I grew up hunting squirrels and birds with a marlin model 60 SS that my father bought me from Walmart back in '96 for $114.99 with a 4x22 Tasco scope that he immediately took off and had my uncle place a Simmons 3x-x32 scope for 29.99 a week later. I can look back and realize that my father was so excited to buy me this tool, that he couldn't wait until we got home so he pull off into a back road near some rail road tracks and desperately tried to get me to hold what was behemoth properly and see through a scope. That was my first time trying to look through a scope. I could only catch glimpses of a corner trying to balance that beautiful piece of birch. I could tell by his actions that he really wanted me to see and shot, so I did what any good son did. I told him I could see and pulled the trigger. After 3 shots he realized I couldn't see and accepted defeat. We went home, he later went back to Walmart picked up the scope and dropped me off at my uncles.
Uncle Bud was Vietnam Helicopter Gunner and lived on a farm "think Full Metal Jacket". He was mean man, however he was never anything but sweet and kind to me. He taught me how to mount a scope, sight it in, and how to shoot every damn bird that landed on his pecan trees. However I was expected to walk a tight line. After a week staying with my uncle my parents arrived to help pick pecans. Little did my mother know "has phobia of dead animals" the entire yard was a minefield of dead birds, surrounding all the trees.
I can still remember her walking around cluelessly looking up at the trees happily ready to pick pecans until she got right in the middle. If you've ever played pin ball. You'll quickly realize who had what roles in the game of living pinball. The birds were bumpers, her screams were bonuses, our laughter was high scores, she was the ball, and the house was the game over. I fondly remember this moment, however looking back, I had no clue of my mothers fears, and I'm pretty sure my uncle either had no clue or didn't care. I feel bad for scaring my mother now, however in that moment, I didn't know what I was doing, however her reaction was funny to what a little felt was harmless. Sorry Mom, didn't know.
I miss my uncle a lot. Somehow I'm starting to see that fathers/mothers sometimes struggle to see or understand what an uncle or aunt just accepts and loves you.
I was left to my own devices at my uncles and in my own back yard of acreage. I thought I could hit anything. I spent my time in the back of the car reading every Bass Pro and Cabelas Catalog I could find. They amplified all my vices, even though I nor we could afford them. Not to mention a 8-9 year old boy wanting to make his own cartidges. This was beyond a Christmas Story and "You'll Shoot your Eye Out".
Well boys and girls..... Since getting into FTR in 2023, I bought myself a left handed Anschutz 1761 MPR with an additional 25" barrel in '24. I was astounded by it's consistency compared to my trusty marlin or my friends 10/22. The only think that could shoot better was Anschutz air rifle.
I've been a ravenous fiend trying to become a better shooter and reloader over the past short years. I had my Annie safely set aside during FTR season and only pulled it out occasionally, not really understanding it's potential.
Well since November 27th of '25. I was in and out of the hospital due to acute diverticulitis, 8cm abscess, perforation and so forth.... good times. In between hospital stays I was going to the indoor 22 shoots with the intent of being a spectator and having some comradery with the fellows. Little did I know, they set me up a handicap bench and set up a rimfire so I could shoot.... Great people... I eventually healed up enough for a partial sigmoid colectomy on Jan 16th. The first day out of the hospital I visited my gunsmith and the shooters who came to visit me.
Approaching 40, I still am struggling to understand why a 85 & 90 year old man would give me their chair however I greatly respected their offer. I needed to move, and set my mind to focus on doing what I love to the physical extent I could. Laying in a hospital bed for the first time outside of something beyond your own control, I had alot of time to think. I couldn't eat or barely walk at time. I spent every moment reading about shooting, load development, gunsmithing, painting, etc.
I'm glad to say I was able to make every Thursday and Saturday shoots. Thanks to my wife and good friends who drove me when I couldn't do so myself, who set up a bench and gun for me every time so I could more than spectate. I'm ever so grateful to all of them. I even begged my wife to drive me all the way to Maine to buy a left handed kelbly panda and stock that was a steal.... the greatest part outside of convincing my wife to drive me hours. Was that I found out the rifle originally belonged to Dave Petzal from Field & Stream. I was able to confirm this through Kelbly and the Gunsmith who installed the trigger along with the beautiful letter as to why he was selling the gun. Unfortunatley old age isn't all fun.
