Today, I went out for some range therapy to feel a little closer to all my devil dog brothers, some who are gone and some who aren't but that I don't talk to as much as I should.
It was a great morning. Had the range all to myself for a while. This particular range has a very Pendleton-esque vibe, complete with dirt and gravel and sand.
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, a few other veterans showed up. A couple also alone and one with his wife. Nice fella named Mike, Vietnam vet, who chatted me up for a bit. You can tell who's missing their people on a day like today. I feel like being out at the range is better than sitting at home or the VFW, drinking to soothe those aches.
Anyway, I wanted to use the 200-yard lane, and I had intended to just plink with factory ammo because there was a 9 to 15 mph headwind, coming in northwest over the berms, and I'm not the best triggerman to be testing load development in anything more than a breeze, probably.
The dog target on the left is the one I stapled up. Someone else had stapled 12 bullseye-type targets all along the boards. So, as the wind started to become a little less frequent, my curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to use the target next to mine just to see how my handloads would shoot.
After measuring my jam, I had started out with 2.394 CBTO and backed off twenty thousandths every 5 rounds. My Tikka loved the 2.394s, particularly compared to the factory ammo I had started out shooting this morning. Disliked and hated the rest as I deepened the seat. I used 140-grain Hornady BTHP Match bullets with once-fired factory brass, 40.5 grains of H4350, prepped and trimmed to 1.910.
1 is my first shot. (I forgot to adjust my zero to 200 yards). 2 is my first 5-round group of factory ammo. 3 is my next 3 rounds of factory ammo before deciding, “Forget it. Let’s see what my handloads do.”
4 is my first 5-round group of handloads. The ? is a stray one-round handload I had setting off to the side. I have no idea what its specs are. I should’ve just pulled the bullet and recyled the brass.
So, hand-loads, 200-yard 5-round group. Super satisfied. I'll load up about 20 rounds with these specs and test them out as a lot. We'll see how it holds up, factoring in my relatively mediocre shooting skills.
Anyway, thanks to all the guys who've answered my questions and even messaged. In the absence of my dad, whom I used to sit and talk to and watch as he reloaded, it's much appreciated!
And while I’m here, on today of days, thanks to all my bothers and sisters in arms and their families for their service, sacrifices, and dedication.
S/F
It was a great morning. Had the range all to myself for a while. This particular range has a very Pendleton-esque vibe, complete with dirt and gravel and sand.
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, a few other veterans showed up. A couple also alone and one with his wife. Nice fella named Mike, Vietnam vet, who chatted me up for a bit. You can tell who's missing their people on a day like today. I feel like being out at the range is better than sitting at home or the VFW, drinking to soothe those aches.
Anyway, I wanted to use the 200-yard lane, and I had intended to just plink with factory ammo because there was a 9 to 15 mph headwind, coming in northwest over the berms, and I'm not the best triggerman to be testing load development in anything more than a breeze, probably.
The dog target on the left is the one I stapled up. Someone else had stapled 12 bullseye-type targets all along the boards. So, as the wind started to become a little less frequent, my curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to use the target next to mine just to see how my handloads would shoot.
After measuring my jam, I had started out with 2.394 CBTO and backed off twenty thousandths every 5 rounds. My Tikka loved the 2.394s, particularly compared to the factory ammo I had started out shooting this morning. Disliked and hated the rest as I deepened the seat. I used 140-grain Hornady BTHP Match bullets with once-fired factory brass, 40.5 grains of H4350, prepped and trimmed to 1.910.
1 is my first shot. (I forgot to adjust my zero to 200 yards). 2 is my first 5-round group of factory ammo. 3 is my next 3 rounds of factory ammo before deciding, “Forget it. Let’s see what my handloads do.”
4 is my first 5-round group of handloads. The ? is a stray one-round handload I had setting off to the side. I have no idea what its specs are. I should’ve just pulled the bullet and recyled the brass.
So, hand-loads, 200-yard 5-round group. Super satisfied. I'll load up about 20 rounds with these specs and test them out as a lot. We'll see how it holds up, factoring in my relatively mediocre shooting skills.
Anyway, thanks to all the guys who've answered my questions and even messaged. In the absence of my dad, whom I used to sit and talk to and watch as he reloaded, it's much appreciated!
And while I’m here, on today of days, thanks to all my bothers and sisters in arms and their families for their service, sacrifices, and dedication.
S/F
Last edited:
