http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4yfajXoiqg
The link will get you to the video put together by Lionhill on the Summerland Shoot and my attempts at smacking a small rock at one mile.
Unfortunately, the image is not as clear as we would have liked so I will do a play by play.
The target rock was measured at 12" X 12" but because of the angle we view the rock (uphill), it presents a much shorter target. Plus with the incoming angle of the bullet, not sure how big a target the bullet actually 'saw'. No matter, the rock is sub MOA at 1730/1740yds which was ranged by several Swarovski laser rangefinders. 20 to 30yds short of the official mile but close enough for me.
In the first clip - 3 shots at a mile, you are looking for two small rocks in the lower left of the view next to a small stake with surveyors tape. I was trying to put the bullets between the rock and the stake to kick up dust. Worked ok but not as dusty as I would have liked.
As the title fades, look at the rock closes to the stake. The hit is a black flash a few inches from the right base of that rock. Time 1:12
The next shot drifts right just behind the stake at time 1:45
The final shot in this string lands a few inches from the first at the right base of the rock. Time 2:03.
The next clip actually has 6 shots but you can hear from the commentary, I saw the first hit off the rock by Lionhill didn't. As the clip starts look on the top of the target rock and you will just catch a flash of dust.
Then you can hear us talking about the shot. Optics from the Elite 4200 Tactical at 24X is pretty darn good - I could spot all my hits.
The first real visible hit is pretty much dead center although called low. Time 2:32 Nice round puff of dust. Those 80gr AMax are still hitting pretty well.
The next shot is dropped short by about 1ft and really visible. windage was good though compared to the previous shot. Time 2:46 This was due to not timing the flags properly and getting hit by a headwind gust. Doesn't take much.
The next shot is again on the rock just right of center. Time 3:02. Please note the shaking and gentle comments. That would be us being in the wake of a 50BMG. I think you can also hear the often commented words from the Alberta guys "where did it go?" or something like that
The next shot lands top right of the rock. Time 3:18
The final shot lands right on the last shot at time 3:32.
Watch the dust clouds. They go from blowing left to right, then right to left, then back again. It was very twitchy up there and it took a while to figure out what the flags were telling me.
The flag next to the target rock really doesn't move and was not the flag I was paying most attention to. That flag was higher up and to the right of the target rocks - outside the camera's view. This one was showing the crosswinds, and headwinds rolling off the top of the hill. What happened here affected where my bullets landed. The others just lied!
Shooting to a mile with the 80gr Amax out of 223 is not only possible, can be done with a far amount of accuracy. Any gusty conditions makes this task very challenging. Sunday morning just happened to be almost dead calm at the base to almost the top of the hill. The bumpy air and crosswinds came from behind the hill rolling over the top.
Way too much fun.
After I stopped, Troutseeker and Lionhill took their turns at the helm but shot 75gr Amax out there. They both recorded hits on the same rock so this bullets is making the trip with almost equal performance - a bit more twitchy in the winds.
Anyone with a Savage shooting 75gr Amax, crank up that scope and go further. 1000yds is really a no brainer and going further out just needs ALOT of up.
Thanks for all those who have viewed this post and been supportive of this journey. It has been an absolute hoot, very educational and enlightening.
Going subsonic does not necessarily mean loosing accuracy. Some bullets make the transition, others don't. When you find a combo that does, you can shoot an extremely long ways.
Jerry
