Knight Wolverine in the hot sun

cayugad · 07-16-2008, 02:35 PM

It was brutal out there today. 86 degrees and 84% humidity. Well it was hot!! But I wanted to shoot, so I pulled the bench back to the 75 yard line and put a target back in the woods.

I was shooting my Knight Wolverine LK-II .50 caliber rifle with a 3-9x40 Sightron S1 scope on it. This rifle does not like large powder charges. It is sighted in for 75 yards according to my notes and there was a light breeze from left to right.

I swabbed the bore with alcohol and then a dry patch. Popped two caps. Then loaded 85 grains of Goex 2f and a 250 grain Barnes Expander. The first shot hit high, as normal. After that, swabbing between shots, this rifle behaved wonderful. It really put them in the target.

I then super swabbed the rifle and loaded 85 grains of Pyrodex RS (according to my notes) and a 250 grain Speer Gold Dot HP with black MMP sabots. It put them in basically the same place as where the Barnes hit. I then hung a soda can up and put four rounds of the Speer Gold Dots into that without swabbing the bore.

I then swabbed the bore good again, and aimed for just under the red tape. I was shooting 85 grains of Goex and .430 300 grain XTP's (non magnum) with Harvester Crushed Rib sabots. I swabbed the bore every other time, and it actually made a difference in where they grouped. The second shot on a fowled barrel hit a little higher and to the right. But over all it was an excellent day on the range. Even though the barrel was very hot, it still behaved well. Although I did try and take my time swabbing, checking the target, etc.. to let it cool a little.

While there seems this mad rush for the new style rifles, it still is hard to beat a good old Knight rifle. This is not a magnum rifle, but with the above loads, a deer would not stand a chance...

dmurphy317 · 07-16-2008, 03:48 PM

I hope the next place I live has a built in range like you have there Dave. Nice shooting.

cayugad · 07-16-2008, 03:52 PM

I have to admit this living in the country with my own range is the best. When I lived in the big city, I used to have to drive about twelve miles to get to a range and they pray it was open. I told myself way back then that when I retired I was living in the woods, and have my own range and hunting grounds... It is the best thing I ever did for myself.

Semisane · 07-16-2008, 05:53 PM

Good shooting, as usual. I too am jealous of your at-home range. Haven't been able to get to my hunting club range for almost three weeks now. I am SO horny to make smoke.

flounder33 · 07-16-2008, 06:22 PM

Nice shooting Dave. Those wolverines just flat out shoot. I'm blessed to be able to shoot outside my back door too, just too busy earning a buck lately.
Art

burntmuch · 07-16-2008, 06:24 PM

Just sold my house with a small yard & have a purchace agreement on a house on 5 acres. Already a big pile of dirt at the back of the property, the beginnings of a 150 yard range.

Cant wait

Oh yeah thats some good shooting cayugad

gt2003 · 07-16-2008, 06:42 PM

Nice shooting. I also have a wolverine that drives tacks with about anything I put in it. I keep thinking I want another ML but remember how well mine shoots and change my mind. No reason to change what works.

arcticap · 07-17-2008, 09:53 PM

That Sightron scope might have contributed to the excellent accuracy too.
Shouldn't take a good scope for granted...theydon't all work as well.

cayugad · 07-17-2008, 10:29 PM

I agree about the scope. If it was not for the optics, I am the first to admit, I am not a great open sights shot. They would have been much larger groups.

alleyyooper · 07-18-2008, 08:24 AM

I also love having my range just out side the door and being able to hunt there too. I think I would rather commit sueside than live in a city or sub ever again. I live in a sub for 11 years but the range was on the way to work and I worked second shift then. I also went up north to the farm on the weekends and during hunting season.

Al