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First post (Be Gentle)

S

Superstes

Private
Minuteman
Dec 2, 2012
0
0
54
YES! First post. Ive been coming to the ''Hide for a while... finally decided to join... First off, a Hide member referred me here -Tak. (Indy)... if you are out there... you were right - its a great site, and thank you.

I'm somewhat new to LR shooting, however, I am ex-Army, and used to shoot small bore competitively. LR is much more difficult!

I recently purchased a Rem700 SPS Tactical that shot shotgun patterns. Thanks to the 'Hide, I've been whittling the size down. At first it was a solid 4" rifle... tried the shim technique (thanks Lonewolfusmc). Doing this cut the groups down quite a bit. Adjusted the trigger to semi-uber-light, which tightened it up even more. After reading about a zillion posts here, I was able to figure out how to adjust paralax on my Bushnell Dusk &Dawn ( I know... more on that later), which cut my groups down even more. At this point, I'm shooting about 1.5 MOA - not the guns fault... I just suck. Last weekend, I purchased and bedded a one piece mount (another prop out to lonewolfusmc), and installed a Bell and Carlson medalist stock (with the hook). Up till now I have been shooting factory Remington 150 grain el-cheapo ammunition. A friend from work helped me reload some ammo... and I'll be damned if that little rifle wasn't able to shoot sub-MOA groups! I bought a couple hundred rounds of Hornady 180 gr. BTSP, and paired it with CCI primers and 43 grains of RL 15. I shot a control group of factory 155 gr Remington... Although I was able to print some MOA 3 shot groups, I was able to print 5-shot sub-moa groups more consistently with the handloads (pics coming... give a brother a break... this is my first post - I gotta learn how to do that, next.)

I couldn't be more pleased with that little rifle. I practice nearly every weekend, trying to get my skill level up to match that of my rifle. I WILL be purchasing the Anniversary Lee Reloading press and some Redding dies, soon! I'm also saving my pennies for a better scope. I have it narrowed down to the SS 12 power, fixed; the Falcon Menace, or the Bushnell 10x Elite. My goal is to one day shoot tactical matches... gotta crawl before I can walk/run, though. I'll be looking for a set of removable rings that return to zero to go along with my new glass (Santa is bringing a new Boyt hard shell case that is a little tight with the glass on).

Anyway... you guys keep writing... I'll keep reading and learning. Glad I found the 'Hide.
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

Welcome, and good job being persistent with your rifle.
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

Glad to see you post here. FWIW, most of us were in your shoes at one time or another. There's a lot to learn. And still learn more as we all progress down this road. Also, a lot of 'mental myths' we've needed to overcome. I learned to shoot back home. I learned HOW to shoot in the Army.

keep us posted how you come along.
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

Thanks,all. I know I still have a lot to learn - I know I'll be searching a lot of topics here ( my Google-fu is strong), but will try not to repeat old topics. I've been looking for my vernier caliper to get an accurate measurement for my shot groups... I cant wait to get this thing on steel at distance...

Best regards,
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

Post Script... Mind is made up... SWFA 12x42 seems to be a common concensus here... Advice taken... Cant wait to get it... Its strange, though- myBushnell has been really decent. I really want to see them side by side... never looked through good glass before, so I dont really have a point of reference. Gonna be a loonngg few days, I think.
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

To close your groups a bit more, perhaps the following may help with your handloads:
- Measure the headspace of your fired cases with a Hornady or Sinclair headspace gauge
- Bump the shoulder back 0.001" to 0.002". This will keep your cases nice and true in your chamber.
- Get an bullet comparator and measure distance from the bullet's ogive to the lands. Play with seating depth and see which works best.
- Use a neck sizer die with a neck bushing to adjust neck tension. Experiment with 0.001"-0.004" out past 300yds+. Use the neck tension that suits you most.

Once you get your load set, this should shrink your groups even more!
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

That was a great introduction. sounds like you are off to a great start, and have found a new passion. welcome to the hide. other members are right: the learning never stops. read much take in much. enjoy the rifle and have fun shooting!

-Paulus
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sonic Crack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Best first post ive seen!</div></div> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sonic Crack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Best first post ive seen!</div></div> I agree completely! Good luck with your shooting!
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

Sounds like the ammo was the weak link in your equipment chain. My guess is you can squeeze a little more accuracy by tweaking your reloads.

The reloading message board is chock full of great information. You'll probably find reloading to be as fun as shooting.
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

Welcome, and enjoy the most active, and informative site for LR shooting that I know about.
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

Welcome, there are lots of us who are just like you, new to the sport and looking for good information. Here's something that helped me.

