TacticalCanuck
Regular
- Location
- SW Ontario
Hi CGN'ers
I'm not an overly experienced shooter. I certainly want perspective in my following post.
I have purchased a NIB Ruger precision enhanced in .308. I chose .308 because of the abundance of ammunition selection and as the more affordable option in terms of reloading and factory choices, of which, their are many.
I finally had a chance to take it out and try it. I would like to share my thoughts in hopes it may help others in some small way.
I put some glass on it, of course. A Vortex 6-24 MOA FFP scope. I know there are other more costly options out there, but this is some nice kit for the price. For a first I can't help but feel it is worth the money after having a chance to see just how clearly I could see from 50 to 200 yards. Makes my other scopes seem like an old solid state TV.
I purchased this rifle and scope from Bullseye in London, Ontario. I have to say, they are a great group of people. Friendly, very knowledgable, and seriously enthusiastic about legal and safe firearm enjoyment. Couldn't ask for a better place to do business. Not only were they patient, and easy to deal with, they mounted and sighted the scope free, and offered a great deal of usable and easy to understand advice on how to get started in the challenging and rewarding sport of long range shooting.
At the range today, I did a 50 yard site in. By shot 3 it was point of aim. Moving out to 100 yards, I expected my first shot to be around an inch low. It was about 1.5 inches high. After realizing that at 100 yards it would be still on the 'up' of it's ballistic arc, I chuckled at my 'newbiness', did the math, and made a few clicks on the scope to bring my first zero attempt at 100 yards in.
I had to click a couple of more times, between cleaning the bore after every shot. When I made the 2nd shot after my first 'bullseye', I thought something must be wrong. I didn't see a new hole. I had a moment of panic, checking the scope mount, scope rings, looking in the bore to see if it was still in there - I kid you not! - and when all turned out good, I just racked the bolt to try again. This time, I saw the dirt fly in the berm, I knew it wasn't a flyer, but I didn't see a new damn hole. Confused, I made safe, and waited for the couple of others on the firing line to do the same before strolling, hand on shaking head, down to the 100 yard target posting boards to see if I could discover anything, anything at all as what happened.
My last 3 shots of the day were all in the same hole. Not precisely the same hole, but not a clover leaf either. you could make out the slight 'clover leafishness' of the holes up close, something not visible through the scope. I couldn't believe it. The last year and half of learning how to hold, breath squeeze on my various 22 rifles all came rushing back. Even my AR at 50 yards wasn't this good. If I hadn't seen it, I would never of believed it.
To break in my barrel, between each of my first 5 site in shots, I cleaned the bore. After that, I cleaned it after every 2 rounds, then my last 3 round groups.
I had to tinker with the scope a little more to get zero at 100. It went about 1.5 inches left too. My last 3 shot group was exactly 1 inch low, but I kept my hold the same for all 3 shots. I have to move it 4 clicks up to get it point of aim at 100 yards.
All in, I only shot 20 rounds. So, yes, my last 3 could be a fluke. But to fluke 3x in a row starts to become a statistical stretch, though not a huge one.
It was on a bipod, a Burris one. Not top of the line, not bottom of the barrel either. I used my off hand in a loose fist, under the stock, that was tucked into the sweet spot of my shoulder (Right hand shooter, dominant right eye too) as a rest.
I have a lot to learn, about MOA, calculating distance, reading wind, maximizing my equipment and all it's features. I'm not a pro, and a group like this isn't common for me. I can clover leaf with .22 at 50 yards using the right ammo on a calm day. But its not every group, maybe 1 in 6 or 7. They are tight groups though, tight enough to keep me coming back to try and do better. Tight enough to make me drop some more coin a piece of kit that I researched the heck out of, for a number of months, hoping it would help take me to the next level of development.
I can't explain how exciting shooting a group like that was for me, and, yet, how calm, relaxed and at ease I was when it happened (save the moment of confusion on where the holes were - I don't let 'bad feelings' linger long in me at all, it just don't help a thing, in any aspect of life).
The shooting sports have become such an integral part of my life. The challenge, the learning curve, the accomplishments and failures, nay, opportunities, to figure something out, to use patience and logic to solve 'problems'. There is nothing aggressive, angry, malicious or harmful in this pursuit. It is just another avenue in life to achieve something , even for just one group, one moment, and then, to move on.
A couple of years ago, sadly, I would of been a good Liberal. I'm so glad I was open, that one time at least, to try something new, to take a chance, to step a little beyond what I was comfortable with and say yes, yes to taking a step off of the 'normal' path, the one they try to sell as acceptable, and do something some try to say is only bad. Its taught me to check the fine print, say 'yes Sir/Mam', be patient, be more responsible, honest and transparent. It's taught me that I can trust my instincts.
A little long, if you made it here, thanks for sticking with me. I can't help but recommend a few things. Shop with Bullseye, they sure pointed me in the right direction (and thanks to Ken, Scott and Mitch for treating me like a person and not a 'mark'). If you are on the fence, no matter where you decide to buy it, take a chance on a Ruger Precision Enhanced. The day I had today was priceless, and I am pretty sure I'll have a few more like it in the years to come, as I enjoy this sport, its enthusiasts, and my new rifle.
