Match Preparation

Hello all,

What do you do for match preparation? To be more precise, at home preparation.

Today I would like to talk about match preparation and more importantly, shooting position preparations. I know everyone gets there ammo, gun, etc., etc., ready, but what about your shooting position for your style of matches.

I shoot mostly prone in the matches I am involved in. The night before the match after I get all my goodies, range bag and accessories put together, I like to get the firearm I will be using out and get in the prone position on the floor with the scope cranked way down. From there I like to focus on a spot on the wall with my prone position closest to what I think I will be at when at the range. I just hold there and keep as steady as I can, I try different breathing techniques to see what the steadiest is for me, body position to see what is steadiest and rear rest position. I like to hold my position for a few minutes and study each one and find the best.

Dry firing. I don't do it, I like to just squeeze the trigger of a uncocked firearm, I know that I don't get the feel of the trigger letting loose and sending the firing pin towards the cartridge, to me it helps me know and control my trigger a little better and then when I am at the range I fire live ammo an pick up on the trigger control where I left off before. Probably only helps me in my mind.

So off of the firearms and onto the accessories. I pack everything the night before and have it ready. I like to group my ammo up if I know how many shots are in the match, keeps me a little more organized an prepared, especially if it's a timed match.

What are some things you like to do? Feel free to comment.

Just Another Windy Day

Good day all,

Well I got a Mini-Palma match under my belt now, but what a terrible performance.

 If it ain't one thing its another. From a post earlier in the year my first Mini-Palma match got rained out, so I  made it to the next one, lucky me the wind was only blowing around 20-25 mph, we went ahead and shot the match, I shot a 173-1x which is terrible, with that being said on top of the wind I found out my scope was garbage as well.

After the wind died down, I went back to the range to zero my scope back in. I walked the shots back into about 2" from right of center, went another 8 clicks(1/4" @ 100 yard clicks) the next few shots went left 1/2 inch and not right. So with the wind and a junk scope no wonder I shot like crap.

Well this weekend we had another Mini-Palma but as my luck goes the winds were even worse 27+ mph, so the match was cancelled.

Seems like I have switched gears again, from centerfire to rimfire. The rifle I am using is a Savage BTVLSS with a Nikon 6-24x scope(now) and a 6"-9" bi-pod, the palma matches are shot prone position at 100 yards with 22 rimfire. I need to purchase some higher end target ammo for my matches but keep procrastinating on that, I have found a local gun store who seems to have a good supply of CCI LR standard velocity, I have been having pretty good luck with that.

Some other things I have done to the savage was lap the bolt to make it a little smoother an lap the bore to help with any minor imperfections. I did adjust the trigger to the lowest it can be set with the factory accutrigger. Some other Mods that may be coming up would be a trigger, putting a 11 degree crown in and a larger bolt knob. I do need to order a 20 MOA rail for my scope. I ran out of adjustment on the "up" rotation of the scope.

I did complete my RSO training and now I am a certified RSO at my local range. I would like to become more involved out there in the future as well.

Rex

I'm Still around

Well is been awhile since my last post, this time of year I get busy at work. Spent a few days in Iowa in March and this month for training related to work.

I pulled out the Savage Model 12 .223 and worked up some 60grain Hornady V-max loads. Got it sighted in really well. Had three shots in the same hole at 100yards then the range went cold for a few minutes, last two shots went a little low, just shook my head at those two.

Made it down to Eastern Oregon in May for some Sage Rat/Whistle Pig one weekend. Met my Dad and Brother in Law, had a good time along with a productive day of shooting. At least 50+ rats where taken. My Savage Model 12 performed great. Most shots where with .22 rimfire out to 50 yards.

Squeezed in a NRA RSO(Range Safety Officer) training for my local range. Got the classroom/bookwork done. Now all that's left is the practical day at the range this weekend. Which will be about the day to day operations of the range, looking forward to this.

Thanks again for checking out my blog, feel free to comment and I hope I can get some more posts published sooner.

Rex

Scope Shopping For Match .22 Rimfire

Been shopping around for scope for my 22 rim fire match rifle. Rifle has a 3-9x on it now, been wanting something in the 3/4 to12-14x range. Been looking at the Vortex Crossfire II.

If anyone reading has any scopes on there 22 rim fire with a 12-14x scope, leave a comment with what brand,power,quality, how consistent your accuracy is with it and any other useful info you have on it.

I'm open to all comments and scopes. Like to get some info on some I don't have or been around.

