Having a blast shooting... what's next???

T

Tbkahuna

Guest
I bought a Savage 12 F/TR in 308 about 3 months ago. I have been shooting off the range bags with factory Federal Gold Medal Match w/168 SMK (chronoed at 2886 fps yesterday). I am having a lot of fun and can't believe how well this setup shoots. I am really excited about the results but want to improve. I am learning something every day from reading books or online or by talking to the few guys shooting benchrest guns at the range. I am now at the point where I am not sure where to focus my efforts. I would like to do local competition, but want to shoot for my own satisfaction. If I can do well, I would like to try other competitions as well.

I've only fired about 300 rounds, but already have a best 100 yd group of .170 for 3 shot and .350 for 5 shots. At 200 yds I only shot a handful of 5 shot groups early one day and they were .570, .680, and .780. I learned the wrath of the wind when shooting at 300 yards. My best at 300 yards is .780 (5 shots) with most going around 1.75".

Yesterday I finally bought a Caldwell Rock rest and a rear bag to try. I only shot at 300 yards, and the wind and mirage were really bad and I shot the worst group so far at about 4". I couldn't even see the bullet holes by late morning. I tied a ribbon to a dowel driven in the ground and used that as my first attempt at reading the wind. That will be quite a skill to acquire!

That's my story, but I need advice on what to do next. I do have reloading dies now for the 308 and have loaded a few rounds. It seems like getting good wind flags and figuring out how to use them would be the most important. However, I've been told to get a 6ppc and work with that caliber. A good rest would go right along with that. The one time with the Cladwell rest was ok, but the recoil is more witht he 308 now, and the gun goes back to a point of aim several feet off after firing. I could also then spend my time working with the 6ppc for reading wind and reloading. It seems like it would be the best way to go, but obviously expensive to buy a good rifle. Will I be wasting my time trying to read the wind and reload the 308 for the Savage? Will the reduced recoil of the 6ppc make all of the other things come together better- wind, rest and sandbag technique, shooting technique?

I have a lot more questions and will continue reading here and learning as much as I can. At this point I need some help on where to go next.

I appreciate any guidance.

Rob in Houston
 
Rob,
Because this is a Benchrest board, it would be tempting to tell you to dump the Savage and get to work on your first PPC, but for now, let’s talk about using what you have. If you like to read, there is a lot out there that you might find interesting. I would start with a subscription to Precision Shooting Magazine. Beyond that, you might want to buy the first of several reloading manuals, and start reading it, with special attention to the section in the front that has step by step instructions on the basics of reloading. While you are geting started with your reading program, you can investigate what sort of rifle competitions are held in your area. and plan on checking them out. They are excellent places to gather information. I could go on , but that is enough for now. Remembering what it was like when I was learning my way around my first center fire rifle (a .308) I know how much fun you are having. I will make one more suggestion. When you get around to buying reloading equipment, if you buy stuff that is suitable for loading at the range, it will be fine at home, and you won't have to rebuy if and when you decide to pursue Benchrest competition. You might even find that it is much more efficient to work on loads at the range with your .308.
 
Rob,

I met you at the range on Sunday, I was the one shooting the rifle with the wild Zebra looking paint job @ 300 yards. Next time out I will be happy to bring my Rick Graham windflags and you can see if you like them (you will).

Don't hesitate to email me directly, walkermarka @ yahoo dot com - no spaces just make it look normal.

BTW, shooting those groups on Sunday was good shooting.

If you want to get involved in the longer range stuff, we will be shooting the 1000 yard match at Bayou Rifles this Sunday. Your Savage in .308 would be perfect for FT/R class. You should consider joining us!!

Either way, looking forward to shooting with you more often!

Mark Walker
Houston, TX
 
Rob

In what part of Houston do you live??.

I would like to invite you out to our final Tomball Gun Club Score Match the first Sunday of October. We shoot a complete 100 yard agg, (25 bullys eyes). If you are interested, I will give you all of the details.

Your Rifle falls right into the Factory Class.......jackie
 
Mark, I would like to see the wind flags. I'll email you separately tomorrow to see when you will be out there next. Thanks for all of your help on Sunday. I haven't shot past 300 yards. I'll have to recheck, but I don't think I can quite reach that range with my 10 MOA base and the only scope I have for it, a Seals 8-32x50. I think I run out of adjustment, but I will recheck since the factory ammo is quite a bit higher velocity than I expected. I only have 168 gr SMK and 155 Palmas and Lapuas for bullets. Maybe I can come for some test shooting and pointers. I will see if I can make it.

Jackie, I am west/northwest just outside Beltway 8 at Clay Rd. I would be interested in trying about anything. It sounds like it would be a great learning experience. Please send the details.

