Vintage Military Rifle Long Range Match - Next one is Sunday April 29

[Pthfndr]

What is involved in "scoring the targets"? What does "pulling the targets" mean?

How does one sight in? I have a cheap spotting scope, but can't imagine it being useful past a few hundred yards....

No such things as stupid questions.

You can watch a good video one of the high power shooters did on how to pull and mark targets here:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=270926

Come on out and have fun. We're real low key and just out there to have fun.

[KnowFear]

Thanks for the info - the video was great,

Hope to see y'all there Sunday.

[pro-nra]

Hope to see lots of you bright and early morning.

[6mmintl]

Made it to the Sac Valley 300/500/600/800 military rifle long range prone match today with the Mauser in 7.62x39mm Lapua chamber, 25.5” 1x10" Krieger .300/.308 barrel, with 15X scope with mildot reticle.

300 yard load was 27.7 grains of RG (Radway Green) 4895 halfway up the neck and seated the 155 grain Lapua Scenar Palma bullet to 2.480 .015" off the lands in Winchester cases. Estimated velocity is 2100 FPS. Conditions for the first match were perfect 80 Degrees with a 3-4 MPH 9-3 o’clock wind direction. 3 minutes up from my previous 200 yard elevation.

Took 2 sighters, both 10’s and went for record, X,X, 8 (squib load went low) 10, X,X,X,X,X,X, for a 98-8X



Moved to 500 yards with same load of 27.7 grains of RG (Radway Green) 4895 halfway up the neck and seated the 155 grain Lapua Scenar Palma bullet to 2.480 .015" off the lands in Winchester cases. Estimated velocity is 2100 FPS. Conditions for the second match were again perfect 80 Degrees with a 3-6 MPH 9-3 o’clock wind direction then a reversal right to left of 3 mph. 12 minutes up from my previous 300 yard elevation. Sighters were to tens and proceeded to shoot tens and liner nines with four windage changes of 1 moa or less in mild switching winds for a 91-1X

Moved to 600 yards with same load of 28.1 grains of RG (Radway Green) 4895 halfway up the neck and seated the 155 grain Sierra Palma bullet to 2.380 . in Winchester cases. Estimated velocity is 2200 FPS. Conditions for the third match were again perfect 80 Degrees with a 3-6 MPH 9-3 o’clock wind direction then a couple of boils thrown in and back to 3-6 mph. 21 minutes up from my previous 300 yard elevation. Sighters were 10/x and proceeded to shoot tens and liner nines with three windage changes of 1 moa or less in mild switching winds for a 94-1X

Moved to 800 yards with same load of 28.1 grains of RG (Radway Green) 4895 halfway up the neck and seated the 155 grain Sierra Palma bullet to 2.380 . in Winchester cases. Estimated velocity is 2200 FPS. Conditions for the forth match were again perfect 80 Degrees with 6-9 MPH 9-3/11-5/8-2/3-9/2-7 o’clock wind directions with a couple of boils thrown in and back to 3-6 mph 9-3. 34 minutes up from my previous 300 yard elevation. Sighters with 135 Sierra’s were not promising due to light charge and went with 155’s, sighters were 7/10 and proceeded to shoot all over the place due to switching winds/reversals using 3-8 MOA windage with three misses, also believe I made two over and two under corrections for windage. Ended with a 64-1X

Total score was 347-10X, X400. Open class winner shot 372, I believe I came in 3rd out of 7 open class shooters

The gun continues to shoot sub MOA with 155’s out to 500, 1 MOA out to 600 yards and 40% of the shots at 800 were 1 MOA elevation but left or right of center. The .4 grains heavier charge of RG4895 and 155 sierra’s shot better then the Lapua’s as the Lapua’s have more bearing surface and show more pressure and vertical signs. I now think I can go .2 to .4 grains heavier with the 155 Sierra’s. for 600-800.

Need to work on my wind doping for footballs at 800 yards.

Again, thanks to Kendog4570 for the excellent barrel mounting/chambering job he performed on this old warhorse.

[Pthfndr]

Great match today. The weather was very good with almost no wind. Just enough at 800 yards let people know it isn't as easy as it seems to shoot long range - especially with iron sights on old military rifles.

