SH 50 Yard Tactical Competition Thoughts

[JoeMartin]

Looks like I have a decent day to go shoot this new (to me) addition to our monthly comps. I just finished running some copies of the tactical target, and I'm very impressed with this target. I like the whole idea around this tactical competition.

One thing that stands out to me is this target being scaled for our 50 yard use - I can use some of my high velocity ammo and save my standard & subsonic ammo for 100 yards and beyond.

This whole idea of a tactical target for a monthly competition was a great idea you guys came up with! I can hardly wait for the sun to come so I can go shoot this target. I've been waiting all week for today!

 

[JoeMartin]

Re: SH 50 Yard Tactical Competition Thoughts

Took the Marlin 925 w/6-24x42 scoped rifle out this morning and shot two practice SH tactical targets from the prone position w/bipod. Talk about a humbling experience...

The score on my 1st practice target was 85... I did singe a couple hostages (one in the ear area and the other on the shoulder - but they would have been ok...) I even cleaned Stage 4 before I singed the the hostages...

On the second practice target I scored a lowly 55 points. I got a big fat zero on Stage 1 and 4, a +25 on Stage 2, and a -20 on Stage 3. On Stage 5 I carried a +50 this time as I got all three bad guys cleanly...

This is a fun target, I really like it. I'm no good at it, but I like it... lol!!!

I'll practice up a bit more to get comfortable with this target before shooting it for record.

I'm not so sure the Marlin 925 is the rifle to use for this but I'm getting a bit stubborn with it I guess,,, almost to the point of it's me or it, and "it" is winning right now...

 

[SmallBoreSnipers]

Re: SH 50 Yard Tactical Competition Thoughts

Glad to hear you like it Joe. We spent a good amount of time on it making sure there would be some fun for everyone while still being pretty competitive. So far it seems to be a big hit!

 

[Erik.300ultra]

Re: SH 50 Yard Tactical Competition Thoughts

Last month (my first time), I printed off one 50y tactical target, tried my best and posted the results. A few days later, I tried my hand two more times. I could tell there was a bit of beginners luck involved the first time around. My other two targets are ugly. 10p for S1, 30-35 for S2, 30-40 for S3, a big fat 0 for S4 (stupid 30p dot!) and 10-20 for S5 (heavy collateral damage to the hostages.)

I cleaned my 10/22 good, that hasn't been done since summer '09, and I am going to re-season it tomorrow and try the TQ-4 target. I'll hopefully try October's 50y Tactical target next weekend.

Happy shooting!

 

[kansas45]

Re: SH 50 Yard Tactical Competition Thoughts

You're right Joe. It's harder than it looks. I've been at the shop working on my old John Deere restoration project most of the day. Now I'm headed back to the farm to tune on my MKII TRR
a little. I installed a new Rifle Basics trigger last week after 30 - 35 rounds it started firing when I closed the bolt. Did a little trigger adjustment this week & I'm ready to go try it again. If everything is good to go, I'll head out in the morning & shoot the 50 yd target. This will allow me a true cold bore shot. Of course, if need be, I'll use the trusty MKII FV again.

 

[JoeMartin]

Re: SH 50 Yard Tactical Competition Thoughts

I was just looking at Stage 3 of the two targets I shot this morning and I really screwed up. I shot 10 shot at the circle on each target when I should have shot only 5... So,,, this will put a dent in my practice target scores. Target #1 - +45 points, Target #2 - +25 points.....

It's still fun!

 

[kansas45]

Re: SH 50 Yard Tactical Competition Thoughts

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kansas45</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You're right Joe. It's harder than it looks. I've been at the shop working on my old John Deere restoration project most of the day. Now I'm headed back to the farm to tune on my MKII TRR
a little. I installed a new Rifle Basics trigger last week after 30 - 35 rounds it started firing when I closed the bolt. Did a little trigger adjustment this week & I'm ready to go try it again. If everything is good to go, I'll head out in the morning & shoot the 50 yd target. This will allow me a true cold bore shot. Of course, if need be, I'll use the trusty MKII FV again.

