Alaskapopo
04-07-10, 00:17
RANGE REPORTS Getting Ready for Larue
Step 1. Develop a good load.
I did a lot of experimenting and chrono work and found that 21.8 grains of N135 worked great in my Noveske N4. Here is the best group fired with it at 100 yards. This load averaged 1.15 for 10 5 shot groups fired at 100 yards.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Targets/N135group1.jpg
As part of my load development I chronoed several loads. This load averaged 2528 over a 5 shot string.
Step 2 enter data into a ballistic calculator.
I entered the loads information into a ballistic calculator found here to help me get ready for long range shooting.
http://www.handloads.com/calc/
One thing find your bullets BC don’t trust the equation on the site. Sierra lists the BC for the 77 grain match king at .364. I entered in a 200 yard zero and a 300 yard zero.
Step 3 Establish your zero’s.
I have 2 zeros I want to use. A 200 yard zero for all the close stages and I can shoot out to 400 yards using the heavy duplex part of my reticle.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Swarovksi/reticlenoillumination.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Swarovksi/reticle2.jpg
I also have a 300 yard zero that allows me to shoot out to 500 yards without dialing in my scope by using different points on my scopes reticle and by holding low or high on the various steel targets.
Step 4. Test the rifles long range potential.
On 4-5-10 I went to the prison range in my town which goes out to 400 yards with Alaskacop. Unfortunately we could not put paper up at 400 due to the fact the range was only plowed to 300 yards. It was also snowing heavy which made seeing the gongs at 400 yards almost impossible. Fortunately I was able to dial in my 200 and 300 yard zeros. The ballistic calculator was with in 1 inch of being dead on at 300 yards. It really helped me a lot to have that information with me at the range.
Here is a 200 yard group I fired. I was quite happy with the accuracy.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Targets/Noveskegroup200yards.jpg
That is 1.78 inches. I neglected to photo a target fired at 300 yards that day. But my groups were in the 3 to 4 inch range. I fired at the gong a few times and hit it and we called it a day.
On 4-6-10 Alaskacop and myself went to the Kenai Snowshoe gun club range a 2 hour drive for me. It’s the only range in the area that goes out to 500 yards and more.
We arrived and the weather was not too bad and we had a heated area to shoot from which was nice. We did have a 15 mile per hour cross wind to contend with. (guessing at the speed of the wind) My rounds fired did not hit the gongs and barely clipped the right edge of the targets at 400 yards. I dialed in for the wind and then got back to work. It was a great day. I found that my gun shoots far better than I had hoped at this range I had groups in the 3.5 to 5 inch range at 400 yards and in the 7 to 10 inch range at 500 yards. The ballistic calculators specs were within 1 click (1/2 moa) at 400 and 500 yards.
At first I dialed in and shot the groups and aimed using the crosshair of my scope.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Targets/500yardsusing300yardzero.jpg
I was very happy with my groups at 500 yards. Then I started playing with using different parts of my scopes reticle with my 200 and 300 yard zero. I did this because I don’t want to have to dial in during the middle of a stage. The photos tell the story.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Targets/500yardsusing300yardzero.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Targets/400yardtarget300yardzero.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Targets/200yardzeroat400yards.jpg
Not bad for a 14.5 inch carbine.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/AR%20style%20rifles/NoveskeDesc.jpg
Step 5. Practice Practice Practice.
I have about 1 month to get ready for the Larue Tactical three gun match. This is my first big out of state match. I am excited and I don’t want to embarrass myself. Next week I will be working on shotgun skills.
Later guys.
Step 1. Develop a good load.
I did a lot of experimenting and chrono work and found that 21.8 grains of N135 worked great in my Noveske N4. Here is the best group fired with it at 100 yards. This load averaged 1.15 for 10 5 shot groups fired at 100 yards.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Targets/N135group1.jpg
As part of my load development I chronoed several loads. This load averaged 2528 over a 5 shot string.
Step 2 enter data into a ballistic calculator.
I entered the loads information into a ballistic calculator found here to help me get ready for long range shooting.
http://www.handloads.com/calc/
One thing find your bullets BC don’t trust the equation on the site. Sierra lists the BC for the 77 grain match king at .364. I entered in a 200 yard zero and a 300 yard zero.
Step 3 Establish your zero’s.
I have 2 zeros I want to use. A 200 yard zero for all the close stages and I can shoot out to 400 yards using the heavy duplex part of my reticle.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Swarovksi/reticlenoillumination.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Swarovksi/reticle2.jpg
I also have a 300 yard zero that allows me to shoot out to 500 yards without dialing in my scope by using different points on my scopes reticle and by holding low or high on the various steel targets.
Step 4. Test the rifles long range potential.
On 4-5-10 I went to the prison range in my town which goes out to 400 yards with Alaskacop. Unfortunately we could not put paper up at 400 due to the fact the range was only plowed to 300 yards. It was also snowing heavy which made seeing the gongs at 400 yards almost impossible. Fortunately I was able to dial in my 200 and 300 yard zeros. The ballistic calculator was with in 1 inch of being dead on at 300 yards. It really helped me a lot to have that information with me at the range.
Here is a 200 yard group I fired. I was quite happy with the accuracy.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Targets/Noveskegroup200yards.jpg
That is 1.78 inches. I neglected to photo a target fired at 300 yards that day. But my groups were in the 3 to 4 inch range. I fired at the gong a few times and hit it and we called it a day.
On 4-6-10 Alaskacop and myself went to the Kenai Snowshoe gun club range a 2 hour drive for me. It’s the only range in the area that goes out to 500 yards and more.
We arrived and the weather was not too bad and we had a heated area to shoot from which was nice. We did have a 15 mile per hour cross wind to contend with. (guessing at the speed of the wind) My rounds fired did not hit the gongs and barely clipped the right edge of the targets at 400 yards. I dialed in for the wind and then got back to work. It was a great day. I found that my gun shoots far better than I had hoped at this range I had groups in the 3.5 to 5 inch range at 400 yards and in the 7 to 10 inch range at 500 yards. The ballistic calculators specs were within 1 click (1/2 moa) at 400 and 500 yards.
At first I dialed in and shot the groups and aimed using the crosshair of my scope.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Targets/500yardsusing300yardzero.jpg
I was very happy with my groups at 500 yards. Then I started playing with using different parts of my scopes reticle with my 200 and 300 yard zero. I did this because I don’t want to have to dial in during the middle of a stage. The photos tell the story.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Targets/500yardsusing300yardzero.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Targets/400yardtarget300yardzero.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/Targets/200yardzeroat400yards.jpg
Not bad for a 14.5 inch carbine.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/AR%20style%20rifles/NoveskeDesc.jpg
Step 5. Practice Practice Practice.
I have about 1 month to get ready for the Larue Tactical three gun match. This is my first big out of state match. I am excited and I don’t want to embarrass myself. Next week I will be working on shotgun skills.
Later guys.