Training results at 500 m on paper--Thanks SH!

[Joe L]

Finally got to shoot paper at 500 meters today...15F ambient, 6000 feet altitude, so I didn't stay out long, but had good results. I've spent some time over the holidays going through the video and the training forum, and I think it paid off.

Now if I can just learn to turn the windage turret the right direction, I can put the group right on the target center instead of 0.2 mil right.

This is with my one and only bolt gun, a .308 Savage Model 10 FCP-K with a Bushnell 3.5-21x50 DMR scope with G2DMR reticle, Harris bipod, prone, rear bag. Rifle is just as received from the factory, no modifications, 24" heavy fluted barrel, 1:10 twist.

Joe

 

[Grizzdude]

Re: Training results at 500 yards on paper--Thanks SH!

nice five shot group there! What ammo did you use?

 

[Joe L]

Re: Training results at 500 yards on paper--Thanks SH!

I corrected my original post above except for the photo. Distance was 547 yards (500 meters) not 500 yards. Another newbie mistake.

Ammo was box Remington Premier Match with the 168 SMK bullets. Apparently a good match for this barrel.

Joe

 

[JoeyAld]

Re: Training results at 500 yards on paper--Thanks SH!

nice shooting!

 

[Joe L]

Re: Training results at 500 m on paper--Thanks SH!

Thanks, gentlemen.

I went out again today to check the windage and to just practice the fundamentals some more. This time it was nearly 20 degrees warmer than yesterday so I took 0.2 mil out of the elevation dial in and that was a mistake. Group was 4" low, but it was a good group.

This is fun.

Joe

 

[jakelly]

Re: Training results at 500 m on paper--Thanks SH!

Very impressive factory rounds down a factory tube. Good for you.

 

[Coloradocop]

Re: Training results at 500 m on paper--Thanks SH!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jakelly</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Very impressive factory rounds down a factory tube. Good for you. </div></div>

^ Yeah, that.

You can't argue at all with those groups from a factory load through a factory barrel!

 

[chase16]

Re: Training results at 500 m on paper--Thanks SH!

Nice Shooting. The groups should get even better as you go.

 

[Joe L]

Re: Training results at 500 m on paper--Thanks SH!

Thanks, gentlemen. I was able to shoot the rifle some more this weekend. My biggest problem continues to be in adjusting the parallax properly. The rifle and the scope are excellent. I still have some difficulty getting the parallax adjusted perfectly. When I am able to do so, the groups are always around 0.5 MOA.

My biggest problem right now is I'm out of ammo and there is none to be had. I may have to load my own, which isn't a bad idea anyway.

Joe

 

[Boogaloo]

Re: Training results at 500 m on paper--Thanks SH!

Yeah brother, nice and tidy! I am tagging this to stay tuned and learn from you!

 

[sinister]

Re: Training results at 500 m on paper--Thanks SH!

Good shootin', Tex.

Nothing wrong with a stock rifle and scope if you can shoot (and hit) like that. If you can smash an E-type silhouette or white-tail's bread box that close to point of aim I'd say you're quite a bit ahead of a guy with a $10,000 rig who's never taken it past 200 yards.

 

[GoatPilot87]

Re: Training results at 500 m on paper--Thanks SH!

OP I've got a Savage 10 FP also, have you tried anything heavier than the 168's? Ive always shot Fed. GMM 168's too but Im just now getting into reloading and Ive loaded about 200 rounds with Hornady A-Maxs. Good shooting, keep it up.

 

[Joe L]

OP I've got a Savage 10 FP also, have you tried anything heavier than the 168's? Ive always shot Fed. GMM 168's too but Im just now getting into reloading and Ive loaded about 200 rounds with Hornady A-Maxs. Good shooting, keep it up.

Yes, I've shot Fusion 180 and it is OK but doesn't group as well as the Rem 168 or Fed GMMK 168.

An update.

Last week I received a 200 round order of Federal Gold Medal Match with 168 gr Sierra Match King bullets. I took the muzzle brake off the gun and zeroed it at 100 yards, drove to the 500 m range, guessed at the muzzle velocity, dialed in 3.9 mils, shot high (off paper), dialed in 3.2 mils elevation, 0.3 mil right, shot 3 rounds 5" low and 2" right, dialed in 3.4 mils elevation and 0.1 mils right, and shot a 4 round group .1 mil left.

