Western Ultra Lite @ the farm

[Sabotloader]

We were having one of those early spring days this morning... and I really wanted to shoot this new rifle.  It was kind of cool, right around freezing, spitting snow on and off - then bright sun for awhile and back to snow. 

Thought might as well try - so grabbed the new Ultra-Lite and headed to the farm.

I decided to shoot just a plain jane load for sighting in, a .458-275 grain Bloodline, which I consider one of the best all-around bullets made, 110 grains of T7 and this morning I used 2f, normally with cap ignition I use 3f.

This bullet and load would normally be my go to load or I might switch the bullet to a 300 grain bullet for elk.  I really wanted to see if the rifle would handle this combination.  I really do not do much load development, with a Knight I really have not bothered, I want the rifle to shoot accurately what I want to shoot and with cap ignition the 110 grain load is what I choose to shoot.

I got to the farm right at the tail end of a sun break and by the time I got set up it was snowing fairly decently - so I just waited it out.

When it cleared I began the sight in process with the NECG peep sight.  It had been laser bore sighted at home and I felt I would be really close.

These are the first 9 shots out of the box brand new rifle.

 

After shooting and looking at shots 1&2 - I thought I was pretty darn good! Actually the rifle was pretty darn good!  Shot #3 - I worked hard to get the same sight picture, same pull on the trigger and dang! it did not touch either 1 or 2.

For group # 2 - I adjusted the elevation up what I thought would be 1.5 -to 2" and right about an 1".  I hate slide and glide sights but the directions with the sight seemed pretty specific - so I adjusted the elevation accordingly guessing how far to turn the control screw.  Then I moved the windage screws which is a combination of three screws - but you can see I went the wrong direction.  Looked at the directions and found I was suppose to go clockwise - moved the sight back where it was and added a full turn on the two set screws.

To check the shot I then moved the target back to 50 and got three shots in and then the snows came again!

Got these pictures that I wanted to share also...

 

I continue to believe that this might be the best rifle that Knight has ever offered.  With its ability to apparently shoot accurately and the big one for me is the versatility that it will offer me for the two seasons that I hunt here in Idaho.  One rifle for modern rifle season and cap ignition, open sight gun that I can use in our short ML season.

So at this point and for now - CONGRATS - Knight...

[BOOM!!]

Hi Mike, couple of questions about the ultra light, I see they were able to put a front sight on the tapered barrel whereas the elite never had one. I know you love the TH grip stocks as do I, do you think they will make one for the ultra light? All though it would add a little weight, can you put an extreme TH stock on it?

[Sabotloader]

Hi Mike, couple of questions about the ultra light, I see they were able to put a front sight on the tapered barrel whereas the elite never had one. I know you love the TH grip stocks as do I, do you think they will make one for the ultra light? All though it would add a little weight, can you put an extreme TH stock on it?

Down the road if the rifle becomes as popular as I think it might - they might develop a TH stock for it... but I would not hold my breath in 2013. 

And yes - I believe the rifle would drop right in TH Elite stock and the extreme stock if it will accept the forked recoil lug.  Not all Extreme stocks are inlet for the forked recoil lug.

[teanawayslayer]

Glad to hear a good report.  Sounds and looks like a solid gun with a great group out of the box.  Hopefully they will be at retailers soon. Anyone looking for a disc?  I just may know someone who has one for sale.

[Sabotloader]

Glad to hear a good report.  Sounds and looks like a solid gun with a great group out of the box.  Hopefully they will be at retailers soon. Anyone looking for a disc?  I just may know someone who has one for sale.

Bob's somewhere over their in Washington - has or had four of them and Knight says that Sportmans has ordered 40 of them to be delievered by May 1...

[dawhunt]

What sabot ar you using for this bullet ?
Bob

[Sabotloader]

What sabot ar you using for this bullet ?
Bob

The sabot in the picture is a Knight .457-.458 x 50.  It really is a MMP Orange sabot but under contract for Knight they make them red.  Either of the two should work very well.

