Thread: Problems "stretching it"

Today we has a "Hunter Long Range" gongs day. Weather was fine, airport wind readings were 30 NW at 1.00pm, 15 SW at 2 and 13 SW at 3. There were a few puffs though.

Everyone validates at 100M on our range, we had 12 or so rifles and 15-16 shooters. Rifles were the usual mix of Tikka's (my 270 included) and other factory rifles plus a few heavier almost PRS style custom jobbies . . .

After 100M we put up the Eric Cortina rack, which starts at a 12" plate down in 2" increments to 2" ( so 12, 10, 8, 6 etc ) but the 2" plate was off for today, just as well as it turned out.

At 305M most shooters got a first round hit on the 12" but only a one or two made hits for all 5 rounds down to the 4" plate. I got to the 6" ok but I'd dialed incorrectly and missed the 4". Bother.

Back to our furtherest mound, 571M. Wind was puffy and dropping. It wasn't until we had finished shooting I realized not one shooter had made a first round hit on the 12" plate. A few guys did get the 6" within thier 5 rounds after correcting thier wind call, and after when it was a yippee shoot there were hits on the 4" (me included).

It just goes to show how difficult wind calls get after 300M or so. By 500+ without sighters it will humble any shooter and is a reminder about ethical shooting distances.