Kirby built 338AM takes down 7 cows 515-1187 yards

[jasonshortjeeper]

Yea it was early morning and no wind. The rifle is a 375 Cheytac, Lawton 8000 action, 30" Lawton barrel 11.5 twist, Manners T-4 Tactical stock and a Night Force 5.5X22X50 scope with Badger rings and a 30 MOA base and wieghs 22 lbs. I had it on a bi pod in the front and sand bags in the back. I was shooting 350 gr Sierra match kings with 134.2 grns of Retumbo. I was only able to do it once but my other groups where not to bad either. It helped having a Marine scout sniper as teacher and spotter also. That rifle is the best $5,000.00 i have ever spent.

 

[eddybo]

LazyLabs

We have been trying the rocky mountain bullets in my buddies 375CT. They are pretty expensive (2.65 I think ) but based on the limited work up we have done with it they seem to work pretty well. Accuracy is there, but we cannot say how they are going to perform on game. Where we shoot out to a mile it is a common occurance for pigs to show up. Hopefully next time we are out we will have some info on how they work on pork.

I thought about sending my 338AM back to Kirby and going with his version of the 375 and will eventualy. I have 500+ rounds down the barrel of 338 but have been very careful with it. I scoped it the other day and think that the 375 might have to wait a while yet. I expected pretty severe cratering, but things actually looked a whole lot better than expected.

 

[lazylabs]

Eddybo

Thanks for the info. I have the lawton action and 338 barrel. I might just get a 375 barrel and sorta go both directions. It's nice to hear I can get at least 500 rds out of the 338. I will have a barrel block setup so I should be able to switch back and forth with very little trouble. $2.60'ish a bullet is expensive but not really in the grand scheme of things I guess. Thanks again.

 

[captacademy]

Stories and information like the above are the reasons I joined this site! Although, I have only been to two long range hunting schools, I feel that the shot distances listed in the story were great testimonial of how far extreme long distance shooting has come. With all the new advancements in weaponry and optics, shots that were not possible years ago are now considered the norm with the right training and equipment. Obviously, training is key! Having supervised the training of several hundred individuals on various types of firearms, I have seen the transformatios take place. With state of the art equipment and a well trained person, anything is possible with in reason of course. From what I have seen from some of the top rated snipers and distance shooter that I know, is the ability to determine what they can and can not do. That's what makes them great at their game, gving them the edge when dealing with life and death situations.

Having hunted all my life and being around weapons, it peaked my interest when long range shooting began to surface many years ago. Prior, I would not shoot past 400 yards, now, after attending long range hunting schools, I feel very comfortable out to 1000 yards. Now 400, 500 600 and 800 yard shots are the norm for my tactical and hunting rifle shooting. However, I do know the limitations of wind and other factors that will make the difference in a shoot or don't shoot situation. I practice for one shot kills, shooting hundreds of rounds.

I had the honor and privilege to attend one long range school put on by Shawn Carlock and his father up in Idaho. Having been to several government sponsored trainings, I know a great school when I see one. Shawn's School was top shelf. Although, I had already been shooting at 1000 yards, Shawn was able to impart information on me that made me a much better long range shooter, he brought me up to the next level. He also taught us that a certain shot possible on one day may not be possible on another day due to outside influences, weather, wind, etc, and he stressed this.

Shawn had our enitre class reaching out to 800 yards plus on the first day. Individals such as Shawn and many others have a phenomenal ability to not only build state of the art rifles , but deliver quaility instruction, so that others may be able to benefit.

I feel eddybo, is a well versed individaul in both rifle building and shooting and defiantly knows his limitaions and that of his equipment which is second to none on a comparative level.
To read about 7 one shot kills with a state of the art 338AM is why I and hundreds of others come to this site. Isn't that the entire point of all the posts here?

