In between lulls in the shooters waiting to shoot I dug an old project out I'd experimented with a few years ago. After hearing a buddy telling a couple of other competitors about it I dug deep into the vault and retrieved it. I had only shot the old Wolf Target in it but it shot amazing well. I kept adding to it as I kept wanting to see how far I could get it to shoot and how accurately way out there. I can't remember now but I do think I was able to get hits at 500 yards but 400 was much more predictible and 350 being really easy.
I had never tried any high end ammo in it but had some Lapua SLR range and tweaked it a bit to get a good 50 yard zero. A buddy that had never seen it before but is a very good shooter was offered the chance to try it out. His first shot was barely off center of the .200 hole in the sighter plate at 50 yard, his next shot perfectly centered it and squeezed part thru. He moved over and shot the last 3 little targets on the humbler rack at 50 yards. They were 3/8", 5/16" and 1/4". Good hits and not barely nicking them. It only holds 5 shots so he reloaded and I had him swing over to the "split the bullet" rack at 50 yards. His first shot went just barely left of the edge, next shot barely right and the 3rd shot split it cleanly. Picture below on that one.
Later on Sunday after most shooters left I loaded 5 in the chamber and dialed 23 minutes and asked Chris to spot the 10" plate at 197 yards. Figured I'd be on the plate but not sure where. Still a little bit of breeze but barely moving the flag tape. Pretty good hit, second shot a tiny bit right of that one but still perfect elevation. The next 3 piled into the group on the right but still nearly perfect elevation. I doubt the total verticle spread is 1 1/2" but closer to probably 1". Could not believe it but it really likes the Lapua SLR.
It has the match chamber and has to have each round seated with a rod, you just can't push hard enough to get them seated to turn the cylinder using your fingers. OH, guess I didn't mention this was a 10" Freedom Arms model 83 silhouette 22lr revolver in a cobbed together contraption that lets me use a bipod on the front and a monopod on the rear. I know, stand on your hind legs and shoot it like a man,this was built for seeing what its capabilities are.
I'm going to check zero one more time but am planning on shooting it at the next longrange match which ends at 250 yards. No idea how it'll do but I'm guessing it won't be in last place. I've spotted nearly 5000 rounds go downrange each month at my matches for many years now and also at the other longrange matches and I'm still firmly convinced a decent gun using high end ammo it likes can be as competitive for these longrange matches as Vudoos, RIm-Xs and the countless customs and better target guns out there. My Son occasionally uses a Savage MK II with Lapua SLR or RWS R-50 and it'll compete with any of the guns at any of the matches. Just sharing this to show you don't have to spend top dollar to go enjoy matches and be competitive.
You can believe what I've said or not, I didn't post this for bragging since we're no better than any of the other shooters in our area but to share some findings. I have no reason to stretch the truth or lie, been plenty of witnesses to verify the results. I held off for years shooting midrange ammo and still do but there is without a doubt a major difference stepping up to the top shelf stuff. I had one competitor this weekend shooting Tac-22 saying it did OK but all he could find quickly for my match. I set the Garmin Chrono up so he could see what his ammo was doing, he was amazed the variation and at each shot he could glance over and see if it was low, high or on the target and see the velocity. Nearly 80fps variation compared to maybe 10 to 12 with the Lapua SLR. It's not as noticible close up but stretching it out on smaller targets and seeing the results will make you a believer.
OK, some pictures of my contraption, first 3 are Bill Moran shooting the little humbler and splitting the bullet on the axe than my 5 shots at 197 yards.
I had never tried any high end ammo in it but had some Lapua SLR range and tweaked it a bit to get a good 50 yard zero. A buddy that had never seen it before but is a very good shooter was offered the chance to try it out. His first shot was barely off center of the .200 hole in the sighter plate at 50 yard, his next shot perfectly centered it and squeezed part thru. He moved over and shot the last 3 little targets on the humbler rack at 50 yards. They were 3/8", 5/16" and 1/4". Good hits and not barely nicking them. It only holds 5 shots so he reloaded and I had him swing over to the "split the bullet" rack at 50 yards. His first shot went just barely left of the edge, next shot barely right and the 3rd shot split it cleanly. Picture below on that one.
Later on Sunday after most shooters left I loaded 5 in the chamber and dialed 23 minutes and asked Chris to spot the 10" plate at 197 yards. Figured I'd be on the plate but not sure where. Still a little bit of breeze but barely moving the flag tape. Pretty good hit, second shot a tiny bit right of that one but still perfect elevation. The next 3 piled into the group on the right but still nearly perfect elevation. I doubt the total verticle spread is 1 1/2" but closer to probably 1". Could not believe it but it really likes the Lapua SLR.
It has the match chamber and has to have each round seated with a rod, you just can't push hard enough to get them seated to turn the cylinder using your fingers. OH, guess I didn't mention this was a 10" Freedom Arms model 83 silhouette 22lr revolver in a cobbed together contraption that lets me use a bipod on the front and a monopod on the rear. I know, stand on your hind legs and shoot it like a man,this was built for seeing what its capabilities are.
I'm going to check zero one more time but am planning on shooting it at the next longrange match which ends at 250 yards. No idea how it'll do but I'm guessing it won't be in last place. I've spotted nearly 5000 rounds go downrange each month at my matches for many years now and also at the other longrange matches and I'm still firmly convinced a decent gun using high end ammo it likes can be as competitive for these longrange matches as Vudoos, RIm-Xs and the countless customs and better target guns out there. My Son occasionally uses a Savage MK II with Lapua SLR or RWS R-50 and it'll compete with any of the guns at any of the matches. Just sharing this to show you don't have to spend top dollar to go enjoy matches and be competitive.
You can believe what I've said or not, I didn't post this for bragging since we're no better than any of the other shooters in our area but to share some findings. I have no reason to stretch the truth or lie, been plenty of witnesses to verify the results. I held off for years shooting midrange ammo and still do but there is without a doubt a major difference stepping up to the top shelf stuff. I had one competitor this weekend shooting Tac-22 saying it did OK but all he could find quickly for my match. I set the Garmin Chrono up so he could see what his ammo was doing, he was amazed the variation and at each shot he could glance over and see if it was low, high or on the target and see the velocity. Nearly 80fps variation compared to maybe 10 to 12 with the Lapua SLR. It's not as noticible close up but stretching it out on smaller targets and seeing the results will make you a believer.
OK, some pictures of my contraption, first 3 are Bill Moran shooting the little humbler and splitting the bullet on the axe than my 5 shots at 197 yards.
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