SmallGameAddict
.308 Win
Meanwhile...
I've spoken to my buddy numerous times. I suggested some 8" steel plates placed at random long distances on his property along the power lines, beyond 300 yards, with an adequate and SAFE backstop, for practice all pre-season. Loves the idea, and we're currently working on scrounging some up. Also, told him we need a small table and an extra chair in the shooting house.
He wants to record the shot on video, and so do I. Exciting. I have a little Sony HandyCam, with 60x zoom, records in 16x9 widescreen, DVD (Standard Definition, not HD) quality video, and digital stereo sound, records onto SD cards. He's not having that. He has a new 4k Ultra HD TV, and wants to buy a new 4k video camera to record all this in Ultra HD, and has $200 in gift cards to help. Sure hope I don't miss. No pressure.
I've been familiarizing myself with the Hornady Ballistics phone app. I've got a good handle on Kestrels with bluetooth, so I can pair it with my phone and thus the Hornady or Kestrel LINK app. This will allow the app to have up-to-the-very-second weather and wind conditions at my exact location, and the app will update automatically, and constantly display scope sight corrections needed for any distance I choose. Here's how it goes-see deer, range deer with rangefinder, input distance to app, adjust scope, aim, fire. Takes a lot less time to do it than to type it. My buddy will be my spotter (we will both be in the shooting house together), and he will use my rangefinder to tell me the range, and I will handle the rest. On your mark, get set, go. This routine must become second nature. Maybe I will range the deer myself, to help eliminate variables.
I've also looked over my currently owned rifles, and chosen the rifle, and therefore cartridge, I will be using. I need to mount my new scope, carefully and precisely, on that rifle, and bore sight it. Then, I will mount my Harris bipod on the rifle, go to the range, and very carefully and very precisely sight it in at 100 yards, with my ammo and bullet of choice. The scope will be set at 10x, of course, and stay there, to eliminate potential point of impact shifts from changing the power dial back and forth, and 10x is the setting the MOA hash marks on the WindPlex reticle are calibrated for. I will be shooting and hunting always using the bipod, so my 100 yard zero should remain consistent and rock solid. I've also been researching bullets, and ammo, and crunching the numbers using Hornady's excellent Ballistics Calculator, to determine the maximum range of each bullet using either the factory loaded ammunition I currently have, or reloading what I need. I NEED 1.6 MOA of accuracy from the rifle, at 100 yards, to hit an 8" target at 500. I WANT 1 MOA @ 100 yards, some breathing room for error. I need a MINIMUM of 1800 feet per second bullet velocity at point of impact for reliable and uniform bullet expansion. I need a MINIMUM of 1000 foot pounds of bullet energy at point of impact, for a clean and humane harvest. And, last but not least, I need to be able to hit an 8" target at that range, every time I pull the trigger. Using currently available quality deer hunting bullets in a 30/06, for a reasonable price, I have pretty much decided to reload them (yes I do reload), and I will be using Hornady's excellent and very accurate .308 cal. 165 gr Boat Tail Spire Point. This bullet, at the available 2800 fps or so muzzle velocity in the 30/06, will give me honest 500 yard bullet performance. I'll be taking what comes our way, 6-12 point buck, or mature doe, if I have a doe tag. It's not about a new NYS record buck rack. It's about the long range shot.
I've spoken to my buddy numerous times. I suggested some 8" steel plates placed at random long distances on his property along the power lines, beyond 300 yards, with an adequate and SAFE backstop, for practice all pre-season. Loves the idea, and we're currently working on scrounging some up. Also, told him we need a small table and an extra chair in the shooting house.
He wants to record the shot on video, and so do I. Exciting. I have a little Sony HandyCam, with 60x zoom, records in 16x9 widescreen, DVD (Standard Definition, not HD) quality video, and digital stereo sound, records onto SD cards. He's not having that. He has a new 4k Ultra HD TV, and wants to buy a new 4k video camera to record all this in Ultra HD, and has $200 in gift cards to help. Sure hope I don't miss. No pressure.
I've been familiarizing myself with the Hornady Ballistics phone app. I've got a good handle on Kestrels with bluetooth, so I can pair it with my phone and thus the Hornady or Kestrel LINK app. This will allow the app to have up-to-the-very-second weather and wind conditions at my exact location, and the app will update automatically, and constantly display scope sight corrections needed for any distance I choose. Here's how it goes-see deer, range deer with rangefinder, input distance to app, adjust scope, aim, fire. Takes a lot less time to do it than to type it. My buddy will be my spotter (we will both be in the shooting house together), and he will use my rangefinder to tell me the range, and I will handle the rest. On your mark, get set, go. This routine must become second nature. Maybe I will range the deer myself, to help eliminate variables.
I've also looked over my currently owned rifles, and chosen the rifle, and therefore cartridge, I will be using. I need to mount my new scope, carefully and precisely, on that rifle, and bore sight it. Then, I will mount my Harris bipod on the rifle, go to the range, and very carefully and very precisely sight it in at 100 yards, with my ammo and bullet of choice. The scope will be set at 10x, of course, and stay there, to eliminate potential point of impact shifts from changing the power dial back and forth, and 10x is the setting the MOA hash marks on the WindPlex reticle are calibrated for. I will be shooting and hunting always using the bipod, so my 100 yard zero should remain consistent and rock solid. I've also been researching bullets, and ammo, and crunching the numbers using Hornady's excellent Ballistics Calculator, to determine the maximum range of each bullet using either the factory loaded ammunition I currently have, or reloading what I need. I NEED 1.6 MOA of accuracy from the rifle, at 100 yards, to hit an 8" target at 500. I WANT 1 MOA @ 100 yards, some breathing room for error. I need a MINIMUM of 1800 feet per second bullet velocity at point of impact for reliable and uniform bullet expansion. I need a MINIMUM of 1000 foot pounds of bullet energy at point of impact, for a clean and humane harvest. And, last but not least, I need to be able to hit an 8" target at that range, every time I pull the trigger. Using currently available quality deer hunting bullets in a 30/06, for a reasonable price, I have pretty much decided to reload them (yes I do reload), and I will be using Hornady's excellent and very accurate .308 cal. 165 gr Boat Tail Spire Point. This bullet, at the available 2800 fps or so muzzle velocity in the 30/06, will give me honest 500 yard bullet performance. I'll be taking what comes our way, 6-12 point buck, or mature doe, if I have a doe tag. It's not about a new NYS record buck rack. It's about the long range shot.
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