wringing out the Claw

[catclaw]

I have been using the Claw this summer for a variety of shooting endeavors. I first used it for Prairie dogs and while not a bench rest, it made up for some of the deficiency in the ability to pan at will. We made shots out to 300 yds while standing or sitting on a lawn chair. I made shots to 450 by going lower to get out of the wind. I was dialing about 5 moa of wind into my 450 yd shots so they were hard enough anyway.

 

I used it last week for the scouts. They were shooting a gong at 250 yds and most of them had never shot a rifle before. One had never shot anything but a BB gun before he shot his gong! Really is nice for smaller shooter that haven't developed that seek and destroy mentality yet!

 

I took it out this morning with Schmitty and we shot a gong at 500 yds. I hit the gong with my new load and then we painted it up and I tried the same load but with a different primer. Using my 260 Rem mountain rifle and a 2.5-8x scope with a B&C reticle, I shot a <3" group. I had to use my 450 yd hash as the rifle was dialed in for 130 grain Accubonds. This bullet was lighter and must shoot a little flatter at 500.

 

Schmitty shot his 6.5-06 imp with 130 Bergers. It made a deeper divot in the steel for sure! You can see his deeper holes right below and to the right of my lower right shot.

 

Dennis

[Rio]

Catclaw, what type of tripod and head are you using with the CLAW?

[catclaw]

I have been using 3 different ones. In the photo it is a bogen aluminum tripod (I can't remember the number) and the head is the take-off from my Velbon El Carmange. I have used my Bogen ball head and the Bogen 701HDV. The only way to go is with the 701; it has a much better plate system and in my mind, makes the whole system. I think the little flimsy tripods like the Bogen 190 are too light duty for a rifle rest. With a good tripod, the 701 head and setting it up low- prone height- I can feel as steady as a prone Harris bi-pod but can pan so much easier.

 

It is amazing how much of the recoil it takes out too!

[TAM]

Hey Dennis what kind of steel is that GONG made from???

 

I just got a 10 inch diameter, 3/8" AR500 steel gong. I'm having a frame welded up for it right now. Just wondering how well it will hold up for the 300 RUM? I don't plan on shooting it any closer than about 500 yards.

[coues7]

Tim,

 

You shouldn't have any problems with the 300 RUM and the AR500 steel.....ESPECIALLY at 500+ yards.

[catclaw]

Tim, mine is just 1018 CR steel. It won't stand up to a 300 at close range but will last quite a while at 500. Bill at Prescott Welding is supposed to call me back tomorrow with a price on AR plate- it is far better for standing up to bullets but is almost impossible to weld.

 

I just welded rebar to the side of mine and I can hang it on a barb wire fence about anywhere I go. The smaller one I have is 9 1/4" round. A 223 at 130 yds is a lot harder on it than a 6.5-06@ 500!

 

I spent all day fabricating stuff today. Bill has a new 50 ton break and can handle up to 1/4" steel. I made a bear box for one of my trail cams and fixed my gong set up. Going out tomorrow for the weekend.

 

Dennis

[TAM]

My AR500 plate has holes in it to attach it to a chain so it doesn't need to be welded. I just dropped it off at my buddys place yesterday. He's going to weld up a frame from angle iron to hang it from. I can't wait to see how it works.

 

You can buy the plates pre-cut off ebay. They have different sizes, and even AR550 and AR600 steel.

[catclaw]

I guess if you can get them to ship it to you in flat rate postal boxes it wouldn't be too bad. I had a guy ship me some cast iron slugs that weighed 60# and it cost $12 from Chicago.

 

I am just thinking that they can stick this on their normal order and it won't be as pricey as you think. He didn't get back to me with a price today. I will be setting cameras this weekend.

 

Dennis