Stalking fun shoot - anyone game?

[tjwaines]

Cheers, it was raining as well! Most of my shots are taken from sticks so thought bipod would be cheating, believe me they'd be better than that if it was off a bipod! I'm pleased, the 2nd shot would still have been a dead deer and I doubt I'd have noticed the fact I 'pulled it'.

 

[caorach]

the 2nd shot would still have been a dead deer and I doubt I'd have noticed the fact I 'pulled it'.

That is true enough. I don't buy into the idea that some people claim they shoot better on deer than at targets as I suspect the target represents your true shooting ability laid bare. However, if I don't practise at targets I find it very hard to concentrate and so often find that I can lay down one or two good shots and then a wild one, in fact it isn't always even the 3rd shot that goes wild but usually the first one is OK because my mind is on the job. I could search for all sorts of excuses about barrels heating up and gusts of wind and so on but my feeling is that I just don't have the required concentration for it. After a bit of practise there is usually a marked improvement and on a day I'm feeling relaxed and the eyesight is good I suddenly find that all the problems with barrels heating up and gusts of wind just vanish and I can shoot reasonable, for me, groups.

 

[User00047]

That is true enough. I don't buy into the idea that some people claim they shoot better on deer than at targets as I suspect the target represents your true shooting ability laid bare. However, if I don't practise at targets I find it very hard to concentrate and so often find that I can lay down one or two good shots and then a wild one, in fact it isn't always even the 3rd shot that goes wild but usually the first one is OK because my mind is on the job. I could search for all sorts of excuses about barrels heating up and gusts of wind and so on but my feeling is that I just don't have the required concentration for it. After a bit of practise there is usually a marked improvement and on a day I'm feeling relaxed and the eyesight is good I suddenly find that all the problems with barrels heating up and gusts of wind just vanish and I can shoot reasonable, for me, groups.

I used to suffer from lack of concentration a bit shooting .22 rimfires, but with the .243 I just remind myself how expensive the federal premium ammo is (£30+ box of 20) and that is enough to make every shot count!

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

Philip, this is a good idea. I will have a crack at this over the next day or two.

Might be embarrassing.

 

[caorach]

It certainly embarrassed me Brian as I shot one of the biggest 3 shot groups I've ever shot. I showed it to a mate and he didn't believe I'd post it

Apache posted a file of the "dot of doom" target and it appears on one of the early pages of the thread so download it and give it a go and have a bit of a laugh.

I hope you are enjoying a very merry Christmas. I'm working all this week but off to Scotland on Saturday so don't mind at all. When I come back in January hopefully everyone will have had a chance at this version of the fun shoot and I was thinking of a new one. What do you think to 5 clay pigeons off sticks at 200 yards? First 5 shots of the day, no foulers or practise, post how many of the 5 you hit?

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

Philip, enjoy the trip. I am off down to Wicklow on Thursday.

The five clays at 200 should be good fun. It is possible, but damn few of us could hit 5 in a row. As you know I practise off sticks regularly, including an 8" gong at 375 yards. I can hit it, but it helps to have a scope with turrets.

Quad sticks also help over a two or three stick set.

 

[caorach]

Have fun in Wicklow Brian, looks like the weather will be a bit mixed for you but hopefully you will get a few deer to help keep you on your toes.

My plan was to shoot the 200 yard targets either sitting or kneeling, I can't manage sitting but can do kneeling more consistently. Even so, as you say, it might be a bit of fun. The reason I went for 5 and not 3 was to give me some extra chances to at least hit one of them

 

[jamross65]

Here is my effort. Range finder to 100yds, wind left to right, not strong but noticeable. .308, 150grn SST's, Lapua brass and Varget powder. Rifle is a Sako 85 20'' Barrel Stainless Varmint. Scope was set on 8x. Bi-pod used is a 3 draw Harris because that is what I normally have on the rifle. No butt rest etc.

I appreciate the foundation of the 'test' but to be honest hitting a 1'' target with the rifle zeroed at that 100yd distance first I would have thought to have a truer indication of ability as when in the field I never allow for that inch and a bit from where the rifle is zeroed for. I say this because from memory my rifle was zeroed at about 1.75'' high. The first shot I fired was a guess as to where to aim low so as to hit the circle. I though after taking it I was at risk of going too high with the next 2 so aimed a wee bit lower, perhaps 'over compensating' with the last two shots. I allowed nothing for the wind.

This combination will group at a target for zeroing purposes at around the half inch, using either SST's or Sierra Gamekings, although the Sierras are not quite as accurate.

Good fun though...

 

[Mr Lewis]

Right just got the 25-06 back from being cerakoted and put a new scope on it so if the rain holds off I will give it a go later off sticks

 

[bewsher500]

Thanks very much, but overall the 7 shots just make a 1 MOA group. Merry Christmas. JCS

I am disappointed.
I assumed the first target was 2 in the same hole!! Its the least i have come to expect from you!

 

[Timney]

A few weeks ago me and my .308 went ar*e over tit into a ditch, rifle went back in to the cabinet and not taken out since. After seeing this thread i thought i would use the opportunity to see where the shots were going. You can see from the picture that the scope was knocked enough to put the shots two and a half inches high and two inches left. All targets were shot at a distance of 102metres. The load is 47gn re-15 with 150gn Speer SPFN.

