Sight-in day at the local range

[Guest]

M.O.P.P minute of pie plate! Ha ha. We have the same out here, Bob Lee swaggarts at the bar and Ray Charles at the range. Even with the magical bdc reticles.

That's funny stuff, right there!

I've presided over several public range sessions for folks I know and folks who showed up. Somehow, I always end up being the de facto rangemaster...

Things I've noticed? Well, for starters, plenty of folks know almost nothing about how to sight in a rifle, and many don't even know how to properly operate their scopes. I've been asked how many clicks to get on target (with "1 click = 1/4"" clearly printed on the adjusting dial). I've been asked why the rifle is shooting all over - when I've shot, adjusted, shot, adjusted, shot adjusted, and shot again. It should be in the bullseye by now, shouldn't it? Then there are the guys who start at 100yds, without even so much as a bore sight or a check through the bore to see if we're even in the same timezone. One guy asked me what I thought was wrong with his rifle because it wouldn't hit the paper at 100yds. I started to tell him to back up to 25yds, get on paper, then check it at 100yds. He proceeded to argue with me (swear words and all) about how he knew how to shoot. Just tell him what was wrong with the rifle. I politely told him that in all instances I'd ever witnessed where this sort of thing happened, it was always the trigger nut being loose that was the cause. He asked me if I knew how to tighten it, and I (again politely) informed him I had tried in previous instances, but never had any success. He seemed to think that was an acceptable answer and went on his way.

My all-time favorite was a range trip with a good friend (who shall remain nameless) to check zero before hunting season. He brought his Ruger stainless in 7mmRemMag, and I brought my 30-30, 8x57, and then 'brand new' 270Wby. I checked the first two, and proceeded to shoot about 20rds through the 270Wby. I was having scope mount issues (too low in the rear, so adjustments were nuts, but it did shoot one .249" group of three about 3" below the bullseye for the last group of the day). He shot through about half a box of ammo, and said he wasn't getting good groups. We talked a minute, and he let me shoot the Ruger. I managed 1.75" from the white-box Winchester 150gr ammo, about 2" left of center, and about 1" high. He looks at me and says, "That's better than any of mine. Where were you aiming?" I said, "At the orange bullseye on that target," not sure of where this question would lead. He then says, "Every time?" I stifled a laugh and confirmed. He then says, "I always aim for the last shot's hole in the target." I tried to be cool, and I think I pulled it off. He said, "I think I'll try it your way." Well, a ~2" group later, and I believe the lightbulb went on for him. He's since moved away, and I don't get to talk with him as much as I'd like, but it was an eye opener for me as to what people think you should do with a rifle.

 

[SJB358]

Bob Lee Swaggarts at the bar and Ray Charles at the range.

That's funny right there...

Yeah, that is great! Laughed my butt off!

I do alot of load work about 10 miles from my house. It is a small range, with about 8 stations. I usually will hit it during the week, and early, just to get a spot to shoot. Most of the guys that show up are usually fairly serious. I have helped a few guys zero their rifles/muzzleloaders, which doesn't bother me a bit. Don't mind helping out. Plus, it is cool to see what others bring out to the range.

A few weeks before I left for Idaho, there was a shooter who had a really nice Charles Daly 300 Win Mag. I think he was shoot 165 Hornady stuff.. He had a target set up at 100, and was getting shots all over the paper. He was ripping off three shots just about as fast as he could cycle the bolt.

He asked for some help, I asked to check over his bench arrangement. He had some crazy Outers rest, but was letting the barrel rest right on the steel "fork".. I said, lets push it forward and take three shots, cooling 2 minutes between each round.... Man, he turned in a 3/4" group that was AWESOME, 2" above the bull... He said, "how'd you know"... I said, probably just beginners luck and explained barrel harmonics a little, and then explained to rest the rifle as close to the forward guard screw as possible, all the time!

That was a success and was glad to help.. They aren't all monkeys, but they aren't nuts like us though..

 

[DrMike]

All these accounts bring a grin to my chin; keep it up fellows.

 

[usmc 89]

I have seen a lot of stuff on my range alone. I am no sure what it is but usually the guy that has the 1/2 moa Remington sps suddenly has a 1-1/2moa rifle when he leaves, this is usually punctuated with, " I don't know what happened it usually shoots them in the same hole all day". I have one rifle that is a true 1/2 moa. rifle and that is the 22x47 lapua on the bat reciever "meaning if someone said I will bet you 100 dollars you can't shoot a 1/2 moa group right now" this would be the gun I would would take that bet with. But to here some people talk all cabelas sells is 1/2 moa rifles, perhaps they are until they are employed???

