Winter 2011 centerfire rifle match

[Whiskey11]

Went and shot again today, I really think this load is a good solid load for this barrel, seems to shoot well enough when the idiot pulling the trigger does his job correctly Anyway, temp about 25* winds coming from behind to front at about 5 MPH with frequent gusts of about 20 MPH. Prone as per the norm, but snow on the ground this time which kind of chilled me down a little too much. Only shot 100 rounds today but learned that it is time to get a dedicated rear bag, the bags at the range are too frustrating to use as they leak and are not quite tall enough for me to be comfortable.

Anyway, shot another "all time best" but I'm beginning to wonder if it wasn't a fluke A 37-5x. That is, if you agree that the second row, second to last one is a 3, it's torn well into the white on the target and there is some "powder burn" in the white, but that will be your call. 37-5x or 35-5x, either way, a new best



also shot another disturbingly small group, this time 11 rounds. One from when I shot for the competition, which the target was thrown out due to a disgustingly low score cuss, then 10 more as shots 91-100 out of today. Didn't try too hard, but grouped surprisingly well. You decide



I can't wait for warmer weather when I can comfortably stay at the range all day and not freeze or feel guilty for making the RSO go out there too!

 

[Bonesinium]

I attempted to shoot this match, but as it turns out, I'm not a very good shot. I shot (at) the first 10 targets, but did not finish. At the time, I think my score was......4. The variable winds didn't help. I'm sure I will get better!

 

[Whiskey11]

What were you shooting with and how were you set up? More shooting always helps, besides, helps get away from kids, parents, significant other, and gives you a good source of stress relief. The only qualms about shooting so much that I have is the cost starts to add up Ohh well, stimulating the economy as they say!

 

[Bonesinium]

You called it. My main reason for shooting was stress relief! With being forced to do a 5 week course, with class 9 hours a day, 5 days a week, with 2-3 hours of homework a night, if I don't get out shooting on weekends I'm going to go insane.

Tikka T3, .308, front bipod, 6-18x40 Nikon, using Prvi Partizan 168 grain HPBT match.
First time shooting that ammo, second time shooting with the scope. Wouldn't have matter what I was shooting though, I still would have sucked. And I lied before, my score 10 shots in was a 3.

 

[Whiskey11]

I would buy a box of Federal Gold Medal Match (nearly twice the cost of the Prvi Partizan match ) but it is the known standard of accuracy at factory prices. If you watch out you can get decent deals online for it, usually around 30$ shipped for a box, some deals are even better. Brass isn't too bad either, mine is on it's 5th and 6th reloadings with neck size only, brass has never been annealed but no signs of splitting, primer pockets are tight enough to hold primers in and not loose either. The FGMM also shoots the 168 gr SMK's, and they also have 175gr SMK's too IIRC. I'd give that a shot.

The reports I'm reading about the Prvi Partizan are saying less than stellar performance... One guy stated 4 MOA with the Prvi, 1 with the FGMM out of a .308 700P. Worth a shot, especially if groups tighten up that much!

 

[9X23WIN]

Bones, the targets aren't as easy as it looks. I wouldn't worry about the score, with a little practice, you will be up and running.
Regarding the FGMM 168s, I've used them many times for 200yd and 600yd competitions. I can vouch that they shoot extremely well.

 

[Bonesinium]

I have 120 rounds of Federal Gold Match, but I also have some Prvi. As the Federal is more expensive, I figured why waste it when I am still learning and improving my skills when I can shoot something that cost close to half the price. To be fair to the Prvi, I shot a 1" 3-shot group just prior, and 2 roughly 2" 5-shot groups.

 

[Whiskey11]

Next time you go out try the FGMM at the match targets and see how you do. I will be the first to admit that most of the time I shoot, I get less than stellar targets, especially as the barrel warms up. Occasionally I will get a real gem of a target. If I shot sub inch ten round groups everytime I shot I would be extremely pleased with the setup and not fiddle with it or want to upgrade .

 

[gregj]

Went to the range this am to test some new loads. I shot a 33-4x and a 34-1x. Maybe one of these days .....

 

[TLS1976]

This is a pretty neat idea yall got here.
I printed a couple targets and may try to get em to the range this weekend. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Wylie1]

I better get crackin with this 770, I've got a long way to go!

 

[TLS1976]

Well, I tried it and, Man, did I shoot poorly. I'm not even gonna waste your time with posting my target. Weather permitting, I will go this Sunday and try again.

 

[shootr]

Wow!! Hat's off to everyone who's shooting - these are some great targets. Think I'll join in this coming weekend. Only have hunting centerfires that are scoped.

Hope I can see the little circles, then hope I can get them inside!! LOL!