</div></div>

OK! The new trigger worked good & the TRR is getting better. Must be close to being broken in now.
But now I have another problem. I stoped by the local gun shop on the way to the farm & ordered a Savage MKII TR .17 HMR. It will be two weeks before I pick it up though. I din't have time to stop by during business hours on weekdays & they will be closed next Saturday. That's not the real problem though, I need to decide on ammo. Powder Valley has Hornaday 20 gr HP/XTP & 17 gr V MAX on hand. It's just a 20 min drive to their door from here & I need to pick up some other stuff while I'm there.
Suggestions are welcome. SBS, I know that you are pretty high on the 17 HMR. What do you think?

 

[SmallBoreSnipers]

Re: SH 50 Yard Tactical Competition Thoughts

^ Damn I want that TRR in .17. The Rifle Basix triggers are sweet. I've had one in my Marlin for about a couple years now. Had to trim the sear a tiny bit, but overall I love that thing. Just make sure you don't go so light it fires when you close the bolt too fast!

I've actually never used the 20 gr. I've heard it's better if you're shooting at 200 or hunting, but I couldn't really say. I've found that my rifle likes any 17 gr. vmax ammo except the CCI. However, it loves the 17 gr. CCI TNT hollow points. The vmax ammo it liked the best was the winchester.

 

[kansas45]

Re: SH 50 Yard Tactical Competition Thoughts

Thanks SmallBoreSniper! I am going to order a 20 MOA rail & another Rifle Basix trigger for the new .17. Not sure about the scope yet, but I think I'll start with my Wonders Optics 4-14x44.

 

[JoeMartin]

Re: SH 50 Yard Tactical Competition Thoughts

Well I made a rookie mistake this past Thursday night when I installed the Tasco 6-24x42 scope on my Marlin 925.

I never checked it (like I was going to before going to the Range yesterday) to see if I had it "square centered" on the top of the reciever, and I never tightened the screws beyond just snug enough to hold everything place before final fitting of the scope. No wonder I shot like crap yesterday - having trouble picking up a clear sight picture through the scope's lens.

I corrected the error this morning over coffee as I noticed that the scope just didn't look right setting on this rifle. I know better then this, yet I completely forgot to finish the scope mounting job correctly.

Now since it's done (correctly) all looks well and I'm getting a consistant sight picture without the scope optics mirroring and blanking in and out on me when I aim. Now I look through the scope and the sight picture is correct without any of the mirroring and blanking out effect. My memory ain't what it use to be...

I really thought it was my light yesterday causing the trouble,,, or that I just simply got a bad scope...

I should now get better results on the tactical target once I get re'zeroed. I should of knew something wasn't right yesterday as when I zeroed I had to bring the scope adjustment way (and I do mean) way right - so much that I didn't even count the turret clicks. That's because my scope was crooked on the reciever as I did not do my part and finish the job correctly last Thursday night.

Ok, I'll quit kicking myself and have another go at it today. There's always hope I'm not a complete idiot...

 

[JoeMartin]

Re: SH 50 Yard Tactical Competition Thoughts

Ok, got to the Range this 'mid morning' and after re'zeroing the Marlin 925 for 50 yards (all is well once again since I fitted the scope correctly), I shot 3 of the SH Tactical Targets from the bench.

Target #1
Stage 1 - 0
Stage 2 - 30
Stage 3 - 30
Stage 4 - 35
Stage 5 - 30
Total - 125

Target #2
Stage 1 - 0
Stage 2 - 30
Stage 3 - 10
Stage 4 - 35
Stage 5 - 10 (I drilled the last hostage)
Total - 85

Target #3
Stage 1 - 0
Stage 2 - 30
Stage 3 - 10
Stage 4 - 35
Stage 5 - 40
Total - 115

Conclusion:

While this Marlin 925 with its 6-24x42 Tasco Mil-Dot scope should make a good setup dedicated to the 100 yard Sniper's Hide Competitions, it's not a good tactical setup for me - falling short mainly with the trigger pull and the cheek weld I get with this particular stock.

The Savage MKII FVT with the same scope setup should do much better with this SH Tactical Target, mainly because of the Accu-Trigger, and the cheek weld I am use to getting from this factory stock it carries. Many do not like this stock, but it fits me better then the Marlin's Monte-Carlo setup. And I also feel that the Savage has the better barrel by far. I'm not knocking Marlin, I like Marlin rifles - it's just not for this particular competition IMHO, least ways for me.