 100 yard shooting games/ or challenges should you prefer. Now most hunting rifles off the bench will more often than not hit a coke can sitting on it's side. But since we shall be standing up, stand the coke can straight up.

1.) Cold bore: 1 can first shot out of a cold clean bore. Simple, either hit or miss.

2.) Add 3 more attempts, so those really skilled will need a total of 4 coke cans spaced 2 feet apart.

Use your opening day Deer hunting rifle just as it's equipped, stand up and mow down a couple of coke cans. Go ahead and post your results if you do well. I've already explained that many successful hunters found this to be harder than it sounded.

 

[Walkalong]

Yup, 15 to 20 seasoned successful hunters with four shot's each were not able to topple a single coke can at 100 yards shooting unsupported while standing.

Not surprising, most hunters don't shoot all that well.

 

[Walkalong]

Most people, not picking on hunters.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

The 25% success rate is far better than I would have predicted.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Most people, not picking on hunters.

You are to kind. Hunters should be able to shoot well. A good share of the hunters I know have practiced shooting less in their entire lives than I practice in the average month.

 

[M118LR]

The 25% success rate is far better than I would have predicted.

It wasn't until the 3rd year that I needed more than a single cold bore shot. The third year a 17 year old son-of-a-successful Maine Navy hunter managed to pick off a can with his dads .348 Winchester Model 71. It took me all 4 rounds to down two cans, but I did it. LOL. Age & experience shall always manage to find a way to harass the better physical skills of youthful exuberance. Just the opinion of an Old Man. LOL.

Side note: When I got orders leaving Maine, I sold the .444 Marlin to the young mans father so that the young Lad would have a rifle of his own commensurate with the skill he had displayed. (There is more to tell, yet it may become Sailor's Lexicon)

 

[George Dickel]

I shoot rimfire silhouette and it is a very humbling game that takes a lot of practice to be good at. I don't know how many times I've invited guys to shoot that go in thinking "I'll show these guys how its done" and then find how difficult it is to hit those silhouettes. Most don't return, bruised their ego a bit too much. You have 4 banks of 10 silhouettes and you can only shoot one round per silhouette. If you miss you move to the next silhouette and shoot at it, shoot one out of sequence it doesn't count. No spray and pray until something falls. By the way, I don't practice enough so I don't clear 40 silhouettes, not even close.

 

[FL-NC]

Many hunters will go to the range, fire a few rounds supported to check zero, and pronounce themselves "good" for the season. Many others don't even do that. From looking at some of the groups on targets left downrange (we all do it- be honest), there's a whole lot of hunters that would be pushing it to put a good shot on a deer even at 100 yards supported. There's much more to hunting than just marksmanship, but marksmanship is an essential part of being a successful hunter. I shoot enough that I know if I fail to successfully recover a deer I shot at, it WON'T be due to me not having practiced in the basics- it will be due to some other factor - that is still most likely my fault.

 

[someguy2800]

(Edited for clarity)

Missed 3 times, Hit on the 4th.

Found 14 wood ticks



Interestingly a 320 grain hard cast flat nose will knock a pop can back off a log even if you miss. I had to go pick up the can after every shot with not a mark on the can or log.

 

[M118LR]

someguy2800, when are we going to whack pop cans? I'll meet you on the cross roads of 63 & 53 at the Dinner Bell in Trego Wisconsin. Me & the Misses have had many a breakfast there. Prior to selling off the retirement property we did spend a little time there. Imagine how the Mainards felt when a North woods Boundary Waters Boy popped a couple more coke cans then they where able? Looking forward to seeing your honest progress on the 100 yard coke can line.
(ps if you ain't zeroing to your cold bore shot, that first can with one shot might be more of a challenge than you could expect to solve. JMHO.)

 

[someguy2800]

someguy2800, when are we going to whack pop cans? I'll meet you on the cross roads of 63 & 53 at the Dinner Bell in Trego Wisconsin. Me & the Misses have had many a breakfast there. Prior to selling off the retirement property we did spend a little time there. Imagine how the Mainards felt when a North woods Boundary Waters Boy popped a couple more coke cans then they where able? Looking forward to seeing your honest progress on the 100 yard coke can line.
(ps if you ain't zeroing to your cold bore shot, that first can with one shot might be more of a challenge than you could expect to solve. JMHO.)

