What did you do at the range today?

[NorthIdahoDude]

Ohhhh, yeah, dawg!!!! Now we're getting somewhere.

5 rounds at the backyard range of my semi-shaky bench. Shooting off this setup, my groups usual run around 1/4 ish MOA bigger than what I can do off of an actually stable bench at a Real Range(tm), but pretty close to what I can do prone with a backpack rest and a jacket under the butt or similar extra-stable field positions.

This is IMR 4831, CCI LR primers, 175 ELD-X, in Norma brass, clocking just shy of 2600 FPS. That load there at my elevation, is clocking north of 2,000 FPS out 500 yards, which is my "farthest I can ever imagine I'd actually huck lead at yee olde critter", and more than enough jam to flatten anything that walks the woods in North Idaho. Also super-good chance that N555 will keep the same or almost as good accuracy and ramp that up into the mid to high 2600-something FPS range in my 25 inch barrel.

I know, I know, I need a bigger sample size, but this definitely looks like the right track.

View attachment 1058983

Well, s**t... that was disappointing... I think I've still got some kind of bedding and/or scope issue going on with the Interarms Mark X. 3 groups of 5 shot. First round, high and left about 1 to 1.5 inches, next 4 into a .9 MOA group. F Me.... put gun down, barrel cool, later shot 2nd group of 5 ... first shot high and left about 1 to 1.5 inches, next 4 into a 1 MOA group... double F me... put gun down and let cool... attach chronograph, at least we can get some velocity data... 1st round high about 1.5 inches... rest lower, also moved to the right a bit (I think that' was the magnetospeed strapped to the barrel doing that). ES was amazing 261x FPS for all rounds.

Other test was my 30-06 with a new Shilen alter nut barrel. It showed some pretty good promise with 150 Accubond's and Varget, albeit at lower velocity than I wantd, so I reset to try with R16. Velocity was better, but accuracy was pretty awful. Back to the drawing board there also.

I'm going to have to take my Tikka 7x57 next range trip just to remind myself I can shoot straight. :/

 

[43.6N]

My younger brother was notified this week to pack his bags for some “out of town” work for Uncle Sam. He told us not to expect him back in time for hunting season. So we had an all hands send off for him today.

Ran handgun drills, and unknown yardage field rifle drills all day.

Of course we kept score. And of course there was a trophy. And of course we let him win. Good times

 

[sierracharlie338]

My younger brother was notified this week to pack his bags for some “out of town” work for Uncle Sam. He told us not to expect him back in time for hunting season. So we had an all hands send off for him today.

Ran handgun drills, and unknown yardage field rifle drills all day.

Of course we kept score. And of course there was a trophy. And of course we let him win. Good times View attachment 1062011

Good shit. Prayers for his safe return from doing work.

 

[Chris in TN]

Broke the plastic bolt shroud on the 595 223 the other day. Action would open but not cycle so I closed it back and dry fired it again and that apparently cleared the broken sliver enough to allow it to cycle, at which point the shroud fell out. I guess 30 years is a good run for a piece of plastic. I was able to confirm that the shroud off a T3x fits perfectly (read: I stole the shroud off the T3X) so I just ordered a used T3X shroud on eBay to fix the problem.

Shot the .22lr sitting a bit. I'm experimenting with a couple of questions - first, do I *have to* collapse the trek poles to make them work. On dry ground, yes, if I try to make them work at the shallow angle of extended poles they slide. On a grass sod or in wet ground they work well enough extended and that shaves time. Second, at what range and under what conditions is a front-rest-only good enough, then at what ranges is a single-point (one stick) rear rest enough (in conjunction with elbows on knees and knees supported by feet with legs crossed), then at what point is it best to take the extra time to make the rear two-stick cradle. I have some ideas but they are going to be shooter-specific so the rest of the summer I'll be trying to get both girls to the point where they can have an idea of what position they need, as soon as they see the target, and we can work together to get them into that position, which whatever level of rear support is needed, as fast as possible. I'm also going to start working with them on using a backpack for a rear rest - I don't anticipate either of them toting a full pack while hunting (which is why we aren't focused on shooting off a pack - can't use it as a rest if it's back in camp) but I want them to be able to, upon spotting a target, assess the options at hand and get a round in the air quickly.