What did you do at the range today?

[Lawnboi]

Remember to dry fire.

Luckily I can do that in the back yard

 

[Sprunk]

Sighted in 2 rifles after swapping some optics around. First rifle is a Bergara B-14 Ridge Special Purpose in .308, Athlon Helos 2-12x42, Timney trigger, and a Greyboe Renegade. Second rifle is a B-14 Ridge in .300 Win Mag, Arken SH4 4-16x50, factory otherwise.

Range faces directly north, wind was SSW 10-13mph, first group from .308 was high right aiming for center bullseye but I was sure happy with the group. At times the wind was significant and I could see the sway and was trying to control it. Both rifles were shooting 150gr. Norma Whitetail in their respective calibers.

Really like how the .308 is set up, but it's a heavy rifle. The Win Mag WILL be getting a trigger, just before breaking there was a noticeable creep that I was not impressed with. The Timney was excellent and I love the wide shoe. Both are solid guns and I wish my Tikka was back from the smith to compare.

 

[Lawnboi]

Some load testing, bringing brass up to same firing. 140 eldm, shooting okay. Should be able to do some mass loading once now that I have 90% of my brass in same firing.

Kraft drill followed by some tank trap stuff.

 

[id_jon]

All standing kraft drill today. 4 each from: clipped into tripod, gitlite game changer on a fencepost, and same gamechanger on tripod. Feel pretty good about it except for the one, that was somewhere in the middle, cant remember if it was fencepost or tripod, but it was on the bag. I very consistently hit left of my poa from standing, anyone have any ideas on that?

 

[Lawnboi]

All standing kraft drill today. 4 each from: clipped into tripod, gitlite game changer on a fencepost, and same gamechanger on tripod. Feel pretty good about it except for the one, that was somewhere in the middle, cant remember if it was fencepost or tripod, but it was on the bag. I very consistently hit left of my poa from standing, anyone have any ideas on that?
View attachment 411137

I can’t help all that much with the shooter side of it but if your shooting the factory stock, and it’s a 223 (meaning low recoil in this case) I’d question that along with my own performance. I had some problems with the factory stock especially when I started putting pressure on things.

 

[id_jon]

I can’t help all that much with the shooter side of it but if your shooting the factory stock, and it’s a 223 (meaning low recoil in this case) I’d question that along with my own performance. I had some problems with the factory stock especially when I started putting pressure on things.

Its a bergara b14 hmr in 6 creedmoor. So fairly low recoil. The stock is a mini chassis, it's pretty rigid.

 

[Lawnboi]

Its a bergara b14 hmr in 6 creedmoor. So fairly low recoil. The stock is a mini chassis, it's pretty rigid.

Wish I could help, I’m definitely no shooting coach. Seated and kneeling okay?

 

[id_jon]

Wish I could help, I’m definitely no shooting coach. Seated and kneeling okay?

More okay than standing anyway. I'll have to shoot a full drill again before thinking too much about it, its been a while.

 

[Lawnboi]

I loathe doing load development and often rely on known loads and bullets that make it easy, but 75eldm have been a pain lately. I got a bunch, and they are not too expensive, so they warranted some work.

Old 75eldm load that was right on the lands didn’t work with new brass some couple thousand rounds later on the barrel. Back to the drawing board, did a nice wide seating depth test, from .010 to .100 off, which was too compressed to even warrant a test, see dented bullets from seating!

I’d say the test was a success.

 

[evergreenethos]

Last weekend I took a long range shooting class. It was great, I learned a lot, re-learned a lot, and unlearned some bad habits I had picked up. I was able to use one of the instructor’s Lab Radar to get some great velocity readings on my new 7 SAUM. Got my BA data all dialed in and with good wind calls (not mine, I have a lot of room for improvement there still) I was able to take it out to 1000 very consistently, furthest I’ve ever shot! I wasn’t able to try the 1300 yard target because it was hidden behind fog all day, but I’ll go back and try again later this month. Overall it was a great confidence booster and I sure am happy with this new rifle.

 

[Lawnboi]

Last weekend I took a long range shooting class. It was great, I learned a lot, re-learned a lot, and unlearned some bad habits I had picked up. I was able to use one of the instructor’s Lab Radar to get some great velocity readings on my new 7 SAUM. Got my BA data all dialed in and with good wind calls (not mine, I have a lot of room for improvement there still) I was able to take it out to 1000 very consistently, furthest I’ve ever shot! I wasn’t able to try the 1300 yard target because it was hidden behind fog all day, but I’ll go back and try again later this month. Overall it was a great confidence booster and I sure am happy with this new rifle.

Looks like a nice day to be shooting!


Unrelated note, I’m still waiting UL rifle Kraft drill results.

 

[woods89]

Shot a slow fire Kraft drill with the rifle I do 90% of my big game hunting with.

Rem M7 action, B&C stock, 22" Hawk Hill
Nightforce SHV 3-10x42
6.5 Creedmoor
Handloaded 140 gr Hornady BTHP at about 2730 fps or so.
Rifle weighs right around 10 lbs.

