Brief Range Report (without pictures)

[DrMike]

It was pretty windy today. I had set aside the day to shoot, but after witnessing the wind (~160 to 180 degrees and gusting to 16 km/hr with low wind at ~7 km/hr), I gave up on setting up the chronograph and shooting for groups. I'll make an effort to get out again later in the week. I wanted to sight in several rifles, however, and did manage to accomplish that task. I bore sighted the 6.5 Creedmoor and the 35 Whelen. Unfortunately, the Whelen ammunition I had with me was for my old barrel; the new one has a much shorter throat. So, there is some work this evening. I sighted in my .375 Win with some factory loads that I had lying around. The first group yielded sub MOA. I may have to look more carefully at this rifle for black bear this spring. I have some loads worked up for testing. I also sighted in the .356 Win that received the new Leupold VX7 scope. That one is a shooter, and even though I was slinging some old factory loads, it was still giving me sub MOA accuracy. I'll shortly be posting data from the Whelen, the Creedmoor and the newer .280 that I am working with.

 

[.280 Remington]

Doc which creedmoor do you have? I'm very interested in that caliber

 

[DrMike]

I have the Ruger Hawkeye (early model) with the 26 inch tube. It is an interesting cartridge, for sure. I picked it up from a friend who had put 80 rounds of factory ammunition through it. It showed promise, but I did a bit of work (pillar bedding, new butt pad, lightened the trigger) and put a VX6 2-12X42 on it.

 

[.280 Remington]

I have the Ruger Hawkeye (early model) with the 26 inch tube. It is an interesting cartridge, for sure. I picked it up from a friend who had put 80 rounds of factory ammunition through it. It showed promise, but I did a bit of work (pillar bedding, new butt pad, lightened the trigger) and put a VX6 2-12X42 on it.

Sounds like a sweet Rig, I don't have much first hand experience with Ruger, but I know a ton of folks rave about them. I'll get around to posting the story of those muleys one of these days...

 

[DrMike]

I now own three Hawkeyes. They are mixed in my review of them. The .358 is a shooter, for sure. It gives me fairly consistent 0.5 to 0.7 inch groups with 200 grain TSX. The Whelen never quite lived up to my expectations, based in no small measure on the superb characteristics of the .358. Accordingly, I switched barrels to get a faster twist. I'm breaking in that barrel now. The jury is still out on the Creedmoor.

 

[.280 Remington]

I now own three Hawkeyes. They are mixed in my review of them. The .358 is a shooter, for sure. It gives me fairly consistent 0.5 to 0.7 inch groups with 200 grain TSX. The Whelen never quite lived up to my expectations, based in no small measure on the superb characteristics of the .358. Accordingly, I switched barrels to get a faster twist. I'm breaking in that barrel now. The jury is still out on the Creedmoor.

Good to hear. I myself am not stuck on one manufacturer(like scotty and all :shock so I enjoy a honest opionion of whatever is out there. I own a flurry of different rifles, I just happen to like the ones that shoot and if they don't(browning) I get rid of them... :lol:

On a side note, I don't have one right now, but I seem to be drawn to the Ruger No. 1

 

[DrMike]

You'll definitely find some true Ruger No. 1 aficionados posting here. Some of the pictures reveal some beautiful rifles that deliver itty bitty groups.

 

[.280 Remington]

You'll definitely find some true Ruger No. 1 aficionados posting here. Some of the pictures reveal some beautiful rifles that deliver itty bitty groups.

I'll kick myself till the day I die for trading the one I had in 7x57, Scotty is going to MCMAP my head into the ground for doing such a thing too.....I just know it!

 

[DrMike]

I understand. I'm still grieving (almost ten years after the fact) at letting a Model 70 7X57 slip away. Then, there was the Eurobolt in 7RM that gave me an honest ten rounds of 162 grain SSTs in 0.6 inches. Another disaster. Then there was... Well, you get the picture.