I cant wait to see the photo's

 

[Randy338]

Well it is 4 in the morning and i am looking through this stuff......I shoot and tinker in the shop with Eddybo almost every weekend. He is a great guy and a good friend of mine. The HOF points have me puzzled...What does that have to do with Elk hunting in the field with no flags out and no sighter shots....NOTHING although my hats off to anyone who does have them. Eddybo is a good shooter and hunter and has done more for shooting and for people trying to get into it than most. I would have never dreamed i could take a shot at 1000 yards as it is a very long ways. I am the guy Eddybo refered to with the 375 Cheytac. He helped me set it up as i have never made hits over 300 yards before. If we work up a load at his shop you better bet its done a 800 yards and not 100 ....For any gun huntiing caliber not just the big ones. He spends alot of hours shooting at thes ranges just ask his neighbors. Back to me....When i started with this 375 Cheytac it all made since how one could shoot at these ranges. Once you do your homework and trigger time these big guns are just like making the hits at 300 i had made. After shooting and working my loads at 800 Eddybo took me over to shoot at 1400 yards. 1st shot on the paper WOW>>>>> we can shoot up to a mile at his house and before this ELK hunt he shot for 3 solid days working on the guns he was taking to be assured he was tuned up for the trip....SO i am not impressed he made the shots, I would expect him to make the shots. He pays his dues on the trigger and has taught me more than i can return....GREAT SHOOTING EDDYBO just wish i had made the trip,,,


Oh yea and EDDYBO didnt tell ya a few weeks back he made a 1shot kill on an Antelope at 600 with his 243 Ackley, Just ASK HIS GUIDE. Perfect kill shot

 

[Ridge Runner]

Well, if its easier to make first shot hits at 1K with a 338 AM than it is with a 7mm AM.........
Then thats gotta be cheating!!!!

good shooting and coaching eddybo!!!!
RR

 

[Boss Hoss]

Well it is 4 in the morning and i am looking through this stuff......I shoot and tinker in the shop with Eddybo almost every weekend. He is a great guy and a good friend of mine. The HOF points have me puzzled...What does that have to do with Elk hunting in the field with no flags out and no sighter shots....NOTHING although my hats off to anyone who does have them. Eddybo is a good shooter and hunter and has done more for shooting and for people trying to get into it than most. I would have never dreamed i could take a shot at 1000 yards as it is a very long ways. I am the guy Eddybo refered to with the 375 Cheytac. He helped me set it up as i have never made hits over 300 yards before. If we work up a load at his shop you better bet its done a 800 yards and not 100 ....For any gun huntiing caliber not just the big ones. He spends alot of hours shooting at thes ranges just ask his neighbors. Back to me....When i started with this 375 Cheytac it all made since how one could shoot at these ranges. Once you do your homework and trigger time these big guns are just like making the hits at 300 i had made. After shooting and working my loads at 800 Eddybo took me over to shoot at 1400 yards. 1st shot on the paper WOW>>>>> we can shoot up to a mile at his house and before this ELK hunt he shot for 3 solid days working on the guns he was taking to be assured he was tuned up for the trip....SO i am not impressed he made the shots, I would expect him to make the shots. He pays his dues on the trigger and has taught me more than i can return....GREAT SHOOTING EDDYBO just wish i had made the trip,,,


Oh yea and EDDYBO didnt tell ya a few weeks back he made a 1shot kill on an Antelope at 600 with his 243 Ackley, Just ASK HIS GUIDE. Perfect kill shot

Well am back from hunting at the ranch and this is entertaining to say the least---- some people are having trouble grasping the issue here. The point being made to all of the people with limited cognitive ability had nothing to do with the shooting ability of the poster. Now read it again and see if you can understand it this time. I have lost count at the number of animals I have shot at long range (crows to feral hogs). I have the best build my equipment and the outcome is always predictable when I pull the trigger but that is because I "practice" at the ranges that I hunt and compete at.

To the people who thing shooting 1k competition is easy then why not try it and see how long it takes you to get used to a person shooting a 338 Lapua AI less than 6 feet from you with the concussion of the MB making your bubble level for example vibrate right off of the concrete bench. Not many people do because you cannot as a general rule win using the big big boys in the 1K game. Hunting is a different matter entirely being easier IMHO. Remember I have done both successfully before you start tinkling down my leg here.

I was going to have reamers made for the 338 AM and build one or rather a refined/modified version of it but decided that it was not a smart move given the inconsistency of the brass available at that time. The 338 Slowpoke (which is a Speedy and my design) was what we went with but am now tinkering with building the aforementioned reamer again. Must admit it has potential for development into a very accurate round that could maybe, possibly be used for hunting and competitionl in the IBS HG class.

