Shooting results !!!!!! (Today) Pics added!!

[bigbuck]

Well got up early this morning And headed out to the hunting club. We have several fields between 2 MTN'S . Problem is the farmers have planted field corn and its nearly 8 ft tall !. I made a target stand with a 4 x 4 sheet of plywood at the top making the total height 12 Ft 3'' . You guys are very lucky where you all live and shoot. Here in my neck of the woods its a Long Range Challenge just to find a place to practice, let alone hunt. Next challenge was to find some high ground for the truck .(yep we shoot right off the hood) only option at this time.

Here below is my honest results no fish stories in this thread

keep in mind it was extremely hot and shooting across corn has a wind advantage but the mirage was terrible! Looked like at times, a swift river.

If someone could direct me to the how to post pics info for this site I will try and post some . Thanks


600 Yards
Temp 71.2
R.H89.1
Baro Pressure 29.29
Elevation 589
Ballistics program called for 10. Moa up
To get spot on , I ended up with a total 9.3/4 MOA
Center to center of my 3 shot group was a huge 8 3/4 ''

Question it was vertical I havent had this kind of group pattern before .
Any Ideahs why ?

Next set up was 813 Yards
Temp 83.1
R.H 72.0
Baro pressure 29.25
Elevation 627
Ballistics program called for 17.25 up MOA
Actual dial was 15.3/4

Group measured 6 3/8'' center to center.

I read after folks and these groups seem rather large.
What do you guys think ? This is my first time to ever shoot a group at 813 yards...

Note the 813 group didnt print in a vertical line but was more of a triangular shape.

I will try to post some pics later .

Thanks for any help and or ideahs.

 

[Broz]

Re: Shooting results !!!!!! (Today)

I understand the need for gettig up off the ground, but shooting across a truck hood in not a stable platform for these distances. Put a piece of 3/4 OSB or plywood in the back of the truck. Drop the tailgate and slide the plywood out the the end of the gate. Then go prone with a good bipod and solid sand bags on the rear.

 

[calib]

Re: Shooting results !!!!!! (Today)

I understand the need for gettig up off the ground, but shooting across a truck hood in not a stable platform for these distances. Put a piece of 3/4 OSB or plywood in the back of the truck. Drop the tailgate and slide the plywood out the the end of the gate. Then go prone with a good bipod and solid sand bags on the rear.

yep works pretty god, just try to keep the wind from hitting your truck on the side or you will be be moving.

 

[ak1251]

Re: Shooting results !!!!!! (Today)

are you using a scope level? were you shooting with a bipod or another type of rest?

 

[WildRose]

Re: Shooting results !!!!!! (Today)

To pick up on Broz's idea...

Take a full length sheet of 3/4 exterior plywood.

Rip it down to 36" wide.

On the bottom side build a frame out of 2x6's running the full length with one running down the middle. Cap them on the ends so that you have essentially a 2x6 picture frame with one slat splitting it down the middle.

Screw your plywood on.

On top place a piece of 2x4 flat on the end you intend to be the muzzle end. This will give you a good brace for your bipod so you can lean into it.

On the bottom side use a couple of 2x4's spaced evenly from the ends such that when you lay the shooting stand across the bed, they lock it in securely against the inside edges of the top rails of the bed.

You will still have to deal with wind rocking the truck if you do't have it parked nose into the wind but it's a hell of a lot better platform than leaning anst the truck trying to shoot across the hood.

 

[bigbuck]

Re: Shooting results !!!!!! (Today)

are you using a scope level? were you shooting with a bipod or another type of rest?

No I dont have a level yet. u can see my set up with the pics that i've added.

Broz, I understand what you are saying and I will do it your way next time out .

The pic is of the 600 yard target any ideah on what caused the vertical shot pattern ?

I was not allowing for wind it was farely calm . I was really after the Elevation .

Thanks guys for your interest !

 

[Broz]

Re: Shooting results !!!!!! (Today)

The pic is of the 600 yard target any ideah on what caused the vertical shot pattern ?

My best guess is the hood was flexing under recoil

or the back of the stock was dropping durring recoil.

Or the mirage...

or D: all of the above

Jeff

 

[WildRose]

Re: Shooting results !!!!!! (Today)

No I dont have a level yet. u can see my set up with the pics that i've added.

Broz, I understand what you are saying and I will do it your way next time out .

The pic is of the 600 yard target any ideah on what caused the vertical shot pattern ?

I was not allowing for wind it was farely calm . I was really after the Elevation .

Thanks guys for your interest !

Just about anything could cause the stringing including the mirage coming off of the corn.

Shooting off of the hood could jut as easily be responsible since you can't really lean in and drive the rifle without also moving the truck.

You also get some swirling winds above a corn field that you will not feel from the hill above it due to the flow of water vapor out of the ground through the corn and into the air.