I grew reading Field & Stream almost every day and so I felt that regardless of what's happening now. You can always find a way to look at things positvely and get lucky from time to time. I own a gun owned by someone I looked up to and look forward to reading what he had to say almost every day. It may not be like having supermans cape, but it's certainly like meeting your childhood wrestling hero at 11:30PM at the manchester airport with noone else around and you freeze because you forget you're an adult for a second.
I'm glad I got Mr. Petzals gun not because he didn't want it, but because he didn't feel he phsyically manage the gun at anymore and he wanted someone that appreciated the art/quality of the gun he ordered/had built. He provided a fire count on the barrel, and precise load data and the sub half moa groupings he would receive out of the gun. It's almost a full page typed letter. Little did he know, his gun now belongs to a fanboy of not only him but his favored shooting discipline, and to learn he's a lefty.... Chef's kiss. I intend to write Mr. Petzal at his column as I don't know him personally and don't want to intrude. I'd like to let him know his gun is in a good home and it'll be cherished forever, not just because it's a Kelbly Panda Fclass with a KTS Stock, but because it came from him.
Off with the feelings now back to pew pew...
It took me a few shoots before I could even stay within the 7 ring. I really struggled with constant pain and holding a position. The first shoot I only lasted 10 shots. Then I couldn't hold the gun for more than 2-3 shots on Saturday resting my body for the following Thursday. I made 20 shots.... after a few weeks I was able to stay within the 9-10 ring, then X's. Then after week 6 post surgery I was able to lay prone for the first time. I lasted 8 rounds, and they were not pretty, but I felt a huge milestone was accomplished.
At the time we were shooting indoor air rifle in the basement of a friends home and I just went for it surpising everyone. All throughout my illness and post surgery, I wanted to prepare for FTR but I was afraid that I may not physically be capable. However that one moment laying down gave me hope even though my groups were back to square one.
Since then.... man at 10 meters and 15 meters, I wasn't counting X's I counting the quality of the X's. I joked with some of the better shooters/mentors that they need to finish their target by shooting holes in the side of the paper at the end to place the target in a 3 ring binder to truly test their skill.
Well March 25th was the first day I went outdoors to shoot with my gunsmith. He was bringing his grandsons to shoot as they were desperate to shoot a K98.... 14 year olds with their video games. Don't even realize who they have for a grandfather. Man it's great to be a kid. I wanted to be there to film it. Mom was completely in on it too as she's quite the shooter herself and wanted to see how her young man handled a K98.
I had brought out my 7mm-08 which my gunmsith chambered with a douglas barrel on my first centerfire I purchased back 2011, A beautiful Remington 700 CDL. I replaced the trigger immediatly with a jewell trigger with a 1.5lb pull, and bought a used Nikon Monarch 4-16-42SF from what I think was maybe this website. I remember being so serious in my 20's after overblowing my budget by hundreds, trying to pick the right factory ammo with zero rifle knowledge. Keep in mind I researched every ChuckHawks article, scoured every firearms manufacturer and knew I could never afford a Surgeon, so I settled, after 6 months.
I didn't understand there was benchrest, fclass, etc.... I was ignoranant and ignored technical logic and followed finacial logic
. I was at gander mountain staring at the limited ammunition option and even more limited funds. I needed to know what brand my gun liked best. Since I was broke, I became "pragmatic". I bought 3 boxes of shells. Hornady SST, Hornady GMX, and Barnes Vor-Tex. Each one a little more expensive, except for barnes. That was $60 bucks. I thought I was going to die. Praying, that my gun hated Vor-Tex.
I remember reading about the cold bore shot. I was enthralled with the first shot, and never wanted to fire a second shot. I only wanted meat, not bones or trophys. So I planned my range day. I was going to fire one shot, wait 10 minutes to ensure the barrel was back to ambient temperature. I brought my now ex girl friend with me who was happily reading as I nevoursly moved around trying to act like I knew what I was doing.... I had no understanding at the time of checking your gun, verifying action screws, proper lubrication, real scope mounting. Basically ensuring the gun is ready to fire.
Keep in mind, I had not sighted in a gun since I was just a little boy except for when I wanted to fiddle with elevation but never went more than 3-5 clicks in either direction out of "fear". Well sighting in was a little painful, however I was fortunately smart enough to set a target at 25 yards and it was a large target. There was no way I could miss. It took me 30 minutes just to sight in my gun because I was moving so slow and I was afraid of shooting all of my most cost effective round. Once I got "close to center I wanted to get to work on understanding which meal my first rifle prefered.
