Range Report Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

[Peepaw]

OK guys, short version. Been 20-25 years since I have been on a range, and even back then, it was more just to shoot, as it was with my Dad, and I was a youngster. I picked up my rifle (700 SPS Varmint .308 HB 26") couple /few weeks ago, and did get on range last week or so, and put some rounds down it, with NO scope/sights, jsut so I could start breaking in rifle waiting for my scope.

Scope (Vortex 6.5-20X44) came in yesterday, and got it mounted up, and took it to range this afternoon. I actually met up with a fellow Hide member by pure coincidence, and he helped me sight teh scope in @ 50 yards. Once I got it zeroed in at 50, I moved over to teh 100 yard. Now, keep in mind, ammo I am using is as cheap as it gets, Winchester 150 grain, $13 for a box.

So, I am pretty sure with some more range time, and better loads, should get some real nice groups. As it sits, here is my first 4 shot group, EVER (sorry about the ruler, LOL!):

I followed that up with a 3 shot group:

All in all, VERY happy with results and with my performance, as I really thought my groups would be WAY off since I am so new to this. I want to say thanks to Jawa (hide member who helped me site in today), you were a great help today, appreciate it man!!

 

[sniperdude]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

nice! it looks like your off to a good start

 

[jawa]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

Hey man, once we got you set up you were dead on. Good shooting today, we need to get out there again @ the 200yd next.

 

[Peepaw]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

Yeah guys, we heading in teh right direction from looks of it. I had my buddy I met on Hide, who has been helping me through PM's and such, he put the above target through some software program he has, and said my 3 shot group came out to .61MOA!

Man, I had dreams of shooting last night, ALL night long..had guns on teh brain!

Jawa, yeah man, I am ready to do it again! Got rifle all cleaned up, and either this hppens when rifle's are being broke in, or it's this crap ammo I am shooting, but my rifle was NASTY!

I mean, yesterday, I cleaned it after every 5-6 rounds, so wasn't like I fired off 20+ and never touched it. So, I fired off those last 5-6, put her in the case, got her home, and cleaned it up, and again, was just nasty.


I think I am gonna put 20 more down the pipe with this crap ammo, to make sure rifle is good and broke in, and THEN go to my Hornady that I picked up....

 

[Peepaw]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

I was thinking of adjusting teh trigger, since that seems to be a "freebie" for the most part. Question: How can I determine what the pull is now? And then when I adjust it? Do I need to buy the equipment to measure it, or?????

 

[Peepaw]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

Wanted to update you guys. OK, took rifle back down today, and was pretty dang windy, from right to left, and had some pretty big gusts as well.
Also, tried out the Federal 150 I have.
So, this test will not be fair to teh Federal since I did 2 things differently. One, shot during windy conditions, and 2, I got barrel pretty hot today. I had gotten her broke in, and HAD been letting her cool down few minutes between each shot.
Today, was doing 3/4/5 shot groups, moving to another part of target, then another 3/4/5 groups.

I was curious how much heat would effect teh HB.

So, below results, again, heated barrel and windy conditions and different ammo (had been shooting Winchester 150):

This first group is a 5 shot group. I had put @ 10 rounds down range, getting a feel for scope (make sure was still zero'd), and again, to put some heat in barrel.
As you can see, this group STARTED out REAL TIGHT, from teh first 3 shots, then decided I wanted to carry it to a 5 shot group, and she opened up some on me (again, wind moving from right to left):

Then, dropped down on target, no cool down, and opened up on this 4 shot group, 1st shot is far right, and each shot after was placed left of original. Maybe wind? Maybe too much heat in barrel? Maybe ammo? Really too early to tell sicne I don't have but 70 rounds down range now (including these today)

Ok, so after this WAY crazy group, I decided to let barrel cool down. I hopped over to other part of range to put some rounds down range with my 1911, and left my 700 without moving anything.
So, after about 15-20 minutes of shooting teh 1911, and letting 700 cool down, came back and this is what we have:


3 shot group:

Then, I got teh notice that it was gonna be cease fire so we can change out targets, and got 1 more round off, for a 4 shot group, and as you can tell, EACH shot went further and further left (wind blowing from right to left):

So, this is what I THINK...After 10 rounds or so, is best to let barrel cool down for best results. Because up to this point, with cool barrel, this thing is JUST about a tackdriver, and I think with better ammo, and more range time, I have no doubt it WILL become one.
Also, i need to compensate better for wind. Each shot moved left on EVERY group I placed. So, shooters fault on that.


