lancetkenyon

Back from the range and the desert. Shot some amazing groups with the 110 SMKs staying within the PRS speed cap range. Recoil is very mild, as can be expected with a 22+# rifle with a 5 port brake shooting a light bullet at moderate pressures. Shooting a few different Axisworks rifles today. 6SST, 6.5SS and 6CM. Here was the best group, but all were in the .1-.2 range. 3 shot group @ 100 yards After the range, I went out to one of my LR spots to shoot a couple more ladder tests since the winds were pretty clam, and the air was cold and humid. 115 Berger over RL23. Had a bit better speeds than I anticipated with lower charge weights. So only got 5 rounds in the ladder test. Rich figured we would max out about 55.0, I was hoping for a bit more. Too bad Rich was so far off.... Shot the ladder test @ 404 yards. Not bad for 5 different charge weights spanning 120fps @ 404 yards. About 1.1", or .26MOAish. On to the 87 V-Max..... Results were not what I had hoped, until I figured out why....and witnessed something I have only heard of. I loaded the 87 V-Max over RL19. Did a very broad charge weight gain of a full grain just to see where we could expect speeds to end up. I started at 50.0, figuring that would be plenty low, and went up to 59.0gr of RL19. Bullet was seated .020" off the lands for testing purposes. Shot #1 @ 3300 to shot #7 @ 3530fps Shot a ladder at 404 yards again. Results were less than spectacular...... .....until shot #8. My Labradar gave me an error "could not track bullet". I studied the target through my spotter, and could not find the bullet hole on target. No way I missed a 12"×18" target @ 404 yards. So, shot #9, I watched. Let me set this up. I was shooting northnorthwest. Time was about 10:00am. Sun at my back almost directly. Got set up prone again, got on target through the scope w. my right eye, but kept my left eye on the distant frame I had set up. When I touched off the shot, I witnessed it for the 1st time ever firsthand. About 20 yards out, I saw a very brief flash, like the sun shining off 1000 tiny pieces of lead about 5' in diameter. A tiny dust cloud about 20' wide appeared below it. The bullet had vaporized when it left the barrel. I guess a thin jacketed varmint bullet cannot withstand 340,800 RPM. (3550+fps from a 1:7.5" twist). So I guess we are going to play with a 95TMK and some sort of lighter all copper bullet to see how fast we can get them going and hold together. Sure wish I would have had a super slo-mo video camera going. I laughed so hard I almost had tears. I wonder how fast I could get the 88 or 101 Hammer Hunter going? I know those would stay together out of a 1:7.5" @ 3500+. I had easy bolt lift and not a single sign of pressure (except the bullet vaporizing) with my higher loads. Last recorded velocity was 3530 that stayed together. So I am betting we had MV of over 3600 with at least 2 more shot that I didn't even record. I have always said "You can't over spin/stabilize a bullet". Guess I proved that wrong.

Got some rounds loaded up for tomorrow. I sure hope it is not windy like last week. Hitting the range for some 200 yard groups with the 110s, and headed to the desert for two ladder tests if the wind is not ridiculous. Top left 3 round groups with the 110 SMK for the PRS loads between 3130-3200 hopefully. Top right row is a ladder test w. 115 Berger HVLD over RL23 to see if we can get a bit more speed out of them. Bottom row is a ladder test with 87 VMax over RL19. Hoping to be between 3200-3600 for the charge weight range. 110 SMK seated @ 2.223" CBTO 115 Berger HVLD seated @ 2.223" CBTO 87 VMax seated @ 2.168" CBTO To be continued...

6.5CM vs. .30-06 Springfield Apples and oranges Please let us know what you want to do with this rifle and we can offer better advice other than just giving you best prices.

I have a CF Manfrotto. Had it for years and a lot of miles in the pack and thousands of hours under my optics. Also have an aluminum Manfrotto I bought for a truck rider and for family members to use after one of them dropped my 15x56s over on an elk hunt on one of their cheap camera tripods. This sounds like a good, less expensive option. I would love a second CF tripod. I assume it has the same threaded post to mount a head of your choice?

I got the same.

If you look at the photo of the load book, you can see the charge weights, velocities, etc. Compare that to the target photo with numbered shots. Each shot is marked after firing, so you know which shot is which on target. You will see shots 6 thru 12 are all very close to same POI for 343 yards, if you factor out the wind drift. Under 1" or so for vertical dispersion. That shows a lot of potential. But needing to keep.speeds under 3200fps, shots 6/7/8 ( 52.5/53.0/53.5gr) is the range I will be working in. I will start .2gr low @ 52.3gr and go up in .2gr increments this time to .2gr over, or to 53.7gr. Load 3 of each and go shoot them @ 200 yards to see which load shoots best, and has the lowest ES/SD (extreme spread and standard deviation). Meaning most consistent speeds which equals consistency.