I also checked the calculater versus hits at 300 yards this morning. It was close but also a little high. If I increased the muzzle velocity entry to 2730 fps for this round (Fed GMMK 168), the calculator predicts what it took for the dial in to hit center at both 300 and 545 yards.

I am a green bolt gun shooter. I never thought I would be able to shoot two sub 4" groups at this distance, especially with a relatively inexpensive box stock rifle and factory box ammo.

It took me a while to learn to dial in the parallax correction properly on my 3.5-21x50 Bushnell HDMR scope. No problem after I took the time to learn how to dial in the parallax from infinity to shooting distance and never reversing directions. This is not necessarily a scope problem, this shooter has had cataract surgery in both eyes, and a detached retina repair in one eye.

Joe,
Happy Savage owner

 

[den42]

think you did a hell of a job shooting man, looks like your getting the basic of markmanship down just fine brother!

 

[Joe L]

Thanks, den42. I learned everything I know about shooting a bolt gun from this forum and two training CDs. For a pistol shooter, I'm learning.

Joe

 

[Joe L]

Another good session at the range today. Warmed up with 10 rounds at 100 yds. Thought some more about the fundamentals, and turned to the 300 yard target, shot the first 5 rounds on the top left diamond, looked good, thought more about loading the bipod consistently, then shot the second five shot group at the center diamond. This group measured 1-3/4" so I am very, very happy with this session. Probably the best 20 centerfire rifle rounds I have shot to date. This rifle/scope/ammo combination will shoot where I aim it, if I hold the gun correctly, adjust the scope correctly, move the trigger correctly, and set up behind the gun correctly. All at the same time, LOL. No wind today. That is where my inexperience shows--a day with wind.

Again, I'm pretty much learning how to shoot a rifle from this forum.

Joe

 

[capreppy]

Nice shooting!

Where abouts in West TX are you shooting? Do you have ranges longer than the 500 available to you? I can shoot 500 locally (well, within a 90 minute drive of me), but that's about as far as I can go. I can go to Tac Pro, but not sure as I can't tell if they are open to the public.

 

[Joe L]

Nice shooting!

Where abouts in West TX are you shooting? Do you have ranges longer than the 500 available to you? I can shoot 500 locally (well, within a 90 minute drive of me), but that's about as far as I can go. I can go to Tac Pro, but not sure as I can't tell if they are open to the public.

I can shoot to 300 yd in Midland, and to 547 yd in Ruidoso, NM.

 

[tracvision]

very nice shooting. You must have purchased a Tuesday or Wednesday gun. I hear Fridays dont shoot that well.

Another good session at the range today. Warmed up with 10 rounds at 100 yds. Thought some more about the fundamentals, and turned to the 300 yard target, shot the first 5 rounds on the top left diamond, looked good, thought more about loading the bipod consistently, then shot the second five shot group at the center diamond. This group measured 1-3/4" so I am very, very happy with this session. Probably the best 20 centerfire rifle rounds I have shot to date. This rifle/scope/ammo combination will shoot where I aim it, if I hold the gun correctly, adjust the scope correctly, move the trigger correctly, and set up behind the gun correctly. All at the same time, LOL. No wind today. That is where my inexperience shows--a day with wind.

Again, I'm pretty much learning how to shoot a rifle from this forum.

Joe

 

[Joe L]

Yep, definitely a Tuesday or Wednesday gun! Thanks
Joe

 

[Joe L]

Took the Tuesday/Wednesday gun out again on Wednesday and got to shoot at 300 yards in the wind.

Ten rounds of FGMM 168 box ammo through the Savage 10 FCP-K at 300 yards.

Wind was 6-15 mph at 1-2 o'clock so I got some practice at 300. First shot, too much wind correction (5 rounds group 1), then the wind died down, so about 0.1 mil too much correction for the next 3 rounds, then the wind came up and I hit the center. Next 5 rounds--too little correction (two round group 2), then...for the last three rounds, the wind was steady and matched my dial in, so the last 3 rounds hit just right (3 rounds group 3). That 0.1 mil dial makes a difference at 300 yards. I'm learning. Rifle/scope/ammo perfect, shooter needs work.