It sounds like you are headed in the right direction. The biggest lesson that I had to learn was that spending lots of money on equipment doesn't make you good. When you feel like you have your rifle squared away with decent glass, consistent ammo, a good sling, and properly adjusted to you, then think about getting into a good class. It's the best money you will ever spend. You will have a much better understanding of what equipment you need moving forward. You will leave the class with a much better understanding of how your rifle works and building data that you can work from in the future.

Check out a course like this. http://kmprecisionrifletraining.com/courses/basic-long-range-precision-rifle-course/#more-679

It helped me with basics and fundamentals. You don't know how wrong you have been doing it until shown the correct way. Mike assisted in the class that I took and he can tell you more about the facility or one that is similar close to you.

You can also find a local club to join. I have entered my first local match and it was great. It's also much safer than shooting at a public range and surrounding yourself with better shooters will always make yourself a better shooter.

As they say, thats my $00.02.
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

Here's a dissenting opinion. Dont get hung up on the fixed 12X. Thats a lot of magnifacation at 100yds and WAY too much inside 100. I know youre concentrating on long range, but if you shoot a competition or something that includes shorter rnge stuff, all youre going to be seeing through 12X is hair-teeth-and-eyeballs.

Im a big of 4-14 or 4-16 range scopes.
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SniperCJ</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here's a dissenting opinion. Dont get hung up on the fixed 12X. Thats a lot of magnifacation at 100yds and WAY too much inside 100. I know youre concentrating on long range, but if you shoot a competition or something that includes shorter rnge stuff, all youre going to be seeing through 12X is hair-teeth-and-eyeballs.

Im a big of 4-14 or 4-16 range scopes.</div></div>


That's a good lesson to remember. Keep in mind, many of us on our quest to see better and better, forget that a lot of 1k + shots were made in WWII/Korea/Viet Nam with 3x and 4x scopes. 8x and 10x were considered a LOT of power back then.

All you need to do is see it to know you can hit it.
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SniperCJ</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here's a dissenting opinion. Dont get hung up on the fixed 12X. Thats a lot of magnifacation at 100yds and WAY too much inside 100. I know youre concentrating on long range, but if you shoot a competition or something that includes shorter rnge stuff, all youre going to be seeing through 12X is hair-teeth-and-eyeballs.

Im a big of 4-14 or 4-16 range scopes. </div></div>

I agree completely. I went out and bought a vortex pst 6-24x50. Great scope, but i have never used more than 12x.

4-16 would be a great choice.

Good luck
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

I've looked through the Millet 4-16 scopes a few times and they are pretty nice. even watch the rifle fall of a stand and land on the scope and it held zero. i would be scared to try that with my Nikon even though i really like my Nikon.

as for the group size i wouldn't have worried about it unless it was shooting like that using match ammo.

thats like when i shoot my SOCOM 16 using Wolf ammo and try to hit the target at 300-400 yards and you couldn't measure the groups with a yard stick. but with match ammo i can hit a 12 inch steel plate all day with it.

can't expect high quality results with low quality ammo.

i know in the Marines we qualify out to 500 with iron sights and I'm sure the Army does something like that as well so i know you must have the basic fundamentals down. so i think if you would have used a higher quality ammo you wouldn't of had to stress out as much about group sizes. not saying that the work you did to your rifle won't be helpful because it will the for sure. i just think you were causing unnecessary stress.

Semper Fi
Mike
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

welcome to the boards
sounds like you are coming along nicely with your new hobby
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike0341</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've looked through the Millet 4-16 scopes a few times and they are pretty nice. even watch the rifle fall of a stand and land on the scope and it held zero. i would be scared to try that with my Nikon even though i really like my Nikon.

as for the group size i wouldn't have worried about it unless it was shooting like that using match ammo.

thats like when i shoot my SOCOM 16 using Wolf ammo and try to hit the target at 300-400 yards and you couldn't measure the groups with a yard stick. but with match ammo i can hit a 12 inch steel plate all day with it.

can't expect high quality results with low quality ammo.

<span style="font-weight: bold">i know in the Marines we qualify out to 500 with iron sights and I'm sure the Army does something like that as well</span> so i know you must have the basic fundamentals down. so i think if you would have used a higher quality ammo you wouldn't of had to stress out as much about group sizes. not saying that the work you did to your rifle won't be helpful because it will the for sure. i just think you were causing unnecessary stress.

Semper Fi
Mike


</div></div>

Mike,

Unfortunately, no. The Army still does the 50-300 pop-up system. I would like to see both services adopt a dual system, Kd and pop-up.
 
Re: First post (Be Gentle)

I'm in the same boat as far as this site goes. New to this place and impressed with the amount of knowledge on here!
 
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