Wilddog stock and wolfeye's 260 hunter torch

[bsrecurve]

After a few cancelled weekends, i finally got out last weekend to try out my new wilddog stock and wolfeye's hunter260.
The wilddog so far is everything i hoped it'd be - perfect lines/ergonomics for spotlighting IMO, and the ammo storage compartment holding 18 rounds of 223 ammo is great when spotlighting - no more fumbling around for ammo.
the rifle started out as a stocko rem 700 sps tactical in 223:



It came with a crappy millet scope at the time.
it now wears a lupy VXii - 4-12x40AO with a thin varmint duplex retical. I lightened the trigger, and dropped her into the wilddog stock, which is pillar bedded. Inletting was perfect, and dropping it straight in seems to work well. i will however do a proper bedding job down the track when i have time and devcon steel to spare. the comb is at the perfect height for me, and i like the paint. it doesn't look too tacticool for school, just a generally handsome rifle IMO.



The very handy fold-out ammo compartment - which is completely rattle-free and silent just as they claim:



as for the wolfeyes torch - i can only echo the many other praises sung by others about these little torches. the 260 lumens is easilly usable out to 120 yards for me (assuming you have a decent scope for the job), and it's generally very well put together and opperates very well. the tape switch is a handy option, and the small size and low weight of the whole setup is un-noticible on the rifle while walking around. Glen from wolfeye's is honest, straight-upand gives very good advice on his product - top bloke to deal with. i am very pleased with both of these purchases so far, and they are sure to see plenty of use over the years.
the whole system works together very very well, and as you can see below - brair rabbit had a bad night when he got a case of lead-poisoning (55gr rem factory sp).....



i also did some load-testing using the OCW method, but still have some more pills to try, so will post the result when finished.

just thought i'd throw in this pic i took at a piggy-looking longreach billabong:

[Jacko]

Great to see you finally got out to test out your new toys Brian . Nice looking stock , they don't make a Wilddog for a Rossi or a Marlin lever do they  . I am surprised that even a light weight torch like the Wolf Eyes does not throw the balance of the rifle off perched up top like that . Am looking at one myself to mount up on the Browning BL22 but was thinking more of a under barrel mount to offset the higher point of gravity .

Gotta do something about your unfortunate habit of blowing up a top feed mate , at least when I had the 22.250 it used to skin , gut and cook bunnies . The Stoeger should cop a good work out around the edges of that Billabong bloke - here piggy piggy - BOOM !

I'll bite mate , just a dumb posty , not an edumicated teacher - whats the OCW method ?

regards Jacko

[bsrecurve]

OCW = Optimal Charge Weight

basically, it's a method of developing loads based on finding the most pressure tolerent load (also most tolerent load in regards to barrel harmonics i believe). developed by a bloke called DAN NEWBERRY if i recall correctly. it's probably not much use with close range pistol cartridges out of lever actions IMO mate - i reckon it's more suited to the faster centerfire rifle cartridges which are much more likely to be used at extended ranges.

basically you load a set of charge weights in increments - eg for a 223 you might load 24gr, 24.3, 24.6, 24.9, 25.2, 25.5, 25.8. and fire 3 shots of each charge weight at different target dots. you find that the different increments will print different average POI, and at some point there will be 2 or 3 charge weights which all print to same or very similar POI. the medean of these charge weights is known as an OCW node, and is a very pressure tolerent load. after that you can adjust seating depth to squeeze out some more accuracey. of all the "methods" of finding a good load - this one makes the most sense IMO - especially if you're likely to be stretching the ranges you shoot at, as vertical dispersion is something you don't want.

i have found that the OCW nodes i've found in my testing also tend to show the least vertical dispersion, which makes sense really. i only bother with this method for my heavy barreled savage 308 and the 223, as they are the only guns i have that will see any realistic benefit from this method. benefits i see from this type of development are that different environmental conditions like a hot summer/cold winter wil have less effect on a load that is already very pressure tolerent. also things such as the level of fouling may have less effect IMO - such as if you're doing a lot of spotlighting. also if a load is not fussed by a few tenths of grains either way, any sloppiness in your powder thrower technique etc. will be compensated for by the fact that the load is tolerent of slightly more or less charge-weight. you will also see less fliers IMO on the range.

for my lightweight ruger 308 i just found a mild load that seemed to shoot reasonably well and stuck with it, as i doubt very much i'll ever want to go past 200m with it really.

anyway - that's enough rambling for now.

