Story from the gun range

[gmerkt]

Nearly every time I come home from a trip to the gun range, I bring back a story in my mind that I keep thinking about. For a while. Last weekend, it was the guy who brought a monster cartridge rifle up to the bench a couple stalls down from me. Here I have to interject that we are now in hunter's sight-in season. Where some people come around once a year to zero their rifles. Which is the only shooting they do, outside of limited shots they might take in the field while hunting. Accordingly, these shooters form the basis for some of the stories.

The bolt rifle this guy brought up to his bench, I'm not sure what it was. I had stuff to do and I didn't want to get into conversation. It was very conventional, wood stock, was fairly heavily proportioned. It looked brand new. It appeared to have one of those muzzle devices like a Winchester BOSS barrel tuner on it. When he finally took a shot, the gun went off with a roar. Like a Remington 300 Ultra Mag, but if I'm not mistaken, I seem to recall seeing a belt on the head of the case. Maybe not. But the cartridges where biggies.

The guy started out on the 100 yard range where I was. Later, I saw him with the same rifle down in the 50 yard lanes. The RSO was helping him get it on paper. But I thought it was funny, the shooter was fooling around with the BOSS barrel tuner. Which is for tuning your groups AFTER you get on paper. Not much help in obtaining basic zero, I'd think. While trying and failing on the 100 range, who knows how far off the guy got with his scope, turning knobs.

At our range, they have one of those kits with a laser pointer for helping people get sights or optics in a basic zero. I've never used it, I'm able to do it without such help. First thing I do as at home. I have a permanent target set up so I can do an eyeball-down-the-bore basic zero. When I've got that done, then the gun goes to the range for finer adjustments. Of course, the rifle design has to be such that you can actually look down the bore.

When I go to the range where I'm a life member, if I'm shooting over open sights on the 100 yard range, I'm one of only a few. Mostly scopes are seen. Depending on the target design (discussed in another thread) determines how well I'll do. Yet when I go down to the 50 yard range, mostly I see scoped rifles there as well. Like a fellow member, who shoots 50 yards with a scoped .45-70 Ruger No. 1.

There might be another conversation about the need for a Remington 300 Ultra Mag. Or whatever it was. Yeah, yeah, I know, elk at 1,200 yards.

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[Koda]

I do cringe at how many hunters only sight in once a year.
Though If I had a 300 Ultra Mag Id only want to shoot it once a year too.

 

[bcp]

"But-but-but the 300 Mega Mag costs the same as a 243. So. of course, I'm getting much more for the money with the 300."

I'm starting to put more faith in the idea that the larger the cartridge and scope, the poorer the hunting skills.

People used to kill them with spears!



Bruce

 

[arakboss]

Nearly every time I come home from a trip to the gun range, I bring back a story in my mind that I keep thinking about. For a while. Last weekend, it was the guy who brought a monster cartridge rifle up to the bench a couple stalls down from me. Here I have to interject that we are now in hunter's sight-in season. Where some people come around once a year to zero their rifles. Which is the only shooting they do, outside of limited shots they might take in the field while hunting. Accordingly, these shooters form the basis for some of the stories.

The bolt rifle this guy brought up to his bench, I'm not sure what it was. I had stuff to do and I didn't want to get into conversation. It was very conventional, wood stock, was fairly heavily proportioned. It looked brand new. It appeared to have one of those muzzle devices like a Winchester BOSS barrel tuner on it. When he finally took a shot, the gun went off with a roar. Like a Remington 300 Ultra Mag, but if I'm not mistaken, I seem to recall seeing a belt on the head of the case. Maybe not. But the cartridges where biggies.

The guy started out on the 100 yard range where I was. Later, I saw him with the same rifle down in the 50 yard lanes. The RSO was helping him get it on paper. But I thought it was funny, the shooter was fooling around with the BOSS barrel tuner. Which is for tuning your groups AFTER you get on paper. Not much help in obtaining basic zero, I'd think. While trying and failing on the 100 range, who knows how far off the guy got with his scope, turning knobs.

At our range, they have one of those kits with a laser pointer for helping people get sights or optics in a basic zero. I've never used it, I'm able to do it without such help. First thing I do as at home. I have a permanent target set up so I can do an eyeball-down-the-bore basic zero. When I've got that done, then the gun goes to the range for finer adjustments. Of course, the rifle design has to be such that you can actually look down the bore.