Like the cartridge quite a bit and will be most likely be building one shortly, also am not casting any aspersions on the (read this part carefully) personal shooting abilities of the poster when he (key word) is pulling the trigger.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Boss Hoss,
I don't see a problem there, your stuck on who pulls the trigger, anyone who shoots a bit can pull the trigger, If you have a properly set up rifle and someone who knows how to set it up for the shot, anyone can make a long range shot.
When all the data is collected and the scope is set isn't it just a matter of putting the "X" on the desired point of aim and squeezing the trigger? So whats the big deal?
I've taken 4 guys out who had never shot beyond 250 yards and let them shoot, I go over the #'s with them and instruct them on how much elevation and windage to dial, explain to them why its done this way and act as the spotter for them, the outcome, 4 shots, 4 dead deer at the ranges of 567,575,575, and 722 yards. get off the high horse, other folks can shoot, they just don't know ballistics as intricately as others.
RR

 

[bushido2222]

Humility...hmm

hu-mil-ity noun

the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.

Mr. eddybo, sound like you possess this quality in spades, perhaps you could loan some to the other fella Thanks for sharing your hunt and thanks for sharing trigger time to fellas that may otherwise never get the chance...keep em coming,,,dan

 

[Boss Hoss]

Boss Hoss,
I don't see a problem there, your stuck on who pulls the trigger, anyone who shoots a bit can pull the trigger, If you have a properly set up rifle and someone who knows how to set it up for the shot, anyone can make a long range shot.
When all the data is collected and the scope is set isn't it just a matter of putting the "X" on the desired point of aim and squeezing the trigger? So whats the big deal?
I've taken 4 guys out who had never shot beyond 250 yards and let them shoot, I go over the #'s with them and instruct them on how much elevation and windage to dial, explain to them why its done this way and act as the spotter for them, the outcome, 4 shots, 4 dead deer at the ranges of 567,575,575, and 722 yards. get off the high horse, other folks can shoot, they just don't know ballistics as intricately as others.
RR

Sorry RR not on a high horse----just have done this for a very long time and do not share your oversimplification of the tasks involved here. I like to win and I like to hit the animal being shot at the 1st time it is as simple as that.

 

[eddybo]

Boss Hoss, all of the guys pulling the trigger were up to the task. There was no question in my mind where the bullet was going. It would be very egotistical of me to think that I am the only person who can make the shots taken on this trip, especially when everyone had already made further hits with the rifle.

The shooters had no conditions to deal with, just align and squeeze. My 11 year old nephew could have made every shot taken back when he was 9. How about we just let it go. I am not into internet drama and would be just as happy if this entire thread was deleted.

I posted the original post only because of how great Kirby's 338AM build performed. That was mostly to inform people who helped me before I left that it was indeed a scope problem and not a gun problem and everything was sorted out.

I had problems late one afternoon about 3 days before departing where the gun was double grouping. I was worried that it was not a scope problem mostly because of Nightforce's reputation. I asked for other posibilities for the double grouping. I got good information from well intended helpful posters. Turns out it was the scope as suspected.

There were no great feats of markmanship, no trophies taken, just everyday mundane meat hunting, I would not do anything differently. Sorry if you disagree, but those are the breaks.

 

[eddybo]

BTW BossHoss I have given literally scores of people thier first taste of longrange shooting on my range. Usually it consists of me setting a rifle up for them to shoot at a 16 inch steel plate at 800 yards. To date not one has missed that plate.

I do not know how many shooters you have introduced to long range shooting, probably a good many if you do not mind sharing your knowledge. I am surprised that your experiance does not mirror mine.

 

[Boss Hoss]

Agreed that we should just drop it... Would bet we agree on 95% of this sport.

After reflecting on it while hunting this weekend I will be building a rifle based on the 338 AM. Going to finalize the reamer specs this week and next--then get it built maybe before the end of deer season here!

 

[eddybo]

You are going to love you new gun. .89BC bullets at 3500 fps easy to load for and accurate what is not to love. Good Luck