I only had about 6 or 7 SSTs left. This is where timing was critical. So I let the barrel get "cold", stared at the hot Alabama sun, pondered my life choices, and went to work. I shot, then repeated the same thing. 10 minutes.... it couldn't be 9 minutes and 55 seconds. That just wouldn't work. I was so excited to see "results". I stared at the target, looked through the scope, wiped the sweat from my brown, took a deep breathe and held as I squeezed that "miracle" jewell trigger that would slice my groups in half! If it was a pop rock it would have popped with my intention. After the blast... I looked through the scope with the excitement of science and Hard work.
That second bullet was outside of a pie plate. 10 minutes... rinse and repeat.... FML. Surely I didn't mess up. It was a bad bullet, something wasn't right, maybe it was the sun. No way a Remington 700 CLASSIC DELUXE was going to shoot that bad. Take your medicine and march on. We'll settle the score on third round, but we'll save that for last. I didn't want any bad juju over me.
So I swapped to the GMT's, they were a little higher than the SST's, I think the SST's were $27.99. Start Fresh, nothing happened, just settle the score later. I shot the first round and took a break. Got myself pumped for Round 2x2. Rinse and repeat. I looked up and saw something different. I was confused. The group was tighter but the second shot was still 5-7" out from the first. I was using the finger ruler and 15 years isn't that sharp. I felt deflated, but mom and dad didn't raise a quiter so I bit the bullet.
Rinse and REPEAT, pray.... I shot the third shot and was maybe a little closer from the first bullet aiming at the same point other side. The target was then about 75 yards after my initial "zero" So steak and Lobster it is....
I was pissed by then. I couldn't see straight but keep in mind my then girlfriend was there and I couldn't show "weakness". I mentioned something doesn't seem right. Not what I was expecting. Nothing more. I went to get a drink of water and have a snack. This is a hot Alabama summer in the middle of the day.
I pulled out the Fancy Feast for my now B!*+* of a rifle and was ready to get this over with. Long story short best I got was 2-3" groups. I was livid. I went to fire my last first third round. Same larger than pie group.
I lost it. I started firing rounds no better or worse. I left a few of the Barnes and GMX in case I wanted to shoot a deer close range. I put the rifle away until I met my gunsmith Larry 15 years later. He wouldn't touch it until I shot it again. He sent me packing with little bits of knowledge. I didn't know who he was at the time, nor did I understand why he was telling me to shoot then come back to him.
I went to the range to qualify for 600 at 200 yards. I couldn't even keep it on the target. Strangers, who have since become great friends and peer group, found my action screws loose and pointed at the scope. Wouldn't let me shoot again. It was an acceptable sting but an old wound that I couldn't comprehend or communicate appropriately. I had since in the 15 years read of all the QC issues with remington 700, and surely it wasn't me or the scope. It was the gun.
So I went out in the middle of Covid and wanted to find a left handed action I couldn't convice Larry to work on and possibly "sneak" my 700 in with a barrel for him to work his magic. I really didn't know him that well, but I had read about him and learned about all his accomplishments. I didn't know he was teaching me at the time. I was just nervous to not disturb him. It took me 3 months to find a left handed Anti Betty Defiance Action from Ragged Holes, ordered 2 stocks from AG composites. One for my right handed 700.... I had never even held a left handed gun until I was in my 30's, much less shot one. I ordered everything I thought I wanted. I still didn't understand competition shooting. I just wanted to impress my hunting buddies. I'm not a good shot by competition standards, but I was always able to smoke my hunting buddies because I just shot more than them. They only shot to eat. I shot for the love, the meat was a bonus. I only dreamed of only disturbing the paper after the first bullet hole with the rest of the bullets going through the same spot. I trusted Larry to do whatever he wished to my 700 and Hell Betty with a douglas and barlien barrel. All I told him is make the guns shoot how you would like for it to shoot if it was yours.
The Hell Betty with the Barlien in a 308 with an obermyer reamer, I can't seem to find a bad load out of it. Not compeition good, but one MOA all day without even trying. Competition loads shoot dots all day when I do my part. The 7-08 not so well because I never replaced the scope.... so it went back to the closet.
I digress.....
Unfortunately, the boy was unable to shoot the k98 this wednesday as we didn't know he had an extended smallbore shoot. However, the silver lining was that i was heathy enough to shoot my 7-08 from the bench with a new nightforce scope and good ammo and was able to make dots at a 100 yards. Larry has my 308 in the shop, and I also brought my Anshutz 1761. I was so happy to see good groupings with my 7-08.
