Joel Russo
Well-Known Member
This past weekend my friends Baer, Royer, Panik and I headed to Ohio to do some testing, steel plate shooting, and to stretch the legs on the .338 Big Baer. We arranged with Tom Sarver, owner of Thunder Valley Precision Rifle Club range, to shoot steel out to around 2,500 yards.
We arrived mid afternoon on Friday, and started testing the .375 Big Baer with new bullets and a different twist barrel. Royer had some "seat time" with the rifle at 1,000 yards and the mile.
I set up my .30-.416 Rigby Improved, and introduced my good friend John Panik to the long range game. He never shot past 200 yards before, so I figured the mile was a good place to start. He did well shooting at the 12" plate missing it by inches a few times. I think he's hooked....
Here's a picture of my .30-.416 that Baer built. Hall action, Baer barrel block, Krieger barrel, Jewell, 8x32 NXS. Someday when I get time I'll make a purdy A-5L stock for it.
Left to right, 6x47 Lapua, .416 Rigby case, .30-416 Improved. It shoots the 240 SMK real well.
We then loaded up our gear and went to a shooting position where Sarver put a 12" plate out close to 2,000 yards. Baer ranged it with his high dollar Leica, and came in at 1,950 yards. We broke out the .338 Big Baers and took a few shots before it got dark. No direct hits, but we managed to splash some dirt on it more than once.
Baer and I dueling our .338 Big Baers.
The 1,950 yard white plate just below the logging trail.
Saturday morning we were at the range cleaning rifles and swapping the usual lies, when much to my surprise I learned that a few LRH members showed up to shoot the steel plate match. We had a "midwest mini chapter meeting". KQguy, flounder, and TH brought some fine rifles.
KQguy and TH did real well attacking the steel plates.
We shot half the course and packed up for the long trip home.
It was nice meeting some fellow members, I look forward to shooting together again.
Me shooting my .30-.416.
The "Professor" Baer at work at 1,950 yards.
We arrived mid afternoon on Friday, and started testing the .375 Big Baer with new bullets and a different twist barrel. Royer had some "seat time" with the rifle at 1,000 yards and the mile.
I set up my .30-.416 Rigby Improved, and introduced my good friend John Panik to the long range game. He never shot past 200 yards before, so I figured the mile was a good place to start. He did well shooting at the 12" plate missing it by inches a few times. I think he's hooked....
Here's a picture of my .30-.416 that Baer built. Hall action, Baer barrel block, Krieger barrel, Jewell, 8x32 NXS. Someday when I get time I'll make a purdy A-5L stock for it.
Left to right, 6x47 Lapua, .416 Rigby case, .30-416 Improved. It shoots the 240 SMK real well.
We then loaded up our gear and went to a shooting position where Sarver put a 12" plate out close to 2,000 yards. Baer ranged it with his high dollar Leica, and came in at 1,950 yards. We broke out the .338 Big Baers and took a few shots before it got dark. No direct hits, but we managed to splash some dirt on it more than once.
Baer and I dueling our .338 Big Baers.
The 1,950 yard white plate just below the logging trail.
Saturday morning we were at the range cleaning rifles and swapping the usual lies, when much to my surprise I learned that a few LRH members showed up to shoot the steel plate match. We had a "midwest mini chapter meeting". KQguy, flounder, and TH brought some fine rifles.
KQguy and TH did real well attacking the steel plates.
We shot half the course and packed up for the long trip home.
It was nice meeting some fellow members, I look forward to shooting together again.
Me shooting my .30-.416.
The "Professor" Baer at work at 1,950 yards.