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FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 4:39 pm
by ESquared
Between the weather, range refurbishments, and other projects, the 223 SS has been sitting, waiting for some attention.

Got it out today. First shots, new gun, new scope, new ammo, new range. Markiver's 3-9X40 Nikon Buckmasters was on board. Ammo was just off-the-shelf 55 gr Federal something-or-other. AND, I'd modified the spring action, thanks to BigAl's donation of a Grainger hammer/trigger spring. More on that later. Just bags, not a sled/rest, seated, had a spotting scope for seeing POIs and scope tweaking.

Range was outdoors, wind quartering from the right at probably 15-20 mph, but I'd never been to this range before, and it's outside, but weirdly baffled, with lots of concrete overhangs, so I'm not sure if wind was a factor or not. Let's say negligible.

Other than that, I was totally in my comfort zone!

Started at 25 yds, tweaked the scope a bit, went to 50 yds, some more tweaking, seemed okay, so I jumped to 100 yds. For what I was doing, the newness of just about everything, I was pretty happy (still am!) with the way it turned out. It's a covered booth and that's me, waaay down there. You can see the light/shadow/light/shadow thing going on with the concrete structure. The rest of the pics are noted appropriately, I think.

It'll get better, and it's a good start, in my world!

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 4:54 pm
by BrokenolMarine
Nice, as soon as my berm dries a bit, I have some things waiting in the wings that want to see the light.
Time to do some shooting, then I can load some ammo for the match 45... It's persnickity.

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 5:06 pm
by Ojaileveraction
First time out with the rifle and a new range. I'd call that a good start.
That lighting is something. Does it change with the sun movement?

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 5:17 pm
by Mistered
Yikes! That has got to be the most 'sterile' range i have ever seen!
I didn't know anything like this existed!
A little different from my range......
YGUN6693[1].jpeg
YGUN6693[1].jpeg (209.54 KiB) Viewed 2442 times

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 5:35 pm
by Ojaileveraction
I think that is an example of a modern managed range.

I've been to many ranges like yours MrEd.
I understand yours is private and taken care of.

Usually they end up looking like toxic waste dumps.
Litterd with emptys, shot out floatsum, surrounded by dead and dying trees.

Mistered wrote:
Thu May 16, 2019 5:17 pm
Yikes! That has got to be the most 'sterile' range i have ever seen!
I didn't know anything like this existed!
A little different from my range......
YGUN6693[1].jpeg

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 5:40 pm
by RanchRoper
Nice shooting. Thanks for the good report.

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 5:47 pm
by Mistered
I understand yours is private and taken care of.
Actually this is PUBLIC land about 10 minutes from my house.
Fortunately where I live there remains a semblance of respect for public land.

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 6:02 pm
by North Country Gal
Fine shooting with a new rig, there. Good for you, Esquared. Looks like you've got a new range pal in that Henry single shot. Should provide you with lots of shooting and affordable shooting at that, what with the price of223 ammo. For cheap to shoot 223 factory ammo, our CZ does very well with the American Eagle 50 grain tipped varmint in the black box, but any of the AE stuff does well enough for target and fun shooting.

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 6:07 pm
by JEBar
that range looks just like the one at Jay Henges Shooting Park near St Louis .... unfortunately, its been closed down for the last 2 or 3 years with no glimmer of when it may reopen .... prior to its closing we fired there many times and it was a good facility

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 6:22 pm
by Ojaileveraction
Evan the Single Shot,first time, so a much different routine, than the levers?
I'm guessing that may be a little learning curve. Lots of steps and moving of the rifle?
Wondering.
Tim

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 7:01 pm
by RanchRoper
Mistered wrote:
Thu May 16, 2019 5:47 pm
I understand yours is private and taken care of.
Actually this is PUBLIC land about 10 minutes from my house.
Fortunately where I live there remains a semblance of respect for public land.
We all make the best of what we have to work with.

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 7:06 pm
by Mistered
We all make the best of what we have to work with.
Yea it's a bit rough but I get by.......

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 7:09 pm
by ESquared
Ojaileveraction wrote:
Thu May 16, 2019 6:22 pm
Evan the Single Shot,first time, so a much different routine, than the levers?
I'm guessing that may be a little learning curve. Lots of steps and moving of the rifle?
Wondering.
Tim
Yes, Tim, very much so. Every shot is complete re-set, as you have to break it open (of course), remove the empty case, reload, set up again, etc., etc.). It was part of the fun/challenge today, along with all the other "newness" that I listed. Still, the 100 yd group was all pretty much within the big diamond, so it was encouraging.
Much easier to get in a groove with the lever action, but next trip I think I'll take my sled and strap it down. That'll show 'em!

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 7:19 pm
by Ojaileveraction
Very promising shooting.
I need new sand bags. The ones I have are like piling two mounds of mashed potatoes.

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 11:47 pm
by Mags
Wow, quite a spectrum of ranges out there. Modern managed to primitive. Always interesting to see the variety of what's out there across the country.

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 11:58 pm
by Mags
.
So did you find that shooting .223 had a pretty flat trajectory 25-100 yds? ... or did you have to adjust your hold aim much?
ESquared wrote:
Thu May 16, 2019 4:39 pm
...

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 8:42 am
by BigAl52
Looks good Evan. Cant wait to see some groups when that new found reloader wastes his time and money reloading for that single shot. I bet you will find some good results when you do.

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 8:46 am
by ESquared
Mags wrote:
Thu May 16, 2019 11:58 pm
.
So did you find that shooting .223 had a pretty flat trajectory 25-100 yds? ... or did you have to adjust your hold aim much?
ESquared wrote:
Thu May 16, 2019 4:39 pm
...
VERY flat. VERY, VERY FLAT.

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 10:25 am
by Rifletom
Good shooting there Evan! I noticed the orange towel making it's presence known. Very nice.
Are you going to handload for the .223?

Re: FINALLY Got the 223 SS Out to the Range!

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 10:44 am
by Mags
.
I haven't shot my LR enough fully sighted to be certain, just enough to get that flat trajectory inkling. Thanks for the confirmation.
ESquared wrote:
Fri May 17, 2019 8:46 am
Mags wrote:
Thu May 16, 2019 11:58 pm
.
So did you find that shooting .223 had a pretty flat trajectory 25-100 yds? ... or did you have to adjust your hold aim much?
ESquared wrote:
Thu May 16, 2019 4:39 pm
...
VERY flat. VERY, VERY FLAT.