Photos from a weekend of long-range shooting in NM

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Zak Smith

Zak Smith

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Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Stupid question, Since i don't live in a free state, how does the can effect pressure and velocity?
 
Basically no effect. The velocity change is typically less than the SD of the load, so within experimental error. Pressure doesn't seem to be affected, however, it does produce carbon deposits in the chamber, especially neck, at a higher rate than normal. This can cause increased pressures in some guns if they are not cleaned regularly. However, I very rarely do this kind of cleaning and don't really worry about it.
 
In my group of four, we had two .260's, one 7mm WSM, and I went retro with my "legacy" caliber, .308 (the tan camo AI-AW). Targets were 150-700 yards, 1-2 MOA steel plates. The KD range (not pictured) has 400-1000, 1350, and 1 mile.
 
Mr. Smith,
First, I must compliment you on your equipment!
Secondly, is that the rifle that wore the 6.5x47 Lapua and did you screw on the "history channel" tube to play with at that particular shoot? Did you get rid of the 6.5x47 barrel?
Would love to shoot in that region and with your group of shooters someday!
 
SFree,

Good catch. I did have the 6.5x47 barrel screwed on that rifle for that project a couple years ago. I sold the barrel off because I figured it was redundant with my .260, and there was no sense in having two rifles set up in similar but different 6.5mm cartridges.

I shot the .308 for no particular reason, other than I hadn't used it in a while and wanted to see how it would do on this course against the .260's and 7 WSM. The winds on Saturday were 5-15 mph, and each station and target may have different wind conditions. I have shot this particular terrain probably over a dozen times. The four of us shot well and I did not feel that caliber was a big determining factor in who made the most first-round hits-- that day anyway. There is definitely a measure of satisfaction gained using a "legacy" caliber and stacking up against good shooters with better LR cartridges.

We were shooting last year's course, minus the three stations that were "temporary." We'll set the new stages and target positions in early June before this year's match.

Lucky,

There are some downhill shots that "seem" pretty extreme; however, in reality, they are not. We have tried to get shots for the match that require elevation data modification, but it wasn't possible to get both the incline angle and distance required to cause a miss on the target plates we use.

skinewmexico,

Colorado Multi-Gun LLC is the name of the organization. It is based in Colorado, but we have administered both "local" and major matches in NM, CO, and WY.
 
nice. that looks like a very fun week end. i think i need to move to a state with more open desert like that. or just move to the other side of the cascades.
 
That just looks like the ultimate in good-time shooting. I'd give almost anything to have a place like that to really push it out there. Thanks for the report and the great pics!
 
I am wondering who shot the 260's and the 7wsm? same person , diff peeps? How did the 7wsm stack up? was it handloaded? if so, whith what grain bullets?
Did the 7 handle the wind better, is it's b.c. similar to the 260?
I have heard only good things about the 7wsm, but I have not heard it compared to other rounds, or if handloading, what were the props.

Also , I would think their would be big diffs between the 6.5 x47, and the 260, but it sounds like from above, you seem to think they are very similar, how so?
 
rangerruck,

After I had shot the .260, 6.5x47, and 6.5 Creedmoor for at least several months each, I wrote an article as a "shootout" between these three mid-size 6.5 mm cartridges. The bottom line was that for similar pressure, the 6.5x47 was down about 100-150 fps with the same bullet weight (ie, 123's or 139's). This makes some sense considering the 6.5x47 is down on case capacity vs. the .260.

I didn't mean that there is exactly a "big diff" between the 6.5x47 and the 260: 100-150 fps in the same bullet might or might not be significant.

there was no sense in having two rifles set up in similar but different 6.5mm cartridge
Click to expand...
From the article:
What will I do? Because of the primer issue in the AI-AW rifles, I get better ballistics from .260 than 6.5x47. I'm going to keep shooting the original Rock Creek / GA Precision .260 barrel until it's toast, and then look at which of .260 or 6.5 Creedmoor has better brass for a cheaper price for the next 6.5 mm barrel.
Click to expand...

On the "who shot what", we had four people and four rifles on the field course. I shot the 308, Ray shot the 7 WSM, S- and G- shot .260's. G- shot his .260 in the match last year and came in 4th overall. Ray shot his .308 last year and came in 7th overall (high 308). Before I became match director in '08, I won overall and/or my division (heavy/open rifle) in 06 and 07. S- is a Distinguished H-P shooter, recently retired from the Navy, and a lifelong hunter. I rate our skills very comparable, with day to day variations and "luck" more of a factor in who might be responsible to buy the beer later.

The 7mm WSM has pretty much identical ballistics to the 7mm Rem Mag (I have a 7RM). Both can shoot the 180gr Berger VLD at 2950 fps, or a 162-168gr at 3500-3150 fps from a 26" barrel. The 180gr Berger has a revised BC of 0.652, while the 162-168gr class bullets are 0.617 - 0.625 (the AMAX and Berger respectively).

Here is a ballistic comparison of these loads (and a few extra), with a 175 SMK @ 2700 fps at the bottom for comparison (a very common "old school" long-range .308 load)
Code: 
_Bullet_           _BC_ _MV_         0     250     500     750    1000    1250 | YARDS
7RM/WSM 180       0.654 2950 >    0.00    2.44   10.30   24.47   46.08   76.51 | wind (inches)
7RM/WSM 162       0.625 3050 >    0.00    2.43   10.29   24.53   46.31   77.10 | wind (inches)
7RM/WSM 168       0.617 3000 >    0.00    2.53   10.71   25.54   48.28   80.50 | wind (inches)
6.5-284 139       0.615 2980 >    0.00    2.57   10.86   25.91   48.99   81.71 | wind (inches)
.260 139          0.615 2820 >    0.00    2.78   11.77   28.11   53.23   88.84 | wind (inches)
.308 155 LAP      0.508 2930 >    0.00    3.22   13.81   33.44   64.29  108.74 | wind (inches)
.308 175SMK       0.51* 2700 >    0.00    3.72   15.99   38.92   75.26  127.21 | wind (inches)

7RM/WSM 180       0.654 2950 >   -0.00    0.59    2.20    4.17    6.52    9.31 | drop (mil)
7RM/WSM 162       0.625 3050 >   -0.00    0.53    2.04    3.91    6.14    8.82 | drop (mil)
7RM/WSM 168       0.617 3000 >   -0.00    0.56    2.14    4.08    6.42    9.24 | drop (mil)
6.5-284 139       0.615 2980 >   -0.00    0.57    2.17    4.15    6.53    9.41 | drop (mil)
.260 139          0.615 2820 >   -0.00    0.68    2.49    4.73    7.43   10.70 | drop (mil)
.308 155 LAP      0.508 2930 >   -0.00    0.63    2.38    4.64    7.48   11.08 | drop (mil)
.308 175SMK       0.51* 2700 >   -0.00    0.81    2.94    5.68    9.19   13.71 | drop (mil)
 
Looks like a good time was had by all.
Click to expand...

Except ME. And YOU. And a bunch of the rest of us. :( :p

And just so's I have this straight: The COLORADO multi-gun steel safari is in NEW MEXICO?

And do any pronghorn's ever walk past?
 
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