Story from the gun range

[Xmark1]

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.

Not sure what you mean about sighting only once a year?
I haven't adjusted my 308 for eight years and it still holds zero.
I do occasionally put up a target and shoot cloverleafs @ 100 just to check things out.

 

[Xmark1]

So, your' sayin my 338LM is too much for deer?

 

[RVTECH]

I do cringe at how many hunters only sight in once a year.

Or worse - those buying a rifle and ammo a day BEFORE hunting season!

Maybe not so much of an issue these days with the lottery and fewer people hunting but I have witnessed this in the past.

 

[oremike]

Or worse - those buying a rifle and ammo a day BEFORE hunting season!

Maybe not so much of an issue these days with the lottery and fewer people hunting but I have witnessed this in the past.

Don't forget "the guy at gun counter mounted and zeroed the scope for me"

 

[Spitpatch]

At a Montana range a few years ago with a buddy and his teen son. I had put together a .270 for the boy, he'd made a great shot on an Antelope first year out, and we were checking everything (including the kid) prior to our hunt coming up. (I would never feel I had done everything toward making a good shot if I had not confirmed prior to a hunt that my rifle is indeed sighted in, regardless of how reliable it has always been.)

Mahlon had completed his target work pretty fast, and moved over to the 300 yard gong for fun. About that time "Magnum Man" showed up with a buddy.

From their bench, frustration was immediate and increased with each adjustment session. They also had made the mistake of picking a bench nearest Mahlon who had about 30 shells left to burn. I had coached and spotted for him on the first few rounds, he'd started at prone, then went to slinged and sitting, and was making that steel sound like Big Ben at noon. He realized his effect on the neighbors, and began cheering and shaking a fist with each hit as well.

"Magnum" and minion's frustration and verbal exultations reached a crescendo, and finally they hurriedly packed up and left, while Mahlon's dad and I struggled to retain our composure.

It's an old story with player after player in the starring role.

 

[Aero Denezol]

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.

^^Same. I love shooting irons.

I'm continually surprised how many people who spend a fortune $$$ on gear cannot get on paper, even with a "spotter". Does anyone still know how to bore sight? It's not difficult. All you need are a couple bags to support the rifle and a steady hand. Save $50 bucks in ammo guessing and checking.

 

[Spitpatch]

^^Same. I love shooting irons.

I'm continually surprised how many people who spend a fortune $$$ on gear cannot get on paper, even with a "spotter". Does anyone still know how to bore sight? It's not difficult. All you need are a couple bags to support the rifle and a steady hand. Save $50 bucks in ammo guessing and checking.

Having tried multiple "bore-sighter" gadgets, I have discovered that true bore sighting is far better than any gizmo, and the very best "target" is a distant street lamp or such. (I will neither confirm or deny I've utilized a neighbor's porch lamp...bolt out of the gun.)

Centering a distant light in the bore is automatic and fast. A bright star (small but definite) really adds to the precision.

 

[TTSX]

Real pros sight in with tracer rounds

 

[Aero Denezol]

Having tried multiple "bore-sighter" gadgets, I have discovered that true bore sighting is far better than any gizmo, and the very best "target" is a distant street lamp or such. (I will neither confirm or deny I've utilized a neighbor's porch lamp...bolt out of the gun.)

Centering a distant light in the bore is automatic and fast. A bright star (small but definite) really adds to the precision.

^^^What a great idea. I never considered I could do this with a street light from home. That's a big time saver.

Re: scope mounting/zeroing tricks, I recently learned how to shine a flashlight through the objective lens and project the reticle onto a wall and then line it up with a plumb line. Way easier than using all kinds of bubble levels.

 

[Tlock]

I threw a leupold on my wife's 243 one year kinda a last minute thing and walked out back to check where it hit. All be damed I didn't have to move it a click, 3 shots dead center. She killed her buck 3 days later. Of course we are not new shooters and we shoot often.

The worst are archery hunters that don't practice or buy new gear the night before the hunt!

 

[oremike]

I'll be range officering at the end of the month for hunter sight in days so will try to remember the oddities generally they just go in one ear and out the other as part of business as usual.

 

[boattail]

A buddy of mine has a range story that makes me laugh as I have done it myself.

