700 LTR Range report UPDATE 08/26

Silverado

Silverado

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I've had my LTR for about a month. I'm not sure if it was simply an issue of 'stock freshness' at Russell's, but mine has Remington's new X-Mark Pro trigger. One allen key and 5 seconds later, and this trigger is right around 2lbs, and has as clean a break as any gunsmith tuned Remington trigger I've ever shot, and every bit as the Timney I had on a previous Remington. I give this improvement a big thumbs up.:rockOn:

For a week or so I couldn't decide what scope I wanted, but then catnthehat made me a deal on an IOR tactical that I couldn't pass up. It's the 3-18X42, illuminated MP-8 reticle (which is a lot like the Leupold TMR) in the first focal plane, 35mm main tube. I think what really sold me was the front focal AND illuminated reticle; I don't think you can get that in a Mk4.

All it cost me was a nice Ruger #1, scope, case, dies, bullets, brass... LOL :D (You'd better use that rifle in the Rodeo Dave!)

The cross bolts in the rings are sized for a picitinny rail. What I had available was a set of Weaver bases and a file.

This was not the answer. :slap:

I had no good way of getting the depth of the grooves right, and ended up with the front waaaaaaaay to high. With the elevation cranked all the way down, I couldn't get anywhere near the centre of the reticle. I was able to use the second last hash mark for targets at 200m, but only at one magnification.

You see, due to the front focal reticle, when you change power, the reticle changes with it. This is awesome for using the mils to range estimate at any power setting. HOWEVER, when you've used the outside of the FOV to zero, it moves by FEET between 3 and 18 power at 200.

To the rescue was Joe from ### International, with a 20MOA one piece rail from TPS. :wave:

I got 'er all mounted up and leveled with the help of a torpedo level and plumb line.

Over to the bench to bore sight. A few shots to get it on paper (actually quite a few... I think I moved the rifle between aligning the bore and turning the knobs) and several more to get it zeroed. I decided to zero dead on at 100, then run a box test on the scope.

The adjustment test was 5/5, so I decided to play around with my 22 for a bit, let the LTR cool, then shoot a group.

What I had for a target was a crosshair pattern I printed from mytargets.com. I put one of those 1" shoot & see dots right in the middle, as I still haven't bought a good spotting scope...

When I shoot for groups, I usually shoot about one round per minute. To make a long story short, after 10 minutes I had 9 rounds in that 1" circle, and one just outside and touching, where a horsefly landed on my leg. (I HATE HORSEFLIES.)

10 shots into an inch at 100 yards. Seems pretty good to me, so far. I believe I'll try to tune the load by a half grain up and down and see what happens. I also have 2 bullets to test, the 155gr SMK Palma, and the 168gr SMK.

This load was 168gr SMK loaded out to the lands (measured with a Stoney point gauge and bullet comparator), 45.5gr Varget, WW brass weight sorted and match prepped, and CCI BR-2 primers.

I really wanted to stretch her legs a bit, but I only brought about 20 rounds total, as I ran out of Varget. :bangHead:

I've got the target sitting here, but I haven't been able to make my new scanner work properly just yet... :confused:

So far, I'm quite pleased with this setup.

I'll be back to the range tomorrow with lots more ammo, and will give another report then!
 
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Just for ####s and grins....Try to get a hold of some surplus 762 ' portugese ' I shot it out of my 700P and it was right around .6 - .8 @ 100

PS..Despite the ' fear mongering ' 762 fires just fine from a 308 rifle
 
The LTR is a 1:12" twist.

I had fired some break in shots when the scope was mounted with the wrong bases. Around 3 dozen IIRC.
 
Just a little update on the LTR:

Here is a group I shot today. 5 shots at 200y. The lonely one was the first shot. Load was 175gr SMK's and IMR4895. I shot this group very carefully. It was the 3rd or so group of the session; I whacked some gongs from 100y through 500m, just playing around with a ballistics table.

LTR%20Group%20August%2026%202007.jpg


Still having trouble with the consistency of the X-mark trigger; I think I'll change it for a Timney or Rifle Basix. I get 5 shots or so with a nice light pull, then a heavy one.

Question: Does anyone else find their LTR won't settle down until the barrel is fairly warm?
 
Jamie said:
only when it is -30;) with mine but I always zero to cold bore for hunting:rockOn:


what load did you use?
Click to expand...

Actually, that's the exact load you suggested LOL 175gr SMK, 44.5 IMR4895.

I've burned a ton of powder and bullets trying to find a magic load for this rifle.

Some things I know she just won't digest, are 155gr SMK Palmas, and 168gr A-max. Sprays 'em everywhere.

The best group I shot ( like the one above without the flier) was with 168gr SMK and Varget, but they were loaded right to the lands, which is .090" too long for the mag. Ninety thou is a long jump, and I think that's why she's inconsistent with different bullets.

I feel it's important to be able to feed a tactical rifle from the mag, so that load of 175gr SMK is the best so far with that OAL.
 
Sounds great! I've shot a good 300+ rounds through my LTR now and I would agree that it likes to work when the barrel is a little warm too.

Plus I settled with RL-15 as my main powder for the rifle. BL-C(2) worked great too though. My main load is 44gr RL-15 with a Sierra 165gr BTSP (I take the rifle hunting)
 
I had thought that if I were doing a long range deer hunt, or stand hunting, that I'd take the LTR.

For walking, she's way to heavy. I'll take my mountain rifle or Win Featherweight thank you very much!
 
Silverado said:
I had thought that if I were doing a long range deer hunt, or stand hunting, that I'd take the LTR.

For walking, she's way to heavy. I'll take my mountain rifle or Win Featherweight thank you very much!
Click to expand...

X2, yea I definitely don't stalk with it, I use it only for stationary hunting.
 
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