We have been wanting to shoot longer ranges so we piled into the truck and spent the day at Knob Creek. It is 330 yards to the backstop and about 450 yards to the top.
My buddy, first group out of the stall, shot a .3" at 300 yards (3 shots). At risk of blowing it, he didn't shoot any more at the target. I thought I was going to be embarrassed. The morning air was really clear and you could see very well. His load was 26.5 grains Re10x - 204 Ruger - 32 grain Sierra BK - in a Cooper Pheonix.
I shot a 204 at 300 also. 40 grain Vmax - 25.0 Benchmark. Group was the nicest little string from upper right to lower left. Frustrating for sure to struggle with the bench set up. Measured about 2 inches for 5 shots. --- All shooter error I think.
Really we were just wanting to get some time shooting longer ranges.
Some interesting things I noted...
About noon, the mirage was bad. Sun directly overhead. Hard to see bullet holes at 300 yards at that point, even with a 32 power Nightforce (Maybe you can't shoot a Nightforce in the daytime???). I shot a .1" group at 150 yards with the Sierra 32 grain BK, but at 300 it was all over the place. My buddy had the same experience with a 223 Ackley and 55 grain FMJ pills. I pulled out the 5R - 308 and cranked several 168 grain HPBT matches downrange. Shot a 1.0" 5 shot group at 300 yards with a 42.5 grain RG4895 load. I backed it up later with 43.3 grains of H4895 behind the same bullet. I think that mirage is a rough ride for little bullets. I was really surprised at the effect of the heat on the range.
I also shot a 5.5x50mm ACOG on a Colt HBAR flat-top. I was shooting 25.5 grains of Varget behind a 68 grain HPBT match 1:9 twist. Could not see detail at 300, but the clarity of the ACOG is unequalled. Very consistently this set up would shoot under 3 inches groups after group. Surprised me because I can't see any better than that. Perhaps the rifle would have done better with a younger shooter.
Anyway, would like to hear some of your experiences... We had a ball....
My buddy, first group out of the stall, shot a .3" at 300 yards (3 shots). At risk of blowing it, he didn't shoot any more at the target. I thought I was going to be embarrassed. The morning air was really clear and you could see very well. His load was 26.5 grains Re10x - 204 Ruger - 32 grain Sierra BK - in a Cooper Pheonix.
I shot a 204 at 300 also. 40 grain Vmax - 25.0 Benchmark. Group was the nicest little string from upper right to lower left. Frustrating for sure to struggle with the bench set up. Measured about 2 inches for 5 shots. --- All shooter error I think.
Really we were just wanting to get some time shooting longer ranges.
Some interesting things I noted...
About noon, the mirage was bad. Sun directly overhead. Hard to see bullet holes at 300 yards at that point, even with a 32 power Nightforce (Maybe you can't shoot a Nightforce in the daytime???). I shot a .1" group at 150 yards with the Sierra 32 grain BK, but at 300 it was all over the place. My buddy had the same experience with a 223 Ackley and 55 grain FMJ pills. I pulled out the 5R - 308 and cranked several 168 grain HPBT matches downrange. Shot a 1.0" 5 shot group at 300 yards with a 42.5 grain RG4895 load. I backed it up later with 43.3 grains of H4895 behind the same bullet. I think that mirage is a rough ride for little bullets. I was really surprised at the effect of the heat on the range.
I also shot a 5.5x50mm ACOG on a Colt HBAR flat-top. I was shooting 25.5 grains of Varget behind a 68 grain HPBT match 1:9 twist. Could not see detail at 300, but the clarity of the ACOG is unequalled. Very consistently this set up would shoot under 3 inches groups after group. Surprised me because I can't see any better than that. Perhaps the rifle would have done better with a younger shooter.
Anyway, would like to hear some of your experiences... We had a ball....