Joe

 

[demolitionman]

Joe, I really enjoyed your thread and progression. You write well. I'm jealous, I really hope the long range comes as easy to me as it appears to be coming to you, and I'm hoping my Savage runs like yours! Right on man.

 

[Joe L]

Demolitionman--Thanks for the reply. I am a pistol shooter who is learning to shoot a bolt gun. I learned pretty much everything I know here on this site. Make every round count--this stuff is expensive!

Joe

 

[Joe L]

Got out again briefly Monday afternoon and was able to get in 10 rounds, rather hurriedly. This was an interesting day weather-wise. Mid-80's temperature and gusty winds 5-15 mph at 40 degrees to target. I actually got to see what mirage was, for me, the first time. With the mirage and varying winds, and limited time, I hung the target, placed the mat, left the scope settings exactly the same as on the 27th and fired off the first round, expecting it to be left and down. It was. I decided not to change anything, instead just trying to shoot off the remaining 9 rounds well. On one round, I had the rifle canted, and on another, I just flat released the shot while the scope was slightly low right. I think those are the lower right and lower right shots. The remaining 8 were clustered around the cold bore shot. I gathered up my stuff, retrieved the target, and went home. Checked my ballistics calculator, and, sure enough, I should have dialed in 0.2 mil right for this average wind. Looks like I need to add 0.1 mil up as well. Anyway, another good range day with the bolt gun. I'm learning.

Joe

 

[demolitionman]

Demolitionman--Thanks for the reply. I am a pistol shooter who is learning to shoot a bolt gun. I learned pretty much everything I know here on this site. Make every round count--this stuff is expensive!

Joe

No kidding! I started the venture of just basic handloading and now I'm buying 200 dollars with of loading shit every paycheck....basic my ass, all I'm doing is spending money on reloading gear! I have high hopes to get some 300 yd shooting done this weekend. You got bit by the long range bug too hehehehe

 

[jwf100p]

Nice shooting. I am really impressed with the amount of vertical at the 500 target. That is a good indication that the load is working.

 

[[email protected]]

I was in your boat a year ago, now I own around $2-2.5K in reloading gear, it never stops haha

 

[Cordova13]

Nice shooting that's great!

 

[Sniper Uncle]

Got out again briefly Monday afternoon and was able to get in 10 rounds, rather hurriedly. This was an interesting day weather-wise. Mid-80's temperature and gusty winds 5-15 mph at 40 degrees to target. I actually got to see what mirage was, for me, the first time. With the mirage and varying winds, and limited time, I hung the target, placed the mat, left the scope settings exactly the same as on the 27th and fired off the first round, expecting it to be left and down. It was. I decided not to change anything, instead just trying to shoot off the remaining 9 rounds well. On one round, I had the rifle canted, and on another, I just flat released the shot while the scope was slightly low right. I think those are the lower right and lower right shots. The remaining 8 were clustered around the cold bore shot. I gathered up my stuff, retrieved the target, and went home. Checked my ballistics calculator, and, sure enough, I should have dialed in 0.2 mil right for this average wind. Looks like I need to add 0.1 mil up as well. Anyway, another good range day with the bolt gun. I'm learning.

Joe

Joe, I am a relatively new shooter also. I was having a good day at the range one morning, and the sun came out. It was playing hide and seek with me, so mirage was coming and going. I had a five shot group that had about 2.5" verticle displacement, three shots being in a line, all within .75 inches of each other. Then, two, straddling the top three, but about 2" low. I believe the two low ones were while the mirage was boiling, and there was a bit of wind involved too. Looks like great work, my friend.

 

[jhr1986]

Nice shooting!

Where abouts in West TX are you shooting? Do you have ranges longer than the 500 available to you? I can shoot 500 locally (well, within a 90 minute drive of me), but that's about as far as I can go. I can go to Tac Pro, but not sure as I can't tell if they are open to the public.

Just to clarify about Tac Pro, they are open to the public. You do have to be a member and qualify to shoot 1000 yards, but non members can shoot on separate 100 & 200 yard ranges.

 

[capreppy]

Just to clarify about Tac Pro, they are open to the public. You do have to be a member and qualify to shoot 1000 yards, but non members can shoot on separate 100 & 200 yard ranges.

The smith who helped me with my build is aking my buddy and I there in Aug as guests so we can qualify and shoot at 1k. Definitely going to Top Gun to shoot at 500 in advance of that.