Gun season for deer opens next weekend here in the promised land so I thought I'd get out early while it was cold to check the zero on my 45.70..and the other rifles....As I'll be hunting on a thick bowater lease, a shot over a hundred yards would be possible but highly unlikely..........Haven't fired the 45.70 in a month or so.........
So......1895 Marlin in 45.70........Leupold VX-III 1.75 X 6 with the scope set at 6.....Weaver see thru mounts.........Shooting factory 300 grain Remington hollow points..............4 shots in 5/8 inch but when I add in the 5th....opens the group to 1 5/8" but is centered where it needs to be............I think I pulled the flyer......as the scope hit me on the bridge of the nose.....just a very small amount of blood........really, I'm very pleased........4 out of five that would touch a nickle.........No doubt well with in "minute of deer".........
Also took a Ruger 77 ultra light in .243 which had been giving me fits.....The old trashco which shifted poi has been replaced......after the new nikon prostaff fixed 4X scope, the rifle now shoots a five shot group right at an inch with factory winchester 100 grain ammo......take out the one flyer, and it's 1/2".........I've worked on this rife for years......glass bedded several times and different ways...., free floated......2lb trigger......really nice now that it has a scope that stays put...I think a good hand load would make this rifle shoot very well........but we all know you can't kill a deer with a .243........right?
The Savage 110 in .270.......walmart package gun, cheap simmons scope.... shooting 130 grain remington corelots.........five shot group of 1.25".............I think a new fixed 4X will be going on it when I can work it into the budget.........
I checked the zero on the Remington 7400 also a .270 last week......usual 2" group with factory Remington 130's.........this gun wears a Trashco 3X9 and might do better with a different scope but still with in minute of deer.......
I still need to get back to the range and make sure the Marlin 336 in 35 Remington is where it needs to be......... haven't fired it in a couple of months but was hitting a coffee can at 100 yards the last time out.......should be ok......ghost ring set up on this little carbine.....
The SIL's are due in Friday night........I usually let them pick which rifle they want to use but this year I'm not sure I'll give them first pick......I'm taking the 45.70.......I don't think they want to tangle with it anyway.......I keep thinking one of these days they'll buy their own rifles..........They do a pretty good job of keeping the grand kids fed and clothed....daughters seem happy.......so I don't mind loaning them a rifle, or taking them hunting. As long as they do that I try to treat them like sons......I can't wait for the grand sons to get a little older......Now if my son can make it in we might be able to make a memory or 2!
I've spent a few days out on the lease.......Haven't seen a trophy, but there seem to be plenty of eating sized deer around.........
Ain't this time of year wonderful?
