300 yd Range Report.

I really don't know what to think of this yet, I seem to have jerked the trigger a lot today. This is a target I had set up at 300 yards, and fired 9 rounds at today. 

Since you got both vertical and horizontal movement, might be breathing and trigger control.  And of course wind reading.

I also shot it at 8X 10X 12 X and 16X just to see what the difference's were. I'm not used to shooting a variable power very much. Wished I had one of ya'll with me at the range. I did however zero it at 10X, 2" high@100. Where would you guys zero at, in power, if you were using the same scope?

Edited by LRSMike - October/31/2011 at 18:16

I would say a combination of trigger, breathing and sight picture, just based upon your comments.  If wind played that much a role, it was a hellacious wind.  Hard to analyze from 500 miles away.   Check all your mount attachments, then work breathing, sight picture, trigger.   Get your breathing "down"... get the sight picture you want... close your eyes for a count of three... check sight picture... should be identical.  If that is OK, repeat to get your sight picture, dry fire, check sight picture.  Any change in sight picture will probably reveal your problem if there is no "mechanical" issue.  

Very good post Dan. I pretty much agree with all that........ Though I'm not exactly a world famous shot myself. Don't know how big the target is, but at 300 yards, I could see wind being that much of a factor....... But I live in SD, where the wind blows EVERY day.

The target is 18" T 12" W.

trigger29 wrote: Very good post Dan. I pretty much agree with all that........ Though I'm not exactly a world famous shot myself. Don't know how big the target is, but at 300 yards, I could see wind being that much of a factor....... But I live in SD, where the wind blows EVERY day.

Yeah I contribute that to trigger jerk, I can keep the same breathing pattern, I just anticipate the kick wayyyy too much. It's like I know I can handle the recoil (20 rounds alone today) but it makes me want to jerk.

When I feel anticipation coming on, I unload the gun and do 20 or 30 dry practice trigger presses.  Do everything the same over and over in dry practice, make sure they are prefect.  Thats the best way to get over anticipation. 

Then once you get it down load up and try again.  I like to tell myself over and over as I slowly build trigger pressure, press, press, press, press, press, etc.  Until the trigger breaks.

Thanks Supertool. I know its just the rifle, because I don't have the same issues with my pistol, or my M-4. But that is expected of a .300 win mag. I'll try that tip the next time I get out to the range.

Hope it helps.  I fight that as well.  I shot some big guns when I was a kid and have had to fight a flinch ever since.  I have to think about it everytime I pull the trigger

All great thoughts so far.

Edited by shooter07 - October/31/2011 at 22:12

You also might want to verify your reticle is not canted.  A canted reticle used for holdover can send your group off to one side, and make your drops a little bit off, but the group size is likely trigger control related, as stated before.

If recoil is an issue, a suppressor may be a better alternative. Muzzle brake type recoil reduction, with none of the noise. Though size may be an issue.

In addition to all the above do you have a real good set of muffs for range shooting?  Good muffs in addition to an effective recoil pad (e.g. Limbsaver) can make a world of difference especially if proper breathing techniques are used.

My first rifle at 12 was actually a Savage kit gun in 7mm mag. I have been so familiar with 223 since that's what the military shoots (my rank prevents having fun with the M240B). When we mounted my scope, a very good guy helped me mount it, and used a 2" level to ensure my scope was level. I also have a Limbsaver installed. I kept thinking about it last night, and I'm thinking I might of had the scope at a higher than needed power, and jerking the trigger. I'll just end up having to go back to the range, try those new techniques, and see how it goes. I appreciate all the responses gentleman.

Having the scope at a higher power is not necessarily a bad thing.  It can be a great teaching tool.  Every movement you make will be magnified greatly so you can see your mistakes and movements in the scope.  On lower mags you may miss a lot of that

In your dry practice do it at the highest power your scope has that way you can see your movements better and learn from your mistakes.  Learn to call your shots, learn to pay attention to exactly where your reticle was on the target when the trigger breaks.  Then when you perfect that in dry practice you will also do it in live firing, so you will know exactly where your shots are before you ever see your target. 

If you really want to learn marksmanship, spend 90% of your time dry practicing.  Then the other 10% actually shooting.  It will amaze you the things you can see in your shooting without the boom and the recoil.  Also it will teach you great muscle memory and it allows you to focus on one thing at a time without the boom and recoil.  As you get your trigger control, sight picture, sight alignment and breathing perfected in dry practice, then you will just do it automatically in live firing.

were you using front and rear bags or just front? also try it prone before you make to many changes. a little "butt sway)(tech therm) can make a alot of changes in your groups.

Lots of good advice here.

BeltFed- The range here faces E, and I didn't notice any sun problems with the sunshade or location of the sun, but that's something great to keep in mind!

try to shoot off 2 bags, it will let the rifle keep POI with no effort from you. When I shoot I try to take as much of ME out of the shot as I can. I do use a bi-pod and rear bag when shooting prone. 2 bags off the bench when testing loads and what not. I also just use the bi-pod while doing prone with no bag.

What do you suggest for bags?

Gunners gear is the bag I use, the big round one.  http://gunnersgear.com/bags.htm  You need a stock that is slanted so you can move it back and forth for elevation changes. It is not one you can really squeeze.  So a flat bottomed stock or one with the hook does not work very well.

Others like a bag that you can squeeze to get your elevation changes.  https://www.riflesonly.com/pro-shop/tactical-gear/tab-rear-bag.html

I am not a fan of squeezing as I feel when you relax right before you pull the trigger you have a tendency to relax your squeeze as well which will move your POA. 


Edited by supertool73 - November/01/2011 at 16:50

How much did that gunners gear one cost you? and by slanted your talking about a slant from the bottom of the butt stock to the grip?

yup thats what I meant.  Some of the tactical stocks have flat bottoms or a cutout. 

Looks like they are $42 + shipping.  http://gunnersgear.com/ordering_files/GG_Order_Form.pdf

If you wanna go real cheap.  Get 3 or 4 socks, fill one with beans or rice, then sew it up and put 2 or 3 more socks around it and sew the last one up. 


Edited by supertool73 - November/01/2011 at 17:06