Damned flyers!

Racer88

Racer88

Big Kahuna Admin
Staff member
Exchange Privileges
Joined
Feb 26, 2022
Messages
21,653
Reaction score
24,626
Points
168
Location
USA! USA!
Met the guys at the range today.

100 yards. Five shots. Ruger Precision Rifle 6.5 Creedmoor.

3/4-MOA 5-shot group. Before the flyer... 1/3-MOA 4-shot group!

Best group 6.5 Creedmoor 100 yards group.jpg


Group analysis / measurement software is "OnTarget TDS." Really cool app. Available here:
ontargetshooting.com

OnTarget TDS - Analyzes target info and generates advanced statistics

OnTarget TDS - Includes automated target analysis, group statistics including SD and CEP, and virtual groups for calculating stats using higher shot counts.
ontargetshooting.com ontargetshooting.com
 
Last edited:
I HAD two Ruger American rifles that did the exact same thing. I tried way too many different ammo types trying to make them work. Never changed.
 
Wind could easily cause such a small variance.

The barrel is always the same. Unless it becomes extraordinarily hot.

The ammo and weather are variable.

You have to meticulously hand load to minimize the ammo being variable.

The wind you have no control over. A Kestrel helps.
 
Pern said:
I HAD two Ruger American rifles that did the exact same thing. I tried way too many different ammo types trying to make them work. Never changed.
Click to expand...
Oh, that "flyer" wasn't the rifle. It was either me (most likely)... or wind... or ammo variances. I'm shooting factory ammo.

This Ruger Precision Rifle (6.5 Creedmoor) is an amazing rifle for an amazing value. That said... most rifles are inherently more accurate than the shooter. It's almost always the shooter that determines the precision and accuracy results.
 
I've got 4,600 rounds through the Ruger Precision 6.5 on the original barrel. Supposedly, the barrel should have been cooked by about 3000 rounds.

It really likes the Hornady ELD-M 140-gr ammo.
 
Pros say 2000 rds and it's new barrel time. Maybe if you have a corporate sponsor. Some semi-pros and serious bench rest types do the cryo treatment to make them last longer.

As I often repeat, if you are that good then you are one in a million. The end game is can you deliver a kill shot at 600-1000 yards. Arguably a three inch group. Not put five shots in a single ragged hole. The latter is a challenge for sure but it has no purpose.

EDIT: I should have added... and do that quickly. Not fiddle fuck around on a bench rest for 30 minutes getting dialed in and inserting your meticulously hand loaded ammo with white cotton gloves. I have seen this more than once. That seems gay to me.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.
 
Last edited:
Bongo Lewi said:
Not fiddle fuck around on a bench rest for 30 minutes getting dialed in and inserting your meticulously hand loaded ammo with white cotton gloves. I have seen this more than once. That seems gay to me.
Click to expand...
Yep.... I've been to a few F-Class matches. Dudes are measuring each cartridge OAL (overall length) and sometimes adjusting it before firing it. The rifles are mounted on bipods that cost more than my rifle (no shit). The butt is on a solid rest, too. They adjust the bipod / rifle aim point with handwheels that turn screws. I'm not making any of this up. Pretty much the only thing they touch with their bodies is the trigger. It is basically an ammo loading competition with some wind reading added in.

My good friend who is a competitive rifleman (service rifle class), says, "You know what the hardest thing about being an F-Class shooter is?" Answer: Telling your parents you're gay!

Because my rifle falls into that category, I am forced to shoot against the F-Class shooters. Of course, there's no way I could win, shooting on a Harris bipod and a bean bag rear support. I'm actually still controlling my rifle with my body. But the funny part is that I didn't come in last place! In reality I wasn't there to compete. I was there because it was an opportunity to shoot at 600 yards... rare around here.
 
Racer88 said:
Pretty much the only thing they touch with their bodies is the trigger. It is basically an ammo loading competition with some wind reading added in.
Click to expand...
Exactly.

I'm not ripping on shooting sports. I have been a clay shooter since I was a kid. On and off over the years competed in various classes of pistol shooting and also 3 Gun. My point of view is more of a practical, pragmatic nature. I don't keep and shoot guns because some day I might have to kill a paper target to defend myself or my family or property. My years of training in defensive and offensive use of firearms was a job requirement. I've also been a wing shooter since I was in grade school. Later, deer then as an adult extreme backcountry elk and longhorn hunting.

I openly admit my bias and disdain for mall ninjas who seem to think killing bad guys in video games is CQB or other combat training. I'll add those obsessed with accessorizing guns and buying shit instead of training. And wannabe warriors sporting Born To Kill t-shirts who talk about the time they almost joined the Marines.

I'm less bugged by the ammosexuals who do all the things you and I mentioned. I just dont think it serves any useful purpose. Guns are designed for war, law enforcement, and the civilian right to self-defense. The nice term is to 'stop a threat'. The real term is they are designed to kill bad guys, enemies, and to put meat on the table.

Sport shooting evolved as practice for all of the above. And in many cases still does. But the long range shooting we are discussing here has nothing to do with becoming skilled in long rage shooting. Or honing skills as a sniper.

In my view proficiency with firearms isn't a science project for ammo nerds who probably watch CSI. It's about speed and accuracy under pressure.
 
Last edited:
Bongo Lewi said:
Exactly.

I'm not ripping on shooting sports. I have been a clay shooter since I was a kid. On and off over the years competed in various classes of pistol shooting and also 3 Gun. My point of view is more of a practical, pragmatic nature. I don't keep and shoot guns because some day I might have to kill a paper target to defend myself or my family or property. My years of training in defensive and offensive use of firearms was a job requirement. I've also been a wing shooter since I was in grade school. Later, deer then as an adult extreme backcountry elk and longhorn hunting.

I openly admit my bias and disdain for mall ninjas who seem to think killing bad guys in video games is CQB or other combat training. I'll add those obsessed with accessorizing guns and buying shit instead of training. And wannabe warriors sporting Born To Kill t-shirts who talk about the time they almost joined the Marines.

I'm less bugged by the ammosexuals who do all the things you and I mentioned. I just dont think it serves any useful purpose. Guns are designed for war, law enforcement, and the civilian right to self-defense. The nice term is to 'stop a threat'. The real term is they are designed to kill bad guys, enemies, and to put meat on the table.

Sport shooting evolved as practice for all of the above. And in many cases still does. But the long range shooting we are discussing here has nothing to do with becoming skilled in long rage shooting. Or honing skills as a sniper.

In my view proficiency with firearms isn't a science project for ammo nerds who probably watch CSI. It's about speed and accuracy under pressure.
Click to expand...

My experience with the F-Class shooters (personalities) permanently turned me off from ANY future shooting competitions of any kind. I'm simply not interested in hanging out with guys obsessed with regimented shooting and esoteric rules. I just want to SHOOT. I like shootING. I like having fun... not hanging out with assholes.
 
Racer88 said:
My experience with the F-Class shooters (personalities) permanently turned me off from ANY future shooting competitions of any kind. I'm simply not interested in hanging out with guys obsessed with regimented shooting and esoteric rules. I just want to SHOOT. I like shootING. I like having fun... not hanging out with assholes.
Click to expand...
Some people take themselves way too seriously.

I also found the F-Troop (as I call them) to be akin to the snotty IT guy.
View: https://youtu.be/jdL75nUBhN4?feature=shared
 

Share this page

Back
Top