This morning the rifles and i took a trip to the hills.



The first target was made by shooting 9 times from the Knight at about 100 yard. Elevation was 4700', and temperature was about 60 at the start, and 67 when finished. Load was 200g SST in tan sabot, 120g BH209, and W209 primer. When new out of the box the elite trigger had much much creep. There were pictures and instructions posted long ago by Sabotloader, that i followed to reduce the creep, and now the trigger is real nice...........not perfect, but near. The bolt doesn't close with the same feel every time. Sometimes it closes and opens readily; other times one has to politely work with it. The spent primers don't come out with the same look each time.



Sometimes the primers have a concavity; second, fourth, and last. Some seem to have flowed into the bolt.

It seems the rifle could be improved by a glasbed. I think i will try 130g of BH next. Suggestions how to improve the accuracy of this rifle would be quite welcome.




Then i picked up the target and moved a mile or so to 4900' where i could get a longer shot with the X7. The target was in a cloud when i wanted to shoot, and patience was required.









The laser was unable to 'see' for a while, but then the cloud moved on. The target was ranged at 271 yard; the cds dial set, and shooting commenced. The rifle was clean, and cold to begin with. The load was 300g Deep Curl, short black harvester sabot, 105g BH, and W209 primer.





One can see that tape was placed over the holes made by the Knight, before these 5 shots with the X7 were taken. Then the target was picked up, taken back to 4700'. There 3 more shots were made at about 100 yard, after turning the cds dial to 1.

When I shot my Elite during initial sight in at 50yds 110gr BH209 proved to be the winning load with the SST's and Harvester sabots. The accuracy was not there though at 100yds so I backed down to 100gr and the groups tightened back up. Nice long range shooting.

Ron,

You may feel the need for speed but I shoot the exact same gun with 200 grain Harvesters and use 90 grains of BH209.

I have very good accuracy with this load. Try backing it down a bit.

Well guys don't forget - he was shooting 271 yds with a ML and got what appears to be about a 5" group. That's roughly 2 MOA. Not too shabby. And the 3 shots at 100 yds also look like about 2" (so the same).
The rifle is consistant (and so is the shooter) so maybe a bit of tweeking and Ron will have a dandy shooting rifle there.

The target we were referring to was the first one shot 7 or so times at 100yds with the .45 Elite. The 200+yard shots were with his .50 X7.

Took the rifles out again today, and setup at exactly 100 yard. It was quite calm for awhile, but then a slight breeze developed. Shot the 130g load first, then the 90g, in the Knight, then the 105g load in the X7.

Ron,

Not too shabby. Looks like the 130 and 90 group about the same. If so, why burn the extra powder. My Elite likes the Harvester light blue CR sabots. They may be worth a try.