Caldwell Target Camera and Trapdoor

[Rowdy Rick]

Thanks Rick for the reply. I made these loads to try the 10 shot offhand at a 100yrds for the schuten on line string measure contest to see how I do.
I plan to get and load up the 500gr bullets for when I try for longer yard shoots really want to try a 1000 with the other one when finished with the buffington sight.

On the 405 gr we were using 70 gr of GoX . I also use that expander from Track of the Wolf mentioned in Wolfs Book. I use R-P brass, not sure what Bill uses.

When the weather gets decent here again I will do some more experimenting and post more. Good luck!

Rick

[The Chief]

Rick, I will be at Alliance in May
Lee

[Don McDowell]

Lee are you going to be at the 1000 yd match in Phoenix?

[Rowdy Rick]

Rick, I will be at Alliance in May
Lee

Well you guys are talking me into it, I had better plan on going then, is that the weekend of the 4th and 5th of May ? I got to thinking the first time I ever met you Lee was there also.

North Platte was -21 deg the other night! Wind chills were -27 here. Don't you miss that stuff Lee ?

Rick

[The Chief]

Don I will not pay that much to shoot.
Rick I don't miss it 75 today 54 tonight

[J.B.]

Revisiting this thread to see if Don or Rick might be able to shed some further light on the system. I'm still looking at this unit with the hope that it may solve our scoring issues at the longer ranges when shooting on steel. I'm not so much worried about a programme that registers the last hit as a camera that can supply good enough resolution for a single scorer to monitor the shot placement on a laptop or iPad. Being a club purchase.. the topic keeps hitting debate and the worry that the closeness of the unit may result in a hit by one of our newer shooters who is getting used shooting these types of rifles and the cartridges they are chambered in. I was thinking ( not always a good thing ? ) last night that if the resolution and zoom on the camera were good enough, the camera and transmitter could be set back a good 50 to 100 yds back from the plate and slightly off to one side. This would protect it from he 'dam buster' type shot that skips along the ground and even the wide shots as well.
My question after all this.. Would the cameras zoom and focus capability allow it to be set that far back ? Clearly the plate would be smaller but if its still of a size comparable to looking through a 25 - 60 x spotting scope at 2-300 yds, then I think this could still work for us. Personally I wasn't worried about it getting hit as thankfully most of us have improved enough now not to be plowing the paddock when we shoot...but every now and then we have someone who just doesn't know their gear or is new to the sport ..and dirt flies up in the 'oddest ' places.
Just for some insight.. .the two targets I am referring to are firstly .. a steel buffalo about 6' x 4' with a 12" 'heart' or bull .. and also a 6' x 8' white plate with a 36" black bull. Deciding scores has proven a real issue beyond about 700 yds and when the mirage is up on our range ..well.. you haven't got a chance of picking the shot.

Your thoughts ?

regards.. Gavin.

[Don McDowell]

Jb , that target in the picture on the first page is a 4x8 piece of steel. With the camera about 15-20 ft in front and about 10 ft to the upwind side. I would think you could set it about that distance from the target and set it behind a piece of steel shielding. You would however have to make sure the transmitter was about the shield.

[J.B.]

Thanks Don. The problem here is trying to get it by 'those' that don't believe that it won't get hit... If that makes any sense ? We do have the occasional newcomer who can throw a very 'wild' shot and this is the argument I'm trying to head off. That's why I wondered if it were placed even 50 yds back and off to one side, would that allow enough zoom and clarity to allow spotting and scoring. Its obviously very clear within 20-30 ft and wondered if stepping that out to 100-150 ft would still allow for spotting. Clearly dealing with mirage picked up on a camera over 100 yds would have to be preferable to scoping or camera work over 800-1000 yds. I was all for the steel shielding plate and setting it back and to the side about 30 ft or so..but I'm in the minority. Just wondered if it would be sharp enough on a 14" -17" tablet to pick between hits in the white and the black... or the bull vs the body of the buffalo. Wasn't a problem when we could barely hit the mound...but its slow progress... but I do believe most are getting better. Some days at any rate
best regards

Gavin.

[Don McDowell]

I don't know if it would be sharp enough that far back or not, it will zoom quite a bit. Looking at some of the pictures I have with it set at the 1000 yd the rocks and pine tree's 150-200 yes behind it are in good focus. Maybe if things are sorta quite around here in the next couple of weeks I'll give it a try for you.
Think the best thing to do would be make the shooters sign on their waver if they hit the transmitter or camera they will replace it..

[Kurt]

I think if I had one I would make a plate lean to to protect it with a thick Plexiglas front to keep the lead splatters from hitting the camera if some should splatter back.