500 yard cherry...officially busted

[Animal_Mother556]

I have been shooting for quite some time (most of my life...not my ADULT life...I mean most of my life). Generally, I have to stick to 100 yards or under due to the area that I live. The exceptions have been the few times I have been shooting prairie dogs in Nebraska with my 22-250 at 300-400 yards. But, that was with a 6-18X Burris optic. So, anyway...a friend of mine invited my father and I to come shoot with him at a 500 yard range this past weekend. Dad and I did some talking to find out what rifles to take. We decided on my 16 inch carbine, and dad's M1, 1903A3 and his 1903A4. My friend brought his M1, his 16 inch carbine, and his .308 AR. Pics of the range:

This one is zoomed (as much as my poopy camera would allow)
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/AnimalMother_556/5.jpg

and here is zoomed out...
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/AnimalMother_556/6.jpg

We started at about 200 yards to make sure everything was good to go (by the way...we were shooting at a steel silhouette and some humanoid paper targets). The A4 posted about a 6 inch group at 200 yards (that was with 1950's corrosive AP). I was impressed being as how it was windy as shit that day...but it was mostly to our backs, thanks God.

Dad rocking his A4
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/AnimalMother_556/1.jpg

My friend with dad's A3
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/AnimalMother_556/3.jpg

Friend with his AR carbine
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/AnimalMother_556/4.jpg

Okay, at 200-250 yards, everything was pretty easy (hitting that steel humanoid like a mo-fo).

So, we pushed back to 500 yards.

Me loading the M1
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/AnimalMother_556/7.jpg

Dad shooting the M1
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/AnimalMother_556/2.jpg

Friend with his .308
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/AnimalMother_556/8.jpg



I was first to shoot the M1 at 500. Friend was doing his best to spot me with some binos. He was seeing some impacts below the target. Dad told me to go about two clicks up on the rear sight. POW!....DING! Dialed in now. I was surprised how easy it was to hit that humanoid. Good solid rest on the bench and good trigger squeeze. We were shooting my dad's reloads (as close as he could get to Mil-Spec 30_06). The A4 and A3 were also easy cheesy. Now for what REALLY surprised me...

The AR I brought was my cheapo (Superior Arms upper, 1/9 twist, 5.56 chamber, non HPT/MPI bolt/carrier etc...)

I was shooting 55grain Wolf. 4 MOA Aimpoint with a dead nuts 50 yard zero. Once I found out how much to hold over that humanoid...it was no big deal to ding that sucker. I would have never imagined that junk upper and junk ammo to hit that consistently. So, anyways...I was pleasantly surprised and thought I would share it with you guys.

[duece71]

Gosh I wish I could go shoot at a 500 yrd range, I am green :D
I just got my MWS with NF 2.5x10x32 sighted in at 100. I would love to be able to see what my MWS would do further out. Glad to hear you had the opportunity.

[mkmckinley]

I bet it feels good to let those old rifles stretch their legs a little. Is that A4 original or repro? How'd it shoot?

[Animal_Mother556]

It felt damn good to let those rifles do what they were BUILT to do...instead of plinking at 100 yards.

The A4 is all original except for the scope (post WWII scope...i think made in the 50's)

Also the A4's stock may have been either replaced or sanded and re-finished.

The only time we grouped it was at 200 yards (ish). I was getting 6 inch groups with 1950s armor piercing ammo.

[Animal_Mother556]

Here are some different views of that A4....


http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/AnimalMother_556/100_0417.jpg

http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/AnimalMother_556/100_1409.jpg

http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/AnimalMother_556/100_1397.jpg

[markm]

I
Dad told me to go about two clicks up on the rear sight. POW!....DING! Dialed in now. I was surprised how easy it was to hit that humanoid.

Yep. Having a good spotter makes all the difference in the world. I, just this year, got to shoot A2 irons at 500.

[Generalpie]

We recently had a full training day on an 800 meter knock down target range. It was so much fun it should have been illegal.

I have a fair amount of time on a rifle and I was amazed at the ability of my carbine to hit out to 500 with a non-magnified Eotech.

Judging hold over and doping the wind lowered the hits at 400 and 500 meters but it was still way over 50%.

The snipers were tagging 800 meters all day. Pretty cool to watch.

I can't wait for next time.