These were taken with no rest, just bipod in a soaking field with wind right to left approx 10mph+. This would more than likely have been on the very edge of a clean kill. A bit of an adjustment and I left the shots approx 3/4" to the left to allow for the wind, the shots nearer the 1"target were 0.817" c-c, two on the left hand side were sharing the same hole.

A couple of hours later (to make it more realistic by breaking my shooting rythm), I took out the .243. The first three shots using my 80gn Sierra BTSP are shown on the left hand target. I am very happy with these shots at just over the inch - I try and fire without too much delay which would probably be more realistic for me in the field. I also took the opportunity to fire off some old rounds that were sat around in my cabinet (I needed the brass!!). The right hand target was shot straight afterwards rapid fire with Hornady 87gn BTHP and 37gns VV N150. Again, I was very happy with this as well considering there was only one "flyer" outside the main group which was more likely me pulling but still well within the kill zone.

Took the chance to let loose a few rounds at mole hills as well, I love seeing them disintegrate when you hit them smack in the middle with 100gn gamekings!! I must point out that I am shooting on a hill farm and there are plenty of good solid backstops for all the shots!!!!

Thanks for starting this thread Caorach, it's nice to actually get out and fire some shots now and again and have some fun but with a clear objective to make us consider how we shoot under real conditions not from a bench rest...now to try them 80gns on a foxy tonight!

 

[Drag1]

Well iv;e been and done it today went down the local range and had a play two targets to put up first one off the bipod and the second off trippel sticks
with the 30-06 165grn bullet and my Blaser R93

 

[BunnyDoom]

I think we are missing things here, as it's a stalking scenario, perhaps a 2 mile yomp and someone poring water down your neck while taking the shot, and for one member on here a full bladder

Now Taff I can't help it if I've the bladder of a 4yr old girl... haha!

But yes you're right I will be sure to get on the coffee and make sure I haven't had a pee in at least 5 minutes!

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

OK, here it is, warts and all, shot on 26/12/12.

Rifle is my semi-custom 260rem, load is a 120gr ballistic tip, rifle is zeroed 2cm high at 100 yards.

Strictly as per the rules, set the target up, withdrew to 100 yards. Rifle was dirty but had not been fired for a few days.

Flopped down on the wet ground on my ample stomach. ****ing with rain and a cross wind - (excuses I know).

Pretty uncomfortable, rifle on the bipod, no rear support, fired three rounds only.

This is it, I make the group a little over an inch, not quite inch and a quarter. I really would expect to do better, this rifle does a lot better - off sandbags on a bench.

 

[caorach]

I think that is pretty respectable Brian and I would say that it puts you among the best of those who have shot at the "black dot of doom." I think the black dot is a tricky target as for most people who are not zeroed at 100 you are aiming into white space. The cross hairs on my S&B 8X56 pretty much cover an inch at 100 so you get no help from them either

Did you shoot a second group just for your own interest? As you may have noticed my group was, tactfully, not great at probably 3 - 4 inches but I shot a 2nd one immediately after it just to see if I could pull things together and it was a lot better plus my group off sticks was better than the first "bipod, no practise, first 3 of the day" shots. It is amazing how even a few shots in practise can improve things.

Either way its a bit of fun and well done for giving it a go and for posting the first group of the day. Looking at your group I must say that if it had been just a fraction lower I think you'd of had all 3 in the black or touching it.

 

[ezzy6.5]

Itching to have a go at this. I only have 12 rounds left until I can get hold of some partitions. As soon as I get some and load them up I will be out. Can't promise I will post the results though.

Ezzy

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

Philip, I did not shoot again. It started to lash with rain just as I set the target up, I cracked off the three shots in about ten seconds and ran for cover. I had intended to shoot it off the sticks also but the rain was plastering the lens of the scope and my spec's.

I did not attempt to hold low to allow for the zero, I suppose I should have clicked two down, all three might have been in the black. Anyway, it is an honest account of what happened.

If I get a decent day before I go back to work, I will shoot two targets side by side for comparison, both at 200 yards, one sandbagged of the bench, and the other on the bipod as per your rules. Should be an interesting comparison to see the extent of human error. At 100 yards off the bench with that load in the 260, I would expect all three shots to be touching, you can see the difference above.

 

[limulus]

Where did that go?

I cant see the thread about having a bit of fun with the target shots for the life of me.

Anyway....I went out tonight in this bloody horrendous weather and took 4 shots off the quad stick at 120yds (it was the only place I could get under some tree out of the rain and the nearest safe backstop, yeah I know I'm a wuss). Top two are from the 308, its zeroed 2" high at 100yds so I took a guess at hitting the mark. second 2 were with the 243 which is set 1" high at 100yds. The circles were just drawn with a marker so you can see the size they are with they penny next to them.

I'm happy enough with these

View attachment 22872

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

Nothing wrong with that. All four if those shots will get the job done.

 

[davidm]

Here it Stalking fun shoot - anyone game? good shooting as well.