After a great week of waterfowling in Alberta, I confess I missed the range.
I started Sunday at the 50 yd target. I tried a different fouling method. I fired 2 RWS caps thru the oiled barrel, then dry patched and fired 2 more. Seems to have worked and I would not hesitate to leave the barrel loaded and fouled by caps. The first shot was lower right on the upper left orange dot. Fired shot number 2 on the fouled barrel as would happen in the field. Then swabbed and shot 3 more, swabbing between. I yanked the 4th (top), and the group still turned out 1.75".
Cabela Hawken, GM barrel
50 yds. open sights
90 RS. 300 XTP 44 cal, short sabots
1.75" group
" />
Then moved to the 100yd target. Fired 1 shot which landed within 1" of the MOA group last time out (low hole). I decided this will likely be my hunting round and dared to adjust the sight, rear up 1/16", and shot 5 more, swabbing between each. The group looks odd being 2 together and 3 together, but it is 3.5" and the variation belongs to the shooter. (The hole top center is not a bullet hole but for hanging the target I suppose).
" />
I returned to the 50 yd target to see the affect of the sight adjustment. Only got to fire 4 before there was a break, range was busy so I pulled the target. Another 1.75" group. Lower right orange dot.
" />
The bonus came when I moved to the 200 yd target. Because I'm essentially "gap shooting" at the 200, my sight adjustment, when coupled with the 10mm-200 XTP's and 100 grains rather than 90, allowed me to reduce my front sight elevation thereby reducing one element of error. I was able to place 6 of 7 on the 12" target with condfidence, before another break in the action, so I retrieved the target and quit for the day. The 6 were a group of 7 1/4". The one off the target was right on elevation but 1.5" off the paper to the right. I did aim on the left edge of the target to compensate knowing the gun is sighted to shoot several inches right at 100 and wind was 8-10, R to L. This weekend, I plan to adjust the rear sight to move POI 1.5 left at 50. Hope I don't screw up a good thing..........
" />
I have a few questions I'll put on another post......