[Animal_Mother556]

Dad's eyes are horrible, his hands are arthritic, he has bad shoulders and has trouble holding long guns. Even with all those things being a detriment to shooting (which is his absolute passion)...he was still able to make good hits at 200 and 500 yards. Which, in my eyes, is a testament to his "never give up" attitude. He was having a good time that day judging from his smiles. He enjoyed watching my friend and I shoot, and was tickled to death that he was able to get rounds on target. He has taught me pretty much everything I know about shooting...and hearing him complain about not being able to see rifle sights anymore, or how he can't even hold a pistol for more than a few rounds before he has to rest his shoulders...it just friggin kills me. ANY time I shoot with dad is an awesome memory for me...emotional even.

Sorry to gush...but I wish you all could have been there to see how much a lifelong shooter like my dad was enjoying himself. He is passionate about firearms, and seeing him shoot these old rifles is awesome. He really does see the beauty and elegance in the design.

[drck1000]

That's awesome! Sounds like a great day of shooting and especially that you took your father with you. I recently got into rifle shooting and recently bought my first AR. My father is also a firearms enthusiast and I've taken him with me to the range with his 1903 and he has a great time. Like your father, his eyes aren't a sharp anymore and has a little trouble with hand strength. I've found that shooting off of the Lead Sled that I use to sight in my rifles helps.

The look on his face when shooting is priceless. I remember the first time that I asked him if he was interested in going to the range with me. I wasn't sure when it would be, just sometime. The next time I went over to his house, he had an old ammo can out along with his 1903 and a couple of pistols, so I could tell that he really was itching to go shooting!

Great shooting at 500 yards. There's currently only one small metal plate (I'm guessing around 12" diameter)at 450 yards at the range that I go to. It's a blast going after it with my RDS without magnification. A good spotter is a must, particularly with the cross wind that we usually get at our range.

Hope you get out shooting more often!

[davidjinks]

OP

I wouldn't be surprised if that is an M84 scope. IIRC that is one of the original issued scopes with a 1903A4.

Great day of shooting for sure!

[Eurodriver]

I was shooting 55grain Wolf. 4 MOA Aimpoint with a dead nuts 50 yard zero. Once I found out how much to hold over that humanoid...it was no big deal to ding that sucker. I would have never imagined that junk upper and junk ammo to hit that consistently. So, anyways...I was pleasantly surprised and thought I would share it with you guys.

Its incredible, and I'm not saying you are this type, how some people are so skeptical of someone shooting well at 500 yards.

If your fundamentals are solid, it is not difficult at all.

I mean, even girls can do it. (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JskGQeJYTvo/TfbgTcccguI/AAAAAAAAAFM/jsWc4RuQXEo/s1600/women-military.jpg)

[GTifosi]

What a letdown.
I thought this was going to be about some chicks being good from far, but far from good and getting roped into a beer goggles event before having a chance to escape.

Still, its nice that you can have some time with dad and friends doing *stuff like that instead of playing shoulda coulda later down the line when its far too late.

*Shooting I mean, not gross chicks.

[Animal_Mother556]

OP

I wouldn't be surprised if that is an M84 scope. IIRC that is one of the original issued scopes with a 1903A4.

Great day of shooting for sure!

Roger that, it's an M84. I believe the design was finalized in 1945, but this one is from the 50's...Korean War. The rifle is much older than that, so we have our doubts that this M84 was the original scope that was on the rifle.

But, yeah, you are correct. It is a correct scope to have on this rifle.

[Animal_Mother556]

Its incredible, and I'm not saying you are this type, how some people are so skeptical of someone shooting well at 500 yards.

If your fundamentals are solid, it is not difficult at all.

I mean, even girls can do it. (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JskGQeJYTvo/TfbgTcccguI/AAAAAAAAAFM/jsWc4RuQXEo/s1600/women-military.jpg)

Yeah, man...I had never shot that far with open sights. Now, my friend that invited us did 4 yrs in the Marine Corps, so this was old balls to him. But yeah, like I said...I was pleasantly surprised at how "easy" it was.

[Norinco]

http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/AnimalMother_556/100_1397.jpg


So badass!

[Animal_Mother556]

I love that rifle. Too bad my brother already "called it".

[Scoby]

If your fundamentals are solid, it is not difficult at all.


True. It can become mundane if you only stick to prone or the bench.

I like to mix it up with different shooting positions. Offhand, kneeling, etc. Offhand with an Aimpoint can be difficult.

[Animal_Mother556]

I will have to try that next time

[rezin23]

What range is this?

[Animal_Mother556]

Big Springs Complex.

It is just west of Montezuma,Iowa. The range was constructed by Brownells Inc. (where my friend works).