Long Range "Come-Ups"
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 8:38 am
It's no secret that my crew and I like to shoot PD's and ground squirrels at extended ranges. To make LR repeatable hits, you must know the values of your particular load via a chronograph and a ballistics program. The system is what I call "Dial-A-Rat", and works quite well.
Besides the actual drop in MOA to the limit of the cartridges range, I now also put wind dope for a 10mph full-value crosswind next to the drop value. If less wind, reduce hold-off (or less clicks if you dial wind...I don't), If less than full value, reduce accordingly for the condition at hand. Laser the target or general area you'll be shooting, refer to 'come-up' chart, dial value into the elevation turret (I use Leupold M1 turrets) hold dead-on, allow for wind if needed and shoot. It's a first-shot hit almost every time clear out to those 'extended ranges' we all like to shoot.
Using this method, we've made first shot head shots on squirrels or PD's peeking over their mound or out of their burrow at over 350 yards and full body hits on squirrels past 500.....works quite well and usually just sucks them right out of their hole.
Here's a shot of my Cooper M21 VR in 223 Rem with the 'come-up' chart as mentioned with both drop and wind correction in MOA:
I use this system on all my CF rifles, varmint and game getters. The critical piece of gear to pull these shots off is a laser rangefinder. It cannot be done without one, even with a mil-dot system as the targets are just too small and don't hold still long enough to use that system. Once you're dialed with this system, your first shot hits will improve at extended ranges and the rats will fly......just like this:
We've never wondered about the performance of the SBK, V-Max or BT, but here's proof that these little poly-tipped bullet really DO blow up upon contact with small rodents at about any reasonable range:
That particular rat launched about 25' into the air, the two halves rotating in different directions....quite a spectacular scene, courtesy of a 32gr SBK from my Cooper MTV 204 at 4,060 fps at 322 yards. It HAD to hurt.....but only for a second.
(That IS his spine hanging out of the carcass)
The whole point of this though, is that to make those LR shots way out there with the first shot, you need a system to pull it off on a regular basis, and this is what works for us. Just thought I'd share it with the 204 crew again.
Tick-tock, almost time to rock (again........how long till spring?)
Besides the actual drop in MOA to the limit of the cartridges range, I now also put wind dope for a 10mph full-value crosswind next to the drop value. If less wind, reduce hold-off (or less clicks if you dial wind...I don't), If less than full value, reduce accordingly for the condition at hand. Laser the target or general area you'll be shooting, refer to 'come-up' chart, dial value into the elevation turret (I use Leupold M1 turrets) hold dead-on, allow for wind if needed and shoot. It's a first-shot hit almost every time clear out to those 'extended ranges' we all like to shoot.
Using this method, we've made first shot head shots on squirrels or PD's peeking over their mound or out of their burrow at over 350 yards and full body hits on squirrels past 500.....works quite well and usually just sucks them right out of their hole.
Here's a shot of my Cooper M21 VR in 223 Rem with the 'come-up' chart as mentioned with both drop and wind correction in MOA:I use this system on all my CF rifles, varmint and game getters. The critical piece of gear to pull these shots off is a laser rangefinder. It cannot be done without one, even with a mil-dot system as the targets are just too small and don't hold still long enough to use that system. Once you're dialed with this system, your first shot hits will improve at extended ranges and the rats will fly......just like this:
We've never wondered about the performance of the SBK, V-Max or BT, but here's proof that these little poly-tipped bullet really DO blow up upon contact with small rodents at about any reasonable range:
That particular rat launched about 25' into the air, the two halves rotating in different directions....quite a spectacular scene, courtesy of a 32gr SBK from my Cooper MTV 204 at 4,060 fps at 322 yards. It HAD to hurt.....but only for a second.
(That IS his spine hanging out of the carcass)The whole point of this though, is that to make those LR shots way out there with the first shot, you need a system to pull it off on a regular basis, and this is what works for us. Just thought I'd share it with the 204 crew again.
Tick-tock, almost time to rock (again........how long till spring?)
I used chrono data and published BC's along with JBM's calculator for my charts. I was only able to verify them to 200 yards before my trip home to South Dakota last fall. They were pretty close but real-world was definitely different than calculated. Difference between practice and theory I suppose. 