I still have not added cheek piece or got the "lows" on, so still not REAL comfortable behind rifle yet, but we are getting there...

 

[RobG]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

WOW! A wooden ruler and made in right here in America. Dang, haven't seen one of those for who knows how long.

 

[McKinneyMike]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RobG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">WOW! A wooden ruler and made in right here in America. Dang, haven't seen one of those for who knows how long. </div></div>

That sir qualifies as an "antique"!

 

[Peepaw]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RobG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">WOW! A wooden ruler and made in right here in America. Dang, haven't seen one of those for who knows how long. </div></div>

LMAO!!! It's funny you say that, because I have been TRYING to buy everything ONLY if it is made in USA. Now, I know that is basically impossible to do, and next time you go to hardware store, ANY hardware store, local ma and pa and even your big one's, Ace, Home Depot, etc..TRY and find a HAMMER made in USA. Betcha find one (1) MAYBE two (2) out of twenty (20) that are made in USA, IF you can find one.
In fact, there is NOT to much out there that I won't be able to tell you what you will have hard time finding, as I have done this for quite some time now.



OK, now all of that being said, I DO have dial calipers, just up at my shop, and this was taking at home after range.



THAT being said, any comments on groups? Feedback? Opinions?

 

[Peepaw]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: McKinneyMike</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RobG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">WOW! A wooden ruler and made in right here in America. Dang, haven't seen one of those for who knows how long. </div></div>

That sir qualifies as an "antique"! </div></div>


Maybe I can pass THIS down as a family heirloom? LMAO!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

(inside joke...if you want, find my thread on "family heirloom 1911", and you can put 2 and 2 together)


Here ya go if you want to:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1750146

Click on that thread, and you can basically hop over to page 3 of it, where it starts to get "good"....

 

[desertrat1979]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

Good shooting. Its nice to meet up with someone on the same page. I go out with my friends but they are more about sending lead and shredding a target instead of groups. As far as buying tools in the USA I'd say 85% of my tools are USA, all Craftsman, with certain specialty or trade specific tools being made elsewhere. Germans make some nice precision tools as well.

 

[Peepaw]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: desertrat1979</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Good shooting. Its nice to meet up with someone on the same page. I go out with my friends but they are more about sending lead and shredding a target instead of groups. As far as buying tools in the USA I'd say 85% of my tools are USA, all Craftsman, with certain specialty or trade specific tools being made elsewhere. Germans make some nice precision tools as well. </div></div>

Thank you. Yeah, it's funny...go out to range, and see these targets that have a million holes in them, they look at and are like, well, "I hit paper for teh most part", HAHAHA!

Or, they just shoot and leave the target. I guess I can see going down to range, shoot to release some tension/stress. BUt I am the type that, THAT is the stress reliever, hitting the target, reading it, trying to figure out why this or that, taking notes on things, etc...
Like Golf, I LOVE Golf, and is a HUGE stress releiver for me, but I get out there, and get paired up with a guy that THINKS he is Tiger Woods or something, and makes a bad shot, and starts cussing, throwing clubs, and I am like, HUH? Did I miss something? Are we in a tournament, and this is his JOB, and needs to play well to feed his family?? LOL!!! I get out there, make a bad golf shot, and the worse it is, the FUNNIER it is to me. Sure, make a good or great shot, it's FANTASTIC, but I can laugh at the bad one's.

Back to shooting...so, even though I don't laugh about a bad shot, it doesn't bother me. Granted, my life is not on teh line, and I am out there for pure enjoyment. But if I make teh bad shot, I want to know why..the figuring out part is what I like.


Tools....well, let me explain...it's not like I am against any other country or anything like that, as I have nothing against MOST countries. Sure, there are some, but not my argument/point right now.

