Cautionary Tale

[K22]

Last week, the weather is perfect, they just cut the hay and more importantly, because of the drought, harvested the corn early which exposed the freshly cut hay fields that were previously masked by the corn field. I've been waiting for this day to hunt groundhogs. 

My super accurate Model 700, 223 Rem with a Douglas 26" heavy varmint barrel is set to go. I've been practicing off the sticks at the range for the last month waiting for this day since the last hay cut. Super confident - super ready and excited.

I arrive in the field at 4:00 pm and get set up. I have a perfect view of the tree line which is bordered by the freshly cut hay field. Nothing's happening but it's still early, prime time in this field is usually 5:00 to 7:00 this time of the year. I get up off my shooting chair and relieve myself - old men pee a lot. When I turn around, I walk into the shooting cross sticks holding my rifle and the rifle crashes to the ground with a thud. I can't believe it!!!

Hoping for the best, I set up a makeshift target at 100 yards, a 5x8 card mounted in a homemade field target holder. I take careful aim and shoot. Missed completely!!! That cuts it.

I usually take two rifles but on this day I didn't. So, the hunt is a bust! 

Instead of a long-awaited hunt I go back to the range and bench the rifle at 50 yards. It's off to the left 3.5" at 50 yards. Make the adjustment. The good news is, I have two more good weather days but this time I will take two rifles in case I have another brain fart! 

 

[snert]

Lesson learned...pee farther away from gun and cross sticks...

 

[6MMsteve]

peepee malfunctionary

 

[6MMsteve]

pick out a hog and make a 1000 or 1200 yd shot at it, we picked one out at around 1500 and shot at it for a month, this was long before shots like this were kinda normal early 80's but it was a blast, the closest we got was right under his rear end and a couple right past his nose. We prolly shot 400 rounds of various calibers, 264 win mag 7-300 whby, 7-300 win, 6mm 284 with wrong bullets 85 grs they went everywhere prolly killed a cat somewhere

 

[Bill Norris]

Well, on the brighter side you got it zeroed back in and ready for next time.

 

[varmintshooter]

Another reason I like bipods over sticks for this type of hunting. Glad you got it ready for next trip.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Bring the target back to 25yds, or look thru the barrel and see where its at

 

[mikeinct]

I have to drive a long ways to shoot GH's. So it is always a 3 or 4 gun outing. Short range, Med, & crazy long distance rigs. mikeinct

 

[K22]

Bring the target back to 25yds, or look thru the barrel and see where its at

Good idea but I was so pissed at myself I just packed up and went to the range to make sure the rifle was back to zero and there would be no mental games in my old brain wondering amount the rifle.

Went back to the fields on Friday and Saturday and had a successful hunt helped I think by having confidence that if I did my part, I could make the shot because the rifle was spot on.

 

[K22]

I have to drive a long ways to shoot GH's. So it is always a 3 or 4 gun outing. Short range, Med, & crazy long distance rigs. mikeinct

Yea, my farms are about 30 to 40 minutes away. I've been doing this a long time and I almost always take two rifles. While I only had one other time that I can recall when I knocked the rifle scope out, I still take two just in case something unseen happens.

I got lazy on this hunt, not having any loaded for my back up rifle so I just went with my old reliable Rem 700. It's a mistake I won't make again. Of course, if I had been paying attention and not gazing at the tree line after I relieved myself, I wouldn't have crashed my rifle.

 

[K22]

Another reason I like bipods over sticks for this type of hunting. Glad you got it ready for next trip.

I really can't use bipods at the farms where I hunt since the terrain is such that I'd have to give up about 50+% of my shot opportunities due to limitations on field of view. Ticks are another significant problem in my area so staying off the ground in either the prone or sitting position minimizes contact with these nasty critters.

I switched many years ago to shooting cross sticks (designed and built my own) and shoot off a chair which allows me to rest my elbows of my knees, feet flat on the ground. It's a fairly stable position and highly portable. With practice, I do quite well out to about 275 yards which covers most of my shot opportunities where I hunt.

However, there is no question that a bipod on the prone is superior to this method precision wise.

 

[TrapperBR549]

What kind of scope and mounts?

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

When Leupold came out with the CDS I purchased a 4-12 and Talley mounts for my 17 rem. First coyote stalk of the winter I got to 175 yards. Set the bipod legs into the snow drift. Glanced at the dial, 0, held between the eyes took the shot. Miss, coyote barely moved it head, crosshair back on head miss again. Didn't even see any snow fly. Coyote gets up and runs, I don't even chamber a third rd. Back to the truck, drive to a friend's where we have a range. Shoot a shot at 25 yards, turn the dial one full turn back to zero. Take next shot at 100 yards, perfect. Next day order the custom dial(zero STOP with custom dial) no more issues. Best guess sling carrying the rifle, the rifle rides on the side(opposite the bolt). I was wearing a white cotton hoodie, dial had to rub as I hiked turning the turret one full turn.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

K22, look at it on the bright side, at least a hog didn't startle you and you pee'd on your rifle!

 

[Baka]

Just wear Adult Depend diapers and you won't have to leave your gun.

 

[rjtfroggy]

Just wear Adult Depend diapers and you won't have to leave your gun.

NO NO NO that just aint right.

 

[K22]

K22, look at it on the bright side, at least a hog didn't startle you and you pee'd on your rifle!

No, but several years ago while hunting predators in the Weiser State Forest a huge black bear responded to my call and I almost s*** by pants. Fortunately, he winded me and went the other way.

 

[K22]

What kind of scope and mounts?

A Bushnell 4200 Elite, Leupold mounts. Due to the drought, we are having, the ground is rock hard. I actually heard a thud when it hit the ground. My foot contacting one leg of the sticks gave the topple extra energy and the rifle hit hard.

The last time this happened to me, several years ago I tripped and fell over and landed on the ground with the rifle slung on my shoulder since knocked the scope out of whack.

 

[CaptainMal]

If the zero moved that easily, when will it move again?

Would be suspect that the scope, mounts or adjustments could have issues. Sure would check that out in the future by some controlled impacts on things and a check with some quality bore sighting method.

 

[K22]

If the zero moved that easily, when will it move again?

Would be suspect that the scope, mounts or adjustments could have issues. Sure would check that out in the future by some controlled impacts on things and a check with some quality bore sighting method.

This rifle / scope combo has been very stable maintaining zero since 2009 when I had the Douglas barrel installed and the Bushnell 16x scope. My shooting sticks are 44" in length. As I said, the impact was accelerated due to my foot pressing on one the sticks, so the rifle catapulted hitting hard on hard ground.

However, I appreciate the advice and I will keep an eye on it. I also now have a 50-yard target, three shot ground as a reference for the appropriate zero. So, if I have another mishap, I can easily check the zero with a larger target that I now carry with me in the truck.