With my confidence high and sun dimming I pulled out my 22. Our course is know for switchy winds. I thought I was going to be able to make decent not great groups with my Annie. The first group shot 5", The second 6", the third I waited for the wind and was able to get 2 inch groups with CCI SV. Not great.... but a great reminder, and a new found challenge.... and easy way to work on my fundamentals without having to reload. So..... I've learned something I already knew as a child inherently.
Rinse & Repeat.
Harvey
Uncle Bud was Vietnam Helicopter Gunner and lived on a farm "think Full Metal Jacket". He was mean man, however he was never anything but sweet and kind to me. He taught me how to mount a scope, sight it in, and how to shoot every damn bird that landed on his pecan trees. However I was expected to walk a tight line. After a week staying with my uncle my parents arrived to help pick pecans. Little did my mother know "has phobia of dead animals" the entire yard was a minefield of dead birds, surrounding all the trees.
I can still remember her walking around cluelessly looking up at the trees happily ready to pick pecans until she got right in the middle. If you've ever played pin ball. You'll quickly realize who had what roles in the game of living pinball. The birds were bumpers, her screams were bonuses, our laughter was high scores, she was the ball, and the house was the game over. I fondly remember this moment, however looking back, I had no clue of my mothers fears, and I'm pretty sure my uncle either had no clue or didn't care. I feel bad for scaring my mother now, however in that moment, I didn't know what I was doing, however her reaction was funny to what a little felt was harmless. Sorry Mom, didn't know.
I miss my uncle a lot. Somehow I'm starting to see that fathers/mothers sometimes struggle to see or understand what an uncle or aunt just accepts and loves you.
I was left to my own devices at my uncles and in my own back yard of acreage. I thought I could hit anything. I spent my time in the back of the car reading every Bass Pro and Cabelas Catalog I could find. They amplified all my vices, even though I nor we could afford them. Not to mention a 8-9 year old boy wanting to make his own cartidges. This was beyond a Christmas Story and "You'll Shoot your Eye Out".
Well boys and girls..... Since getting into FTR in 2023, I bought myself a left handed Anschutz 1761 MPR with an additional 25" barrel in '24. I was astounded by it's consistency compared to my trusty marlin or my friends 10/22. The only think that could shoot better was Anschutz air rifle.
I've been a ravenous fiend trying to become a better shooter and reloader over the past short years. I had my Annie safely set aside during FTR season and only pulled it out occasionally, not really understanding it's potential.
Well since November 27th of '25. I was in and out of the hospital due to acute diverticulitis, 8cm abscess, perforation and so forth.... good times. In between hospital stays I was going to the indoor 22 shoots with the intent of being a spectator and having some comradery with the fellows. Little did I know, they set me up a handicap bench and set up a rimfire so I could shoot.... Great people... I eventually healed up enough for a partial sigmoid colectomy on Jan 16th. The first day out of the hospital I visited my gunsmith and the shooters who came to visit me.
Approaching 40, I still am struggling to understand why a 85 & 90 year old man would give me their chair however I greatly respected their offer. I needed to move, and set my mind to focus on doing what I love to the physical extent I could. Laying in a hospital bed for the first time outside of something beyond your own control, I had alot of time to think. I couldn't eat or barely walk at time. I spent every moment reading about shooting, load development, gunsmithing, painting, etc.
I'm glad to say I was able to make every Thursday and Saturday shoots. Thanks to my wife and good friends who drove me when I couldn't do so myself, who set up a bench and gun for me every time so I could more than spectate. I'm ever so grateful to all of them. I even begged my wife to drive me all the way to Maine to buy a left handed kelbly panda and stock that was a steal.... the greatest part outside of convincing my wife to drive me hours. Was that I found out the rifle originally belonged to Dave Petzal from Field & Stream. I was able to confirm this through Kelbly and the Gunsmith who installed the trigger along with the beautiful letter as to why he was selling the gun. Unfortunatley old age isn't all fun.
I grew reading Field & Stream almost every day and so I felt that regardless of what's happening now. You can always find a way to look at things positvely and get lucky from time to time. I own a gun owned by someone I looked up to and look forward to reading what he had to say almost every day. It may not be like having supermans cape, but it's certainly like meeting your childhood wrestling hero at 11:30PM at the manchester airport with noone else around and you freeze because you forget you're an adult for a second.
