First range session of the year in the boooks!

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OK.  So I just got done with my first range session of the year and I must say I am very happy.  (Well it could have been better but there is only so much sunlight in a day.  )

I have done a lot to my Encore in the off season and it looks totally different.  I'll try to get a pic up soon.  I've got a standard Encore frame (Blued) with Synthetic buttstock (Cheek raiser installed) and synthetic muzzleloader forend.  I have a blued 26" heavy 300 win mag with EA brown Tactical OPS brake in stainless.  It wears a POS scope right now mounted in Leupold QRW rings attached to a Virgin Valley Base (MGM). Trying to save up for a Mark 4 right now but reloading is high! Oh yeah a trigger job was done too. 

Anyway got side tracked.  I started out with a new load at 100 yards to get on paper and see what group I could get.  My first three rounds were just inside of 5/8" (I think I like the 168 BTHP Match now!  )  I proceded to dial it in and move back to 300 yards.  I am sighting in my rifle here as most of my shots in this area are at the far end of very long fields!  At 300 my group opened up to about 2 1/2" and I wasn't pleased but not discouraged.  My buddy was already to move back to 400 after a few groups so I caved....  At 400 I regained my confidence in the Encore.  I shot a 4 shot group inside of 1 7/8" from the prone position with a bipod and only one sand bag for the buttstock.  To be honest I got so caught up in my groups at this point I burnt through my rounds and never made it to 500 yards!

Oh well there is always next weekend!   

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Went back for an extended session today and was agin very happy. 

I verified my zero for 300 with a nice 3 shot group.  Then proceded to dial out the distance my ballistic software predicted for 700 yards.  I have to say that after years of doing this by hand,     the software you can get for free now is great!      Anyway after a few minor adjustments to the windage for a marginal wind fron 7 oclock I was happily putting rounds in a 10" circle from 700 yards.  (I never really checked any of the groups for MOA but I am sure I was hanging around 1.5 no problem. 

In fact I bought a Champion prairie dog spinning target to shoot.  (I was sure one shot and this thing would explode but what they hey its only money right!)  To my surprise the dog held up!!!!      it did make a small hole as the self sealing polymer did its job.  In fact on my first shot at 700 yards I thought it was gone.  I hit the ground directly under the target and blew a chunk of dirt right into him.  The target spun for a good 5 to 6 revolutions.  LOL 

Overall I am very happy with my Encore.  I have it up for sale, but after today I may just keep it.