 

[Guest]

I have seen a lot of stuff on my range alone. I am no sure what it is but usually the guy that has the 1/2 moa Remington sps suddenly has a 1-1/2moa rifle when he leaves, this is usually punctuated with, " I don't know what happened it usually shoots them in the same hole all day". I have one rifle that is a true 1/2 moa. rifle and that is the 22x47 lapua on the bat reciever "meaning if someone said I will bet you 100 dollars you can't shoot a 1/2 moa group right now" this would be the gun I would would take that bet with. But to here some people talk all cabelas sells is 1/2 moa rifles, perhaps they are until they are employed???

When I used to run around with a bunch of drag racers (back in my youth) we had a saying:

The BS stops when the green flag drops.

Same applies here, I suspect.

 

[Oldtrader3]

There was some guy on here, who claimed having all cheap rifles and scopes that all shot 1/2 MOA groups everyday. I have owned probably 40 or so rifles in the past 50 years and I have only had one 1/2 MOA rifle, a Sako heavy barreled Vixen .222Mag which I foolishly sold.

I have a Model 70 .30-06 which will shoot 3/16ths groups sometimes at 100 yards and I have shot 3/4 inch groups at 300 yards with it but I would not bet money on it being a legitimate 1/2 MOA rifle. Because that means that it shoots 1/2 MOA every time under any range conditions and I don't think it will.

 

[SJB358]

Heck, I am happy to keep three shots in the same zip code some days. The rifles will do it fairly often, it's me in the weak link!

 

[Oldtrader3]

Me too, but I claim age and mental infirmity!

 

[FOTIS]

I am partial to the guys that will not listen. :evil: After a box or two of factory ammo they are back to square 1 and no sight in.... :shock:

 

[SJB358]

I am partial to the guys that will not listen. :evil: After a box or two of factory ammo they are back to square 1 and no sight in.... :shock:

It is the rifles fault... Dontcha know!...

 

[Guest]

I am partial to the guys that will not listen. :evil: After a box or two of factory ammo they are back to square 1 and no sight in.... :shock:

It is the rifles fault... Dontcha know!...

I've occasionally thought, if I weren't such an honest chap, I could sit at the range on weekends with cash and gather a few rifles every weekend from these poor saps who buy junk rifles. It's likely I'd end up maybe doubling my money on them all...

 

[FOTIS]

Oh for sure!

Love them 30-378 accumarks with 6x18x40mm Simmons pro hunters!

What a combo huh?

 

[Oldtrader3]

I would feel luck a sap taking advantage of them. I would rather help the ones who can be helped.

 

[BK]

I dunno, guys. It might be a public service getting firearms out of the hands of some of these yahoos...

 

[Guest]

You know, BK, you may have just given me cause to go sit at the range a couple of weekends with cash in hand...

@Fotis - Man don't you know I hate to see a nice rifle with a crap scope. I had a guy spend at least 15min telling me how his Barska (!) on his 7mm was just as good as a Leupold, Nikon, Swaro or Zeiss. This was while I was setting up my chrony and getting my bench ready. I pulled out my 300'bee with the 4.5-14x44 Conquest and he took a look through it. Turns out, he could see a lot more - including 243cal bullet holes in the target as I confirmed zero on that little rifle, through my Conquest than he could through the 6-20x class Barska he had. It was like opening your eyes underwater, of course, in comparison. He was a little sad for a few minutes. Then I perked him up by letting him compare his scope to my Bushnell Elite 3200s and told him where he could get a 3200 for a good price (this was back when they were still available). I like to think I created at least an optics consumer that day, if not a budding optics snob.

 

[.280 Remington]

I'm glad I can just run down to a buddies property and shoot at any time, and not have to fool with a range. I'm no where near as far "gone" as some of you guys are in the "rifle looney" category, but I still would have a hard time keeping my composure. Either with anger out of safety issues or laughter at some of the things done/said.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Gun Counter salesman are the ones that get me! I have some friends who are gun counter salesmen and are really good guys and knowlegeable but some of the others! Like the guy who tried to sell me 7mm Mauser shells for my 7mm Rem Mag!

 

[SJB358]

Gun Counter salesman are the ones that get me! I have some friends who are gun counter salesmen and are really good guys and knowlegeable but some of the others! Like the guy who treid to sell me 7mm Mauser shells for my 7mm Rem Mag!

Well, it is a 7mm, chambered in a Mauser rifle... Right?

 

[DrMike]

Gun Counter salesman are the ones that get me! I have some friends who are gun counter salesmen and are really good guys and knowlegeable but some of the others! Like the guy who treid to sell me 7mm Mauser shells for my 7mm Rem Mag!

Well, at least he knew not to give you a 280 cartridge. I mean, that's not a 7mm.