Well...here's my groups from 6-16..with my Optima Elite 308..and my Winchester HV 223..and my Savage 10FP 308
It was a hot one at the range that afternoon...We didn't get there till almost 2pm..and it was 94 when we started shooting..and 96 when we had to stop..The mirage was terrible..we had real high humidity..and it wasn't one of the best times to shoot..but at least when we started..no-one was at my friends private range..
We shot all at 200 yards..since this is where all the targets we already set..and it was just too hot to go moving them..
First up was my Winney...it is a real jewel..I have it outfitted with a Nikon Buckmasters 6-18x40 Side Focus Fine Dot..This is one sweet combo...I don't know why I waited so long to get a 223...dumb I guess..Here it is..
The groups were excellent once we got it on paper...I shot a couple boxes of Federal American Eagle 55 gr. FMG a couple boxes of the Federal L.E.O. TRU 40grainers..and tried some really cheap Russian Bear 62 grain SP...which wouldn't group or even feed properly..they were the steel cases that were lacquered ..and went everywhere but on the paper..
Here's the Eagle ammo...3 shots went into .365" and the other 2 shots opened it up to .780"...I am in awe of this combo...and can't wait till next month till I have my membership of my own at a BR club I am going to join..
Here's the Federal 40gr.T.R.U. L.E. only ammo..it was pretty good too...
My friend wanted to shoot the Winchester..he didn't bring anything with him..so I let him try them first..This picture has a couple of his groups and mine on it as well..I started to get it zero'd after shooting the Eagle ammo..I didn't know the ballistic data on it..so I figured a 200 yard zero would be ok..He shot the first 2 groups..and got the horizontal dialed in..I started moving it down..The Nikon is a great scope..but even with the tiny dot you can still be off a bit..and it is very easy to be off a little bit when shooting these small bullets..
My last 3 shots went .430" and the 5 shot group was .990"
Now the Elite..
I shot 2 factory loads with it..I used 2 hunting type ammo..that I thought I would like to hunt with...The 150 gr. Winchester Power Points...and the Hornady 150 gr. SST..
The Winchester went 1st..and I had 1 called flyer in the this group..which was my 3rd shot..4 shots went .950"..and the with the flyer it opened to 1.645"..The SSt's did a lot better...and yes..I had a flyer with that group too..It's very had going from a 1-1/2 lb trigger that breaks as clean as the Winchester does to a 3 lb one on the Elite..but..it still was ok for what it is...4 shots at .650"...with the flyer opening it up to 1.342"...This was with the Mueller Tactical...
The Savage 10FP did real good too...It has the Leupold 3x9 Tactical on it...and I really need a higher power scope for it...It's clear..it's bright..but for precision shooting at 200 yards..I need a higher magnification..It took me longer to get it dialed in with the SST's as you can see...but my last 2 shots with them cut the cross hair and are touching..I really need a better scope and to do some handloading with this bullet for the Elite and this one..The Winchester PP did good..they went .920" with no flyers and would be more than adequate with this rifle to hunt with if I wanted too..
I have some to a couple conclusions with this outing...1...I need a better front rest than what I have..mine moves...2..I need higher magnification to see with...my eyes just ain't what they used to be..
All in all...it was a afternoon to shoot...until a member there came out to try out his home made Civil War cannon and about blew everybody up..but that's another story in it's own right....
Mac