VHA’s Long Shot of the Year !!!

Yeah BK, Savage tends to make a pretty good showing of itself at the various shooting competitions, in the Modified and Stock Classes, that the VHA holds at their annual Jamborees.  In this years Stock Class, 1st place went to a 7mm RemMag chambered in a Tikka Continental.  Go figure.  Might have to tinker with a varminter model Tikka one of these days.  It was followed by 3 Remingtons and a Savage.

Modified Class went Remington 40-x's 1 through 3, followed by two Savages.  Scopes on everything were various Leupolds, EXCEPT, the #1 gun in Stock Class.  The Tikka wore a Burris 6-24x.

Not a Remington, Savage or Tikka to be found in the Open Class top five.  Nesika, Krieger and Nightforce ruled the roost this year, each taking three spots.

It's fun looking at this stuff.  I'm always skeptical reading stuff like this, knowing how challenging it is hitting small stuff at the relative close range of 1000, and him reporting he did that, 1500 and 2000 all in a five day span.  Hard for me to believe but all you can do with these kinds of "on your honor" clubs is take a man for his word and give him his props.

Ron, the guy was from Minnesota.  No mention of exactly where he was shooting here in MT.  Interesting that his spotter and witness was a fellow Minnesota native, who just happens to be the "Long Shot of the Year" winner for 2001.  Chat with ya guys later.  >>  klallen   

 I once had a nicely accurate .243. It was my two son's pd rifle. An Old 700 Varminter with the skinny fore end. It was good to 400 or so every time if the wind wasn't a problem and if the 'dog was full grown. It was probably a 1/2 minute gun at 100 yards. Out at 5 to 600 yards it was simply a crap shoot. With the 24x Leupold's turrets dialed for elevation and windage I would just advise the kids to hold on and keep shooting. Sooner or later they would roll one if the ammo held out and the dog stayed up. I never allowed them to think they were super shots because the 5th or 9th shot of a group that was way bigger than the target finally went where the unlucky dog was.  If they could pick one off with just his head peeking out of the mound at 200 or so that was different.

max

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Yeah, it sure is, both companies are owned by the Mafia!!

Dan

  How many of you gringo's are in the VHA????

  and KL what's a reloading specialist?

Spot

BK,

   Yer killin me, here's a XLC at 3000 FPS - you can do even hotter than that if you go with the new triple shocks.

Just fer smirks - Here's energy

And last but not least Vel.

The well written article by the guy who took all but 17 rounds out of 165 loaded with a view toward a 1000 yard shot, puts things in perspective. He finally connected on the 148th shot. The other article about the boys with the 300 Win and 240 Match Kings being pretty happy , and suprised, to just hit the mound way out there makes a point. Any pd killed is coincidental. I am more impressed by good, or even fair Service Rifle Match shooters, Or Prone Rimfire shooters, or Metallic Sill. shooters. The magazine is a good read tho. Nice pictures too. Any of you birds know which ex-poster is a regular contributor to Varmint Hunter?

max

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klallen,

Good , no ,FANTASTIC gear for sure and lots of dedication and expense. But it seems to me once the shooter/ equipment is maxed out and delivering a group at extended (depends on the man and gear) range that is bigger than the intended target, a hit on said target becomes a matter of lots of ammo. So that if said combo can shoot into 1/2 MOA at 2000 yds- 10 inches?- that would be a meaningfull accomplishment worthy of praise. The fact that a smaller target within that cone of fire finally took a hit is secondary. I'd be more impressed with the first accomplishment. I assume that the scenario with the chuck you mention is yours? Weren't you entirely happy with that shot? Was it any fault of yours that the chuck wasn't centered up? Nope. Another shot with the same hold might have got him if he had stayed there. Dope the wind. read the range, set up the shot, break the trigger just right.. If the round lands within the MOA capabilities of your gear centered or including the smaller animal target you have done all you can. No contempt meant here.

The example in Varmint Hunter about connecting on the 148th attempt is different. Sort of like me making a three point basket after 148 tries. No, not that bad. But sort of. I wouldn't expect to be known as a three point shooter. And I didn't get the impression from the article that the author thought he was now a steady 1000 yd shooter either.

"if said combo can shoot into 1/2 MOA at 2000 yds- 10 inches?- that would be a meaningfull accomplishment worthy of praise."

Hi MAX  >>  I do believe the groups that could be put up "on paper" by these 2000 yd. rigs would certainly be worthy of your praise.  That don't mean it's going to translate into "1 shot / 1 kill" ratios on the varmints.  Almost sounds like this is what you're looking for.  One thing I've noticed in the short time I've been tinkering with 700 yds. and beyond is that it's a heck of a lot easier (relatively speaking) to back up to 800 yds. on the range and put a respectable group up on paper.  By respectable, I mean a group that would translate into consistent kills on chucks in the field     ...     IF (HUGE IF)     ...     the chucks came up at 800 yds. each and every shot opportunity and gave a full MOA target.  We know this doesn't happen.  Varminting is a "1 for 1" thing.  This is why success rates at extreme range is low.  I don't think it reflects at all on the accuracy capability of a rifle.  When you range a chuck 993 yds., you have one chance to make all the correct calls for that shot to succeed.  If we were able to back up all our miss with exactly the same shot (meaning the animal that was just dusted did not move an inch) I assure you success rates would sky-rocket.  Unfortunately, that 993 yd. miss is backed up with a 1175 yd. shot, then 825 yds., then 1007 yds.  All 1 for 1's.  That's why I believe extreme range varminting is so challenging.  If it weren't so, long range success would become mundane and an "every day" occurance.  It's not.  294 members in the 1000 yd. club.  38 in the 1500.  8 in the 2000.  Those are small #'s who've succeeded.  For me, tha's a goal worth chasing and for those already there, they have my respect.  In the end, if you think that you can't praise these guys because of a notion that they can't put groups together, in my opinion, you can put that concern to rest.  I believe the rifles used at extreme ranges would put groups up that would bring a smile to even your face    .  There's just a world of difference between a tight group of shots together on paper at 1000 yds. and having one shot on chuck at 1047 yds. in the field.  Take it easy.  >>  klallen