Hi all, yesterday I shot my new Ballard #4 Perfection rifle (cal. .40-65) at 500 yds for the first time. I had heard that there was a shoot at the Machias (WA) range on the 1st Sat of the month so I thought I would go and see what it was like.
I thought it would be a BPCR match with steel targets at 200, 300, 385, and 500 yds (mtrs), but as it turns out it was a 45 round match on paper bulls at 500 yds. Three 15 shot strings.
I have only had this rifle for about 1 month, and am just trying to work up some decent loads for it. I had the rifle zeroed at 200, and after checking the ballistic tables for this load found that there would be a 248 inch drop from 200 to 500 yds. I was a little sceptical about puting 50 mins of elev. on for my first shot, but did just that, and low and behold I was in the 8 ring with my first shot!
Most of the other 15 shooters were using the prone position, but I was using the sitting over cross sticks. I didn't do too bad with a 350 score out of a possible 450. That included 1 complete miss (-10 pts) and one cross fire on the next target (again -10 pts) I had a 10X on the wrong target!!!!!
It was pouring rain here in western WA and the wind was gusting from 2-10 miles per hour. In other words it miserable. But it sure was fun.
I wanted to get in a little practice for Kenny Wasserburgers Wyoming Territorial match next month and this is the only place SI can shoot out to 500 yds around here. I will really have to do some math to be able to get on his 800, 900, and 1000 yd targets in May!!
If any one else from WA State is going to this match let me know.
I posted this because it doesn't seem like anyone posts too much about shooting matches here lately. No one has even posted on the Paper Patch site for well over a week, and that was me!! Come on lets get some action here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D Omaha Poke
