SmallCaliberCentral

OK! Here we go. The other thread indicated that there was more than enough interest from our members to have a totally fun shootout.

This is the first one, and am sure we'll learn as we go along.

FIRST RULE: NO RULES! - yeah, this is totally fun. And let us keep it that way. No prizes. No trophies - not even the participation kind. So there. Let us be clear.

Shoot as many targets as you like, as many shots as you like. 100, 200 yard or more with a .204 Ruger. 25 and 50 yard with any rimfire caliber of your choice.*


Supply your own targets or buy 'em at your local gun shop. As long as it has a well defined center/bullseye. If you are cheap like me, use a paper plate and a red marker. That is good enough. No mailing in. No waiting on targets. You can remain anonymous, and all we'll see is your screen name.


There are some good old standards IF you want to try to be in a match up. 5 shots at 25 & 50 yards and 3 shots at 100 (or more) yds. That is only a suggestion - it is NOT a rule!!

List your guns and ammo - so our members and others know what you were shooting.

Also note front or rear rests when used, bipod, bags, lead sled etc.

It's not a rule - just a fact - a hole in a target is going to count! 6 holes is 6 holes - NO throw a ways!

Similar optics and distances will be compiled as groups - SCORING & ALL shooters will be included in the monthly 'report'.

Post a picture (or scan) of the target you want to submit with the measurement below - use calipers, a ruler or use the FREE version of "On Target"

Download here (a great tool) >>>>http://www.ontargetshooting.com/download1.html<<<<

DEADLINE for shooting is Saturday 30th, 2017 @ midnight. Submit your scores by Tuesday October 3rd, 2017 @ midnight.

PLEASE post (in text) any information about gun, ammo, optics and score - THIS makes the report a lot smoother. Cut-and-Paste REALLY helps with scoring. (Sample below)

Please include a photo of the gun used (range pics a plus as well!) - We LOVE photos!

On to a final few things:

Scoring:


Score your group in inches. Then measure distance from bulls-eye to your furthest shot. Add these two. That is your score for that target.

List your score like this: ---

Any Brand Rifle .204 Ruger, 22"
Front and rear bags
3 shots
100 yards
Nikon Acculon Glass 3-9 X 40 Scope
32gr Hornady V-max Ammo
Far shot: .370
Group: .293
Total: 0.663"

Sample target looks like this:
If you have questions: please PM me. Or post them here. There are no silly questions!!

* Some members indicated via PM, they do not have access to a range in excess of 50 Yards. So I've set the 25-50 yard distance for them, but have limited them to rimfire calibers for now.

So we can just shoot a target, say one with 204R at 100-200 yds and one with a rimfire 25-50 yrds and show a photo, on site, with a measurement and info of set-up and we are entered each month, is that correct ? Bill K

Bill K wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2017 9:28 am So we can just shoot a target, say one with 204R at 100-200 yds and one with a rimfire 25-50 yrds and show a photo, on site, with a measurement and info of set-up and we are entered each month, is that correct ? Bill K

Correct.

Just follow the guidelines in the first post. You can shoot one target or as many as you like. Measurements should include group size AND distance from the center/point of aim.

Ok, I will try to get it done in a more timely fashion this time. One place I shoot can do 300-350 yards and just down the road a piece I have a place picked out for even longer ranges. I'm anticipating that someday I will be good enough to try it out.

Thanks for putting this together.

Just to let people know, On Target Shooting is not free anymore. You get a 15 day free trial, then you are asked to purchase the program.
Still a good deal @ $12.00.

I am in ......will be shooting in the morning

I am in. I will shoot some groups and also post a pic of my new shooting game that I play when bored of group shooting. 20 shots at 20 bulls at 100 or 200. The catch being the bulls are 1/4 inch with a 5/8ths 10 ring for the 100 yard and a 1 inch 10 ring with a 5/8ths bull at 200

A test run and place this one in, to see if I have it correct and/or down. CZ American standard model, 17HMR, bipod at 50 Yrds. CCI Varmint tip 17 grain. .625 group, outside to outside. 1.103 from the POI (center black dot on the one inch sticker. This will be my first rimfire entry. Pulled two of them, but that is how it goes. Bill K
CZ American standard 17HMR
50 Yds Bipod
CCI Varmint tipped 17 gr.
max group .625
far shot 1.103
Total 1.728 ( We will learn )

Bill K wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2017 4:46 pm 000_0004 (1).JPGA test run and place this one in, to see if I have it correct and/or down. CZ American standard model, 17HMR, bipod at 50 Yrds. CCI Varmint tip 17 grain. .625 group, outside to outside. 1.103 from the POI (center black dot on the one inch sticker. This will be my first rimfire entry. Pulled two of them, but that is how it goes. Bill K

Very nice. If you (or anyone else contemplating a submission) could list your final score in the format below, it will help immensely at the end of the month.

