First let me say I am not even in the same class as most guys on this forum when it comes to skill and experience with rifles. I shot competitive shotguns for years and shot varmints and hunted deer for decades in West Texas where long shots are common, but I never did any match shooting and never had a precision rifle until I bought the GAP Crusader a couple weeks ago.
I took the Crusader to the range yesterday for the first time. I went through the barrel break-in instructions that came with the gun (I know the debate but I used a bore guide and figured for what this gun cost I'd follow George's advice). It took forever but it gave me a chance to sight in the scope. I was using some military ball ammo for that because it was cheap and I had plenty, but I wasn't impressed with the accuracy of the gun at that point.
Then I broke out a box of FGMM 168 SMK and tried some basic 3-shot groups. The POI was different with the new ammo so after the first target (upper left), I adjusted the scope. I pulled the next to last shot because of poor technique, but I am really impressed with this gun. And this was in a 10-20mph gusting cross-wind. 120 yards using a Sinclair rest up front and a squeeze bag at the rear. It was getting too hot out to try longer distances yesterday, but I'll get there as soon as I can.
It might be hard to get much improvement over the FGMM, but I'll start working up loads once it cools off down here. If nothing else, the practice will help my technique. I'm already wishing I had ordered a brake of some sort on the muzzle. As heavy as the gun is, it was still jumping around pretty good on me. Any technique advice to counter that?
I took the Crusader to the range yesterday for the first time. I went through the barrel break-in instructions that came with the gun (I know the debate but I used a bore guide and figured for what this gun cost I'd follow George's advice). It took forever but it gave me a chance to sight in the scope. I was using some military ball ammo for that because it was cheap and I had plenty, but I wasn't impressed with the accuracy of the gun at that point.
Then I broke out a box of FGMM 168 SMK and tried some basic 3-shot groups. The POI was different with the new ammo so after the first target (upper left), I adjusted the scope. I pulled the next to last shot because of poor technique, but I am really impressed with this gun. And this was in a 10-20mph gusting cross-wind. 120 yards using a Sinclair rest up front and a squeeze bag at the rear. It was getting too hot out to try longer distances yesterday, but I'll get there as soon as I can.
It might be hard to get much improvement over the FGMM, but I'll start working up loads once it cools off down here. If nothing else, the practice will help my technique. I'm already wishing I had ordered a brake of some sort on the muzzle. As heavy as the gun is, it was still jumping around pretty good on me. Any technique advice to counter that?
