Shawn Carlock
Sponsor
While out testing the new LRKM in 338 Edge +P the other day I ran into an issue I know about but had spaced off. I had validated my ballistics out to 1360 yards with this rifle and set the speed in my program. A friend and I went spring bear hunting just the other day and spotted a coyote first thing at 1162 yards. I was in the back of my mind already thinking how cool the video was going to look when I X- Ring this coyote. I dialed up the programs elevation, we talked about and dialed in the wind, I took the shot at a still coyote with a broadside presentation and promptly shot perfect windage but over its back. My buddy called 1 moa high, the coyote of course took off and ran quite a distance out to 1400+ where we got a range on him and repeated the dialing process etc. When I broke that shot it too was 1 moa high. I stared at my newest creation with that blank "What in the Hell" look, it just didn't make any sense.
Long story short I had been shooting a lot of 200 rounds of virgin brass that chronographed at 3102 fps and that is what I had validated for. The load I had grabbed and used were 2nd fired cases and chronographed 3138 fps. Of course if you run that number into your program it is clear why the video shows my less than stellar performance.
My point in this thread is that when you start into the 4 digit range (1000 yards +) no matter how small everything make some difference. The 40 fps difference in my 2 loads was responsible for about 1moa in elevation causing me to miss what would have been a "Kodak moment". The same can be said for many other minor issues that would not affect the 3 digit shooter, I have listed a few of my favorites:
If your ES is 25-30 fps instead of single digits.
Using temperature sensitive powder (even if it is only 50 fps from 30-100 degrees).
Failure to look at the anti cant bubble.
Failure to add in the 5 degrees the angle of the shot changed as the target moved.
The tree limb that is at mid range and 50 feet above your line of sight that you hit because you didn't think about the height of the ark of the bullet.
But my favorite ELR issue is relative group size, when you shooting a group that would barely fit on a 5 gallon bucket and are getting bummed about it, you then realize that your shooting at 2543 yards and holding well under minute of angle.
So to sum this thread up, the issues that don't even concern the 3 digit shooter can make or break the 4 digit shooter so pay attention, dot the "I's" and cross the "T's" because that is what ELR is all about.