Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Between chit-chat on TFL and a buddy's curiosity, I wound up building a shooting table for a 500-yard range. The targets are two lids from 55-gallon drums, and a one-inch thick, 22" steel plate. They're across Terlingua Creek from the house, and maybe 225 or 250 feet lower elevation. That's not enough down-slope to affect aiming, but it makes for an apparent distance that looks a lot farther off than 500 yards.
Weatherby Mark V, 26" barrel, .30-'06, various handloads with Sierra bullets. Simmons 44 Mag scope, set on 10X.
I first tried a while back with my 150-grain hunting loads. Zeroed at 200, I just used Kentucky holdover/windage and shot twice. Hit once at 6" low, 5:30; then, 1" off at about one o'clock. Smug!!!
Today, I thought I'd "do it right". I calculated the number of clicks for the distance, got out the box of 165 HPBT and the box of 180 SPBT and had at it. I figured that since I had been so good before, I'd be so good, again. (Go away, Dear; we're talking about something else.) Wrong!
I should have tested my sighting at 100 yards and then moved over to the other range. Dunno if it's the scope, or my own whatsits. So, first point on the curve.
I finally got on target and got a couple of five-inch, four-shot groups with the 165-grain stuff. Variable breeze, less than 5mph.
Shot a ten-shot group with the 180-grains. Two called flyers. Eight shots in about seven inches max spread. The spread was more horizontal than vertical, indicating the effect of the breeze. Smug again.
About that time I noticed that my little wax paper shim had fallen out of its place at the front of the forend, so I'd been shooting a free-floated barrel. This means I get to load some more ammo and retest.
Another point on the curve: Check your gear!
Comparative damage: When I went to paint the targets, I compared the damage from the 150, the 165 & the 180 bullets on the one-inch steel plate. The 150-grain bullet had barely made a dimple--if I may use that word. The 165-grain bullets made about a 1/8" deep dimple. The 180s, however, were noticeably different. They made a noticeable crater, splashing up some target metal. Maybe 3/16" deep, the hole was 1/2" across. Third point on the curve: Some bullets are better than others. I've been hunting with 150-grain bullets in an '06 for 50 years. Fine for deer dressing out at, say, 150 pounds or less. Bigger deer, or elk, I do believe I'm now thinking 180.
Afterwards, checking the 180s at 100 yards, dead-on at 500 yards is about 11 high at 100. (Not that I'd sight in that way; it's a reference.)
Fun day!
Art
Weatherby Mark V, 26" barrel, .30-'06, various handloads with Sierra bullets. Simmons 44 Mag scope, set on 10X.
I first tried a while back with my 150-grain hunting loads. Zeroed at 200, I just used Kentucky holdover/windage and shot twice. Hit once at 6" low, 5:30; then, 1" off at about one o'clock. Smug!!!
Today, I thought I'd "do it right". I calculated the number of clicks for the distance, got out the box of 165 HPBT and the box of 180 SPBT and had at it. I figured that since I had been so good before, I'd be so good, again. (Go away, Dear; we're talking about something else.) Wrong!
I should have tested my sighting at 100 yards and then moved over to the other range. Dunno if it's the scope, or my own whatsits. So, first point on the curve.
I finally got on target and got a couple of five-inch, four-shot groups with the 165-grain stuff. Variable breeze, less than 5mph.
Shot a ten-shot group with the 180-grains. Two called flyers. Eight shots in about seven inches max spread. The spread was more horizontal than vertical, indicating the effect of the breeze. Smug again.
About that time I noticed that my little wax paper shim had fallen out of its place at the front of the forend, so I'd been shooting a free-floated barrel. This means I get to load some more ammo and retest.
Another point on the curve: Check your gear!Comparative damage: When I went to paint the targets, I compared the damage from the 150, the 165 & the 180 bullets on the one-inch steel plate. The 150-grain bullet had barely made a dimple--if I may use that word. The 165-grain bullets made about a 1/8" deep dimple. The 180s, however, were noticeably different. They made a noticeable crater, splashing up some target metal. Maybe 3/16" deep, the hole was 1/2" across. Third point on the curve: Some bullets are better than others. I've been hunting with 150-grain bullets in an '06 for 50 years. Fine for deer dressing out at, say, 150 pounds or less. Bigger deer, or elk, I do believe I'm now thinking 180.
Afterwards, checking the 180s at 100 yards, dead-on at 500 yards is about 11 high at 100. (Not that I'd sight in that way; it's a reference.)
Fun day!
Art