Completed my first step towards the 20-20-20-1000 challenge. This first step is the "easiest", and helps me to establish what I need to do to proceed.
Rifle #1: HK91 with its own bipod, orginal trigger (although I did some polishing) ARMS claw mount, and Simmons Whitetail Expedition 1.5-6x32 scope. This has been a reliable setup for the past two years, even removing the mount each time I go to the range. I used Portuguese* ammo as the HK likes it very well.
Rifle #2: SA M1A, loaded, SS barrel, with a Harris bipod, SA scope mount and SA 4x scope. I haven't done anything else to this rifle - yet. This setup has worked OK for me, but I haven't had much time with it so far. I used Australian ammo, which the M1A appears to like. I know, however, that the M1A will do much better with Black Hills. But that's for the next step.
Range = 100 yards
Target = 2 inches
Number of shots = 20
Times:
#1 HK91 = about 60 seconds. I tried to fire one round every three seconds as best as I could; I think I came very close. (Not allowed to shoot faster than once every 3 seconds at this range)
#2 M1A = about 90 seconds. I just couldn't line up the cross hairs with this scope or get back on target as well as with the HK. I was able to get some shots off three seconds apart, but others were five or six seconds apart.
Procedure:
I shot the HK91 three rounds to make sure everything was OK, I then replaced the three rounds and shot 20 rounds, waited a minute or so, and shot the second 20-round magazine. Changed targets and did the same with the M1A.
Results:
#1 HK91: First group about 3". Not bad.
Second group, much better. First shot was high and I knew it. Not counting the first shot, the second group was just over 2". See target below.
#2 M1A: Not as good. Just under 3" for the first, and just over 3" for the second 20-round group.
Notes:
a. Shooting from the bipod resting on a bench and my shoulder at the other end will not work for one-shot-per-second; the rifle moves off target too much. At the end of the 20 rounds, I was 4 to 6 inches behind where I had started. Need to use sand bags front and back.
b. After the first five or six shots, it was very difficult for me to get back on target with the M1A and its scope, but I had absolutely no problem with the HK91. Besides the the scope itself, other differences are: The HK91 has a riser on the stock (cheek-piece) - I need one for the M1A. Also, I can shoot the HK91 without eye glasses, but not so the M1A. Perhaps I can adjust the SA scope so don't have to wear my eye glasses with it?
c. The M1A 'should' be a better candidate; better trigger and inherently more accuracy. However, I believe it will need Black Hills ammo. On the other hand, I once tried BH ammo with the HK91, and did not notice a big difference - I'll have to try it again.
Next:
#1 HK91 - Try BH ammo and see what it does.
#2 M1A- Get a cheek-piece and try to adjust the scope, or get a different scope altogether.
THEN- over Easter weekend, setup a 200 or 300 yard range and try them there, and go for the 1/second rate.
* About the Portuguese ammo.
I recently read that there are differences between lots. Frankly, I had never noticed. So today I shot from two of the four lots I have: 79-59 and 81-48. Were they different? Yes! One was just over 2" (the picture above) and the other 3". The problem is that I did not notice which magazine I used each time! I loaded each of the two magazines with only one lot type, but when I got done shooting, I realized that I did not know which magazine I had used each time. Sorry - I'll watch it next time.
What do I think? I don't - too early to tell, other than I have to do much, much better to even come close.
Alex