Also your shooting station was pretty well protected from any wind that might have been swirling around the corn field due to the tree row so you would not have felt or even noticed a very slight wind between you and the target.

Nest time look at the tops of the stalks very carefully and see if you can detect any motion due to wind.

 

[ak1251]

bigbuck. I hope you were using the bunnyear bag and not the fluffy pillow. is your bunny ear bag soft or hard?? and do you remember were your cross hairs settled after the shot?? Calib don't try this in washington. you will be ticketed for having a loaded rifle in a motor vehical. I know this because I've talked with game inforcement officers who have writen tickets for this very same thing

 

[bigbuck]

Re: Shooting results !!!!!! (Today)

Just about anything could cause the stringing including the mirage coming off of the corn.

Shooting off of the hood could jut as easily be responsible since you can't really lean in and drive the rifle without also moving the truck.

You also get some swirling winds above a corn field that you will not feel from the hill above it due to the flow of water vapor out of the ground through the corn and into the air.

Also your shooting station was pretty well protected from any wind that might have been swirling around the corn field due to the tree row so you would not have felt or even noticed a very slight wind between you and the target.

Nest time look at the tops of the stalks very carefully and see if you can detect any motion due to wind.

The pic of the rifle and shooting position is of the 813 yard location .
I am a carpenter so I can build exactly what you guys are talking about

This location the mirage looked like it was flowing from left to right like a fast running creek . I dialed 1 MOA left windage at this spot.

You are right about the surrounding wind I held up the kestrel 3500 and turned it slowly in every direction and it didnt move at all, but when I looked through the scope the mirage told a different story....

I relocated the target before we left , it is set up at 1000 yards now. I will be ready next time . I have a bI-pod should I use sand bags under the rear of the stock ? while shooting in the truck bed ?

 

[bigbuck]

bigbuck. I hope you were using the bunnyear bag and not the fluffy pillow. is your bunny ear bag soft or hard?? and do you remember were your cross hairs settled after the shot?? Calib don't try this in washington. you will be ticketed for having a loaded rifle in a motor vehical. I know this because I've talked with game inforcement officers who have writen tickets for this very same thing

"bunnyear bag" ?

I was using a bulls bag . Filled with cat litter. ( kitty kitty's make good targets)

I never pay attention to where my cross hairs settle after the shot unles I have dirt to watch .

 

[WildRose]

Re: Shooting results !!!!!! (Today)

The pic of the rifle and shooting position is of the 813 yard location .
I am a carpenter so I can build exactly what you guys are talking about

This location the mirage looked like it was flowing from left to right like a fast running creek . I dialed 1 MOA left windage at this spot.

You are right about the surrounding wind I held up the kestrel 3500 and turned it slowly in every direction and it didnt move at all, but when I looked through the scope the mirage told a different story....

I relocated the target before we left , it is set up at 1000 yards now. I will be ready next time . I have a bI-pod should I use sand bags under the rear of the stock ? while shooting in the truck bed ?

Watch the tossles on the top of the stalks carefully. My bet is you see some swirl tha you cannot detect from your location. The convection causes water vapor to rise rapidly and thenit disperses very quickly to equal whatever the RH is in air. Think of thousands of little boat wakes just above the the corn. That's the water vapor exiting the stalks. The swirl above is that vapor dispersing above that level.

As for real bags. I'd use anything I could find to help improve steadiness be it bags, rear monopod or anything else I could utilize.

Remember to that at long range your trigger and breathing control or lack thereof can crate pretty large errors.

Len into it, relax and let it happen.

I go through kind of a mental relaxation exercise everytime I get ready to pull the trigger and basically other than leaning into the rifle I want my entire body limp when the round goes off.

 

[Korhil78]

Well you need to keep looking through your scope to see where you are after the shot. It's called follow through. If your crosshairs are way off target after your shot then you are holding the rifle incorrectly.

 

[bigbuck]

Re: Shooting results !!!!!! (Today)

Watch the tossles on the top of the stalks carefully. My bet is you see some swirl tha you cannot detect from your location. The convection causes water vapor to rise rapidly and thenit disperses very quickly to equal whatever the RH is in air. Think of thousands of little boat wakes just above the the corn. That's the water vapor exiting the stalks. The swirl above is that vapor dispersing above that level.

As for real bags. I'd use anything I could find to help improve steadiness be it bags, rear monopod or anything else I could utilize.

Remember to that at long range your trigger and breathing control or lack thereof can crate pretty large errors.

Len into it, relax and let it happen.

I go through kind of a mental relaxation exercise everytime I get ready to pull the trigger and basically other than leaning into the rifle I want my entire body limp when the round goes off.

I usually take a deep breath just before I steady the cross hairs on the target relax and let it out while the cross hairs are were they need to be then I try to let it be a surprise when the gun goes off.