Dr T
Member
I took a long delayed trip to the range yesterday.
I have building out my collection in a couple of directions over the last six months, but have not spent a lot of time enjoying it.
I took:
A T/C Encore with 30-06 (24"), 223 (26"), and 460 S&W (20") rifle barrels,
a sporterized SMLE No. 4 Mk. 1,
a Mosin Nagant M39 (problems documented elsewhere),
a Savage 93 BTVS (22 magnum),
a Marlin 1894 44 Mag. with a new Wild West Trigger, and
a pre-Norinco Chinese SKS.
The primary mission was to get stuff sighted in for hunting and get an accuracy assessment.
The TC Encore
The primary utility of this piece is the convenience of the multiple barrels. This ensemble of three barrels will handle anything in North America in almost any weather conditions. The 30-06 and 223 were giving me about 1.5 inch 5 shot groups with factory ammo ('06 with Federal 150 gr standard loads and the 223 with Hornady 55 gr bulk loads).
The 460 S&W was the most interesting, however. In checking the Lyman manual, I noted that there was little velocity variation over a fairly wide range of powder charge weights. Armed with that information (and given the outrageous price--and general scarcity--of factory loads), I ran up a quick batch of 20 working loads with the Hornady 240 gr XTP Mag, H110, and used a Lee dipper for my powder measure in new Starline cases with WLR primers. I expected this to be the hardest gun to get sighted in, but it turned out to be the easiest (more luck than anything else). Given my poor eyesight and lack of experience with longer range use of iron sights (the barrel has a 4 MOA fiber optic up front and a peep in the rear), I was not disappointed with my 4 MOA groups at 25 and 100 yards. I may even be able to do better with a lot of practice. Since I was regarding it as a 100 yard and under tool for poor visibility, this more than meets the need. I was able to get the elevation right the first time. I need to move the POI about 4 inches to the right the next time I take it out and I will declare it sighted in.
SMLE
Who ever sporterized this thing did a nice job. However, they did not carefully select the front bead sight and put on one that was far too short. As a result, it is shooting about 2 feet high at 100 yards. (and a bit to the right). It looks like it is time to get the micrometer out and consult with Brownells about what bead I should really use. That said, once figured out the relative POI I had some fun on the silhouette range plinking at the gongs at 300 and 500 meters with it.
Marlin 1894
The Wild West trigger was a lot more crisp (but only a little lighter). I was using Hornady 225 gr FTX which functioned through the action well. However, it did not group as well as some of the other loads I have used in the rifle. (It likes 240 gr Winchester white box softpoints for some reason). I did note that with the new trigger the lever has a bit extra "spring" and must be held closed a bit more forcefully than with the standard trigger. Not an issue, just an observation.
Savage 93 BTVS
I topped this with a Burris Full Field II 3-9 x 40 for use as a go-to-the-ranch-and-terrorize-jackrabbits-and-bobcats gun. This was the hardest gun to sight in (I thought it was going to be the easiest). I boresighted it at home. For some reason, it did not hit the paper. When I finally got it on paper, I was doing 1.25" at 100 yards (5 shot groups) with CCI FMJ 22 magnums. The gun has potential. I just have to figure out what it likes best.
SKS
I had forgotten how much fun this gun is to shoot. I picked up some cheap Golden Tiger non-corrosive Berdan primed ammo with lead core FMJ. I finished up the day with it an the Enfield plinking at the gongs on the silhouette range. It was a nice way to unwind from all the tension associated with trying to shoot tight groups while sighting in.
I slept very, very well last night.
I have building out my collection in a couple of directions over the last six months, but have not spent a lot of time enjoying it.
I took:
A T/C Encore with 30-06 (24"), 223 (26"), and 460 S&W (20") rifle barrels,
a sporterized SMLE No. 4 Mk. 1,
a Mosin Nagant M39 (problems documented elsewhere),
a Savage 93 BTVS (22 magnum),
a Marlin 1894 44 Mag. with a new Wild West Trigger, and
a pre-Norinco Chinese SKS.
The primary mission was to get stuff sighted in for hunting and get an accuracy assessment.
The TC Encore
The primary utility of this piece is the convenience of the multiple barrels. This ensemble of three barrels will handle anything in North America in almost any weather conditions. The 30-06 and 223 were giving me about 1.5 inch 5 shot groups with factory ammo ('06 with Federal 150 gr standard loads and the 223 with Hornady 55 gr bulk loads).
The 460 S&W was the most interesting, however. In checking the Lyman manual, I noted that there was little velocity variation over a fairly wide range of powder charge weights. Armed with that information (and given the outrageous price--and general scarcity--of factory loads), I ran up a quick batch of 20 working loads with the Hornady 240 gr XTP Mag, H110, and used a Lee dipper for my powder measure in new Starline cases with WLR primers. I expected this to be the hardest gun to get sighted in, but it turned out to be the easiest (more luck than anything else). Given my poor eyesight and lack of experience with longer range use of iron sights (the barrel has a 4 MOA fiber optic up front and a peep in the rear), I was not disappointed with my 4 MOA groups at 25 and 100 yards. I may even be able to do better with a lot of practice. Since I was regarding it as a 100 yard and under tool for poor visibility, this more than meets the need. I was able to get the elevation right the first time. I need to move the POI about 4 inches to the right the next time I take it out and I will declare it sighted in.
SMLE
Who ever sporterized this thing did a nice job. However, they did not carefully select the front bead sight and put on one that was far too short. As a result, it is shooting about 2 feet high at 100 yards. (and a bit to the right). It looks like it is time to get the micrometer out and consult with Brownells about what bead I should really use. That said, once figured out the relative POI I had some fun on the silhouette range plinking at the gongs at 300 and 500 meters with it.
Marlin 1894
The Wild West trigger was a lot more crisp (but only a little lighter). I was using Hornady 225 gr FTX which functioned through the action well. However, it did not group as well as some of the other loads I have used in the rifle. (It likes 240 gr Winchester white box softpoints for some reason). I did note that with the new trigger the lever has a bit extra "spring" and must be held closed a bit more forcefully than with the standard trigger. Not an issue, just an observation.
Savage 93 BTVS
I topped this with a Burris Full Field II 3-9 x 40 for use as a go-to-the-ranch-and-terrorize-jackrabbits-and-bobcats gun. This was the hardest gun to sight in (I thought it was going to be the easiest). I boresighted it at home. For some reason, it did not hit the paper. When I finally got it on paper, I was doing 1.25" at 100 yards (5 shot groups) with CCI FMJ 22 magnums. The gun has potential. I just have to figure out what it likes best.
SKS
I had forgotten how much fun this gun is to shoot. I picked up some cheap Golden Tiger non-corrosive Berdan primed ammo with lead core FMJ. I finished up the day with it an the Enfield plinking at the gongs on the silhouette range. It was a nice way to unwind from all the tension associated with trying to shoot tight groups while sighting in.
I slept very, very well last night.
