LRH class Aug 19-20

[Shawn Carlock]

Last weekend was the last 2 day long range class for the year. Once again I had a great group of guys attend. Some notes from the class:

complete Rem 700 domination of the class
calibers 4 338 Edges, 1 6.5-06, 2 308 Win, 1 300 Ultra
optics 4 leupold, 4 Nightforce
custom rifles, all
factory ammo, 2

Mostly the same notes and issues that I noted in an earlier post about the last class a month age, with a couple of extras:

1. The time spent spotting and learnig to call the dope correctly was much more valuable than time spent actually shooting.
2. It was the end of the 2nd day before most started to figure out that with the conditions (multi direction wind with direction & velocity changing about every 5-10 seconds)we had you needed to be ready to break the trigger as soon as dope was called then cycle the rifle and be ready to shoot before a correction was called.
3. It was a shock to most on the field day how difficult a shot in the field at only 500-600 yards can be with no bench and not great conditions.
4. For some reason this class jumped right on reading and calling in MOA
5. Most experienced shooters (but fairly new to LRH) didn't realize just how far 1276 yards is.
6. The 388 Edge in these kind of conditions was a huge advantage over the rest by a pretty big margin.
7. shooting stix take practice for most to feel steady with.

That concludes the majority of the notes from this class.
When class was over a friedn and I set up a plate at 1990 yards. Some notes from this:

1. It is a really, really long way
2. It is a really, really long way
3. The 338 Edge takes 74.50 MOA elevation
4. There is enough time from the time you fire until the bullet hits to build lunch
5. Consistant hits even with the Edge in fairly good conditions on the 18" plate are difficult
6. Most people think you are full of crap until the video zooms back from 64x and then they want to know how they can shoot 4 or 5 miles to.
7. elevation was not a issue on most misses windage was even though it was slight, I missed the plate due to windage by less than 6" about 1/2 the time. I had 1.25 MOA right wind dialed to hit.
8. Shooting almost 2000 yards makes 600-800 seem pretty easy.

[srhaggerty]

What power scope do you recommend as a minimum for the 2k shooting?

[steelhead]

Thanks for the report Shawn.

When we were shooting at 1600 yards a couple of weeks ago, it was interesting to see that the 338 EDGE round would still kick up dust, but the 300WM and 308's would not. This made it a lot easier to see where you were hitting and what corrections you needed.

And yes, I noticed the advantage of the 300 SMK had over other rounds, when it came to the wind.

Devin

[Fiftydriver]

Shawn,

I look forward to our one day shooting clinic before our hunt this fall. I am sure I will learn alot from you during that day, should be a good time.

I would have to agree with you about the 2000 yard shooting. This summer I have done quite a bit of it. Mind you with a 60 lb rifle off a front rest and rear bag shooting prone off the ground.

Even at that though. Making consistant hits on smaller sized targets at that range is not routine. A puff of breeze that would not even effect you at 1K will rear its ugly head at 2000 yards.

I get a kick out of these guys that come into the shop and see the picks from out shoots and say they want to shoot out to 2300 yards with their hunting rifles or if I can build them a lightweight hunting rifle to reach this range. I usually just smile and show them Black Sunshine!!

Anyway, good report, sounds like alot of fun. I think when you put the turbo charger on that 338 bore you will see a dramatic improvement in the ease of hitting that 18" plate at 2000 yards. Adding 500 fps to that 300 gr SMK really helps!!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Looking forward to it!!

Kirby Allen(50)

[Shawn Carlock]

I used the NF 5.5-22 x 50 NPR2. I was quite happy with it at distance. To be honest I don't know if more power would have helped, the mirage was was just shootable at 22x.

[Shawn Carlock]

I was getting a good puff at 2k and could use it to read the wind at the target. Often the bullet would hit right of the target and the wind at the target would be blowing left at the target.

[Shawn Carlock]

Kirby,

Looking foreward to the fall hunt myself. I too shake my head at the "league of mile big game shooters" that come into the shop carrying their 700 ADL in 270 win to have their new Tasco in hand to replace the fixed 4x on the rifle. They truly just don't get it. I also am hot to add 500 fps to see how much of an advantage it is in crappy conditions.