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Pre Pronghorn season scouting trip went welll..
Spend the better part of the last two days scouting for some big pronghorn bucks to hammer here in exactly one week. Our rifle season starts Oct 8th.
The rut is stringing along later then normal this year and the proghorns are still spread out all over the place in small herds instead of grouping up onto good food sources which is normal this time of year. Still, we scouted well over a dozen solid bucks in the 14" range and a couple "shooters" well over 15" that should score in the low to mid 80" range possibly.
At the end of the day today my brother and I decided to check out rifles out just to get some practice. We found small rocks at 450, 600 and 720 yards and each took two shots at them. He was shooting his 25-06 Savage that he just worked up a good load for using the 110 gr Accubond loaded to 3300 fps.
I was using my little green monster 7mm AM lightweight with the 200 gr ULD RBBT loaded to 3150 fps.
The wind was blowing 10-13 mph but at the 450 and 600 yard test it was right at our backs so no worries. His first two shots at 450 yards were both winners. First shot about 1" to the left, second shot centered the 10" white rock.
My drop chart said to use a 0.9 mil hold and both of my shots landed dead center but about 2" high of the rock. They landed basically on top of each other. Well within the vitals of a pronghorn or even yote for that matter with a center shoulder hold. IT was 80 degrees so I did not mind seeing the shots land slightly high, they will drop a slight bit when it cools later in the week.
At 600 yards, both of our drop charts were stating to hold very close to 2 mils down. My brothers first shot again was just off the left edge of the rock which was significantly smaller then the 450 yard target rock. It was about 5" across. His second shot split the rock in half!!
I found another rock of similiar size and threw two of the big wildcat bullets at it. Again, both landed basically in the same hole but about 4" above point of aim. Again, with the high temps and the 7mm Allen Mag, perfect for me with this rifle.
We then turned to the 720 yard rock which was about 6" in diameter and sitting in the middle of a steep bare dirt face on the hill. The wind was a factor for this shot as it was coming from right between out 7 and 8 o'clock position. Looked up the windage for my brothers 25-06 which was roughly 35" at 720 yards in a 10 mph cross wind.
We figured to hold 1/3 of the perpindicular windage and his first shot landed again on the right edge of the rock but this time slightly high, only 4 to 5" high though. Well within the vitals of a goat at this range in these conditions for a first shot attempt.
His second shot, after being able to read the wind from the first shot landed center horizontally and right at the top edge of the rock.
My two shots landed on the top left edge and top right edge of the rock, probably 5" horizontal spread with no visable vertical spread.
Looks like we are ready to roll for this Sunday. I will do alot more practice shooting throw the week but I think that will just be for me instead of tuning the rifle. It appears ready to roll.
More to some soon!!!
Kirby Allen(50)
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Kirby Allen(50)
Allen Precision Shooting
Home of the Allen Magnum, Allen Xpress and Allen Tactical Wildcats and the Painkiller Muzzle brakes.
Farther, Faster and Flatter then ever before.
kballen@3rivers.net
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