Pair shows up with all the kit, spotting scope, fancy targets, gun with all the bells and whistles. The two guys pop off a round and eyeball the target, adjust the gun and repeat for shot after shot never hitting anywhere near center.

My buddy is at the range testing out a new to him 50 cent garage sale find 22 lr single shot with iron sights. He is shooting at sticks and things. The super shooters are struggling away. My friend asks if he can shoot their target once to confirm his sights. They allow it and he drills the bullseye. Super shooters keep trying to make a group and my buddy continues to chew the bullseye out of their target. The pair gets so disgusted the pack up and leave.

My buddy was an expert rifleman in the Marines.

I was shooting next to a guy trying to sight in his hunting rifle. He was shooting painted steel. He was having a hard time seeing where his shots landed so I watched through my scope and after each of his shots I had him watch the target and I put one on top of his last shot so he could see where it landed. After six shots all over the map he then realized I could put a round on top of his every time. He got real interested in my gun so I switched with him. I took one sighter with his and continued to set a round on top of his as he used my gun. His groups were still non existent. I ended up spending a little time with him on his technique….which was to close his eyes and jerk the trigger.

 

[RVTECH]

Don't forget "the guy at gun counter mounted and zeroed the scope for me"

Yep! And the owner thinking this is all that is required!

 

[TTSX]

The worst part about gun ranges is when someone has a story to tell you...

 

[oremike]

Ok, true story my buddy and I were shooting his 32 Winchester and my .303 British up in the woods. A couple of city slickers pull up and ask us if we'll sight in their rifles for them. We say sure they bring out big new shiny fancy pants rifles. Me and Joe took turns shooting the rifles and got them dialed in but kept shooting them anyway, claiming that they just weren't there yet. You see Joe inherited his rifle and the 50 dollars I spent on the 303 British was all I could afford. Those big fancy rifles were just so cool we just had to keep shooting them. Finally one of the dudes grabbed his rifle and shot a 3 shot group in the bullseye and said good enough for me and they drove off in a hail of gravel.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Real pros sight in with tracer rounds

Broken arrow ftw!

 

[Spitpatch]

Real pros sight in with tracer rounds

'cept they don't print where non-tracers do.

We got ahold of a pile of tracer '06 while in high school. Friend had an old Remington bolt, and we went up on Skyline and fired 'em out into space at night. We noticed after about 2-300 yards of travel, they'd zip off in an angular direction from original path.

No ensuing reports in the Oregonian regarding tracer rounds landing in St. Johns.

In the service a few years later, and training with tracers in the M2 and M60, I discussed this with the instructor, and he advised that the phosphorus compound that makes the trail actually melts the rear of the jacket, and when it bends and cools instantly in travel, creates a "fin" on the rear of the bullet that changes its path.

 

[CLT65]

A couple years ago I was at the range. The only other guy at the rifle bay was shooting his brand new AR. He had a target set up at 25 yards. He would blast through a full magazine, adjust his sights (I don't remember if it was a red dot or a scope, I think a scope), then empty another magazine. I'd have gladly helped him sight it in if he'd have asked, but I don't but into someone's business uninvited, and he seemed to be having fun. He had a big smile on his face.

He finally seemed happy with the sights, proclaimed that he was done, and packed up to leave. He started sweeping up the fired cases so I asked him if he reloaded. He said no so I offered to clean them up for him. He was happy with that, and I ended up with over 400 pieces of nice, once-fired LC 5.56 brass.

Here a better story. Some years back a friend of mine bought his first handgun, a SIG 226 as I recall. He said the Marine Corps taught him to shoot a rifle, but not a pistol.

We went out in the hills; he set up a paper target maybe 50 feet away and shot a magazine full, making a buckshot pattern all over the target. He was frustrated, said something was wrong with his new gun. He asked me to try it, and was really embarrassed when I made a nice little group just right of the bullseye. I told him no reason to be embarrassed; like anything, you just need to understand the basics and put in some practice. I showed him some of the basics and he started improving right away.

We didn't go shooting together for a while, but the next time we did I was really impressed. He had taken it to heart and really practiced. I had never seen anyone improve that much, that fast.

 

[Flopsweat]

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

@sobo's been getting lately.

 

[jbett98]

I once watched a guy try to zero in an AR-15 by twisting the scopes dust caps.