A pair of NRL Lapua’s

[longrangehunter]

Here’s the two rifles that I use for NRL HUNTER competitions, and long range field matches like the Steel Safari, RTC, and such.

A 25x47 in the background, and the Thunder Ranch Rifle in front that I’ve completed with now for over ten years.

 

[xphunter]

Very Sharp Indeed!

 

[longrangehunter]

Casper, AKA Makwa is a hoot! He just wanted to get in the picture and enjoy the sunshine! He’s actually the Star at all the Matches he and I go too!!

 

[DrMike]

I did wonder what role the pup played in your shooting? Good looking pup. Great colouration.

 

[longrangehunter]

I did wonder what role the pup played in your shooting? Good looking pup. Great colouration.

Thanks Mike and XPHunter!

His role is he’s a chick magnet and anyone that loves Dogs! He loves people!

He’s a great companion and hunting dog, especially since he’s only 14 months old. Ruffed Grouse, Squirrels and Rabbits are his forte, he sees a lot of Big Game animals too, almost on a daily basis vs the Small Game he’d rather be hunting than being told to sit and stay!

 

[JD338]

Thanks Mike and XPHunter!

His role is he’s a chick magnet and anyone that loves Dogs! He loves people!

He’s a great companion and hunting dog, especially since he’s only 14 months old. Ruffed Grouse, Squirrels and Rabbits are his forte, he sees a lot of Big Game animals too, almost on a daily basis vs the Small Game he’d rather be hunting than being told to sit and stay!

The perfect side kick!
Cute dog for sure.

JD338

 

[longrangehunter]

Here’s a hunting load that shoots better than the load I use for competing.

Same load, different brass and bullet. A 133 Elite Hunter, vs the 135 LRHT. I didn’t do anything other then pour in the powder into the 25x47 Alpha brass and seat the bullets with the same CBTO.

 

[longrangehunter]

Looks like the Jackalope will need a new paint job.

 

[longrangehunter]

I have a three day field match coming up so I’m going to do some training today since it’s so nice outside this morning.

I always check my zero before proceeding. That said I don’t always adjust the scope until I arrive at the location of a match the day before.

Here’s today’s Cold Bore, and the fallowing two shots at 100 yards.

The reason for the difference in the above target with the five round group was that it takes that much to foul out the barrel for the shots to settle in.

And no I didn’t clean the barrel since then which was back on February 9th of this year.

I forgot to mention that this is my 25x47 Lapua shooting 135 LRHT’s. One thing that I really love about this gun is that it has a Coned CRF , as such there’s nothing for the bullet to get hung up on vs a flat breach or recessed breach. The end of the barrel is a funnel, which can facilitate feeding under adverse conditions.

 

[longrangehunter]

A lot of shots are off a tripod, so that’s what I’m training for. Prone is way too easy even for a KYL Rack at 320.

Well even after making a 1/10 mil adjustment up I was barely hitting the 6” and 4” plate which I saw and held at the 11 O’clock position on the 4” plate only center it up. The 3” plate was at 9 o’clock so I held high center on the 2” plate only to completely miss it!

I’m going to install a plate it may tripod which will help immensely with keeping the bag steadier as well as the gun on the tripod.

 

[longrangehunter]

Installed the MUB mod dos plate to the tripod via a ball head. Worked better, but I don’t like adding more equipment, and weight to my kit.

That said it did work for putting rounds onto each plate.

 

[Guy Miner]

Very cool. Love that the pup is part of your shooting.

A few years ago a buddy built a 25 Creed and tried the 133 gr Bergers with excellent results on target. I don't think he's hunted with the rifle though, just used it for a range toy.

Guy

 

[longrangehunter]

Very cool. Love that the pup is part of your shooting.

A few years ago a buddy built a 25 Creed and tried the 133 gr Bergers with excellent results on target. I don't think he's hunted with the rifle though, just used it for a range toy.

Guy

Thank you very much for the kind words about Casper Guy….. He’s a hoot, and loves being outside hunting with me.

I don’t have a lot of experience with the Elite Hunting bullets except head shots, which weren’t far and only for meat hunts or Coyotes.

That said I’d much rather use a Nosler bullet in any situation hunting vs the Berger’s. I compete with them, and for the most part that’s were the belong IMO. Or any of the other well established bullets that have taken game animals by the millions.

 

[longrangehunter]

Lots of ammunition to make today!

 

[xphunter]

Good luck in your upcoming match

 

[Guy Miner]

Forster Co-Ax, yes! What a great press for precision loading. Which dies do you use?

Like Ernie said - good luck at the match!

Guy

 

[longrangehunter]

Thank you very much Ernie, and Guy!

Guy, I use the Short Action Customs Modular sizing die due to it allows me to use it for anything that is a x47 Lapua. The shoulder/neck bushings take care of sizing the entire length of the neck and the shoulder gets stretched to the neck.

A 25x47 comes out ready to go in a single pass.

I like the Forster press for the floating shell holder so if something is slightly off it’ll lineup the case into the die with less runout.

The SAC Modular die allows me to use it for a 25x, 6 WTF, and the 6.5x47 Lapua in one die. Or .22 for that matter, but I’m currently only using it for the 25, and 6.5 as I switch my 6mm’s to a 6GT a few years ago.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I will only use a Redding Competition Seating die…. Very consistent, and for runout.

 

[xphunter]

Can't go wrong with SAC dies
One of the really good ones.

 

[longrangehunter]

Here’s how the spread between 41.2 target charge weight numbers look for 30 pieces.

17@41.18
10@41.20
3@41.22

It will vary from time to time on the heavy side if the trickle speed is too high. I don’t really care though. I can’t shoot well enough to make a difference at a match for that sample size to matter.

 

[JD338]

Ya gotta love the Forester Co-Ax press!
The camming force is second to none

JD338