Shooting Hearts in the Rock Pit

sabotloader · 08-12-2011, 08:11 AM

I really have been itching to get out and do some shooting with a Knight and some Lehighs... I have been working all summer and have not had time for my normal therapy sessions behind a rifle...

Chetmark put up a post about his new Mountaineer and going elk hunting and that made the itch even worse!!! We have a 'green field' elk season going on now till 9-15. I have always said I would not hunt elk in August - just darn hot - but I neversaid anything about September. That might be fun on a cool early fall morning.

Terry had a big meeting here at the house last knight and I thought that would be a perfect time to go shoot... grabbed the 52 and the supplies and vanished.

I had not shot the 52 since early last year and that would be the rifle I would use for elk so - I wanted to make sure it were ready. This was suppose to be a fun trip to the rock pit - just shooting for relaxation... I must have gotten really relaxed or really into it because between 6 and 7:30 I ended up shooting 29 shots and walking up and dow the rock pit four or five times.

I did not even set a paper target out... by the time I got to the pit I had already devised a plan - I was going to set out 6 birds a set - but they were not going to be birds! they were going to represent the heart of an elk - so Iwas going to be shooting elk not clay pigeons - that was important.

I got the first set of birds (hearts) out and posted on the basalt rock formation, then set up the portable bench with a front and rear bag on the table. I did pop two primers and at that point I loaded up and commence to shooting. That first 6 Hearts went way to easy. You know shooting a Knight and Lehigh/Bloodlines really makes you a better shooter than you really are, but it is really really good for the confidence.

So back down to the wall with 6 more birds only this time I also set up some pieces pf birds here and there to increase the challenge a bit... The little peices were 'naturally' to represent 'buck' hearts...

One thing I forgot to notice much of... 120 grains of T7 and a 300 grain bullet shooting from a bench - kinda rocks your shoulder a bit - but I love it - still softer than a 12 gage 3" turkey shot.

Anyway it was a great time at the rock pit. I recommend that u-all go shooting SOON! it really is goot fer whut ailes ya...

Semisane · 08-12-2011, 08:16 AM

Sabotloader, I hope you get to break and elk's heart with that gun next month. Good shooting. Still too hot for me to burn powder, but I sure have a hankering.

cayugad · 08-12-2011, 08:44 AM

Ir sounded like a wonderful way to spend the day.

mountaineer magic · 08-12-2011, 09:53 AM

Good shooting.I got a box of them "hearts" in the garage. I think I might have to go set some out myself Instead of paper

sabotloader · 08-12-2011, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chetmarks

Good shooting.I got a box of them "hearts" in the garage. I think I might have to go set some out myself Instead of paper

They really are fun to shoot...

Semisane · 08-12-2011, 10:44 AM

I like to put a gallon milk jug out at 100 yards and stand an aspirin on the cap. I shoot the jug, of course. But one day a flyer is going to hit that aspirin and I'll be able to talk about that shot for the rest of my life.

mountaineer magic · 08-12-2011, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Semisane

I like to put a gallon milk jug out at 100 yards and stand an aspirin on the cap. I shoot the jug, of course. But one day a flyer is going to hit that aspirin and I'll be able to talk about that shot for the rest of my life.

If you even hit the milk jug that's something for you to brag about isn't it?

bronko22000 · 08-12-2011, 11:28 AM

OOOOO Chet - Touche! Even more fun (and cheaper than clays) is water balloons. Go the the dollar store and pick up a bag of 100 for a buck. Fill em up to whatever size you wan. I like mine about the size of grapefruit or oranges and set them at various ranges. The only drawback is you SHOULD pick up what pieces of balloon you find. But they are a hoot when you watch them explode.

Semisane · 08-12-2011, 03:12 PM

Quote:

If you even hit the milk jug that's something for you to brag about isn't it?

Dang tootin Chet. I almost always hit it from the bench. But give it a try offhand.