I wondered if you were really going to do what you said you were going to do. You did! That's the extra level of dedication that makes those longer shots possible. I can pretty much visualize where you set the target.
Nothing like taking the spotting shots a year or so early.
I learned a bunch on that trip and enjoyed every moment of it except for maybe the those **** field mice.
With all of the time on my hands @ the shooting spot and other places, I had plenty of time to think and evaluate my equipment. The equipment that didn't cut the mustard is in the process of being upgraded.
The backpack is finished. Three parts all integral. Rifle carrier, back pack, fanny pack and shot making equipment bag (LRF, PDA, Kestrel, Bullet, Range Charts, etc). All on that aluminum pack frame I had. The McDonalds 2000 Olympics backpack is history.
Long heavy barrel rifle carry system. Modified the bipod, after repair, w/a sling stud on either side and a flush mount on the bottom of the butt stock. (It makes no difference if its on the side or bottom). Built a Y connector for the front and a loop through the rear which connect to the studs. The rifle maintains its up/down orientation naturally. The same system can be applied to the Harris bipod by using longer main machine screws to mount sling loops.
Design of bipod leg extensions is complete but not yet fabricated. This is to facilitate getting set for the 25* up angle shot quickly.
The SS came off of the AM and the Weaver Tactical installed and sighted in. I've seriously shopped for a scope of at least 6.5-20 X 50 or 56. Those that have been eliminated are Zeiss, Nikon, Burris, etc. I can't get used to spending the big bucks for the NF and High End Leupolds. I'll check out that Leupold LR again before I decide anything.
The 10X25 binos have got to go. I'll move up to the 10X50 class with some large exit pupils.
The Nikon XL-II worked just fine once I put the cheapie tripod together with the pana-vise. The expensive Dynatran Tripod and fancy head worked OK but were no where near the performance of the way less expensive setup.
Leica 1200 Scan LRF. Worked as designed and was satisfactory for anything under 1215 yards. I think there is a circuit in there that says if greater than 1215 then "------". I wonder if anyone has hacked a Leica
Next time I'll be more detailed with the range chart though the one I made while there was fairly detailed. I know more now than I did then thus this will be upgraded. (I'm glad I took that drawing class a year or so ago.)
However, I learned while hanging around BB for that month what it takes to be able to do what he did with his above stated shooting at 1500+.
I'm going to start hunting yotes in the exact same way we were going for the deer and elk. It should be pretty boring but very productive in the long run.
If a fella has one of those AMs in the woods it may as well be used for its designed intent. Otherwise its like playing a strativarious (?) in a whore house.
That buck we saw that last night, long after deer season was over, has me fired up. I've been comparing the images in my mind with images in magazines and other places. That fella is a hard one to beat. I wonder how to find if he makes it through the winter?
The next time I hit the hills with the "big girl" I'll be ready at that completely unexpected moment to make the shot on a buck like that where ever it appears and for whatever period of time.
This year's month in the mtns was great preparation.