Whenever you want, I have a small range at the house here too. The cold bore shot part does add to the challenge with this particular gun, it strings vertically a small amount as it warms up, but its predictable and straight up and down. Its really only a bit better than pop can accurate at 100 at the bench. I chose it since you mentioned 444 marlin and this happens to be chambered in 444 marlin. This is a rather hot load with a 320 grain cast at 2300 FPS. Father in law shakes his head and calls it my buffalo gun.

 

[M118LR]

I shoot rimfire silhouette and it is a very humbling game that takes a lot of practice to be good at. I don't know how many times I've invited guys to shoot that go in thinking "I'll show these guys how its done" and then find how difficult it is to hit those silhouettes. Most don't return, bruised their ego a bit too much. You have 4 banks of 10 silhouettes and you can only shoot one round per silhouette. If you miss you move to the next silhouette and shoot at it, shoot one out of sequence it doesn't count. No spray and pray until something falls. By the way, I don't practice enough so I don't clear 40 silhouettes, not even close.

Is that like hunters pistol? 40 targets from 25 to 100 yards standing with a pistol? I never mastered that, but I never shot less than 38 out of forty with a pistol.
Once upon a time it was 40 Targets from 100 - 400 yards with a pistol from the creed-more.
Yes I understand how humbling silhouette can be, hope you find others that can accept and excel at the challenge. They shall push you forward. JMHO.

 

[M118LR]

Whenever you want, I have a small range at the house here too. The cold bore shot part does add to the challenge with this particular gun, it strings vertically a small amount as it warms up, but its predictable and straight up and down. Its really only a bit better than pop can accurate at 100 at the bench. I chose it since you mentioned 444 marlin and this happens to be chambered in 444 marlin. This is a rather hot load with a 320 grain cast at 2300 FPS. Father in law shakes his head and calls it my buffalo gun.

There isn't anything in the lower 48 that can digest the 265, and it's incredibly accurate. Trust me when I tell you it that the 265 can do stem to stern & vice versa on a Moose. Yup, the .444 might be one of my pet loads.............LOL

 

[Picher]

Once upon a time (80's) outside of Dover Foxcroft Maine near the board eddy road, there was an annual hunting rendezvous. A multitude of Blooded Maine Woodsman and a handful of Navy Folks (maybe 15-20 people in all) gathered to await opening day. Obviously that inspired the 100 yard coke can shoot-out. Everyone got to take 4 unsupported shots standing with thier actual hunting rifle. Sounds simple. The first two years I attended it only took my lone cold bore hit to take the bragging rights. Yup, 15 to 20 seasoned successful hunters with four shot's each were not able to topple a single coke can at 100 yards shooting unsupported while standing. My rifle at that time was a .444 Marlin Lever Action using Williams peep sight setup.

So due to the overwhelming problems of accessing 200 yard rifle ranges with a stack of paper plates, here are 2 different 100 yard shooting games/ or challenges should you prefer. Now most hunting rifles off the bench will more often than not hit a coke can sitting on it's side. But since we shall be standing up, stand the coke can straight up.

1.) Cold bore: 1 can first shot out of a cold clean bore. Simple, either hit or miss.

2.) Add 3 more attempts, so those really skilled will need a total of 4 coke cans spaced 2 feet apart.

Use your opening day Deer hunting rifle just as it's equipped, stand up and mow down a couple of coke cans. Go ahead and post your results if you do well. I've already explained that many successful hunters found this to be harder than it sounded.

Darn! You guys are really pushing it, aren't you? Maine guy shooting match. I've got to try it, but don't have much of a chance, unless all four cans are side by each...touching. Better yet, two on top of two. Nah, I'll be good and try it the hard way, but don't hold much hope these days.

John P.

 

[M118LR]

Picher, you might know the Old Forester or his kid that lived at 2060 Dexter. But perhaps you might be able to be one of those Maine Hunters that still might spill a can. LOL...

