Afterstaking the holes out, and probably 6-7 trips to this field with nothing to show, I finally go to my vantage point and put the 'ol .204 to work. these were al whacked within 15 minutes of each other. 'and the farmer is very happy with me!!
Man, I'd been waiting for that for a long time. I did my time developing the loads (32 SBK and 40 Berger) and then mapping the trajectories. I'm glad I did. The first one was 265y and the next two were both at 200y and change..
I really appreciate the .204. Whether I zero @ 100y or 300y, for 'chucks I can pretty much just put it midships out to 350 yards and it anchors 'em on the spot. And the recoil is so gentle, I could witness the hits!!
The first two pics are how I found 'em. The third fell face-first on his belly on the top of that dirt mond, and and slid down to the hole like he was on a tobaggon. I grabbed him by his little paw and pulled him back up for the pic.
Thanks folks. I'm very happy to get a good day. Its kinda tough for me to get everything to come together (work, weather, landowners, chores, and willing critters) so when it does, the savor lasts a long time. I'll be blessed if I get another 'chuck day in before fall.
That's a Rock River rifle, and has their barrel (not a Shilen, Kreiger, Hart, etc.), which is a 24" 1:12 bull. The scope is an ancient Weaver V-12, in Weaver tactical rings, on a Yankee Hill riser. the stock is a Magpul PRS, but I'lll likely revert back to the the plain A2 style. I really like the scope, it is REMARKABLY clear, and has a beautiful, plain but thin reticle. I'm finding that for chucks that the 12x if plenty.
Both 32gn SBKs and 40gn Bergers print very well, off a bipod and rear bag I can get 2" @ 300y without trying hard, and 1.5, sometimes less If I'm shooting well.
Here are the recipies:
Sierra 32 gn Blitzking
Nosler or Norma brass
Trim 1.845 +/- .002"
COAL (appx) 2.250"
26.5 gn Benchmark
CCI small magnum primer
40 gn Berger
Nosler or Norma brass
Trim 1.845 +/- .002"
COAL (appx) 2.250"
25.4 gn Benchmark
CCI small magnum primer
Last edited by bow shot on Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
Don't it seem like some much more of a feat when you have to work for it several times! I know it sure does for me, however the easy ones are nice also. Nice work on 3 for 3, great looking piece. So what is your next one going to be chambered in?
'varmints: Yes, thanks, its sweeter that way, LOL!
I have a 6.5 Grendel upper with a JP barrel all built, and she (Gendelyn) is doing 0.5" for me with the handloads. This is my first build with a high-end barrel. Its hard to beat the .204 for trajectory, the 6.5 drops a lot more between 200 and 300 (about 11"). The big difference is what happens when the 123gn bullet from the Grendel hits something , vs what the 32gn does from the .204. Recoil from the Grendel is very light though, about like .223, whic I really like...
Toki': Yeah, I have the same problem as your son.. tell him I had to sell some stuff to get it (which is true) LOL!!