 

[kis2]

don't give up guys! my first one was awful. those little circles are deceptively hard to aim inside of.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I haven't forgotten about you P51

Ill change that score when an update is required

 

[Wylie1]

This looks way hard! The Rem 770 is coming into it's own but it's going to take a lot of patience in letting the barrel cool between shots! I'm not even ready to try this yet and hope I can sharpen up the gun enough for a good attempt.

So is this for bragging rights or just good fun?

 

[KSCCHTrainer]

Finally the weather was nice enough to try out my friends outdoor range. It was really windy for a bit this morning, but it died down around noon and the way we arranged the berms when building the range, it wound up about 3-5 knots quartering over the left shoulder at the firing point (Guesstimate). It was swirling a bit downrange but the wind was blowing slightly left to right and toward the target. Wind was out of the South and the range is oriented South-North with the firing point on the south end. There are 15' high berms down the sides and across the target end so we can do move and shoot drills with handguns as well. The width of the lane runs about 12' but we didn't get it perfectly straight so it varies a bit.

Shot the match with my old 1940 vintage Russian capture 98K 8mm Mauser with the Chinese knock off of a Sightron 8.5-22 sniper scope on it. Set it at 12 power for the match and shot prone over a sandbag rest, no sling. Got out the tape measure and measured off 300 feet (100 yards) from the firing point to the target frame. At 12 power, the crosshairs allow one to just barely see the large circles. Shot a half dozen targets and it took that many to get the windage right! Been a couple of years since I had to do any wind judging -
Score is either 42 or 45 depending on how R.W. scores the upper left circle. -- turns out 45-5X

Ammo - handloads using some 197 grain surplus FMJ's, Remington brass, 14.0 grains of IMR Trail Boss powder and Winchester WLR primers.

 

[R.W.Dale]

The grease ring for that first shot clearly breaks the white

It's a little hard to tell, that's the large "factory" rifle target is it not

 

[KSCCHTrainer]

The grease ring for that first shot clearly breaks the white

It's a little hard to tell, that's the large "factory" rifle target is it not

yes -since it's a 1940 8mm Mauser with the original barrel, I used the factory target. The only reason the rifle has a scope on it is I can't see past 25 yards without optics. My tri-focals don't work beyond that for something that small - LOL!

If I had used the Mosin, I'd have shot the smaller ring target, but wasn't sure what the Mauser would do in outdoor conditions. It lived up to the good German engineering though and turns out to be worth every penny of the $300 I paid for it a couple years ago. I think if I had to use one of my rifles for serious business, I'd pick the Mauser. It's shorter and easier to handle while having pretty close to the same accuracy the Mosin has. I'd certainly put either of them up against a stock Remington 700 out to 600 yards or so with my handloads. I have quite a bit of surplus ammo for both rifles, but neither of them are target quality with anything but tailored loads though they are very adequate as combat arms with the surplus stuff I have.

Jim

 

[R.W.Dale]

Trail boss is some amazing stuff, I've done a little work with with it and it amazes me how you can have the low recoil and noise of gallery loads but still retain all the accuracy of full power loadings

 

[KSCCHTrainer]

I got started using it when I wound up having a pacemaker implant. Cardiologist put it in my right shoulder as I'm left handed so I could continue to shoot. After 90 days he'd let me shoot .22 and light loads in the big bore stuff, so I went looking and discovered several threads on Trail Boss.

I know one of the guys at Hodgdon and since they handle all the IMR stuff now, I asked him about it. He sent me the articles they had published on it and I've been playing with it ever since. I teach the formal NRA reloading course here and after going through the "Absolutely do not attempt to make up your own load data" part of the course, I have a lot of fun having the students come back (for free) on another day and I show 'em how to work with TB. I've made a few dozen converts around here and I have a freezer full of venison that was taken by others using TB loads with heavy bullets.

One of my friends' 12 year old son got his last season with his dad's old 600 Nitro Express double rifle. Of course we had worked up a TB load for some 300 grain cast lead bullets and he popped a real nice white tail buck out around 150 yards with it. One shot and the deer was DRT (dead right there)! Open sights, no less - wish I had the eyesight I had when I was 12!

Love it when a plan comes together.

Jim

 

[JDGray]

Great shooting Jim! Gives me a reason to get back out to the mud pit, and try to better my 43-10X. With all the wind we've been having, hopefully the ground will dry out a bit!

 

[P51D]

Well done, KSC! The bar just got higher

P51D

 

[shootr]

Well, I got out for a time on Saturday and no one has anything to fear as I only shot a 25. Think technique needs work and might be able

to dial-in a better load. Dunno, but will try to get out again.

Mounted up a newer scope as the old one lacks the brightness of newer ones. Good fun.

K-98, 8mm, 180 gr NBT handloads, old Weaver 3-9X scope.

 

[hiawatha]

Well, I didn't get it done. I finally scoped one of my rifles, but I haven't finished sighting it in. So I'll use this target for practicing. I'll still try it with iron sights, too!