This is the best shot I have ever made with any gun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Veqj22KwVw
Yes, there is some luck to the 550 yard shot; no one was more surprised than I when I knew I hit that tiny target. Having said that, there is a lot of skill, preparation, and maintenance involved too. Here are the 12 shots before the 550 yard shot.
The 3 hi-left shots were the group I shot after load development. That day I had a 3-5mph 12 o'clock wind. That is a 1 15/16 inch group at 300 yards; .64moa. My first group with that scope on my Winchester using the Hornady 160 grain FTX bullets.
The next 3 shots numbered in red pen are the zeroing of my scope at 300 yards. The 3rd shot hit the triangle and broke a chip off.
The shots numbered in black are from the next day while zeroing at 400 yards. There was a 7-10mph 9 o'clock wind at that time. The first shot I missjudged the wind by 7 1/2 inches and the elevation by 5 inches. I expected that at that range being a new load and my first 400 yard shot with the FTX bullets.
My scope doesn't track as the turret reads, so I was getting used to it with those shots also.
When I had it as good as I could with adjustments, seeing that I am just trying to get my zeros at different distances, I proceeded to 500 yards... only that I could not get a clear shot at 500 from the bench I was using so I had to go a little further.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1dUJe2JoSs
When I moved to 550, I basically already had the wind doped, I just added another click left.
The elevation was a matter of figuring how wrong my estimates was which I got from the Hornady site the night before. On my way back from placing the target I debated with myself what my setting would be.
The rest is history... Well, old news anyway.
I should add...
One of the most important things I do when shooting the 30-30 is let the barrel cool between shots. After each shot I leave the action open, walk to my target, mark it, walk back then get ready for the next shot. Only when I am ready to aim will I close the action. If it is hot out and the sun is beating down on the barrel, I will run a wet patch of bore cleaner down the bore, then run a dry one down it.
I try to make the conditions the same from one shot to another. Basically, I'm always shooting a "cold bore" shot.
Since I can't free float the barrel, I'll just get around needing it.