26 people showed up to shoot. We had several first timers and from what could tell they all had fun and plan to be back. But probably with better ammo and their rifles zeroed a bit better.

High score for the day was Steve M in the open class shooting his Swedish M96 Mauser FSR rifle (target sights - not a scope) with a 372-10x out of a possible 400.

High score in the As Issued class was Vern H shooting his 1903A3 Springfield with a 361-3x.

Honorable mention goes to Mustang's son Ken B who shot a 358-2x with his Swiss 1911 in a class that had 3 1911s and a single K31.


The largest class was the Mosins with 6. Only a couple Garands today in the As Issued class. A reversal of what we've had in the last 3 matches.


Frank (6mmintl) was kicking butt in the open class with his VZ Mauser in 7.62x39 until we went 800 yards and found the limits of the cartridge.


Thanks to Sam and Bob (1-M-42) for helping run the firing line and the pits today. That's tough job at 600 and 800 yards as the rifles are harder pressed to to keep bullets on the target.

We all had a great time and everyone kept asking when the next one is so they could come back for more. As soon as I can get it scheduled word will go out to those on the email list and be posted here. All you C&R guys really need to make it out to these. It's just a ton of fun.

[1-M-42]

Great match, and a wonderful way to kick off our season. 800 yards caught up to me and my Swiss M-1911. It did it's part, I didn't keep my part of the bargain. Congrats to Vern and Steve, they were lights out. Fell asleep when I got home, now I have to go clean the old Swiss rifle....

[6mmintl]

Frank (6mmintl) was kicking butt in the open class with his VZ Mauser in 7.62x39 until we went 800 yards and found the limits of the cartridge.

Ah, Maybe we could have a 200/300/500/600 yard match in the future?

[OldShooter32]

Great day all in all...other than all the sand in my hair deposited there while pulling target by a low round or two! Best people and a well-run, fun match that wrings out the shooter and the rifle. I will be back, and with a friend!

[pro-nra]

Although my score did not reflect my enjoyment of the match, I still had a great time trying and can't wait for the next one. However, unless Rob can squeeze one more match before I leave the country mid June, that might have been the last long range match for me for a while.

Vern Hays been one fire the past couple of weeks first winning the silhouette match last Saturday and now the long range match As Issued.

It was nice to see new faces but sad I did not see some of the shooters that usually shoots this match.

[sacto929]

Woohoo! Great match today!

Rob, thanks for the elbow pads and the bandage. I had ripped open my elbow at 500, as the gravel had been cleared out from my position and I was down to hardpan. The pads really saved me at 600 and 800.

I shot my first cradle-to-grave hand loads today. 175 SMK over 44.2 gr of H4895 in HXP brass. I think they might be a little slow because at 800 I was having to hold at 12 o'clock with my elevation set at 800 (limits of adjustment on the 03A3).

I had a great time and with some more development time on my loads hope to beat my score from today. At least my scores have improved every time out....

[SilentScream]

... but sad I did not see some of the shooters that usually shoots this match...

must be church going folks

[pro-nra]

I went to church too...my priority #1 before match.

[KnowFear]

Sounds like you all had a great time - I am envious - just couldn't put everything together to make the trip (new rifle, new scope, blah blah...)

When is the next opportunity for a nice friendly low stress match like this one?

Also, I see a lot of hand-loading talk. Everything else being equal, what kind of results can one expect with run-of-the-mill surplus ball?

[sacto929]

Sounds like you all had a great time - I am envious - just couldn't put everything together to make the trip (new rifle, new scope, blah blah...)

When is the next opportunity for a nice friendly low stress match like this one?

Also, I see a lot of hand-loading talk. Everything else being equal, what kind of results can one expect with run-of-the-mill surplus ball?

This was my first time with hand loads. Previously, I've used HXP mil-surp and it flew just fine.

[eighteenninetytwo]

I have to be honest, hearing all this talk of handloads, and dope and how awesome I am hitting x number of X's, doesn't make me want to do this at all. I think rob's mention of low pressure fun matches rather sounds great, but I(and I suspect others) don't want to look like an *** next to captain handload and his high performing super scoped gadgetry.