Range Report: Tale of Three Henrys

[Sir Henry]

I arrived at the range an hour later than normal and instead of unlocking the gate I was the seventh person there. But after a couple hours everyone left and I was the only one there. So instead of getting my solo time early I got it late.

All three Henrys had the trigger spring cut a tad and they all broke at about 2 1/2 pounds. All were .22WMR and the only ammo I shot was CCI V-MAX which is a 30 grain varmint round with a Polymer Tip at 2200FPS.

The pictures are in the order I shot them.

[Sir Henry]

I wanted to shoot for score and not just group size so some of the smaller groups didn't produce the largest score. I set one double target out for each rifle and shot the left target first with each targets rifle and them moved to the right. I didn't cherry pick the targets as I kept zeroing the scopes and the last group of targets produced the best scores of the day although not the best group size.

The old C6 Weaver has a 1/4" MIA adjustments and it seemed I was either shooting high or slow. The Malcolm scope is unusual to adjust in that when you adjust either the windage or elevation it effects the other. If you aren't used to them they can be a bear to sight-in. The newer Leupold has 1/8" MIA adjustments and was by far the easiest to zero. But the parallax is set for centerfire and I think it would have been the best at 100 yards.

All targets were at 50 yards and everything was shot from my crude wood benchrest. I was shooting at Official 50-Yard Small Bore Rifle Targets NRA TQ-3/2(P).

The SGC had better groups but was shooting much to high. After adjusting it for each 10-round group I ended up chasing the zero around. The C6 Weaver has a friction adjustment and if I play around with it I can get half adjustments. But I need to do that on a day when its the only thing I'm shooting.


The Frontier was the most fun to shoot.


And the Magnum was the most accurate.


So shooting one and a half inch groups benchrest at 50 yards isn't anything to write home about but I had a good time. Oh I did have one 5-10 (3X) target going on and then shot three 9's, an 8, and a 7. Those first five shots equaled a .361" group.

[CT_Shooter]

Thanks for the detailed report and the great pictures, SH. I love to see them and to read about your time at the range; what you did, why you did it, and how well you did. I'm always impressed.

[JEBar]

nicely done

[Sir Henry]

As you can see each shot make the group bigger and bigger rather than plinking all around.

1st shot: top of x
2nd shot: bottom of x
3rd shot: left of top x
4th shot: left of last shot
5th shot: low of last shot
6th shot: top right of 9
7th shot: left of last shot
8th shot: lowest 9
9th shot: 8
10th shot: 7

[Sir Henry]

nicely done

Thanks but this was terrible. I should have been getting half inch groups.

[JEBar]

nicely done

Thanks but this was terrible. I should have been getting half inch groups.

all too well understood .... I've found that some days my targets show much tighter than others .... in my case, the firearm and the ammo may well be the same so the variable has to be my performance .... be it physical, emotional, degree of concentration, level of focus, reaction to environmental conditions around me all factor into my performance .... I had one target today that was terrible .... I was trying to see how the grouping would be affected by heating up the barrel .... I'm sure it had to play a part .... however, my hurry-up frame of mind probably cause most of the spread .... take those three out again tomorrow and I'd bet you will get different results

[Sir Henry]

I try to notice where every round go and the pattern in which they are shot and have found I'm a three-shot wonder. I can get a fantastic three rounds going and then blow it. And almost in every case my spread keeps growing with each shot as opposed to just shooting all over the place from the beginning.



For me its all about concentration.

[PT7]

Fun-fun interchanges here.

CT said: "great pictures" and "...how well you did. I'm always impressed."
JEBar said: "nicely done."
You said: "... isn't anything to write home about but I had a good time." <and> "... but this was terrible. I should have been getting half inch groups."
PT7 says: To your shooting and range reports, "Thumbs up high!"

I think the best thing you noticed, Sir Henry, was that you "had a good time." And the only thing you missed noticing today, as everyone else did notice, is how very well you shot all three rifles. I'd be glad to take those "terrible" targets off your hands.

Finally, JEBar's post of "understanding" was cool. We've all been there, done that.

Thanks much for your Tale of Three Henrys. Always looked forward to.

[Sir Henry]

Thanks PT7. I guess I keep asking myself if I cant get three tight shots why can't I get ten? I know I'm capable of doing it. About a month ago I shot my Small Game Carbine with peeps offhand at 50 yards and did better than today.

For decades I was just a weekend plinker but in the last few years I've studied more about precision shooting and have discovered I have it within me to shoot great...........if I can only concentrate. The eye sight, trigger control, breathing and even heartbeat come into play.

A few years ago I watched one of us regular shooters at the range go from so-so to an expert in about three years. He was at my age now and for four years was the state champion. I don't want to compete but I want to become good enough that I could. And I want to do it with a Henry. That is why I ordered the Long Ranger Rifle.