Author Topic: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report  (Read 1387 times)

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Offline Sourdough

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.223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« on: March 21, 2009, 08:55:37 AM »
Went to the range yesterday.  Had gotten a new Cabelas scope to put on my Ultra .223.  The Centerfire Tactical scope 3X12 power.  I also had some loads that I had loaded on a whim for my Mini-14s.  At 400 yards I can keep them on a 9" pie plate with both guns, and that is as big as a wolfs vitals so I'm happy with that load for the Mini-14s.  I rarely shoot them beyond 100 Yards anyway.  I got the load from the Hodgon manual, and they don't list a starting load, or maximum load, with this powder.  Just one listing, I've been told it is the factory duplication load, but I can not verify that.  Winchester Brass, Winchester SR primer, 26gr Winchester 748 powder, 53gr Sierria HP bullet.  Since they were in the truck I thought I would give them a try in the Ultra.

One shot at 25 yards to adjust the scope.  Moved the target to 100 yards, three shots.  While the group was six inches low and five inches left, you could cover them with a dime.  Made a scope adjustment, and took three more shots.  First shot was a flyer, other two touched.  Fired a fourth shot and it touched the second and third shots.  Made another scope adjustment.  First shot was a flyer.  Second, third, and forth, shots were tight, and in the bulls eye.  Moved the target out to two hundred yards.  Dialed the scope to 200 yards and took two shots.  Both were in the bulls eye, and you could cover them with a nickle.  Moved the target to three hundred yards and dialed the scope for that range.  Three shots, two were in the bulls eye within 1/2 inch of each other.  One was two inches left and one inch high.  Unfortunately don't know which shot was the flyer at three hundred yards.  Tend to believe it was my fault, fingers were getting cold it was  -5 out there.

The two really bad flyers I got at 100 yards occured after I had made windage adjustments.

Someone asked me to report on how that scope performed.  So far that is what I've done with it.  Rog 
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2009, 09:02:05 AM »
Nice shootin Rog! BTW, Hodgdon does list 26gr as max W748 at 2.20" COL.  ;)

Tim

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Offline Sourdough

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Re: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2009, 09:37:36 AM »
Yes I know that, just was not sure I should put that in or not.  Rog
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2009, 09:41:54 AM »
It's current published data, so why not?   ;)

Tim
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Offline trotterlg

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Re: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2009, 04:01:56 PM »
What you are seeing with the first shot after adjustment a flyer is the scope setteling after you adjust it.  Very common with anything other than a top end scope.  This is one reason not to use turret dials on a cheaper scope, it takes a shot or two before the adjustment becomes permanent.  I have a couple of Barska's that act the same way, once they settle they are there to stay however.  Larry
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Offline Sourdough

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Re: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2009, 05:51:54 PM »
I only noticed it on the windage dial.  The elevation dial does not seem to be affected.  After I got the windage set it seemed to settle down.  But I will know better after I take it out again.  I'll let everyone know what the results are after doing that.  Rog.
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2009, 06:06:44 PM »
Rog, one thing that I noticed is when the power ring is all the way to the end of travel it may lock the elevation/windage movement, it's only happened to me once on a Nikon Monarch, thought it was a bad scope, I suppose it may still be but after researching it, learned it has happened to others, so I always back the power ring off from the stop a little when sighting-in. Maybe it's just peculiar to some scopes, but it doesn't hurt to take that extra care, there's nothing more frustrating than a scope not tracking well.  :-\

Tim
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Offline LaOtto222

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Re: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« Reply #7 on: March 21, 2009, 10:55:54 PM »
Rog - nice shooting. I just can't seem to shoot worth a darn when it gets cold.
Tim - I have found the same thing - I adjust the power ring to the end of travel, then back it off just a little or adjust it just short of the highest or lowest setting...but never leave it against the stop. It seems to effect zero, even after it has held zero for a while. I also have made adjustments to a scope and then it takes a shot of two to settle in the zero setting. Not every scope I have does this, but some do. I think some people over adjust and then back to where they want to be to try to avoid this phenomenon. So if they want to go 5 "clicks - they go 8 or so and then back 3. I have not experimented enough do this to know first hand.
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2009, 02:05:36 AM »
 I also do this go past and return trick. Another thing I do is to tap the turret after any adjustment. Again, like LaOtto, keep the power ring just off its stops. I haven't had any scope problems since doing this. Most of my scopes are Leupold, but I do have some cheapies too.

I have used that 26Gr 748 load with great success too. I switched over to H322 powder and have stuck with it, its another good one. I really like that 53Gr match bullet!!!

CW
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Offline Sourdough

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Re: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2009, 10:42:37 AM »
I did have the power ring all the way to the highest setting.  I'll try backing it off when I go out and work at 400 and 500 yards later this week. 

I've got to take both of the Cabela's scopes, the Tactical and Range Finding scopes out and finish sighting them in. 

Haven't shot the 25-06 with the Range Finding scope enough to be comfortable with it yet.

It's finally above Zero now during the day, so I will probably leave for the Alaska Range next Wednesday.  So I have got to get some shooting in Monday and Tuesday.  Tuesday is my birthday and the wife will not let me leave till after then.  Before you ask, I'll be 60.
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline cwlongshot

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Re: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2009, 02:04:07 PM »
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

 I forgot about your affection with long range... Something else to consider is scope cant. Either by improper mounting or actually canting the firearm when shooting. Either are REALLY become apparent as the ranges get longer.

CW
"Pay heed to the man who carries a single shot rifle, he likely knows how to use it."

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Offline Badnews Bob

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Re: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2009, 03:10:08 PM »
Happy Birthday, Maybe you'll have a good story for us after Tuesday. ;D
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Offline Oldshooter

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Re: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2009, 03:28:06 PM »
Happy B-day

Quote
Tuesday is my birthday and the wife will not let me leave till after then.

When you get older will your wife let you go out and Play?   ;D


For an old fart you have good eyes to be shoot'n 400 yards !  Thats good shoot'n Pardner
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Offline Sourdough

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Re: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« Reply #13 on: March 23, 2009, 04:58:58 AM »
CW, Yes I learned about cant at my biddies expense the hard way.  He missed a Caribou, six shots and never came close.  We took his gun to the range a week later and I noticed his scope was canted.  He knew it but did not think it mattered. 

Now after I mount a scope I do the test for cant by lowering the vertical adjustment 6" below the bullseye and taking a shot then raising it 6" above the bullseye and taking a shot.  If both shots are not in alignment back to the mounting bench.
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline nomosendero

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Re: .223 Ultra/ Cabela's Tactical Centerfire Scope/ Range report
« Reply #14 on: March 28, 2009, 07:51:30 AM »
Looks like the rifle works well. I have heard those scopes will not hold up, time will tell.
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