1-standing off Sirui tripod with Pint size gamechanger on top.
2-kneeling, same tripod as above.
3-seated, off pack.
4-prone off pack, with PS Gamechanger rear support.

This one gives me some things to work on. I've been shooting my 223 for the last little while so I felt a little rusty on this rifle. Zero should have also moved 1 MOA left, zero was still from another load. Standing and kneeling off these lightweight tripods are tough. I did ok on standing, but it took awhile, and then kind of fell apart kneeling. Seated wasn't pretty either. All three prone shots went into a cloverleaf, but that's not a lot of consolation.

These drills definitely don't flatter you if you aren't on your game.

 

[Lawnboi]

View attachment 413309View attachment 413305
Shot a slow fire Kraft drill with the rifle I do 90% of my big game hunting with.

Rem M7 action, B&C stock, 22" Hawk Hill
Nightforce SHV 3-10x42
6.5 Creedmoor
Handloaded 140 gr Hornady BTHP at about 2730 fps or so.
Rifle weighs right around 10 lbs.

1-standing off Sirui tripod with Pint size gamechanger on top.
2-kneeling, same tripod as above.
3-seated, off pack.
4-prone off pack, with PS Gamechanger rear support.

This one gives me some things to work on. I've been shooting my 223 for the last little while so I felt a little rusty on this rifle. Zero should have also moved 1 MOA left, zero was still from another load. Standing and kneeling off these lightweight tripods are tough. I did ok on standing, but it took awhile, and then kind of fell apart kneeling. Seated wasn't pretty either. All three prone shots went into a cloverleaf, but that's not a lot of consolation.

These drills definitely don't flatter you if you aren't on your game.

Paper dosnt lie!

Best way to test new gear as well.

Guys talk like shooting off a lightweight tripod is really easy. They take some serious discipline

 

[woods89]

Paper dosnt lie!

Best way to test new gear as well.

Guys talk like shooting off a lightweight tripod is really easy. They take some serious discipline

Yeah, for sure.

I wanted to know what I could expect out of this tripod, although I didn't buy it for shooting. It's great for glassing, but not a great option to shoot off, especially up off the ground.

If at all possible, I want to be down shooting off my pack in the field. After shooting these drills that feels like cheating.

 

[Lawnboi]

A poor Kraft drill, followed by some 400 yard standing and kneeling. 6” plate about disappearing in mirage.

 

[tak]

Long distance Kraft drills,
I like it!

 

[tak]

Can anyone post what Form's drill is?

I've seen it referenced, and I searched, but can't exactly find what it is.

 

[Redside]

Can anyone post what Form's drill is?

I've seen it referenced, and I searched, but can't exactly find what it is.

Equipment versus practice posts and Rifle practice/shooting

This isn’t in response to anyone I particular, but there is an up tick in the amount of “I want a XXXX distance hunting rifle” traffic the last few months. I am getting a lot of questions relating to this, which I do not mind helping, but thought a public post might help answer some questions...

www.rokslide.com

 

[Lawnboi]

Some match rifle training today. Swapped primers, 205s gave me some primer flow I never saw with 450s/br4, so I abandoned them for 450s. Shot a Kraft drill and adjusted zero. I’m going to shoot Kraft drills on the positional target on one spot rather than the big one, 4 drills per paper!

After that I did some timed drills with the shot timer, 6” plate at 400 yards. Spanked that for a while and called it a day.

Need to work on more speed, and faster target acquisition. I also wonder if a scope that resolves better would help on grey targets, most of the time we are shooting them there isn’t paint on them and they nearly disappear.

Going to bring out the 4 incher next time as well.

@TK-421 I need to shoot some longer range Kraft drills.

 

[Lawnboi]

Once you’re shooting fairly tight groups at 100 yards, I think it only makes sense to push out a little further to get a better idea of what you still need to work on.

In terms of optics, people don’t know what they don’t know. Until you regularly compare, side by side, in varying conditions, you might not appreciate owning “alpha” optics. I know from experience, I’ve shot targets that I could clearly resolve and find fast with one optic and was guessing the location of with another optic (one of the Rokslide darlings…). Better is better.

I’ll have to give one a go at 300 next time.

As far as optics go, and everything else, I don’t know what I don’t know is right. After last year I planned on getting a big atacr but ended up with the nx8 trying to save a bit, now that ship has sailed being that I can only order a scope a year at discount. While I can’t jump to say a zero compromise that I’d like to try, I might be able to get an atacr by the end of the year if I keep saving. But then I’d sure like a stouter tripod, ultra 9 6.5, a 42mm atacr, and a 6mm setup.

I’d say depth of field is not super important when hunting, atleast from what Iv seen. But resolving a 6” plate at 600 yards in the shadows without any paint on it is a pain in the ass. I don’t think anything’s going to make it easy, but I can say the nx8 was a big step up from the athlon I used my first few matches. Wondering your opinion on better glass in this regard.