Well...I guess everyone wants to know how this dang thing shoots...right..
All things considered pretty damn good
First the pics of the only 2 decent groups I WAS ALLOWED TO SHOOT..I'll explain later..
These are shooting Federal Factory 150 grain and 180 grain Power shocks..I've always found them to be on the hot side as to their loading for the 30-06 and today was no different..
The first group I got to actually shoot after sighting in and moving the target out to 100 yards was on it's way to be a very nice sub moa 3/4" group for 4..but I was bounced off my target just as I pulled through on the 5th shot which opened up to 1.25" group. This was shot with the 150 grains and the bi-pod as pictured. The temp when I started was 89 degrees and a slight but fabulous breeze.I should have just packed up and left..but didn't..From that point on..it was impossible to shoot with the bi-pod...My bench was really bouncing as you can see by the 2 shot groups to the right of the 5 shot group..I fired these during the barrage from my left..I actually was using the same point of hold which was the bottom of the 2.1/2" circle the 5 shot group was in...To say I was getting a little frustrated would be a understatement..but..such is the life of shooting at a public range..
The next picture of the second 3 shot group was shot with the 180 grain load almost 1 hour later and at 103 degrees no breeze and with the target barley visible where I was at. By this time my barrel was too hot to touch.
In the shooting booth on my right..I had 1 very nice guy trying his hardest to dial in 2 AR-10's..but in the 2 booths to my left were 2 guys shooting BP rifles and cap & ball pistols and some of the most gawd awful smoky CF pistol reloads. They were throwing so much smoke into the air..I could barely see my target at times.The bench I had to use was your typical 2x6's nailed across to the walls..all the way down the line so they were connected to everyone else bench..and each effects the other since they were pretty flimsy..When these guys shot..they literally bounced my rifle all over the bench. I had to remove the bi-pod completely because of not being able to tell what was happening with my shots..It was bouncing so hard at 2 points..I accidentally shot the guys target to my left 2x's..He understood..cause he was having the same problem..
So..How's it shoot...all things considered..and only using 2 factory loads..pretty darn good. I don't know if this is the typical handy 2 shots together and 1 out yet with the 180 grainer's,cause I didn't really get a chance to work at it and see with a steady rest,and was the very last group I shot..I packed it up and left..I am extremly pleased with the results though..they do look very promising. I'll have to try again when I can go to my co-workers range where I can shoot without too much distraction and out to 400 yards..I'll also be trying the 180's again as well as some reloads then..
On a side note..I did have 3 of the 180 grain loads loose their primers completely..no they didn't flatten and run out..but came completely out of the case..very strange..I hope to chronograph them and see what velocity I am getting.
Lastly..recoil with this rifle is basically non-existent...the 150 grain loads felt like a 125 grain 30-30 load..and the 180 grain loads was just a little more stout..about like the 150 loads..Adding all of the epoxy and lead shotgun slugs really tamed it along with that excellent recoil pad and hand grip on the stock..The varmint forearm slides really well in the bags BTW..just in case anyone wanted to know..IMHO sooooo much better than the smaller forearms for bench shooting..All in all a real creme puff to shoot..and I am very pleased with the result of it all around including the pro done paint job with the spider webbing..No chaffing with it on my cheek at all..
I think once I have it dialed in with some better loads..being able to say it is a sub-moa rifle will be a regular occurrence..right now I'll just say it's a inch shooter
There ya have it..Thanks for sticking around from start with this one..It's been fun so far..can't wait to really wring this baby out over the summer..and I'll update things here when I do..
Mac
