Gduncan

Well about a week after my last post I made it back out to the range and did a 3/4" from the bench and 1 1/4" group using a sling and a bipod shooting stick together. I didn't make it back to the longer 200-500 yrd range until this last Wednesday due to the range schedule and mine not agreeing. I didn't put up a paper target but had no problem hitting all of the steel silhouettes all the way out to 500 yrds! Now if I can find a deer with the right stuff between its ears and legs! No luck yesterday though I did hear a shot not too far away from me Friday in 36A at 12:04 pm. Anyone on here that can own up to that with a good buck? Couldn't go hunt today due to other obligations but plan to be back out tomorrow and Monday.

My weekend got switched around, went scouting Saturday instead and the range today. My friend came out and helped me with some pointers on my shooting and ended the day with a 1 1/4" group at 100 yards. If I can repeat next week, I'll move over to the 200 and 300 yard range and see what I get.

Thanks for the Welcome and the replies! Yes, I didn't figure the bucks would stand still that long either especially by the time of my hunt on Nov. 8. I have a tripod that's not too heavy to pack (at least I think so until I've done it) and a bipod shooting stick that either one should help out when glassing once I get the adapter to mount the Nikon Monarchs on them. I'm not as concerned with the accuracy of the Marlin as I am with me! It was picked as best in the December 2012 - January 2013 issue of Field & Stream magazine with less than 1 inch group. I just mounted the new Nikon Prostaff 4-12x40 BDC this evening and found that the factory installed rail on the Marlin was not as tight as it probably should have been and could have been a very small factor in my not being able to get much smaller than a 4 inch group @ 100yrds. I cleaned out the screw holes and used a bit of lock-tite so I shouldn't have to worry about that again. I'm thinking that I'm not getting a proper and consistant cheekweld. I just talked to a friend that used to teach long range shooting in the military who has offered to go with me to the range this Saturday and see if he can help me get those groups down to a proper size.