Why I try and buy American is quite simple...MOST people don't care where there products come from, they want the cheapest, and if it is made in China, than so be it. Well, because of this, is a HUGE reason why our economy is why it is. We do so much IMPORTING, and buying fromother countries, and NOT supporting our own companies right here WHERE WE LIVE I MIGHT ADD, that we end up throwing all of our money over sea's.
So, I try and do my part, and support the companies right here where I live. I TRY and take it so far as to TRY and buy INSIDE MY town limits. In other words, say I am at local store where I live (Pearland), but that store does not have it, but they have one in Friendswood, town over. I will buy at teh store in MY town (pearland),even if they ahve to order from Friendswood, so my town see's my money. It's where I lie my head and sleep, so I should support it anyway I can.

It's not that other countries don't make quality parts (well, for most part that is...China quality, ESPECIALLY tools/metal/steel, is HORRIBLE though), it's just trying to keep our money here where we live is all.

 

[DaveV]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

This is a good tool to use for keeping track of your groups

 

[Peepaw]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DaveX</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> This is a good tool to use for keeping track of your groups </div></div>


Oh wow, yeah, that nice. Getting ready to go cut yard, will check it out more closely when I get back inside..thanks!

 

[glocksig40]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

I'd like to comment again about this great range book. I hosted a shoot weekend and gave all the shooters a range card of the field of fire with a simple map of the range and the locations of each target as well as the size of the target. I let them range the distance to target for retical practice. I made the card the same size as the pages in this book from CKA. Everyone liked the idea of being able to keep all their information from each shoot including dope, weather, targets and range conditions. Made it easy to place in the book and refer to if again when conditions are simular. A good number of them saw me using my book and storing my data so they were interested in ordering one from Jay. You cant go wrong with buying one of these. Easier to carry all your info. Thanks again for a great buy Jay!!!

 

[Peepaw]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

Well, just downloaded it...looks like some pretty cool stuff

 

[Peepaw]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

Well, I didn't use the software yet. Went to range this morning, then to work, and jsut got home for aminute, and have to head back out for some errands, so will update later:

This should give you a REAL good idea on what ammo does for a rifle.

I had moved teh scope @ the other day, so had to re-site @ 50 yards.


This is 3 shot group 50 yards,with Winchester 150 grain (had been telling you guys was paying $13 a box for it, actually paying @$20 for it, it is the Federal 150 I paid $13 a box for)

2nd shot group @ 50 yards, Winchester 150:

OK, moved over to 100 yards, and still had Winchester 150 in it:

Then, took some Federal 150(and new target) and YIKES, by far worst groups yet:

OK, here is where it gets good:
Loaded up for teh first time some matchgrade ammo, some Hornady 168, and WOW!!! This is a 10 shot group. When I started, was gonna do 3 shot, like teh rest, but when it was just overlapping like that, I was THINKING it was a fluke, so I kept shooting. 10 rounds later, 1 after another, here is what we got:

Changed NOTHING, and loaded up the Federal 150, and you can see teh difference (where I put teh "X" is where I was aiming)

Here is a bigger picture so you can see, again, I put teh "X" where I was aiming, and you can see that the Hornady was on it! While teh Federal was way off...

 

[TimResin]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

Thats odd what happening with the Federal cause my best groups are with federal FMJ mil spec stuff. Usually get sub 1/2 MOA 5 shot groups.

 

[Peepaw]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TimResin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thats odd what happening with the Federal cause my best groups are with federal FMJ mil spec stuff. Usually get sub 1/2 MOA 5 shot groups. </div></div>

Keep in mind though, this is as base it gets with Federal. In fact, not even sure what the box says...soft point maybe? All I know it is just 1 of 2 boxes of .308 at my local Wal Mart, that and teh Winchester 150. For teh Federal, it comes out to $13 for a box of 20. Next time I pick up some Winchester (don't see myself buying the federal unless they are all out) at Wal Mart, will take a look at the Federal and tell you what it is. All I remember is teh weight, 150 grains.

basically, out of teh 3 different cartridges down it, teh Hornady is the only matchgrade so far.

 

[Bacarrat]

Re: Rookie on range for first time. results inside...

If you are going to shoot for groups, why even bother with crap hunting ammo. There are plenty of match grade ammo out there and it's not that much more expensive.