Advanced Marksmanship Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

[bmt]

Well, my google search failed. here is the question:

I am shooting a 308 with 175 SMKs and using a Leupold 3.5-10 scope.

Longest Formal range in the area is 200 yards. So I shoot across clearcuts.

I can spot shots on rocks and steel plates out to 500 yards. But I cannot/do not see bullet splash beyond that range.

I took a shot at a dirt bank lasered at 850 yards. I "should" be able to see some bullet splash with the large bank etc. Lots of room for drop errors and windage, etc.

The drop was calculated from actual chrono reading and a ballistic program.

result: No strike indicated. I had about 40 feet of leeway around the target.

Nada.

Any tips, or am I just at the end of my scopes useful range?

BMT

 

[Pat M]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

What scope?

 

[bmt]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Pat M</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What scope? </div></div>

Leupold 3.5-10x40

 

[Jaeger308]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

You are able to spot impacts on hard surface targets at 500 yards. Dirt can and will many times eat a round with little to no visual, add grass and it is even less visual. Put some steel out at distance and try?

 

[Pat M]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

I think it is the limit of 10x on your leupold , Maybe you can try out someones Nightforce and wah-la your hooked.

 

[bmt]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jaeger308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You are able to spot impacts on hard surface targets at 500 yards. Dirt can and will many times eat a round with little to no visual, add grass and it is even less visual. Put some steel out at distance and try? </div></div>

I agree, and I have steel at 620 yards. But its only a 10 inch triangle. A miss is a mystery. The 500 yard plate is larger and easier to see.

Maybe I should find a really big rock at longer range?

BMT

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

It just depends on conditions.

I've spotted my hits/misses at a mile+ with 10X. Best conditions are dry earth, looking toward the sun (not directly into the sun). The sunlight backlights the dust from impacts and it really stands out.

Also, if you are generally putting the bullet into the ground at a perpendicular angle you will get less signature than if the bullet is hitting at a more oblique angle and disrupting more soil.

 

[JuniperEyes]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

Try looking for the bullet trace when the impact area is giving no feedback

 

[JNel]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

I have the same setup as you BMT and also run into the same issue. I only see splash if there is a dusty area or water around the target. I usaully dont go past 600 without a spotter.

 

[kentactic]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

shoot tracers?...lol

 

[bmt]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kentactic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">shoot tracers?...lol </div></div>

Should be fun in the woods in August.

BMT

 

[bmt]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MontanaMarine</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It just depends on conditions.

I've spotted my hits/misses at a mile+ with 10X. Best conditions are dry earth, looking toward the sun (not directly into the sun). The sunlight backlights the dust from impacts and it really stands out.

Also, if you are generally putting the bullet into the ground at a perpendicular angle you will get less signature than if the bullet is hitting at a more oblique angle and disrupting more soil. </div></div>

Thanks. I will try to get a backlit rock.

Its mountains, so it dives right into the dirt.

BMT

 

[Goldbeachman]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

For my eyes 10x is pushing the envelope for reliable spotting splash at 850 and out. As said above, conditions will sometimes make it easy but more magnification will help regardless.

While shooting this weekend conditions were perfect for spotting trace. The trace was far easier to use for spotting than splash. Trace was immediate and obvious once the bullet entered the field of view of the scope and all the way to the target. It was literally like watching a game of horseshoes.

What was surprising to me was the fairly dramatic arc of the bullet even at a relatively close target of 450 yards. Shooting was generally north to south towards the sun.

 

[bmt]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

I will work on this tomorrow. (or I might do a dot drill.)

 

[flyrodder]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

I use a Leupold 4.5 to 14, and I tend to run lower magnification because it is faster to acquire targets and easier to spot for myself since it is easier to retain the target during recoil. I have had little problems spotting hits in dirt out to 1,300 yards, so I don't think this is purely a magnification issue. Dry is usually better for immediate feedback because of the dust, but damp can be very good, too, since you can see the dark spot. As noted, it is all about conditions. I have found that splash on rocks can be difficult to see - the absence of splash and the "whack" of a hit is usually what I have to rely on in that situation. Maybe you need some of this nice Nevada dirt to shoot into!

 

[rwest309]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

This is the handiest thing I have ever used to assist me in spotting my shots. On my OBR I was able to spot my own shots out to 500m even with a 1.8-10 uso. I have no reason to think that I could not spot further but I have not confirmed this yet due to range limitations.

 

[psmith]

Re: Spotting your own shots BEYOND 500 yards

I don't think its your scope. I have the same one and have spotted impacts out to a thousand yards. Of course it was a dry field and each impact had a good dust signature.

On the other hand a 200 yd target in grass, I couldn't see any misses. So it does depend on conditions.