I finally got out to pull the trigger myself for the first time since May.
Well, I put about 15 rounds (200 grain Wildcat @ 2700 fps) down range with my APS 7mm Dakota XP-100 today.
My biggest problem was getting a location where I could shoot out to 1k with steel targets-Now I finally have a place /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I can't use steel at my shooting range, even though they have a 600 yard range
My scope is a Leupold Mark 4 8.5-25 w/M1 knobs.
I recently had Darrel Holland put his ART reticle in this scope and I really like it. My barrel also has one of his QD brakes.
I had to re-install the scope and set-up a piece of steel @ 105 yards rather than the usual 200 yard zero.
I have found a portable bench (R.W. Hart) which I like better than anything I have tried to this point. It is very solid and adjustable.
Once sighted in @ 105 yards I got out Exbal and plugged in all the data from my Kestrel, which of course was different than when I shot it last May in Nebraska. I also changed my sight in distance, which had been 200 yards. My larger target was set-up @ 525 yards with a red dot in the center. I was shooting off the Hart bench but was using the Harris BR bi-pod with one of my little sandbags filled with corn cob media.
I dialed in 9.75 MOA into the elevation as the wind was pretty much in my face.
I didn't have a spotter with me, but heard the slap of steel a short time after the shot. Then, I got back into the scope to see where it hit. To my great pleasure it hit the red dot. I then fired three more shots and they made a nice 3" cluster @ 7'O clock just off the dot (I guess the wind was from the SSW and yes, it was gusting some. It ended up being a 4-shot 5" group but it could have been better. I didn't like a bozo /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif throw up some grass and check direction-need to pay better attention to all the details. I just wanted to shoot and had made up my mind I wasn't going to dope wind.
Then I had three shots left so I decided to go prone but because of high grass I had my bi-pod on it's highest adjustment.
I wasn't comfortable and my bag wasn't really designed for this height, but I put three shots in 6", one of which, the 3rd shot either the wind dropped completely, it was me, or a combo of the two, but it was the furthest shot to the right.
I will soon be getting lower rings and that will help a lot.
The farmer was to my North sowing some triticali (Spelling?) while I was shooting and he gave me some ideas when I shoot there next time that would give me a better view when prone and I can shoot out to 950 yards-Yipee
The great thing is that it is less than 10 miles from my house.
I took some pictures-no digital, but it will be a while before they get processed.
I plan to do consistent practice from 500-1000 yards with the bi-pod from the prone position before the big game season starts. Just felt good to get out an shoot /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Well, I put about 15 rounds (200 grain Wildcat @ 2700 fps) down range with my APS 7mm Dakota XP-100 today.
My biggest problem was getting a location where I could shoot out to 1k with steel targets-Now I finally have a place /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I can't use steel at my shooting range, even though they have a 600 yard range
My scope is a Leupold Mark 4 8.5-25 w/M1 knobs.
I recently had Darrel Holland put his ART reticle in this scope and I really like it. My barrel also has one of his QD brakes.
I had to re-install the scope and set-up a piece of steel @ 105 yards rather than the usual 200 yard zero.
I have found a portable bench (R.W. Hart) which I like better than anything I have tried to this point. It is very solid and adjustable.
Once sighted in @ 105 yards I got out Exbal and plugged in all the data from my Kestrel, which of course was different than when I shot it last May in Nebraska. I also changed my sight in distance, which had been 200 yards. My larger target was set-up @ 525 yards with a red dot in the center. I was shooting off the Hart bench but was using the Harris BR bi-pod with one of my little sandbags filled with corn cob media.
I dialed in 9.75 MOA into the elevation as the wind was pretty much in my face.
I didn't have a spotter with me, but heard the slap of steel a short time after the shot. Then, I got back into the scope to see where it hit. To my great pleasure it hit the red dot. I then fired three more shots and they made a nice 3" cluster @ 7'O clock just off the dot (I guess the wind was from the SSW and yes, it was gusting some. It ended up being a 4-shot 5" group but it could have been better. I didn't like a bozo /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif throw up some grass and check direction-need to pay better attention to all the details. I just wanted to shoot and had made up my mind I wasn't going to dope wind.
Then I had three shots left so I decided to go prone but because of high grass I had my bi-pod on it's highest adjustment.
I wasn't comfortable and my bag wasn't really designed for this height, but I put three shots in 6", one of which, the 3rd shot either the wind dropped completely, it was me, or a combo of the two, but it was the furthest shot to the right.
I will soon be getting lower rings and that will help a lot.
The farmer was to my North sowing some triticali (Spelling?) while I was shooting and he gave me some ideas when I shoot there next time that would give me a better view when prone and I can shoot out to 950 yards-Yipee
The great thing is that it is less than 10 miles from my house.
I took some pictures-no digital, but it will be a while before they get processed.
I plan to do consistent practice from 500-1000 yards with the bi-pod from the prone position before the big game season starts. Just felt good to get out an shoot /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
