Range Report My first time ever shooting a bolt gun PICS ADDED

[jeremiahak]

Well, some of you may remember my original build thread from Febuary. I'm one of those silly guys who buys a decent rifle, and then bolts all of the "cool" stuff to it before he even heads to the range. You know the type of guy that the old timers on here shake there head at (and rightly so).

I finally made it to the range with my rifle so I thought I should post up a quick report for anybody that was wondering what happened to me.

I have a Remington 700 SPS Varmint in a Mcmillan A5 with a Badger DBM and bolt knob. I had the stock glass bedded and the trigger tuned to 2.5 pounds, and I have a Super Sniper 10X42M.

I have never shot a bolt gun in my life (including this one). Today at the range I was shooting 175 grain Federal GMM at 100 yards. My third and final 5 shot string I shot 3/4 MOA. I was shooting with a Harris 6-9 bi pod off of a bench seated.

I'm very happy with these results, and I'm now more excited then ever to try and learn this incredible hobby of all of yours. I signed up for the online training course a couple weeks ago, and I'm going to be going through the drills over and over until I have a good handle on the basics. Thank you to Snipershide for providing such a great amount of information to the average joe's out there, and thanks to everyone who chimed in on my first couple threads with guidance. I really appreciate this place and all of the knowledge that its members freely doll out.

Here is a link to my original "build" thread.

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...7125#Post997125

I will post some pics of my target for you guys tomorrow.


JP

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: My first time ever shooting a bolt gun

Without claiming any credit, I'm very preased that you have achieved good performance so early on. It portends well for your future performance.

My thoughts would be now that you have everything working so well, it would benefit you to preserve that performance.

I recommend a reasonably priced, reliable .22LR bolt gun and decent economy scope to use as a trainer.

When posed with the choice between doing the repetitive training that accompanies marksmanship maintenance and improvement; I believe it makes sense to do that part of the regimen with the .22LR, which is economical, has more modest needs regarding available shooting distances, and is inherently accurate from the cartridge on up.

If a .22LR won't shoot 1MOA or better to 50yd; something's wrong with it, and often it's just something as simple as the ammo selection.

Unlike the centerfire rifle, it's pretty hard to shoot a .22LR to death, and cleaning requirements are truly minimal.

Worth consideration...

Greg

 

[jeremiahak]

Re: My first time ever shooting a bolt gun

That is a great suggestion. I've been looking for a Sako Quad here in my home town, and I've been wildly unsuccessful. I may have to try and order one from internet land. I think I really need to spend a lot of time behind my rifle without ammunition too. The dry fire drills that are part of the "online training" will help me a ton if I ever get the motivation to actually do them.

The funny thing is that I called my brother to let him know how well it shot, and he said "If I spent over $3,000 on a rifle, and thats all the better it shot I'd be pissed." Leave it up to the closest people in your life to be negative I guess.


JP

 

[Hasgun Willtravel]

Re: My first time ever shooting a bolt gun

And so it begins. Welcome to the fraternity. Shoot, shoot alot, then start with the matches. Maybe a little hard in the last frontier, but do what you can, you will not regret it.

Continue to challenge yourself. YOu will be amazed at what you can and will accomplish.

Congrats.

 

[jeremiahak]

Re: My first time ever shooting a bolt gun

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. Shooting is something that is in my blood. My grandfather was a decorated marksman in WWII. He fought mostly in the pacific, and he took four bullets for what our country once was. He started the local black powder club here in Fairbanks. I wish that he was around a bit longer so I could have absorbed some of his ability. I'm going to read read read here and elsewhere, take my training courses like a good little wannabee, and shoot the hell out of my rifle. Then hopefully one day I'll get to meet some of you guys at a match.



JP

 

[omurnion]

Re: My first time ever shooting a bolt gun

3/4 MOA on a new rifle with a new shooter is nothing to be pissed about in my mind, I smell some serious potential in the rifle and your ability. Proper rifle cleaning habits, good reloads, and trigger time should shrink those groups considerably. Good luck and welcome to an expensive addiction!

 

[jeremiahak]

Re: My first time ever shooting a bolt gun

Here is a picture of the rifle in question

And here is the 5 shot group with my finger as a reference

I also would like to clarify that this was not my first time ever shooting, but it was my first time shooting a bolt gun. I have lots of time behind pistols and AR's. Which BTW, neither is nearly as fun as this thing is.


JP

 

[Former0302]

Re: My first time ever shooting a bolt gun

Nice rifle! I'm fairly new to the precision bolt addiction too. Best piece of advice I could give you've already taken...joining the on line training.

I just joined it, and the instruction is phenominal for on line. If you can, find someone who can give you some 1:1 feedback on how you're applying those lessons (or video tape yourself and do your own analysis).

Be careful...it's a slippery slope. Next step is reloading...

 

[jeremiahak]

Re: My first time ever shooting a bolt gun

Yeah, I already have a ton of reloading components for .308, 5.56, and my various pistol calibers. Now I just have to buy the set up to actual reload with them. I've been buying powder and stuff for about a year now. I need a good spotting scope, and a chrono too. This is going to be an expensive ride.



JP

 

[justinbaker]

Re: My first time ever shooting a bolt gun

sorry to hijack your thread, but since today was my first time shooting a precision rifle as well, i thought the title fit

it was a 22-250 with bulk 55 gr hornady fmj bt over 32.5 gr 2230

while most of the groups were terrible 1.5 to 2 inches

i somehow got really lucky and got this one

its enough to get me hooked!

 

[jeremiahak]

Re: My first time ever shooting a bolt gun

Great group man!!! Feel free to hijack this thread. How long have you had your rifle? What position were you shooting in? What kind of rifle?


JP

 

[45.308]

Re: My first time ever shooting a bolt gun

Since your first post asking about who, I have heard nothing but superbness about Steve's work. But, but its been a bit more than your posted time frame from him?

Coming south? Or hopefully if things work out, we can meet half way around Cantwell for some trigger time. A couple guys in the Anchortown area all plan to meet and greet, and actuate triggers as soon as we work out the details.

Nice shooting too with a superb looking stick.

 

[justinbaker]

Re: My first time ever shooting a bolt gun

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jeremiahak</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Great group man!!! Feel free to hijack this thread. How long have you had your rifle? What position were you shooting in? What kind of rifle?


JP </div></div>

well i kind of just fell into the whole precision game, when i traded some golf clubs for this rifle back in december.

But was just now able to get a scope on it and shoot it.

the guy i got it from put a farrell base on it, and the choate stock

the scope is an old weaver kt10 (fixed 10 power) and some wally world $10 rings

will be upgrading the rings and scope soon i hope

i was shooting with the bipod and rear bag from the bench

and my other groups were not as bad as i had thought after i got out the calipers, they were still under an inch when you subtract the caliber

hopefully sometime this weekend ill get out to 200-300 yards and see what i can do

 

[TCA4570]

Re: My first time ever shooting a bolt gun

Justin missed the center, and the nickle!
It portends well for your future performance.
Thanks Greg.

 

[jeremiahak]

Re: My first time ever shooting a bolt gun

45/.308,

Steve got the rifle back to me very quickly. I've just been to busy/lazy to go shoot until now. If you guys do a meet and greet send me some info on it, and I may decide to take a drive down.


JP