When I go to the range where I'm a life member, if I'm shooting over open sights on the 100 yard range, I'm one of only a few. Mostly scopes are seen. Depending on the target design (discussed in another thread) determines how well I'll do. Yet when I go down to the 50 yard range, mostly I see scoped rifles there as well. Like a fellow member, who shoots 50 yards with a scoped .45-70 Ruger No. 1.

There might be another conversation about the need for a Remington 300 Ultra Mag. Or whatever it was. Yeah, yeah, I know, elk at 1,200 yards.

I for one start out at 50yards and work out from there. If a load isn't grouping well at 50yds, it ain't likely to get better at 100, 200 or 300 yards. On top of that I only own cheap underpowered scopes. Plus my vision is suffering from old age.

 

[Koda]

Most likely hes not a long range hunter, for some reason there's still a lot of people out there that still think they need a .300+ magnum class rifle to kill an elk.

First thing I do as at home. I have a permanent target set up so I can do an eyeball-down-the-bore basic zero. When I've got that done, then the gun goes to the range for finer adjustments.

I bore sight mine that way on the end cap of my neighbors gutter out the kitchen window, its about 50yds. Always on paper first shot.

 

[arakboss]

Most likely hes not a long range hunter, for some reason there's still a lot of people out there that still think they need a .300+ magnum class rifle to kill an elk.

I bore sight mine that way on the end cap of my neighbors gutter out the kitchen window, its about 50yds. Always on paper first shot.

Regarding owning more power than you need. This topic comes up a lot when people are discussing reduced loads. Some will say they are pointless and if you want less power just get a firearm chambered in a less powerful cartridge.

Lots of people buy cars and trucks with far more power and performance than they normally need. They might buy a corvette and then drive it across town for a cup of coffee. Or they might buy a Ford F350 and use it to go down to pick up a 30 pack of suds. A few people buy many cars and rarely if ever drive them.

You can almost always down load a cartridge well below it's max pressure limit. You can rarely (safely) exceed the max pressure limits of a cartridge.

I say buy what you want. Shoot short distances if you want. Load reduced loads if you want. We are in America after all.

 

[gmerkt]

You can almost always down load a cartridge well below it's max pressure limit. You can rarely (safely) exceed the max pressure limits of a cartridge.

I say buy what you want. Shoot short distances if you want. Load reduced loads if you want. We are in America after all.

Not everybody reloads, and not everybody wants to reload. I suspect that the one-time-a-year to the range shooters typically are not reloaders.

But of course you are right, they are certainly entitled to buy what they want.

 

[Alexx1401]

If the guy could not figure out how to hit paper at 100 yds from a bench? I would guess the game he goes after will be safe.

 

[Certaindeaf]

This is my ring tone for when I go to the range.

View: https://youtu.be/RweHu1u__48?feature=shared

 

[whiskeybill]

Yep, I've participated in a few "Sight-in Services" in my time, and the once a year shooters are a never ending source of stories around the old wood stove. Some harmless humor, and some downright dangerous. About 15 years ago a young fella showed up with a .257 Weatherby. We had to check ammunition that all the shooters brought. Lo & Behold, this young man had brought a box of .257 Roberts ammo. Now, I doubt if anything would have gone bang once he got a round chambered, but after he got back with the proper ammo, he was in a case of sticker shock because of the price of it. Many people just never bother to get educated (Formally or informally) once they decide to take up hunting. Hate to see 'em attempting to field dress an animal for the first time.

 

[OldBroad44]

...Many people just never bother to get educated (Formally or informally) once they decide to take up hunting. Hate to see 'em attempting to field dress an animal for the first time.

Where do you buy clothes for animals? And who is responsible for catching and dressing them?

 

[arakboss]

Where do you buy clothes for animals? And who is responsible for catching and dressing them?

Let me ask my neighbor. I told him to dress casual for labor day BBQ, and he comes in this.

 

[oremike]

I like my 300 Win Mag. It's zeroed 4" high at 200 yds for a point blank range of about 375yds. My CV Arms single shot 45-70 is zeroed at 50 yards but I don't hunt with it just bong gongs. With that zero I can put the step of the bottom post on the top of the 200 yd gong and hit it every time.

 

[Mikej]

:Sigh:

Glad it was only Wifey and I at the range last week.

A new scope on the AR. I used the Laser Hootie in the bore method. Had the rifle in the Gun Butler on the patio and 30 yards out, to the back of the yard, a shaded piece of plywood. I got it all dialed in. Next morning at the range I figured I'd put the target at 50 yards. This worked great some years ago when I scoped an AK 47. And bore sighting through the bore worked great with a Swede Mauser. Wifey on the spotting scope. This time, no hole in the paper. So I aimed off target by a few inches. Both right and left. No hole. So I brought the target in to about 30 yards. Same thing, NO HOLES!!! W-T-F! I was going to move that Bast*** into 30 feet! We were alone and I was cursing as I was stomping down range. When I got out to the target, looking real close, I noticed two .223 diameter holes about a 1/2 below the top of the target and about 3" in from right and left sides! After that, got it dialed in fine. The lesson here is, I should have pulled the laser hootie from the barrel end, repositioned, and checked it a second time.