Ladder test is one round of each charge weight, starting low and working up, in this case, by .5gr increments. Looking for both a flat spot in velocity and very little vertical dispersion in point of impact in consecutive rounds, showing a plateau for an accuracy node. Meaning a forgiving range of charge weights to refine for where you need to finish load workup. Followed by 3-5 round groups for charge weight testing to find the best weight in that range. Then, seating depth testing to refine further.

Norma brass CCI250 64.0gr IMR4350 185 Berger HVLD 2.208 CBTO 2952fps

Looks like the same buck to me too. That is awesome. Mass looked better last year. The effects of the lack of rain probably. He looks like he is in his prime years though. Great buck.

I never "glass" with a spotter. I use mostly my 10x42s on a tripod for anything under 1-1.5 miles out. I use my 15x56s on a tripod for 1-3+ miles out. I only break out the spotter when I find something I need to take a better look at. I prefer a straight spotter personally.

Was up in 7W last week looking for some bulls for a couple hunters, and it was 18 at first light, but warmed up to long sleeve t-shirt weather by 10AM. Super dry, about 3/4 of the tanks were bone dry. Saw some great bulls. Total of 12 in half a day. Rain forecasted for opening day, snow after that. Good luck to the late hunters. The cold will be a great change.

Great buck for any unit!!!

PRS is Hitting targets at various ranges from awkward positions in a short timeline with a limited number of rounds. Seeing impacts or missed gets your second shot off quickly without relying on a spotter to make your adjustment calls. A very repeatable and accurate rifle makes this easier. Faster high BC bullets helps this. A heavy rifle let's you see your own shots with much greater reduced recoil, and we all know heavy rifles are easier to shoot well. The 6SST is meant to do this in a true SA magaazine with the bullet seated no deeper than the shoulder junction. In reality, the 3200fps cap really limits the cases potential. But for a hunting round, using different powders, 3500+ is easily attainable. Even with the heaviest 6mm bullets out there like the 115 Berger, 115 DTAC, 125 Precision Ballistic, etc. this should be possible. Are there other rounds that can do this? Of course. But like the 6.5CM that has boomed that does the same thing as so many other 6.5mm cases, different options are a good thing. My new 6CM can push the 105 Hybrid to 3200fps too. But it is about max charge weight to-do so with H4350. But not anywhere in the same realm as the 6SST for pushing them way beyond that for a flat shooting hunting round. Which I think this cartridge will really shine at doing. How many guys like the .243AI or 6AI? Or 6-06AI? Or 6-.284, or......yeah, get the point? Not a new concept. Just a new way to get there. Without innovations and choices, we would all drive the same Chevy 1500...and who wants that???

Screaming deal! Man....I know I shouldn't....

Good luck.

You just lost all credibility....blasphemer!

I have shot a few Kimber Mountain Ascent rifles. One was in .280AI. It shot fine. About .6MOA once load work was complete. As others have said, shooting a light rifle takes a lot more consistency to make them perform up to their ability. It is not the rifle, but the shooter. They are absolutely fantastic to carry in the mountains however. At 5lbs 10oz for the chambering you want, they are fine. Add Talley Lightweight rings and a light scope, you will be sub 8lbs all in. Maybe closer to 7lbs if you go really light. Now the .280AI.....what can I say. There has been a big boom in that round since Nosler started making headstamped brass. I love mine. Load something in a 160-180 grain bullet around 2850-3000, and you are good to shoot elk about as far as you would want with the light rifle. 700-800 easily. As long as YOU can shoot that far accurately. My .280AI is 8lbs 13oz all in. My lightest big game hunting rifle. Plenty heavy to shoot accurately, but light enough to comfortably carry it all day. About 1-1.5# heavier than yours will end up being. Leave one water bottle, or a sweatshirt out of your pack, and you will be packing the same weight as the Kimber. But I prefer a bit more weight gain to allow for a top end build and glass

I will give you $300 for it.... There, I started it for you.

Post up a starting bid here and let it go where it will.

My son-in-law's bull had some blading.

Check your POI after removing the can....

If 2 hours behind optics hurts your eyes, you need better optics for western hunting. I spend 10+ hours behind glass most days scouting and hunting with no eye fatigue.

Get high, glass down into the flats at first legal shooting light and last light. Seems like desert mulies like places where they are hard to see or get to. Meaning....all over....and away from roads.

I have about 600. I could spare 1-200.

You are missing the chance to buy a tack driver with one of the best triggers, and 100 rounds of custom loaded ammunition that shoots in the low .2s.