midrange prone discussion

[Kurt]

TNX. Arnie. Drop me a note when it's settled.
Kurt

[Distant Thunder]

Kurt,

I am planning to go to the April match at Alma and will indeed be shooting my .40-65. I did shoot it at Alma last August on Saturday and It knocked down everything I hit, I just didn't hit them all That was the first silhouette match with all the new bling and the new paper patched bullet and it actually went pretty well. After a year of preparation you would expect things not to go too badly.
I'm not sure my spotter will make it, but there are a couple of regulars that are supposed to be there and I'll have to make due with them.

Arnie,

The 28th would work better for me, but do what's best for the most shooters. I would like it if it was run like a match with 4 sighters and ten for record and the usual time limit. Then I would see if there is any chance my rifle would do ok at Lodi in May. If not I can make due with my Hepburn.

I just started casting yesterday for the upcoming season, so I am about a month behind. That means that I'm about a month ahead of where I normally am this time of year.

DT

[Distant Thunder]

bruce,

That slow twist is what will keep it limited to 545 yards and I hope 600. I do enjoy doing it the hard way! I don't know that I would want to put the time into getting a fast twist .40 to be competitive at long range even if I had one. I think the .45s will always and advantage there. I don't see me ever going back to a .45 for silhouette, the .40-65 is just too much fun and actually easier to shoot well.

DT

[bruce m]

DT,
far from looking for the hard way, you seem to be looking for the easy way.
some might see it as hard, but often thinking is easier that busting your crutch, and repeatedly banging your head on the wall doing the same thing for no gain..
keep safe,
bruce.

[desert deuce]

As I recall, Chip Mate shot quite well at midrange prone at Byers in 2017 in quite poor conditions using a 40-65, 16 twist, 55 grains 1.5 swiss with a Saeco #740 bullet, 1-20 alloy, 300-500 & 600 yards. I don't recall his 2017 Raton scores but he shot a 40-65 in midrange position and prone with the same load and did win the IRONMAN.

I have a 15 pin for rams and turkeys at a Jerry Van Way Raton Match using essentially the same rifle and 40-65 load.

[Kurt]

This midrange prone. Do you have to shoot it prone? There is no way my back can take shooting prone anymore. Last fall I was on the turkeys and I told my shooting partner to leave his mat and sticks I wanted to try shooting the turkeys prone and I took a bunch of shots on the swinger with out getting a sight setting and I had to go for record and missed all 5 he asked whats going on? I told him the pain was so great that I was concentrating on it instead the sights. When they went out to reset the targets I set my stool and sitting sticks and cleaned all 5. Shooting prone is out for me.

[COBPTR]

It is an "any position" match. Most people just choose to shoot prone.
You could also shoot the match sitting, kneeling or standing if you wish.

Robert G.

[Kurt]

Thank you Robert

[gunlaker]

That's interesting Zack. I wasn't able to make it to that match to see it first hand. The Saeco #740 bullet is interesting. Although the mold I have does not produce as perfect a bullet as my various "higher quality" molds, it shoots very very well, particularly at the closer distances. I've been shooting mine with Goex FFFg Express rather than 1.5. They come out pretty slow, right at 1250 fps.

I'm just wringing out my 1:14 twist .40-65 right now. It looks pretty promising with 62gr of Swiss 1.5 and the BACO 4094000M4. Interestingly this new faster twist rifle ( my other is a 1:16 ) doesn't seem to like the #740 quite as much as my older rifle.

I still haven't made up my mind on the ideal rifle for midrange, but I will try something a little different this year just to collect more info. Either a .45, or the newer fast twist .40-65. The goal for me is to minimize vertical at 600.

Chris.

[desert deuce]

Completely agree on minimum vertical at 600 is essentially the goal to reach.

I have, however, come to the realization that falling short is not always the fault of rifle or load.

[Kenny Wasserburger]

The new Table Class allows one to set at a bench with bench rest sticks, you must still support the Butt with your off hand but can not rest it on the table.

Something to consider for those that can no longer shoot prone.

Kenny Wasserburger

[Kurt]

I'm not at that point yet to use a bench with cross sticks, but I can see that it would keep some on line shooting. I'm at a point were I need a stool to sit on using sticks

[beltfed]

Hey, Kenny,
does that new Table Class have a Scope sub-class to also
help those who cannot see the Irons well any more?
beltfed/arnie

[Kenny Wasserburger]

Table, is scope or irons,


Kenny Wasserburger

[Jim Kidwell]

Kenny,
When did this new class come about? I haven't heard anything about it.
Rule 5.9 Any - Any safe shooting position, including the back rest position,
except bench rest.
If it will keep physically hampered individuals in the game as a last resort, I would be for it...................