 

[BK]

I now own three Hawkeyes. They are mixed in my review of them. The .358 is a shooter, for sure. It gives me fairly consistent 0.5 to 0.7 inch groups with 200 grain TSX. The Whelen never quite lived up to my expectations, based in no small measure on the superb characteristics of the .358. Accordingly, I switched barrels to get a faster twist. I'm breaking in that barrel now. The jury is still out on the Creedmoor.

That's interesting. I have two Hawkeyes; an early model Creedmoor with a 26" barrel, and a .358 Winchester. The .358 is stainless, though.

 

[6mm Remington]

I have the Ruger Hawkeye (early model) with the 26 inch tube. It is an interesting cartridge, for sure. I picked it up from a friend who had put 80 rounds of factory ammunition through it. It showed promise, but I did a bit of work (pillar bedding, new butt pad, lightened the trigger) and put a VX6 2-12X42 on it.

Any day out shooting is a good day Doc. I want to see how that Ruger does with a new barrel on it.

Sounds like a sweet Rig, I don't have much first hand experience with Ruger, but I know a ton of folks rave about them. I'll get around to posting the story of those muleys one of these days...

280 Remington you sure picked a most excellent name to use on the forum!! :grin: I have two Ruger #1's and my son has a MKII in.........wait here it comes..............6mm Remington! They all are shooters. Maybe later I could post a target or two.
David

 

[SJB358]

You'll definitely find some true Ruger No. 1 aficionados posting here. Some of the pictures reveal some beautiful rifles that deliver itty bitty groups.

I'll kick myself till the day I die for trading the one I had in 7x57, Scotty is going to MCMAP my head into the ground for doing such a thing too.....I just know it!

Wow, I never knew you traded a #1 in a 7x57! Not sure what to say about it? I am speechless!

On another note Nosler, I see Nosler's Pro is chambered in the 7x57! You could always redeem yourself with one of them or a M70!

 

[338winmag]

Dr Mike you have the 375 Winchester shooting better than Hornady could with their test rifle!! Very Cool.
You have a spring big game black bear season. Now that is a pro hunting area! :mrgreen:
Is this a Model 94? Also is this a caliber much like Marlins 444?

It sounds like you had a nice day Wednesday. Don't ya just love rifle sight-in and practice. Not sure if my shoulder could take what your shoulder endures at a sitting though. Between you and Scotty, you are keeping the powder and bullet manufacturers open 24\7. :wink:

338Winmag

 

[DrMike]

The 375 (and two 356s) are Model 94s. I really enjoy these old 94s. I've had three of the .356s, and they've accounted for quite a few moose, elk, mule deer, black bear and grizzlies. This is my third .375. Interestingly, I've taken nothing with my .375. I think I'll rectify that deficit this spring. As soon as I finish my coffee and shower, I'm headed back out to the range this morning. I have a few rifles to pull the trigger on, and some loads for the .375. The .375 Win is more comparable to the old .38-55 than to the .444.

 

[SJB358]

Steve, the 444 Marlin is a very powerful round in the lever guns. I thought alot about the 444 and 45-70. Ended up with a 45-70, but the want for a 444 is still there. Can't beat them bigger bore lever rifles. They are tons of fun and perform really well.

I have a buddy that has a M94 with a Skinner peep on it. Really does well with RL7 and 220 Hornadys.

This was shot with a Skinner at 100 yards. Wanna say it runs right around 2200FPS as well. Pretty serious medicine.

 

[.280 Remington]

You'll definitely find some true Ruger No. 1 aficionados posting here. Some of the pictures reveal some beautiful rifles that deliver itty bitty groups.

I'll kick myself till the day I die for trading the one I had in 7x57, Scotty is going to MCMAP my head into the ground for doing such a thing too.....I just know it!

Wow, I never knew you traded a #1 in a 7x57! Not sure what to say about it? I am speechless!

On another note Nosler, I see Nosler's Pro is chambered in the 7x57! You could always redeem yourself with one of them or a M70!

Yes I did Scotty, I probably deserve to be NJP'd for that and busted down.....