Wile E Coyote
Well-Known Member
This past Saturday, I finally had the opportuinity to seriously shoot at steel at 1050y and at 1490y. Until now, 800+ was about the outer limit of what we could safely shoot. I would like to report that every shot hit within a 8" circle at 1490 and a smaller circle at 1000 but sadly, this was not the case. This morning I have a greater respect for those who shoot these distances AND hit their marks consistantly.
The rifle is no slouch. It is a SS Remington 700 in 7mm RM with a 26" 1/9 Hart barrel, blueprinted action, Jewell trigger and a few other "improvements" all set in a HS Precision PSV107 stock. On top, Talley one piece rings hold an older Huskemaw scope with the original turret graduated in clicks. The rifle gets a steady diet of Berger 140 & 168VLDs. I've tried a few 180s but haven't found the right load yet.
Saturday's shooting was done with the 168gn round; driven to a MV of 3020 by Retumbo powder and a CCI250 in Hornady brass. At 1050y I was able to put 7 out of 10 on the steel (about 16" square) with 4 directly hitting the 4" paint circle. I'm satisfied that I was able to hit it a few times considering I don't have the opportuinity to shoot like this often, just a few times each year at any distance over 500 yd or so.
The steel at 1490 was about 26" square with an 8" paint circle. Of the 10 rounds I fired here, 3 hit steel and 7 scared it (if you could scare a hunk of steel). The paint circle survived unscathed. Had the paint been 12" in diameter, the score would have been 2 'hits'. The positive in my mind is that all but 1 miss was left or right of the target. With the exception of that single round, all the rounds on steel held a horizontal line on either side of the paint. The misses off the target appeared to also be on that line. Better wind calling skills are needed and perhaps a better technique holding the rifle butt steady. I'll call it 50/50 for each. The one miss not in line was high as a result of ME not accurately setting up my PDA.
As I said earlier, I've been humbled and to those of you who shoot these distances and longer, regularly, with consistant results, my hat is off.
The rifle is no slouch. It is a SS Remington 700 in 7mm RM with a 26" 1/9 Hart barrel, blueprinted action, Jewell trigger and a few other "improvements" all set in a HS Precision PSV107 stock. On top, Talley one piece rings hold an older Huskemaw scope with the original turret graduated in clicks. The rifle gets a steady diet of Berger 140 & 168VLDs. I've tried a few 180s but haven't found the right load yet.
Saturday's shooting was done with the 168gn round; driven to a MV of 3020 by Retumbo powder and a CCI250 in Hornady brass. At 1050y I was able to put 7 out of 10 on the steel (about 16" square) with 4 directly hitting the 4" paint circle. I'm satisfied that I was able to hit it a few times considering I don't have the opportuinity to shoot like this often, just a few times each year at any distance over 500 yd or so.
The steel at 1490 was about 26" square with an 8" paint circle. Of the 10 rounds I fired here, 3 hit steel and 7 scared it (if you could scare a hunk of steel). The paint circle survived unscathed. Had the paint been 12" in diameter, the score would have been 2 'hits'. The positive in my mind is that all but 1 miss was left or right of the target. With the exception of that single round, all the rounds on steel held a horizontal line on either side of the paint. The misses off the target appeared to also be on that line. Better wind calling skills are needed and perhaps a better technique holding the rifle butt steady. I'll call it 50/50 for each. The one miss not in line was high as a result of ME not accurately setting up my PDA.
As I said earlier, I've been humbled and to those of you who shoot these distances and longer, regularly, with consistant results, my hat is off.
10 years & more $$ than I care to admit later... I still have to calm myself down when when I'm on my range. I have steel @ 1060 & another I will set up at 750 or so... have a 48x 20 silhouette I intend to stand at a mile if I ever get my ducks in a row.
