![Image](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/Cowboytutt/1stTimeShoot-Old3120001.jpg)
I set up a front bag rest only on a cooler, block of wood, and Hornady's 6th Vol.2. I rested the forearm way out front in the bag, about where you would attach a bipod if you had one. The chrono was about 12 ft in front of the muzzel. I set the target at 100m (109 yrds) knowing she would shoot high. The rear fixed battle sight is regulated to at least 200m, maybe 250m depending on the sources I have read. She makes some unusual sounds as I use her in repeater mode (the magazine can be bypassed with a switch rendering her a single shot). A "clack" as the lifter moves, followed by a "clink" as the new case is lifted just before being push-fed into the chamber. Very distinctive sound. The first time I pulled the trigger made me smile.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Prof. Loudenboomer's ammo fed perfectly, and chrono'd very well if I remembered to follow the ritual of tipping the barrel to full vertical before every shot. However, as I looked at the speed of all loads throughout the day, it ranged from 1340 to 1399. Later, as I got into the habit of the ritual, his loads had an extreme spread of ten in a 4 shot group.
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
For me, the greatest difficulty was just seeing the sights well. Here is a pic of what the target looked like at 100m, and a pic of about the best group I could come up with at the time.
![Image](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/Cowboytutt/1stTimeShoot-Old3120005.jpg)
![Image](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/Cowboytutt/1stTimeShoot-Old3120003.jpg)
I then moved the target out to 200m. You can readily see how much trouble I was having with elevation by this time. My eyes were getting tired I think. You can see the one shot at the bottom of the paper, one in the 10 ring, and one in the head at the hairline.
![Image](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/Cowboytutt/1stTimeShoot-Old3120006.jpg)
![Image](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/Cowboytutt/1stTimeShoot-Old3120007.jpg)
I think this gun has real potential, but I will have to work with the sights some more, or maybe have a custom front sight made. Its only a dovetail mount, and it would be easy to put back to stock configuration.
Afterwords, I broke out my CZ 550 in 375 H&H to do some load developement. I needed a powder with greater density and a little faster burning as I was running out of volume before pressure with the Ramshot Magnum and the 300 grain Barnes TSX. I also changed to a Winchester primer, which is hotter than the Fed 215m. I backed off 6 grains from a theoretical max load, and was a little disappointed by the velocity: only 2400 fps or so. Its OK though, I actually have some airspace in this load, and room to grow! Other than that, I just put 20 rounds through her to fire-form more brass. Here's my CZ again. She looks stock, but she has a trigger job and an 8 ounce mercury recoil reducer in the buttstock, which really makes her balance a lot better. Combined with the premium factory recoil pad, she is actually pretty comfortable to shoot. I need to hit 2700-2750 with a load using this bullet, and then I'll be happy.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Image](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/Cowboytutt/1stTimeShoot-Old3120008.jpg)
All in all, a very nice day shooting.
-Tutt