Our "Wannabe like Manabe" challenge ;-) 4/25/15

Thanks guys but I'm sure this was beginner's luck + a very good air rifle. Hopefully with more practice and pellet testing I can enter some matches. For now I shoot at my home "range" - from inside the garage out 30 yd to the target on the driveway (safely).

Last Saturday was the first time I was at Joe's place, which is only 25 min from my house. I met Joe and several pro benchrest shooters, but I couldn't return for the match on Sunday. Joe and the Open Grove range are first rate - nice benches, shade, tidy and organized. I was told Open Grove wind and switches are very tricky, and shooting there is a good lesson on what wind can do to pellet trajectories. I was looking at a friend's wind flags and waited to shoot until moderate left-right condition returned. I will get flags of my own soon. 

I haven't figured out the best way to time sighting / breathing / trigger pull stages. I shot a Thomas bench rig at Joe's (the gun setting all the records lately) on a custom machined front rest - it was like a laser with a feather trigger and no recoil. My HM kicks a little, and it may be hold sensitive when bench shooting - at least without a fancy front rest.

I will look into the Daystate pellets - thanks for the tip!

Same here. Target ends up looking like a shotgun pattern.

Let Me ask you a question....when you have your target in sites....Do you pull the trigger then moment the reticle lines up on the target in a quick reaction, or do you try to hold the poa on the target to see if you aim is steady?

I've been holding the crosshairs steady on the bull, then try to gently squeeze off the shot without jerking or pulling laterally. Like you I squeeze the rear bag to center up, but noticed sometimes I let off on the bag too early. Now trying to hold the rifle the same until the shot hits target.

Also, knowing the we both shoot outdoors for matches, Are you ever puzzled when you get caught in a wind shift and are "holding over" for a shot and for some inexplicable reason, your shot hits in the middle of the cross-hairs instead of drifting to it's projected impact?


Same here. Hold off by what should be the right amount then thwack it lands centered on the x-hairs. My guess is that wind conditions that look similar (now use a ribbon hanging from the pellet trap) may, in fact, be different somewhere along the shot path. That, or other errors such as pellet variation, shooter technique, etc.

It's very hard to isolate / eliminate all the variables!

Click to expand...

Thanks Kim
thanks for answering my questions...I see we do things in a similar way
Have a great day
Mike

Hey Mike
finally got in some shooting,but not a lot of fun!
heat and humidity plus gusty wind really made me want to wrap it up quickly --

Whats "windy"? I know you're a great shot so it must have been a good wind to make you want to stop. Either way that looks good to me and makes me want to pick up a .22 just to see how much better I can do in windy conditions compared to my .177.

Thanks John------Gusts to 25mph and incredible heat/ humidity - then the typical afternoon storms roll through-
with the gusts I try to watch the trees and time my shots---But was very difficult with the target backer constantly falling over -LOL
CK

Personally I think that what ever distance you decide to shoot-- post it here - from 13 yard to 100 yards--
just so much easier to track-- don't you think? Rather than so many posts for differing ranges?
CK

Thanks Jimmy! ---- Got to get you out in this stuff! Jimmy Boy!! It's like a rain forest - shoot for thirty Minutes then come in soaking wet!
cant wait till Fall hits us--
CK

Hey CK...
Wow, does that Steyr have a great barrel on it!!! Even in windy conditions, it keeps a steady aim on the target. Thanks for dealing with the heat to post a target!. Love those Steyrs!...gonna have to save up big time and get me one of those magnificent rifles.
Weather is really heating up in California too, just not as much humidity...thank God! I prefer a dry heat.
I gotta get out to the range and do some long distance shooting to see if I can keep up with you!
BTW I just saw a Wiscombe jw75fb in a .25 caliber in the used section at Airguns of Arizona...didn't know if you were still looking for one??
thought you might want to give them a call to see whats up with that rifle
Nice Shooting CK
Mike

Thanks Mike! I wanted to get in a bit more practice,but this heat is oppressive --
maybe I should retire to Arizona ? Seems like that's where all the Buzz is with competitions - and high heat but low humidity 
thanks for the Heads up on the Whiscome - that two barrel set that I lost out on broke my heart
Im sure you'll Keep up Mike!
i see that RAW is putting out .30 caliber Benchrest rigs? I'm wondering if they will have a special barrel?
i thought I herd of another Go To rifle that's sweeping the contest circuit -- seems like it will always be the "Chase" LOL 
gotta spend that money on something
CK

I had a couple flyers and a couple that appear to have hit sideways. I ran out of daylight before I could finish. Had to pump up the gun 4 or 5 times to do this. I'm whooped.

Ztir
Thanks for posting a target...looks like you had plenty of good shoots, with a few that were right on the money!
Thank you for the effort...I know that pumping after each shot can get exhausting .
Now the challenge is to see if you can improve over your first target...Just a little practice and I am sure you'll do it
Thanks for your target
Mike

It was also about 100° outside, so I was dripping in sweat too. I never thought of target shooting as a physical activity until now...my HPA tank that I'm putting together should be arriving in just a few days. Should make shooting a bit more pleasant.

25m / 27 yd. .22 AF Condor Benchrest.