2910 Yards with the 425 CEB

[Kiwi Greg]

Madjon & I took the 375 DCM for a rock shoot again last weekend.

I wanted to attempt 3000 yards, with the help of Reds Terrapin I managed to get a range on some rocks at 2910 yards, 2660 metres for the non-dinosaurs out there.

I struck a few issues other than a flat tire, bruised shin & knee I suffered after the shooting

I changed the rock I was shooting at for some reason ? old timers disease I guess & they are quite small at 0.5 x 0.75 moa

I also had my elbow against a rock in the ground a couple of times which wasn't particularly pleasent with the recoil

It all went pretty well really once the clean barrel settled down, until the wind got up a little bit & started pushing the projectiles around.

Looking forward to going back up there for another go once things have dried up abit so we can spot the shots a little easier.

The Nightforce ATACR is a really nice bit of kit, very easy to see whats going on, once the barrel mirage dissipates.

 

[Fiftydriver]

Only combo I have had any real success with at +3000 yards was my 338 AM and that was only using some prototype 265 gr AT RBBT that had a BC of .920 and I was driving them out at 3550 fps.

Watching your video, I think your simply "chasing the ghost" if you will. That is a term I came up with trying to predict where a bullet was going to impact once it dropped out of supersonic velocity.

I often say the exact same thing you videoed when testing conventional bullets at 3K. One shot would land high, make a scope adjustment, next shot would land low, make an adjustment but never what I would call consistant predictability.

In my opinion, I would say these projos are just going a bit unstable as they pass through the transonic velocities. They are not doing bad. I have seen some that REALLY get crazy but it seems your getting exactly what I have also seen when your shooting at ranges past where the bullet is traveling at supersonic velocities.

Very interesting shooting!!! Keep pushing the envelope my friend!!!

 

[Kiwi Greg]

Only combo I have had any real success with at +3000 yards was my 338 AM and that was only using some prototype 265 gr AT RBBT that had a BC of .920 and I was driving them out at 3550 fps.

Watching your video, I think your simply "chasing the ghost" if you will. That is a term I came up with trying to predict where a bullet was going to impact once it dropped out of supersonic velocity.

I often say the exact same thing you videoed when testing conventional bullets at 3K. One shot would land high, make a scope adjustment, next shot would land low, make an adjustment but never what I would call consistant predictability.

In my opinion, I would say these projos are just going a bit unstable as they pass through the transonic velocities. They are not doing bad. I have seen some that REALLY get crazy but it seems your getting exactly what I have also seen when your shooting at ranges past where the bullet is traveling at supersonic velocities.

Very interesting shooting!!! Keep pushing the envelope my friend!!!

Thanks Kirby.

You may be on to something there, Shooter suggests transonic at 3100 yards.

The projectile is 2.32" long so is pretty big lump of copper.

The 425 seems to hold the speed the longest, I guess it depends how the various size projectiles cope with the transonic transition.

I did manage a couple of just sub moa two shot groups in that video.

I will definitely have another few goes at it in the same area, unfortunately being a small island we don't have access to the higher altitudes to shoot at that help the ballistics, the mountains & sea are never that far away with the winds that follow them.

 

[Broz]

Greg, can I toss out a suggestion?? Hope its ok. I know you are a very experienced shooter, but I may have cured something with my own shooting that could help??

You shoot pretty fast and the rifle surely has some recoil, so try scratching the bipod legs in before you shoot. The other thing is remove any shooting mat from under the bipod or rear bag. Then change out your rear bag for something more solid. Your biggest problem is vertical and I am sure there are some thermals too. But I have a feeling the rear of the rifle is dropping under recoil.

Not trying to be critical, just sharing what I have done myself and what helped. At these distances it does not take much.

Respectfully
Jeff

 

[Kiwi Greg]

Greg, can I toss out a suggestion?? Hope its ok. I know you are a very experienced shooter, but I may have cured something with my own shooting that could help??

You shoot pretty fast and the rifle surely has some recoil, so try scratching the bipod legs in before you shoot. The other thing is remove any shooting mat from under the bipod or rear bag. Then change out your rear bag for something more solid. Your biggest problem is vertical and I am sure there are some thermals too. But I have a feeling the rear of the rifle is dropping under recoil.

Not trying to be critical, just sharing what I have done myself and what helped. At these distances it does not take much.

Respectfully
Jeff

Thanks for your input Jeff it is appreciated

The bipod has spikes, the feet don't move but being a Harris it does hinge back at the rifle.

I will remove the mat from under the bag, good idea thanks

Feild positions are usually always a compromise, this one wasn't too bad apart from the rock by my right elbow , it is gone now.

Shooting up hill is never ideal, shooting level is much better.

You are right it takes incredibly small amounts of "inconsistencies" to have a big effect at that range.

I do prefer to shoot at smaller targets so that the size of the groups/dispersion is quite noticable.

Hopefully when it is a little drier all the strikes will be clearly visable.

All this is a massive learning curve.

I was very surprised when the first shots were that high, in the past I needed to add 6moa at 2500 & 9moa at 3000yards

This time was the most consistent shooting past 2050 I have done.

Quite a difference between 2050 & 2910 yards though

 

[Yrcan]

Do you know the ES on your ammo?
It would have been interesting to see if you shot over a chrono, and see if your high hits was a result og higher MV with that actual shot.
I have shot my 338LM out to 2580 meters, using the 300 grs Berger OTM, and I did not have any issues with vertical spread as a result of the bullet being subsonic. My ES was 2 m/sec, which is very good for my standards.

Just a thought

 

[Broz]

I will remove the mat from under the bag, good idea thanks

Please let me know if you feel this helps. I have had two experiences where I was shooting very accurate proven rifles and the groups opened up from the norm. Both times removing the mat tightened groups with no doubt it was a problem.

Jeff

 

[Kiwi Greg]

Please let me know if you feel this helps. I have had two experiences where I was shooting very accurate proven rifles and the groups opened up from the norm. Both times removing the mat tightened groups with no doubt it was a problem.

Jeff

Will do Jeff.

The more I think about it & consulting with a mate with ELR experience, you are on to something with the back of the rifle dropping causing vertical.

My ES has been pretty good in the past, certainly no problems at 2050.

The projectiles are still pretty consistent at times which kinda rules out transonic, it is still possible though ?

Also I only regard myself as a half moa shooter, any tighter is a bonus, couple that with the extreme distance & moa is a miracle

Thanks for your input Jeff & Kirby, it is appreciated