 

[arakboss]

:Sigh:

Glad it was only Wifey and I at the range last week.

A new scope on the AR. I used the Laser Hootie in the bore method. Had the rifle in the Gun Butler on the patio and 30 yards out, to the back of the yard, a shaded piece of plywood. I got it all dialed in. Next morning at the range I figured I'd put the target at 50 yards. This worked great some years ago when I scoped an AK 47. And bore sighting through the bore worked great with a Swede Mauser. Wifey on the spotting scope. This time, no hole in the paper. So I aimed off target by a few inches. Both right and left. No hole. So I brought the target in to about 30 yards. Same thing, NO HOLES!!! W-T-F! I was going to move that Bast*** into 30 feet! We were alone and I was cursing as I was stomping down range. When I got out to the target, looking real close, I noticed two .223 diameter holes about a 1/2 below the top of the target and about 3" in from right and left sides! After that, got it dialed in fine. The lesson here is, I should have pulled the laser hootie from the barrel end, repositioned, and checked it a second time.

At least you had the scope mounted in the right direction, I hope

 

[FATAL125]

Nearly every time I come home from a trip to the gun range, I bring back a story in my mind that I keep thinking about. For a while. Last weekend, it was the guy who brought a monster cartridge rifle up to the bench a couple stalls down from me. Here I have to interject that we are now in hunter's sight-in season. Where some people come around once a year to zero their rifles. Which is the only shooting they do, outside of limited shots they might take in the field while hunting. Accordingly, these shooters form the basis for some of the stories.

The bolt rifle this guy brought up to his bench, I'm not sure what it was. I had stuff to do and I didn't want to get into conversation. It was very conventional, wood stock, was fairly heavily proportioned. It looked brand new. It appeared to have one of those muzzle devices like a Winchester BOSS barrel tuner on it. When he finally took a shot, the gun went off with a roar. Like a Remington 300 Ultra Mag, but if I'm not mistaken, I seem to recall seeing a belt on the head of the case. Maybe not. But the cartridges where biggies.

The guy started out on the 100 yard range where I was. Later, I saw him with the same rifle down in the 50 yard lanes. The RSO was helping him get it on paper. But I thought it was funny, the shooter was fooling around with the BOSS barrel tuner. Which is for tuning your groups AFTER you get on paper. Not much help in obtaining basic zero, I'd think. While trying and failing on the 100 range, who knows how far off the guy got with his scope, turning knobs.

At our range, they have one of those kits with a laser pointer for helping people get sights or optics in a basic zero. I've never used it, I'm able to do it without such help. First thing I do as at home. I have a permanent target set up so I can do an eyeball-down-the-bore basic zero. When I've got that done, then the gun goes to the range for finer adjustments. Of course, the rifle design has to be such that you can actually look down the bore.

When I go to the range where I'm a life member, if I'm shooting over open sights on the 100 yard range, I'm one of only a few. Mostly scopes are seen. Depending on the target design (discussed in another thread) determines how well I'll do. Yet when I go down to the 50 yard range, mostly I see scoped rifles there as well. Like a fellow member, who shoots 50 yards with a scoped .45-70 Ruger No. 1.

There might be another conversation about the need for a Remington 300 Ultra Mag. Or whatever it was. Yeah, yeah, I know, elk at 1,200 yards.

Any chance this was at RGC?

 

[Tlock]

I do cringe at how many hunters only sight in once a year.
Though If I had a 300 Ultra Mag Id only want to shoot it once a year too.

I only sight in about every 10 years!

 

[Tlock]

Where do you buy clothes for animals? And who is responsible for catching and dressing them?

I can't even get my corgie to wear a costume for Halloween, can't imagine dressing a buck! Especially if it's in rut like @sobo

 

[arakboss]

I only sight in about every 10 years!

I sight in with every shot, except for celebratory gunfire. I just let those go wherever gravity takes them.

 

[Capn Jack]

With my muzzle loaders, I just drop a .30 cal. laser cartridge down the barrel and check the sights against the inside of the garage door from the kitchen counter. (About 30 ft.) That usually puts me on the paper at 25 yds.