Spotting impacts.

[grfox92]

Id like to hear from guys about their hunting rifle set ups and being able to spot your own impacts.

What Cartridge
What Stock
What muzzle Device
What power Optic
What Weight
What shooting position
What distance

I think these are the most important factors in gathering data. Feel free to chime in with anything ive missed and ill edit the original post.

I think this could be good info to compile for everyone on the forum. Selfishly, I want to know if my 8lb Browning X Bolt in 7mm08 with a factory Composite Stalker stock will allow me to spot impacts with the addition of a brake or supressor. Right now it's not possible for me even with good form. But I have been able to get back on target and on to animals for follow up shots if needed, very quickly.

My two contributions to the thread, the only rifle I own that I can spot my impacts:

Tikka 6.5 CM 140 Ms
KRG X Ray
API Fat Bastard
Leopold Mark 5 18x
11 lbs
All positions I am able to spot impacts.

At 18x I can watch my bullets print on paper at 100 yards no issues with this setup.

XBolt 7mm08 162 Ms
Factory Composite Stalker
Bare Muzzle
SWFA 10x
8lbs
No Poitions able to spot impacts. Close, but no cigar. I shot a mule deer this year that was far enough away that I was able to get back lm target to see the bullet hit, but I wouldn't consider that spotting an impact.


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[BLJ]

I don’t do well at spotting impacts with anything really.
But I will say that a normal slanted toe on a standard sporter stock (223) makes it far harder than a flatter one like on an XRS (308).
IMO.

 

[Macintosh]

At normal hunting ranges I dont think you are going to spot impacts with a 10x scope on an 8lb 7mm08 without loading it way down. 3x scope would make a big difference here. I know those 10x’s are the darling of folks here, but I just don’t get it, not for where I hunt anyway. You may not have such an undisturbed field of view that you clearly watch the bullet impacts appear on target, but for sure you’ll keep the target in your field of view and be able to see which way it went even when you only have a split second of visibility if you went to a lower-powered scope.

My 8.5lb 3006 shooting 168gr at +\- 2800fps I lose the target completely at 3x, but even at extremely close range I keep it at least in view at 1x. Field of view matters a lot imo.

I cant provide data on details more than above, but I recently made a few changes specifically for this reason. I’ll be experimenting with them this spring and summer. My own use is extremely close range, very thick woods, so the issue is less spotting the exact impact, as much as it is seeing how the animal reacted to the shot and exactly where it went, when I only have a tiny visibility window before losing it in the woods. With a higher recoiling gun or a tighter field of view, the animal simply disappears and I have no idea where it went in many cases. The goal is to be able to get a second shot more frequently.
My above 3006 has a terrible stock design for recoil, it’s a regular old-school Monte Carlo on a 7600 carbine. I’m experimenting with some different ammunition, my brother loaded me up some hammer 125 at about 2940 ft./s. At one or 2X, I’m hopeful this will make a big difference in this regard.
The other gun is a lightweight Tikka build that I’m almost finished with, it’s an 18 inch 308 Winchester, total gun weight including scope and can is 7 lbs. 4 oz. I’m looking at using reduced recoil 125gr rounds for practice, and a mono in the 110 - 130 grain size for hunting. This gun has a 3X scope on it, which is a little tight field of view compared to what I’d like, but we’ll see. If after a season, it ends up feeling like the field of view is too narrow, I’ll replace it with another 1-6 accupoint.

 

[JoeK]

“ I was able to get back lm target to see the bullet hit, but I wouldn't consider that spotting an impact.”

Sounds like the definition of spotting impact to me…

 

[JoeK]

What Cartridge .223
What Stock Rokstok
What muzzle Device Supressor
What power Optic 3-18x usually shooting 6-12x or less inside of 150yds
What Weight ? 9.5lbs? I'll check weight later
What shooting position most positions, standing is tough but able to spot offhand at 100 on steel at 3-5xmag

What Cartridge 6.5CM
What Stock Sig Cross, buttpad raised to bore line
What muzzle Device Supressor
What power Optic 3-18x usually shooting 6-12x or less inside of 150yds
What Weight ~10lbs i think
What shooting position. Most supported positions. Offhand/unsupported not so much.

Good body position, fundamental mechanics and stock design have been the most influential for me. I switched from a factory tikka stock to the Rokstok and it's a BIG help. the buttpad-boreline relation has a huge influence on muzzle rise, especially with support under the buttstock.

 

[grfox92]

“ I was able to get back lm target to see the bullet hit, but I wouldn't consider that spotting an impact.”

Sounds like the definition of spotting impact to me…

This was due to the flight time of the bullet. The shot was 650 yards. I would not have seen that impact on a 200 yard shot.

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[JoeK]

Yes I think maybe you would include TOF/ shot distance into your metrics.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

I use a 6X Swfa on my tikka 7mm08.
-162 eldm
-typical loads with a few different powders are 2600-2670fps
-Stockys VG
-AB-a10 suppressor

Managing recoil and spotting impacts in this configuration hasn’t proven impossible. Sitting or kneeling shooting off stump or pack.
I think bare muzzle would be very difficult, I’ve done it with 308 and 168smks bare muzzle with same scope mentioned, unless prone It’s extremely difficult to be as effective, throwing a suppressor or brake on changes things dramatically.

223 is always king in these positions for spotting and acquiring target again quickly for me.

Edit: Talking sub 400 yards when I practice these positions on 10” plate.

 

[grfox92]

I use a 6X Swfa on my tikka 7mm08.
-162 eldm
-typical loads with a few different powders are 2600-2670fps
-Stockys VG
-AB-a10 suppressor

Managing recoil and spotting impacts in this configuration hasn’t proven impossible. Sitting or kneeling shooting off stump or pack.
I think bare muzzle would be very difficult, I’ve done it with 308 and 168smks bare muzzle with same scope mentioned, unless prone It’s extremely difficult to be as effective, throwing a suppressor or brake on changes things dramatically.

223 is always king in these positions for spotting and acquiring target again quickly for me.

Edit: Talking sub 400 yards when I practice these positions on 10” plate.

My 162 elds are at 2600-2650 depending om which primers I use. So it sounds like with good fundamentals it might be possible.

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[Svivian]

Magnification setting would be an interesting factor. Id imagine there are alot of guys are 15+ power missing alot of impacts

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Magnification setting would be an interesting factor. Id imagine there are alot of guys are 15+ power missing alot of impacts

Second focal plane scopes and trying to accurately use subtensions needing to be at full mag. That’s difficult

Switching to first focal plane for me and being able to dial up or down the mag range to accommodate has made a huge difference.