Thanks for reading,
Rex

This Week In Shooting And Reloading 3/9-3/15/15

Hello all,

This week I got ready for a Mini-Palma match and did some more load development with the Hodgdon Benchmark Powder.

This week for the Mini-Palma match I practiced shooting prone at 100 yards with my 22 rimfire. Sighted it in a couple weeks ago. The range weather was terrible, the wind was blowing 27-32 MPH left to right and was overcast an sprinkling. My first shot of the day was about 6-8 inches right and good on elevation. So I held the right side duplex cross-hair point center of target and was hitting vertically online with center but about 1/2 inch low, my best 5 shot group could be covered with a quarter, I thought that was pretty good do to the wind and rain. Didn't adjust scope any, I figured if the wind subsides for the match I still want my original zero.

Didn't have time to order match ammo online, so I tried different brands I had, Remington gold, Winchester SuperX, and some Federal. Overall my tightest groups where with the Winchester SuperX.

The next day is the match. So I wake up sunday, pouring down rain. Get gun and gear packed up to head out. Get to the match 30mins early, only the match director and I are there, we wait tell the match start time still nobody shows, just great so back home I head. Now the next match is in May.

This week with the Benchmark powder, I only loaded .222, took my best group powder weight and loaded 1/4 grain lower, 1/4 grain higher and same. 10 rounds each.  Shot all of them, my best group powder weight from last week was still the best this week.


Thanks for reading,
Rex

This Week In Shooting And Reloading 3/2-3/8/15

Hello all,

This week was a busy week at work, I didn't do much through out the week, just weekend work.

Lets start with reloading, I cleaned some nickel plated .222 in walnut shells, worked over some .243, deprimed, neck sized and cleaned primer pockets. That about raps up the reloading.

For the shooting, got to the range today, tested out my load work ups for the .222 and .243 with the Hodgdon Benchmark powder, I like the powder and the groups I got out of the rifles so far.  Took out the new Savage Mark II LH stainless with the thumb hole stock .22, sighted it in at 100 yards for a Mini-Palma match at my local range. Sighted it in with some Winchester Super X 40 Grain bullet, then switched to a Federal with a 36 Grain bullet, I had better grouping with the heavier Winchester round.

Here is some info on the Mini Palma match if you are wondering what it was.

Basically it is a F-class match you shoot with .22 rimfire with the 800-900-1000 yard targets simulated and reduced to shoot at 100 yards. Below is the target you shoot.

Link to basic Mini Palma rules and course of fire: ****Mini Palma Rules****

Hodgdon Benchmark Powder

Good day all,

This weeks product review will be on Hodgdons Benchmark powder.

I purchased this powder from the local shop here in town, been wanting to try it out but was actually wanting the IMR 8028XBR, local shop had the IMR the past few weeks but when I actually go and get it they didn't have any, just my luck so I got the Benchmark.

Benchmark is on the Hodgdons burn rate list at #80, IMR 8208XBR is at #85.

Here is a link to the Hodgdon burn rate list so you can check it out:   *****Burn Rate Link*****

For the calibers I worked loads up for where my .222 and .243.

****ALWAYS STAY BELOW MAXIMUM LOAD IN ANY RELOADING DATA YOU FIND****

****ALWAYS THINK SAFETY WHEN RELOADING****

The data I found for my work up loads was on the Hodgdon website, do not use my load data, always research and use your own for safety reasons. Hodgdon reloading Link:  **Reloading data Link**

For the .222 with a Hornady 53 grain HPBT I started at 21.5grs-22.0grs-22.5grs. My grouping got tighter an tighter with the larger charges. Best group was with 22.5grs, so with that I will go a tenth of a grain either way from their to see if I can improve accuracy.

For the .243 with a Sierra 60 grain HP I started at 38.5grs-39.0grs-39.5grs-40.0grs. Same as the .222 the tighter groups where the larger two of the four loads on this load work up. I had three touching with the 39.5 grains load and four touching with the 40.0 grains load, I know I pulled the one that didn't touch. This load I might try some loads between 39.5 and 40.0 grains. The rifle seemed to like those two loads.

For the reloading part, the powder is a short cut cylindrical powder and flows quite nicely through my RCBS Uniflow powder measure. It flows good into the case as well and is well away from a compressed load. The color of the powder is slightly greyer than the normal black powder.

After the testing my loads at the range and returning home to clean my barrels, I noticed there was minimal fouling down the bore, maybe a few little pieces and barely made the patch dirty. 

All in all this is a nice powder to work with and shoot.

Thanks again for reading and checking out this weeks product review, and feel free to comment or ask questions.

Rex