Cheers!
I'm not an overly experienced shooter. I certainly want perspective in my following post.
I have purchased a NIB Ruger precision enhanced in .308. I chose .308 because of the abundance of ammunition selection and as the more affordable option in terms of reloading and factory choices, of which, their are many.
I finally had a chance to take it out and try it. I would like to share my thoughts in hopes it may help others in some small way.
I put some glass on it, of course. A Vortex 6-24 MOA FFP scope. I know there are other more costly options out there, but this is some nice kit for the price. For a first I can't help but feel it is worth the money after having a chance to see just how clearly I could see from 50 to 200 yards. Makes my other scopes seem like an old solid state TV.
I purchased this rifle and scope from Bullseye in London, Ontario. I have to say, they are a great group of people. Friendly, very knowledgable, and seriously enthusiastic about legal and safe firearm enjoyment. Couldn't ask for a better place to do business. Not only were they patient, and easy to deal with, they mounted and sighted the scope free, and offered a great deal of usable and easy to understand advice on how to get started in the challenging and rewarding sport of long range shooting.
At the range today, I did a 50 yard site in. By shot 3 it was point of aim. Moving out to 100 yards, I expected my first shot to be around an inch low. It was about 1.5 inches high. After realizing that at 100 yards it would be still on the 'up' of it's ballistic arc, I chuckled at my 'newbiness', did the math, and made a few clicks on the scope to bring my first zero attempt at 100 yards in.
I had to click a couple of more times, between cleaning the bore after every shot. When I made the 2nd shot after my first 'bullseye', I thought something must be wrong. I didn't see a new hole. I had a moment of panic, checking the scope mount, scope rings, looking in the bore to see if it was still in there - I kid you not! - and when all turned out good, I just racked the bolt to try again. This time, I saw the dirt fly in the berm, I knew it wasn't a flyer, but I didn't see a new damn hole. Confused, I made safe, and waited for the couple of others on the firing line to do the same before strolling, hand on shaking head, down to the 100 yard target posting boards to see if I could discover anything, anything at all as what happened.
My last 3 shots of the day were all in the same hole. Not precisely the same hole, but not a clover leaf either. you could make out the slight 'clover leafishness' of the holes up close, something not visible through the scope. I couldn't believe it. The last year and half of learning how to hold, breath squeeze on my various 22 rifles all came rushing back. Even my AR at 50 yards wasn't this good. If I hadn't seen it, I would never of believed it.
To break in my barrel, between each of my first 5 site in shots, I cleaned the bore. After that, I cleaned it after every 2 rounds, then my last 3 round groups.
I had to tinker with the scope a little more to get zero at 100. It went about 1.5 inches left too. My last 3 shot group was exactly 1 inch low, but I kept my hold the same for all 3 shots. I have to move it 4 clicks up to get it point of aim at 100 yards.
All in, I only shot 20 rounds. So, yes, my last 3 could be a fluke. But to fluke 3x in a row starts to become a statistical stretch, though not a huge one.
It was on a bipod, a Burris one. Not top of the line, not bottom of the barrel either. I used my off hand in a loose fist, under the stock, that was tucked into the sweet spot of my shoulder (Right hand shooter, dominant right eye too) as a rest.
I have a lot to learn, about MOA, calculating distance, reading wind, maximizing my equipment and all it's features. I'm not a pro, and a group like this isn't common for me. I can clover leaf with .22 at 50 yards using the right ammo on a calm day. But its not every group, maybe 1 in 6 or 7. They are tight groups though, tight enough to keep me coming back to try and do better. Tight enough to make me drop some more coin a piece of kit that I researched the heck out of, for a number of months, hoping it would help take me to the next level of development.
I can't explain how exciting shooting a group like that was for me, and, yet, how calm, relaxed and at ease I was when it happened (save the moment of confusion on where the holes were - I don't let 'bad feelings' linger long in me at all, it just don't help a thing, in any aspect of life).
The shooting sports have become such an integral part of my life. The challenge, the learning curve, the accomplishments and failures, nay, opportunities, to figure something out, to use patience and logic to solve 'problems'. There is nothing aggressive, angry, malicious or harmful in this pursuit. It is just another avenue in life to achieve something , even for just one group, one moment, and then, to move on.
A couple of years ago, sadly, I would of been a good Liberal. I'm so glad I was open, that one time at least, to try something new, to take a chance, to step a little beyond what I was comfortable with and say yes, yes to taking a step off of the 'normal' path, the one they try to sell as acceptable, and do something some try to say is only bad. Its taught me to check the fine print, say 'yes Sir/Mam', be patient, be more responsible, honest and transparent. It's taught me that I can trust my instincts.
A little long, if you made it here, thanks for sticking with me. I can't help but recommend a few things. Shop with Bullseye, they sure pointed me in the right direction (and thanks to Ken, Scott and Mitch for treating me like a person and not a 'mark'). If you are on the fence, no matter where you decide to buy it, take a chance on a Ruger Precision Enhanced. The day I had today was priceless, and I am pretty sure I'll have a few more like it in the years to come, as I enjoy this sport, its enthusiasts, and my new rifle.
Cheers!
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