[dawhunt]

What sabot ar you using for this bullet ?
Bob

The sabot in the picture is a Knight .457-.458 x 50.  It really is a MMP Orange sabot but under contract for Knight they make them red.  Either of the two should work very well.

Hate to keep bugging you REALLY !!!! but is that the sabot it comes with or is that the easy load sabot

I'm thinking about just using the 300 gr. for everything what do you think about that ?

bob

[Sabotloader]

What sabot ar you using for this bullet ?
Bob

The sabot in the picture is a Knight .457-.458 x 50.  It really is a MMP Orange sabot but under contract for Knight they make them red.  Either of the two should work very well.

Hate to keep bugging you REALLY !!!! but is that the sabot it comes with or is that the easy load sabot

I'm thinking about just using the 300 gr. for everything what do you think about that ?

bob

No problem Bob,  neither of the two sabots are considered an 'easy load' sabot.  It is just the standard .457-.458 sabot, for a bullet that you might use in a 45-70 rifle.  I do not think anyone offers a EZ load sabot for that bullet.

So, remember I am talking about a .457-.458 x 300 grain bullet.  There are also a lot of different .451-.452 x 300 grain bullets that will use a different sabot.

What you use or can use might be really up to the bore diameter of your rifle. What rifle are you shooting?

Personally... If you are hunting elk - the 300 to 350 grain jacketed bullet will work very well if'n you do your part.  They are probably a bit of an over-kill on deer but will certainly work.  If you are only hunting deer class animals you certainly could drop down in bullet weight.  just my thoughts...

mike

 

[dawhunt]

I've got a 50 cal. knight,I was think I'll just shoot the 275 gr maybe even just the 250 that should be eenough for deer.

I've been shooting the 300 gr sst with 100 grs of T7, shot a deer at about 15-20 yds bullet went right thru didn't even seem to really bother the deer it ran off no blood trail no nothing , I know for a fact I hit it at 25 yds on a target I had three bullets touching mostly just one hole off a bench rest. So I've been looking for a differant bullet.

I think for a whitetail 250 would be good on a mule deer 275 or 300.I put that peep sight you recommend on last yr need to get it sighted in this yr didn't hunt last yr,my hunting partner moved to Arizona,my wifes  going to go with me this yr.
I'm 69 don't really want to hunt alone thats really not a good idea for anyone.

Anyway thank you for the info I'll just order from knight as they'll come with therigt sabot (hopefully ;-)  )

Bob

[Sabotloader]

I've got a 50 cal. knight,I was think I'll just shoot the 275 gr maybe even just the 250 that should be eenough for deer.

Certainly a good 250 grain bullet will do just fine on deer - either whitetail or muley.  The 275 Bloodline will work on either as well.  If you might look at the Bloodline 250 it is a .452 bullet and it would ship with a HPH-24 sabot that should work very well in your Knight.

I've been shooting the 300 gr sst with 100 grs of T7, shot a deer at about 15-20 yds bullet went right thru didn't even seem to really bother the deer it ran off no blood trail no nothing , I know for a fact I hit it at 25 yds on a target I had three bullets touching mostly just one hole off a bench rest. So I've been looking for a differant bullet.

Can not say 'been there-done that' but, I have heard that same version several times from lots of people.  And then from others it has worked perfectly.

I think for a whitetail 250 would be good on a mule deer 275 or 300.I put that peep sight you recommend on last yr need to get it sighted in this yr didn't hunt last yr,my hunting partner moved to Arizona,my wifes  going to go with me this yr.
I'm 69 don't really want to hunt alone thats really not a good idea for anyone.

I agree I am 69 also but I still do hunt alone - mostly day hunts - but I do have to consider the area that I am going to hunt.  I also bought a gadget called a 'Spot' locator that I can communicate with via satellite by just pushing a couple of buttons.

Anyway thank you for the info I'll just order from knight as they'll come with therigt sabot (hopefully ;-)  )

Bob

Might also pick up a box of some cheap 250 grain bullets from a vendor to sight in with and then verify with the real bullet.