Without people chasing gear this website would be an empty shell in a lot of ways, fortunately, we all chase gear so I have nothing to worry about.
Light is Right !
In more ways than not, Light is Right. In terms of color and camouflage, light is better. I mean, who wants to carry a heavy pack, we'd all like a little less weight on our shoulders. When it comes to bullets, light is right too.
I know I am gonna sound like a broken record, but reality demands I report my findings to you guys. So in the spirit of knowledge transfer here we go...
Light wins,
To prove my Point I am gonna focus on Chris Robert's Rifle here in this picture
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That ^^^^ My Friends is a brand new 224 Valkyrie. Now ask yourself, who in 2022 is dumb enough to build a Valkyrie ? I fully admit that when I my Daughter's kids grow up, there probably wont be a 224V on the shelf. If there is, it's will some bargain bin, 75gr American Eagle leftover that nobody wants but the nostalgic.
I mean, I just showed you a custom made 224V/6.8 bolt head I have for an Accuracy International. Why on Earth would I waste my time on custom 224V build for an AI rifle - Dumb.
But this weekend, I again saw excellence....
I saw Chris take a shooter who was excited to shoot a target at 264 yards get a 1st round hit at 1200... 1200 yards, with this rifle.
Speed wins, Speed Kills, Speed is our friend... What is the best way to get speed, reduce the weight of the bullet, and it doesn't have to be a lot in the context of our shooting.
We are talking, we are comparing notes, we even spoke to people like Federal trying "relaunch" the Valkyrie with a new understanding of the round and our success in a bolt action rifle. None of the struggles and all of the hype, seriously. Won't happen, but it's fun to talk.
Even the bad ammo, works in our bolt guns.
So what does all this mean.... Absolutely nothing.
it means we are having fun, having success with a dead cartridge, but the caliber is alive and well which is all we need. Pushing a .22 caliber bullet at 2750fps to 2900fps lets us play around on the cheap. This stuff costs nothing to try.... if we can finesse, fine tune, enable a neat little pet load that works for the group... boom. Maybe it's an 80gr load, maybe it's 85.5gr, 90gr, we don't know where it takes us.
We hear about guys doing a little Mexican match, take the 75gr American Eagle at $8 a box, pull the bullet, drop in a 77gr SMK, oh wait, what is that... how about trying this with the bad 90s... drop in an 85.5 with the same BC. If you get that bullet to 2800fps, drop to 1k is a 6.5CM or better...
I know, waste of time, telling stories nobody wants to repeat.
Light rifle, around 10LBS shooting a light caliber, light modular pack, rapid engagements and movement, accuracy, no recoil, no heat, longer barrel life, what is not to like ...
We tend to go too heavy, the 6.5s work better under 140 grains, the 338 under 290grain, even the move from 230 to 225, or even 215gr, we see improvements. As you think about the upcoming shooting season, drop about 6 -10grs off your bullet weight and see what happens.
Indulge me,
If you handload, try this, instead of a 140 class of bullet, go 136gr to 123gr and see what you think be curious. Some of you non Competitor types who reload and plink alot, run the numbers, create the loads and try it. Give us some numbers.
Things that make you go... HMMM