I'm glad I got Mr. Petzals gun not because he didn't want it, but because he didn't feel he phsyically manage the gun at anymore and he wanted someone that appreciated the art/quality of the gun he ordered/had built. He provided a fire count on the barrel, and precise load data and the sub half moa groupings he would receive out of the gun. It's almost a full page typed letter. Little did he know, his gun now belongs to a fanboy of not only him but his favored shooting discipline, and to learn he's a lefty.... Chef's kiss. I intend to write Mr. Petzal at his column as I don't know him personally and don't want to intrude. I'd like to let him know his gun is in a good home and it'll be cherished forever, not just because it's a Kelbly Panda Fclass with a KTS Stock, but because it came from him.
Off with the feelings now back to pew pew...
It took me a few shoots before I could even stay within the 7 ring. I really struggled with constant pain and holding a position. The first shoot I only lasted 10 shots. Then I couldn't hold the gun for more than 2-3 shots on Saturday resting my body for the following Thursday. I made 20 shots.... after a few weeks I was able to stay within the 9-10 ring, then X's. Then after week 6 post surgery I was able to lay prone for the first time. I lasted 8 rounds, and they were not pretty, but I felt a huge milestone was accomplished.
At the time we were shooting indoor air rifle in the basement of a friends home and I just went for it surpising everyone. All throughout my illness and post surgery, I wanted to prepare for FTR but I was afraid that I may not physically be capable. However that one moment laying down gave me hope even though my groups were back to square one.
Since then.... man at 10 meters and 15 meters, I wasn't counting X's I counting the quality of the X's. I joked with some of the better shooters/mentors that they need to finish their target by shooting holes in the side of the paper at the end to place the target in a 3 ring binder to truly test their skill.
Well March 25th was the first day I went outdoors to shoot with my gunsmith. He was bringing his grandsons to shoot as they were desperate to shoot a K98.... 14 year olds with their video games. Don't even realize who they have for a grandfather. Man it's great to be a kid. I wanted to be there to film it. Mom was completely in on it too as she's quite the shooter herself and wanted to see how her young man handled a K98.
I had brought out my 7mm-08 which my gunmsith chambered with a douglas barrel on my first centerfire I purchased back 2011, A beautiful Remington 700 CDL. I replaced the trigger immediatly with a jewell trigger with a 1.5lb pull, and bought a used Nikon Monarch 4-16-42SF from what I think was maybe this website. I remember being so serious in my 20's after overblowing my budget by hundreds, trying to pick the right factory ammo with zero rifle knowledge. Keep in mind I researched every ChuckHawks article, scoured every firearms manufacturer and knew I could never afford a Surgeon, so I settled, after 6 months.
I didn't understand there was benchrest, fclass, etc.... I was ignoranant and ignored technical logic and followed finacial logic
. I was at gander mountain staring at the limited ammunition option and even more limited funds. I needed to know what brand my gun liked best. Since I was broke, I became "pragmatic". I bought 3 boxes of shells. Hornady SST, Hornady GMX, and Barnes Vor-Tex. Each one a little more expensive, except for barnes. That was $60 bucks. I thought I was going to die. Praying, that my gun hated Vor-Tex.I remember reading about the cold bore shot. I was enthralled with the first shot, and never wanted to fire a second shot. I only wanted meat, not bones or trophys. So I planned my range day. I was going to fire one shot, wait 10 minutes to ensure the barrel was back to ambient temperature. I brought my now ex girl friend with me who was happily reading as I nevoursly moved around trying to act like I knew what I was doing.... I had no understanding at the time of checking your gun, verifying action screws, proper lubrication, real scope mounting. Basically ensuring the gun is ready to fire.
Keep in mind, I had not sighted in a gun since I was just a little boy except for when I wanted to fiddle with elevation but never went more than 3-5 clicks in either direction out of "fear". Well sighting in was a little painful, however I was fortunately smart enough to set a target at 25 yards and it was a large target. There was no way I could miss. It took me 30 minutes just to sight in my gun because I was moving so slow and I was afraid of shooting all of my most cost effective round. Once I got "close to center I wanted to get to work on understanding which meal my first rifle prefered.
I only had about 6 or 7 SSTs left. This is where timing was critical. So I let the barrel get "cold", stared at the hot Alabama sun, pondered my life choices, and went to work. I shot, then repeated the same thing. 10 minutes.... it couldn't be 9 minutes and 55 seconds. That just wouldn't work. I was so excited to see "results". I stared at the target, looked through the scope, wiped the sweat from my brown, took a deep breathe and held as I squeezed that "miracle" jewell trigger that would slice my groups in half! If it was a pop rock it would have popped with my intention. After the blast... I looked through the scope with the excitement of science and Hard work.
