Until yesterday I had never been to a range that had a target past 100 yards. I have been reading and learning from the internet for years but there isn't a range within an hour of me that has the space and I don't know anyone personally that shoots anything past 100 so no one to ride along with, get me motivated, etc.
I picked up a Savage 12 in 6.5cm from Cabela's this spring and built it out. I hadn't had a chance to zero it yet. I also had previously built an AR that was a DMR/precision rig which had grouped well at 100. I had picked up a new brand of ammo for it and wanted to see how it grouped. I decided that I needed to at least go to a range that had the facilities to shoot just so I knew where it was even if I didn't shoot past 100. I was so sure that I wasn't going to shoot past 100, I didn't put a ballistic calculator on my phone or even print a drop chart. I was smart enough to bring a Kestrel with me. It didn't have software but I knew I needed it for zeroing conditions.
I get out to the range and the owner drives to to the different positions and I am looking at the targets and I'm shaking my head. "How in the hell do you hit something like that?". It never really registered what 500/600 looked like. I had made the drive and I had the rifles and two boxes of ammo for each. There was a 100 yard range with paper to zero. Got both of them squared away with only 10 rounds used for each and decided I would toss a few at the 300 target, look like a fool, and go home. Get to the line. Set the 6.5 on the bench. Then it hits me. "You have no dope, no calculator, nothing." I flip the box of ammo over I see the factory drop listed. I figure it's something. I do the figure out what it is in mils dial it. Then Fundamentals Frank comes into my head. "Sight picture, breath control, trigger press, etc". I break the shot and I miss, but I see the splash. I use that ruler 3" in front of my face, make a correction, and shoot again. Just missed. Another correction and bang. I just hit my first steel at 300. Now mind you it's a 6" or 8" gong so nothing too impressive, but hey I hit it. Shot that target a few more times went to a 12" at 375 and got some hits on it. Switched to the AR and went through the same process. I moved positions and took some shots out 500 and 600 going after some really meaty targets. Like a 24" square at 600. The AR really fell off at that point. I could get hits but not consistently. What do you want for $11/box ammo? I had 4 rounds left for the 6.5 I decided I needed a reality check. I lined up on a 6" square at 500.
1. Over the top. Take off 2 clicks
2. Hit
3. Hit
4. Hit
My jaw was on the bench. Granted this was from a bench. Literally no one else on the range. Wind only 1-2mph (vegetation was barely moving). There was absolutely no pressure even from myself to perform at all. I had no expectations and no real goals. I just wanted to see what I could do. I still was grinning when I got home an hour and a half later.
I know I have a lot of work to do, but I know I can do it. I know what I need to work on now (recoil management), what gear I need to look at next (new rear bag and new feet for the bipod), and how much ammo to bring next time (more than 40 rounds). I also need to only take one rifle next time and focus.
I have been listening to the podcast since almost the beginning. It has really been like a conversation that I get to drop in on. I don't always know what you guys are talking about but it gives me questions that I can hunt down to help guide my study/research/internet searches. Thanks doing what you do.
I picked up a Savage 12 in 6.5cm from Cabela's this spring and built it out. I hadn't had a chance to zero it yet. I also had previously built an AR that was a DMR/precision rig which had grouped well at 100. I had picked up a new brand of ammo for it and wanted to see how it grouped. I decided that I needed to at least go to a range that had the facilities to shoot just so I knew where it was even if I didn't shoot past 100. I was so sure that I wasn't going to shoot past 100, I didn't put a ballistic calculator on my phone or even print a drop chart. I was smart enough to bring a Kestrel with me. It didn't have software but I knew I needed it for zeroing conditions.
I get out to the range and the owner drives to to the different positions and I am looking at the targets and I'm shaking my head. "How in the hell do you hit something like that?". It never really registered what 500/600 looked like. I had made the drive and I had the rifles and two boxes of ammo for each. There was a 100 yard range with paper to zero. Got both of them squared away with only 10 rounds used for each and decided I would toss a few at the 300 target, look like a fool, and go home. Get to the line. Set the 6.5 on the bench. Then it hits me. "You have no dope, no calculator, nothing." I flip the box of ammo over I see the factory drop listed. I figure it's something. I do the figure out what it is in mils dial it. Then Fundamentals Frank comes into my head. "Sight picture, breath control, trigger press, etc". I break the shot and I miss, but I see the splash. I use that ruler 3" in front of my face, make a correction, and shoot again. Just missed. Another correction and bang. I just hit my first steel at 300. Now mind you it's a 6" or 8" gong so nothing too impressive, but hey I hit it. Shot that target a few more times went to a 12" at 375 and got some hits on it. Switched to the AR and went through the same process. I moved positions and took some shots out 500 and 600 going after some really meaty targets. Like a 24" square at 600. The AR really fell off at that point. I could get hits but not consistently. What do you want for $11/box ammo? I had 4 rounds left for the 6.5 I decided I needed a reality check. I lined up on a 6" square at 500.
1. Over the top. Take off 2 clicks
2. Hit
3. Hit
4. Hit
My jaw was on the bench. Granted this was from a bench. Literally no one else on the range. Wind only 1-2mph (vegetation was barely moving). There was absolutely no pressure even from myself to perform at all. I had no expectations and no real goals. I just wanted to see what I could do. I still was grinning when I got home an hour and a half later.
I know I have a lot of work to do, but I know I can do it. I know what I need to work on now (recoil management), what gear I need to look at next (new rear bag and new feet for the bipod), and how much ammo to bring next time (more than 40 rounds). I also need to only take one rifle next time and focus.
I have been listening to the podcast since almost the beginning. It has really been like a conversation that I get to drop in on. I don't always know what you guys are talking about but it gives me questions that I can hunt down to help guide my study/research/internet searches. Thanks doing what you do.