[bsrecurve]

links for our international freinds:

http://wolfeyes.com.au/

http://www.wilddog.com.au/content/default.asp

[Jacko]

Thanks for the explation Brian ,  I set about developing the best loads for my Rossi in basically the same manor with out realizing it had a fancy name . I started at the bottom end in my reloading manuals and increased them .2 of a grain until I hit max loads [ and above ]keeping notes and then checking those notes at the end of the day , and re did the loads that showed the most potential and then stuffed around going up or back a 10th of a gr until I found the sweetest loads . Worth it in a lever as well mate .

Soon as the permit to acquire comes through for the 1894 I'll start the whole process again , quite enjoy it . Finally found a sweet load for the BL22 as well , the faster the better it really likes the CCI maxi mags . Trouble is I got all these leftover half full .22 boxes that shoot like crap .

Holidays next week , we expect a full run down and plenty of pics . Any chance of dusting off your hunting bow .

regards Jacko

[bsrecurve]

Holidays next week , we expect a full run down and plenty of pics . Any chance of dusting off your hunting bow .

yes - i was just looking at my bows last night as a matter of fact.
probably won't take them out these holidays, as there will be a fair amount of "erradication" going on at the cockies request, however christmas holidays will be a different story.

[Chappers]

..... and i thought that the scope covers would be the last thing to add to the .22LR.
with the Wolfeyes torch can you not have a tape switch and just a normal button switch and can the mount can be moved either forward and backwards in the centre part of the torch?

Also nice rifle Bsrecurve.

[bsrecurve]

chappers - the wolfeye's is a perfect addition to a 22lr IMO.
means you can go out for a walk from camp after dinner and maybe plug a few bunnies/foxes with very little hassle in terms of setup, and easy to carry.
mate the wolfeye's system is very well thought-out.
with the tape switch mounted, i can use that, and the torch still has a regular always on/off button at its base, so if you want to walk around with the torch left on that's no problem.
also the package i got included a regular base for the torch which would be fine to use on the gun as well.
yes - the torch can move back and forward for most of its length in the mount.
it can also be mounted on the barrel if you prefer, although i don't like the idea of that personally as it may change point of impact.
hope this helps mate - they aren't cheep, but i'm very happy with the setup, and it's very usefull in an area that has bunnies, especially if you don't have a vehical-mounted spotty like me.
cheers - brian

[Chappers]

They are i bit expensive, however i did find a similar torch on the Kizlar website ( http://www.kizlyarknifestore.com.au/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=27&zenid=871rk1p95en5517vgasgncu9r6 ) for under half the price. As a rule this would mean i would be getting a cheap knockoff but i have purchase some Kizlar knifes off him before and im very happy with the quality. So i gove the torch a go and tell you guys if its a dud or not don’t hold your breath i think ill have a hard time to convince the boss when its this close to our wedding.

You think a torch mounted on the barrel of a .22lr would play with the barrel harmonics?

Also im guessing that your  left handed?

[bsrecurve]

mate i doubt it'd be noticable on a 22lr really, and probably wouldn't worry about that.
on a centerfire i think it may be a different story though....
i remember a review of the wolfeye's in gun's and game mag where there was a consistant and repeatable POI change on the blokes 22 hornet.
from memory i think it shot about 1 or 2 inches lower with the torch barrel mounted.
regardless - i like it on top of the scope.

BTW: i am right handed mate - and i assume you guessed left because of the tape switch position?
i hit it with my left-hand thumb, as that is most comfortable for me.

cheers

[Jacko]

Chappers , thanks for that link mate , looks the goods . Decisions , Decisions , they are either cheap knock off's OR the Wolfseyes are overpriced . Would have to have a look at both me thinks !

regards Jacko

[Chappers]

I can put up my hand for the quality of the Kizlar knifes i have five of them. (two are my own and the other three will be gifts for my grooms men... ill have them engrave soon)
I hope it the same story with the torch jacko.