That second bullet was outside of a pie plate. 10 minutes... rinse and repeat.... FML. Surely I didn't mess up. It was a bad bullet, something wasn't right, maybe it was the sun. No way a Remington 700 CLASSIC DELUXE was going to shoot that bad. Take your medicine and march on. We'll settle the score on third round, but we'll save that for last. I didn't want any bad juju over me.
So I swapped to the GMT's, they were a little higher than the SST's, I think the SST's were $27.99. Start Fresh, nothing happened, just settle the score later. I shot the first round and took a break. Got myself pumped for Round 2x2. Rinse and repeat. I looked up and saw something different. I was confused. The group was tighter but the second shot was still 5-7" out from the first. I was using the finger ruler and 15 years isn't that sharp. I felt deflated, but mom and dad didn't raise a quiter so I bit the bullet.
Rinse and REPEAT, pray.... I shot the third shot and was maybe a little closer from the first bullet aiming at the same point other side. The target was then about 75 yards after my initial "zero" So steak and Lobster it is....
I was pissed by then. I couldn't see straight but keep in mind my then girlfriend was there and I couldn't show "weakness". I mentioned something doesn't seem right. Not what I was expecting. Nothing more. I went to get a drink of water and have a snack. This is a hot Alabama summer in the middle of the day.
I pulled out the Fancy Feast for my now B!*+* of a rifle and was ready to get this over with. Long story short best I got was 2-3" groups. I was livid. I went to fire my last first third round. Same larger than pie group.
I lost it. I started firing rounds no better or worse. I left a few of the Barnes and GMX in case I wanted to shoot a deer close range. I put the rifle away until I met my gunsmith Larry 15 years later. He wouldn't touch it until I shot it again. He sent me packing with little bits of knowledge. I didn't know who he was at the time, nor did I understand why he was telling me to shoot then come back to him.
I went to the range to qualify for 600 at 200 yards. I couldn't even keep it on the target. Strangers, who have since become great friends and peer group, found my action screws loose and pointed at the scope. Wouldn't let me shoot again. It was an acceptable sting but an old wound that I couldn't comprehend or communicate appropriately. I had since in the 15 years read of all the QC issues with remington 700, and surely it wasn't me or the scope. It was the gun.
So I went out in the middle of Covid and wanted to find a left handed action I couldn't convice Larry to work on and possibly "sneak" my 700 in with a barrel for him to work his magic. I really didn't know him that well, but I had read about him and learned about all his accomplishments. I didn't know he was teaching me at the time. I was just nervous to not disturb him. It took me 3 months to find a left handed Anti Betty Defiance Action from Ragged Holes, ordered 2 stocks from AG composites. One for my right handed 700.... I had never even held a left handed gun until I was in my 30's, much less shot one. I ordered everything I thought I wanted. I still didn't understand competition shooting. I just wanted to impress my hunting buddies. I'm not a good shot by competition standards, but I was always able to smoke my hunting buddies because I just shot more than them. They only shot to eat. I shot for the love, the meat was a bonus. I only dreamed of only disturbing the paper after the first bullet hole with the rest of the bullets going through the same spot. I trusted Larry to do whatever he wished to my 700 and Hell Betty with a douglas and barlien barrel. All I told him is make the guns shoot how you would like for it to shoot if it was yours.
The Hell Betty with the Barlien in a 308 with an obermyer reamer, I can't seem to find a bad load out of it. Not compeition good, but one MOA all day without even trying. Competition loads shoot dots all day when I do my part. The 7-08 not so well because I never replaced the scope.... so it went back to the closet.
I digress.....
Unfortunately, the boy was unable to shoot the k98 this wednesday as we didn't know he had an extended smallbore shoot. However, the silver lining was that i was heathy enough to shoot my 7-08 from the bench with a new nightforce scope and good ammo and was able to make dots at a 100 yards. Larry has my 308 in the shop, and I also brought my Anshutz 1761. I was so happy to see good groupings with my 7-08.
With my confidence high and sun dimming I pulled out my 22. Our course is know for switchy winds. I thought I was going to be able to make decent not great groups with my Annie. The first group shot 5", The second 6", the third I waited for the wind and was able to get 2 inch groups with CCI SV. Not great.... but a great reminder, and a new found challenge.... and easy way to work on my fundamentals without having to reload. So..... I've learned something I already knew as a child inherently.
Rinse & Repeat.
Harvey
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