CZ American Standard, 17HMR
50 yards, Bipod
CCI Varmint Tip 17 Grain
Max Group: .625
FarShot: 1.103
Total: 1.728


So far you are the best shot in the 50 yard contest! Thanks!!

Savage model 12...204...5 shots
100 yards, bipod...at Oak Dale gun club
Hand loads..27.6 xbr 8208..39gr BK
Group size... see target


Had two good groups out of 5 seems like the rifle wants to be really fouled then it tightens up.

Hyper wrote: ↑Tue Sep 05, 2017 1:50 am Savage model 12...204...5 shots
100 yards, bipod...at Oak Dale gun club
Hand loads..27.6 xbr 8208..39gr BK
Group size... see target


Had two good groups out of 5 seems like the rifle wants to be really fouled then it tightens up.

Sorry I forgot ....Scope..SWFA SS straight 12 power

after the yearly shootout I decided to do a new load workup ladder for RL -10X just to see if the barrel is shot out. In the past this barrel has shot some .2's and .3's. Never had any yesterday but my old standby load did give me a couple of good groups. I shot 2 groups of 5 for each load. Interestingly @ 24.6 I had the largest group of .854, on the second target the 24.6 shot a .596 and if you overlay the 2 targets the 4 main shots are almost identical minus the flyer which went in the upper right bullet hole. BTW for reference the red dots are 3/4 inch

Interesting note is I had to run 4 wild turkeys away from my target before shooting yesterday. While I was setting my gun up they decided my target stand was the local all you can eat cafeteria. Last week it was a redtail hawk who had decided that the target stand made a fine hunting perch, and while shooting some 600 yard stuff the same day with a with another gun a smallish 4 ft gator took a stroll across the range at about the 400 yard mark

Gun is a Stevens custom. I bought a beat up Stevens 200 at a pawn shop for 175 dollars in 2013, sold the .243 barrel for 100, threw the stock in the trash. Put a Criterion 26" varmint taper barrel on it , dropped it into a 200 dollar Choate stock, and added a 159 dollar Mueller scope. Groups were shot from a Sinclair rest with the rear bag being a sand filled sock. Amazes me that the gun still can shoot .5s

loads were RL 10X, new Norma brass, cci 450 primers and 39 gr SBKs

WARNING: The loads shown are for informational purposes only. They are only safe in the rifle used in these pictures and may not be safe in yours. Consult appropriate load manuals prior to developing your own handloads. The author does not assume any responsibility, directly or indirectly for the safety of the anyone attempting to load any cartridge using this information, or the use or misuse of any information contained herein.

HoundofSC wrote: ↑Sat Sep 16, 2017 7:25 am after the yearly shootout I decided to do a new load workup ladder for RL -10X just to see if the barrel is shot out. In the past this barrel has shot some .2's and .3's. Never had any yesterday but my old standby load did give me a couple of good groups. Hope I can get the pics to post

My XR100 really loves RL 10X, but it has some drawbacks. The dreaded carbon ring buildup just past the throat of the barrel happens over time. I wouldn't have even known it was there if my wife hadn't called me to dinner one night when I was cleaning it. I had just started a patch soaked with bore cleaner into the chamber of what I thought was a clean barrel. I left the rod and patch in the rifle while I ate dinner. When I came back and withdrew the patch it was black. It didn't take much investigation to realize I had a carbon ring buildup. Before you give up on a barrel, try that trick. You just might be surprised.

skipper wrote: ↑Sat Sep 16, 2017 7:34 am

My XR100 really loves RL 10X, but it has some drawbacks. The dreaded carbon ring buildup just past the throat of the barrel happens over time. I wouldn't have even known it was there if my wife hadn't called me to dinner one night when I was cleaning it. I had just started a patch soaked with bore cleaner into the chamber of what I thought was a clean barrel. I left the rod and patch in the rifle while I ate dinner. When I came back and withdrew the patch it was black. It didn't take much investigation to realize I had a carbon ring buildup. Before you give up on a barrel, try that trick. You just might be surprised.

I was getting some pretty stiff bolt lift/extractions recently even with the 24 grain loads. I am suspecting carbon ring, never even heard of a carbon ring until recently. Today I will be pulling the barrel off so I can give it a really thorough cleaning. The gun is showing wear now. A few weeks ago I had to replace the firing pin spring and then had a extractor break. Luckily I can tear a Savage/Stevens apart in my sleep by now

Good thing there are no prizes here. Either way I'm not getting any. Got out yesterday and took some shots. They were all similar groups with this one being slightly better. I'm doing this as sort of a challenge to get better.
I haven't done anything like this before so even though I'm a senior citizen I'm kinda green at this. I will post photos of how I measured. Let me know if I did it wrong.
Bare bones stock Rifle and cheap scope.
Ruler American Predator
53ldorado bench rest
3 shots
100 yards
Mueller 8.5-25x44 scope
32gr Hornady Vmax 27.9 gr IMR 4064 CCI BR-4 primers
Far shot: 1.229
Group: .946
Total: 2.174