Post by Richard on Sept 7, 2023 14:03:10 GMT -5
See photos below....
Seems I used to do a lot of this stuff with the muzzle loader up to about the time of the pandemic. As supplies started drying up and prices went up, I did less and less while getting more involved in the .22 rimfire. Also had a lot of supplies on hand for my CF match rifles and began more shooting of them and way less of the muzzle loader. I also noted that a lot of members were going to these CVA break action conversions and less with the more accurate bolt rifles. Since I only played around with the CVA a short time (Jeff sent one to me for testing--which I returned), I had not built up much data on them so, I have tended to comment less that I would normally have. I still review most all posts every day and add information where I can. AS THEY SAY...."but I digress!"
So, I have been doing a lot shooting (not competition) and data gathering with my CZ 457 Varmint MTR (match target rifle). I bought it use from one of my club members with quite a few bricks of Eley match ammo in various lot numbers. The rifle was in pristine condition and had only about 600 shots thru it when its owner got a deal on an Anshutz target rifle and needed the money from the CZ to purchase it. The rifle came with a 25 moa rail, bore guide, the YO DAVE tirgger spring installed along with several magazines. After about 800 shots I put thru it, I decided to put on a $450 Lilja barrel - 21" stainless that came with shims to adjust headspace. I also threaded the muzzle and installed a home made (but professional) barrel tuner -much like Harrell's. My scope is a Weaver 36X with fine crosshairs and dot. I bedded the action which already had nylon pillars from the factory. I worked on the trigger and got it down to 9 oz. I subsequently fabricated a front 3" wide plate which is bedded to the forend (not glued-I used seran wrap on the stock to keep the bedding compound off the wood) I utilized one of sling swivel screw holes and added a second to fasten the plate so there is no slop or wobble. I also fashioned and bedded a rear "bag guide" the same way so the stock now rides my front and rear bags like a benchrest rifle. VERY stable.
The front rest is an original cast iron one from the Bald Eagle company with windage adjustable top. I mounted the rest on a skeletonized steel base and added a speed screw in the rear for final elevation adjustment. The rear bag is from Protector/ both it and my front bag have their "slick" teflon material on them so the rifle can freely slide. The rear bag is filled with "heavy sand". I also use a 8 lb. leather shot bag on the front rest for more stability.
The point I am making here with this information is to show that my shooting results are from solid equipment (at least in my affordability range).
It should be noted that my 200 yard shooting is done with my rifle sighted in dead on at 100 yards. I have a piggyback target mounted on top of my regular target so that I can aim at the upper "dots" and my bullets impact 39" below on the plain white paper. I hate doing a lot of cranking on those turrets.
Listed on the target you will see the speed listed on the Eley (black box) match...such as Eley 1060 (fps) then you will see the velocity I obtained from my rifle along with/ES (extreme spread). I also list the size of the five shot group and four or three shots that might be of significance. The main thin you will notice is that all of these groups tend to be vertical in nature. Yes, even with the relatively low ES's.
One group of three (top right) has three shots in .137"! Believe it or not, those three shots each registered the same velocity on my LabRadar. Another one in the lower left had three shots in .598" all horizontal but they were within 2 fps. Eight fps can still give you vertical at 200 yards. So, if you are getting vertical at 200, you will be getting vertical at 100 and also 50 yards. The closer you get, the "better they look!" Never the less, when it comes to precise competition, you want a lot of ammo that is giving you the lowest possible ES.
Seems I used to do a lot of this stuff with the muzzle loader up to about the time of the pandemic. As supplies started drying up and prices went up, I did less and less while getting more involved in the .22 rimfire. Also had a lot of supplies on hand for my CF match rifles and began more shooting of them and way less of the muzzle loader. I also noted that a lot of members were going to these CVA break action conversions and less with the more accurate bolt rifles. Since I only played around with the CVA a short time (Jeff sent one to me for testing--which I returned), I had not built up much data on them so, I have tended to comment less that I would normally have. I still review most all posts every day and add information where I can. AS THEY SAY...."but I digress!"
So, I have been doing a lot shooting (not competition) and data gathering with my CZ 457 Varmint MTR (match target rifle). I bought it use from one of my club members with quite a few bricks of Eley match ammo in various lot numbers. The rifle was in pristine condition and had only about 600 shots thru it when its owner got a deal on an Anshutz target rifle and needed the money from the CZ to purchase it. The rifle came with a 25 moa rail, bore guide, the YO DAVE tirgger spring installed along with several magazines. After about 800 shots I put thru it, I decided to put on a $450 Lilja barrel - 21" stainless that came with shims to adjust headspace. I also threaded the muzzle and installed a home made (but professional) barrel tuner -much like Harrell's. My scope is a Weaver 36X with fine crosshairs and dot. I bedded the action which already had nylon pillars from the factory. I worked on the trigger and got it down to 9 oz. I subsequently fabricated a front 3" wide plate which is bedded to the forend (not glued-I used seran wrap on the stock to keep the bedding compound off the wood) I utilized one of sling swivel screw holes and added a second to fasten the plate so there is no slop or wobble. I also fashioned and bedded a rear "bag guide" the same way so the stock now rides my front and rear bags like a benchrest rifle. VERY stable.
The front rest is an original cast iron one from the Bald Eagle company with windage adjustable top. I mounted the rest on a skeletonized steel base and added a speed screw in the rear for final elevation adjustment. The rear bag is from Protector/ both it and my front bag have their "slick" teflon material on them so the rifle can freely slide. The rear bag is filled with "heavy sand". I also use a 8 lb. leather shot bag on the front rest for more stability.
The point I am making here with this information is to show that my shooting results are from solid equipment (at least in my affordability range).
It should be noted that my 200 yard shooting is done with my rifle sighted in dead on at 100 yards. I have a piggyback target mounted on top of my regular target so that I can aim at the upper "dots" and my bullets impact 39" below on the plain white paper. I hate doing a lot of cranking on those turrets.
Listed on the target you will see the speed listed on the Eley (black box) match...such as Eley 1060 (fps) then you will see the velocity I obtained from my rifle along with/ES (extreme spread). I also list the size of the five shot group and four or three shots that might be of significance. The main thin you will notice is that all of these groups tend to be vertical in nature. Yes, even with the relatively low ES's.
One group of three (top right) has three shots in .137"! Believe it or not, those three shots each registered the same velocity on my LabRadar. Another one in the lower left had three shots in .598" all horizontal but they were within 2 fps. Eight fps can still give you vertical at 200 yards. So, if you are getting vertical at 200, you will be getting vertical at 100 and also 50 yards. The closer you get, the "better they look!" Never the less, when it comes to precise competition, you want a lot of ammo that is giving you the lowest possible ES.
