Strange Day Good Day

[laowho]

First time @ 200 yds and my 20x60 binos didn't quite manage. Gonna get the Konus 7120 20-60x80 spotter. First time prone too. Took Lyman 132 Postells (535 gr) to try to ladder 1.5F and 2F OE and Swiss loads. Previously with the Saeco 645 (485 gr) the Swiss 1.5F @ 68 gr was a clear winner.

Took some CheyCast RN (512 gr) @ 68 gr OE 2F for my fouling shots. Soule was 15 points from previous 100 yd day for the Swiss 68/1.5F. Aimed over my target for fouling first 3 shots, moved Soule up 5 points to 20, aimed center and hit dead center. Great I thought. Started laddering w/ the 535 grs, 66/68/69 measures of the 4 powders. And was havin trouble seein my all black target (lesson learned). The 66 gr loads were low--bottom target--figured the 68s would do the trick, but no. Long story short, I was still shootin under the target but didn't know it.

Before leaving I let a range worker fire the Sharps. We'd talked before--he's tryin to PP GG bullets for a Mauser. Anyhoo, he's never used a peep sight nor done the other things you guys do. I only had some of the 512 gr RN foulers left that I'd loaded w/ 68 gr OE 2F. He shot 4 prone and one off hand. I was glad for it cuz my session seemed a complete wash, not knowin if it was the barrel, the loads, the sights or just my sucking. He loved it (of course). Went and retrieved my target to leave and just stared @ the 5 holes he put through the 1x2 stake under the target. He went 5 for 5 from 200 yds through a sight he's never used w/i 1.5" on a target I was havin trouble seeing.

It was a bad day til it was a great day. My windage really is zeroed, my loading is better, and the rifle can flat out perform. Gotta go over my notebook to see what else I can salvage from today, but man was I grateful. Go figure that sumthin so arbitrary could turn a day around. Cheers, Doug