Didn't mean to strike that close to home John P. Show them SMIBS they ain't got enough MOXIE if they let a wicked flat-lander whip them. LOL.

 

[someguy2800]

I need to make a correction to my original post.

I’m up to 17 wood ticks.

There isn't anything in the lower 48 that can digest the 265, and it's incredibly accurate. Trust me when I tell you it that the 265 can do stem to stern & vice versa on a Moose. Yup, the .444 might be one of my pet loads.............LOL

This particular example sports the optional “what’s gun oil” oversize and pitted bore from eBay. I’ve never gotten jacketed bullets to shoot in it. It shoots cast pretty good sized to .432”

Darn! You guys are really pushing it, aren't you? Maine guy shooting match. I've got to try it, but don't have much of a chance, unless all four cans are side by each...touching. Better yet, two on top of two. Nah, I'll be good and try it the hard way, but don't hold much hope these days.

John P.

I’m going to get some more rifle out tomorrow so I can join you in certain hopeless defeat.

 

[Picher]

I'm considered a flat-lander by folks living North of Bingham, but live on top of a 430 ft. hill in Vassalboro, so not as much a flatlander as when we lived in Waterville.

After having Polymyalgia Rheumatica for a while, and being over 73 years old, I'm not as steady as I "used to was", but will try it with my multi-deer killing .243, if that's an eligible smoke-pole.

 

[M118LR]

I need to make a correction to my original post.

I’m up to 17 wood ticks.



This particular example sports the optional “what’s gun oil” oversize and pitted bore from eBay. I’ve never gotten jacketed bullets to shoot in it. It shoots cast pretty good sized to .432”



I’m going to get some more rifle out tomorrow so I can join you in certain hopeless defeat.

Am I reading this right? Pop can 3, hit the wood once? Is it really one downed pop can in 17 shots? I'm thinking that this isn't actually your opening day Deer Rifle "someguy2800"?

From your last on the 200 yard paper plate game, I'll even wager that this isn't your opening day Deer Rifle, unless your folks are used to eating track soup? LOL

 

[JD Pinardi]

I'm hitting the desert next weekend, can't wait to try this out. Just sighted in an old 06 but from a bench. I'll give it a try, and be back.
JD

 

[M118LR]

Y'all know what track soup is don't Ya?
That's the hot water a boiling on the wood stove when all Y'all bring home is tracks from the game that got away!!!!!!!!

Curtsy of Momma Z when I came Home empty handed once. (Sharp tongued split tails: beware......) LOL LOL

 

[someguy2800]

Am I reading this right? Pop can 3, hit the wood once? Is it really one downed pop can in 17 shots? I'm thinking that this isn't actually your opening day Deer Rifle "someguy2800"?

From your last on the 200 yard paper plate game, I'll even wager that this isn't your opening day Deer Rifle, unless your folks are used to eating track soup? LOL

No, no, I’m not that hopeless lol. I shot 4 times, first 3 shots were misses, hit on the forth. I also found 17 wood tick on me afterward since we were keeping score of things.

I did hunt with this last year and took 2 nice bucks with it. It shoots about 2” vertical and 1.5” wide groups at 100 from the bench.

 

[M118LR]

Ticks, like blood sucking little critters? LOL
Better start wearing a flea & tick collar..... LOL

 

[someguy2800]

Ticks, like blood sucking little critters? LOL
Better start wearing a flea & tick collar..... LOL

Didn’t they have them in cheese land? I’ve often wondered if the stuff we give to the dog work on a human. He never gets any on him. Bug spray on rubber boots works pretty good.

 

[M118LR]

Didn’t they have them in cheese land? I’ve often wondered if the stuff we give to the dog work on a human. He never gets any on him. Bug spray on rubber boots works pretty good.

Until you can sit on the porch and lick the ticks from your Netherlands, rub yourself with peppermint & orange peels. Vinegar & Eucalyptus ain't bad. JMHO.

 

[Varminterror]

5 minute target at 200 down to a 2 minute target at 100? I’m out on biz the next 10days, but should be able to grab some range time when I get home again.

Can’t think of the last time I had a can of pop in my house...