Boyd, what do I look for as range reloading equipment? Is that different presses? I have Redding and Forster dies with a cast iron press and a couple of Lee C style aluminum presses. I am using an RCBS electronic scale and prime with an autoprime or the bigger press. I full length sized the new Lapua brass in the Forster die. I don't know if I was supposed to or needed to do that, but thought it would be the safest. I only use the Redding bushing neck sizer for the fired brass.

Thanks for the help!

Rob
 
Tbkahuna,


Rob, You lissen a' me now....an' you lissen GOOD!

you sound like a nice young man with a promising future........

Just walk away son........ walk away. :(

Get up from the keyboard and walk away, do NOT meet these gentlemen at the range, do NOT check out their equipment...... it's a slippery slope my friend.

"Give the devil your little finger and he'll take your whole hand"


These aren't the guys your mother warned you about, THEY'RE WORSE!!!






:D





al
 
man your getting real help right off the bat ! take walker & jackie up on thier offers, atten all the match's you can, shoot whatever class your equipment fits into on match day, go with the attuide to learn, soak up all you can, this is the only sport where our competition is your biggest cheerleader and biggest helper to improve your game! Also take that advised on range reloading equipment(you'll see why @ a match and be able to get idea's), wind flags are a must, find what you like then, learn to use them, also on reloading, nothing helps like a good mentor. I bet if you attend a match and show interest someone offers you a chance to use a gun/rest/flags just to as alinw said " to drag you on in "

the wind is my friend,,,,,,,,,,

DD
 
Where are you guys shooting 300-yds at? My guess is American Shooting Center out off Westheimer ?

Thanks,

CW
 
Yes, ASC on Westheimer. It is pretty close to me and has 300, 400, and 5 or 600 yard ranges as well as all of the shorter ones.
 
Rob

Hear is the deal at Tomball.

We are a closed membership private club. We have a 25 bench shooting line, 100-200 yards. The range is located just north of Tomball off Zion Rd.

We have two NBRSA Registered Matches in the Spring, one being the biggest match in the Region.

We have 4 club matches, where we shoot a 100 yard agg for score, using the standard NBRSA 100 yrd score target. I am the club match director, and I try to keep things as informal as possible, while still giving the shooters the air of real Benchrest Competition.

We shoot three classes:
Factory, which means that, aside from bedding, and trigger adjustments, the Rifle must be Factory. AR's that are massed produced and readilly available will shoot in Factory Class....
Modified, which takes in custom factory actioned rifles with custom barrels, stocks, triggers, etc. This is supposed to represent your typical live varmint Rifle, or just a custom that a shooter has assembled to have a good time with. Modifieds cannot have what we recognize as a "Benchrest Stock". It is up to me to determine this. AR's with custom barrels will shoot in Modified.
Benchrest Class, which means that. In reality, anything you can get on the bench and shoots off ofbags can shoot in Benchrest Class.

Our next, and final match of the year, is the first Sunday in October. Gates open at 6:am, we try to get started by 9:00, and generally finish up by just after noon.

We have shooters who cook, and we have a noon meal. This is a good place to come and enjoy a match in a laid back inviroment.

But, be forewarned. The Competition is tough.........jackie
 
Midway has 100 yd score targets but they say they are IBS. Are those the same as NBRSA? I wanted to get some score target for practice.
 
Tbkahuna said:
Midway has 100 yd score targets but they say they are IBS. Are those the same as NBRSA? I wanted to get some score target for practice.
Click to expand...
Save your money. Shoot at these Hunter X, 10 and 9 rings. If you can hit these, you can score. Art
 

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  • Hunter Target 100 yd 35 ea.pdf
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  • Hunter Target 200 yd 15 ea.pdf
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Target scoring

Thanks, I will try those. In matches, do you get the score of the highest ring that any part of the bullet hole touches?
 
I am a victim of the rifle accuracy disease too. I started out just like you have with a .308 and factory ammo. Now I have 3 presses, 2 scales, and a room full of reloading stuff. :rolleyes:

I have shot the 200 yard range at ASC and the folks more than nice for a first timeer at that range. I plan to join PSC in Friendswood very soon. Baileys has some club shoots (they just had a score shoot) that are very informal and look to be a lot of fun. They have a factory and open class.

Welcome to the fun! :D
 
Talon

I would also like toinvite you out to our finalClub Match at Tomball,the first Sunday in October.

At that little match at Bailys, they charge you $30, you get to shoot 2 targets. They barrely give you time to load. At Tomball, we shoot an entire 5 target, (25 Bullys Eyes), match, and you pay just $15. Plus, we run it like a real Benchrest Match, where you get the feel of real Competition.

We have a Factory, Modified, and Benchrest Class. Come on out.......jackie
 
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