Knight Ultra-Lite in the Rock Pit

[Sabotloader]

My Babe Ruth Baseball team lost a game last night 7-6... Today Sunday - I needed to go do something to let go - I went shooting!!!

We have a early season rifle/archery hunt that starts in mid August thru mid September.  It is a cow elk, actually 'antlerless elk' hunt, and it is called the Green Field Season.  Local farmers can submit a bill to the State for big game damage to crop fields, and to help keep these payments down the Fish & Game offers these hunts to help move the animals out of the fields and back into the back country.  So in preparation for that hunt - decided to go work out the Ultra-Lite this morning.  The only time I would hunt elk in that season is early in the morning and it would have to be a cool morning.  This morning was much like that so a testing trip was in order.

Got to the rock pit and got set about 8:30 - the temp was still in the low 60's.  And that is really important since I shoot MMP sabots - because of their polymer formulation they are not fond of warm temps and hot barrels - probably should use Harvesters at that point, but the MMP's are so good in the cold temps.

I had decided not to shoot paper - so I placed a set of 'clay pigeons' on the rock wall at 100 yards down range.  I was shooting 120 grains of T7-2f, with a 300 grain Bloodline in a red Knight sabot.  The load  was shot using a W209 primer which fits perfectly in bolt/breech plug set-up.  Little bit of primer nose pressure and really close to 0 blow back.

I do not know about anybody else but some days I have do not shoot as well as I want and then there are other days that are just awesome!  Today was one of those awesome days!  I really had a difficult time missing.  The first set of clay targets proved to be no problem at all.  In fact I ended up shooting up partial bottle of T7-2f with and opened a new bottle.  I was kinda shocked when I opened the new bottle.  It was labeled #5 - Between January and now I had shot 4 pounds of T7-2F powder and was opening the 5th pound.  The bottle of 3f in my box was labeled #3 and it was nearly new - so I had also burned up 2 bottles of T7-3f. It has been a busy 2013 already....

Well, anyway here are some pictures of this mornings expedition to the rock pit.





At the end of shooting the full sized birds - I spent another 45 minutes shooting and chips that I could find down range - it was just a great morning for shooting even though I had to let the rifle cool a bit between shots - I just do not have the patience for that part.

[oneshot12]

  looks and sounds like you had a good time  but then any timeout shooting is a good time 

[Sabotloader]

looks and sounds like you had a good time  but then any timeout shooting is a good time 

EXACTLY

[oneshot12]

 need to start  dialing in my  Remington 54  in soon ,need to get it ready myself   guess its about darn time i get to work on loads and bullets   been usenin the powerbelt  295 lead  and 100 gr 3 f  been hitting pretty good in the past ,  been looking at kicken it up a notch ,  still use the #11  mag caps though not really going to use the 209s cant here during B/P season over here  you know  once i get my butt in gear  will let you know how its going!
shoot well  OLD SON

[Sabotloader]

need to start  dialing in my  Remington 54  in soon ,need to get it ready myself   guess its about darn time i get to work on loads and bullets   been usenin the powerbelt  295 lead  and 100 gr 3 f  been hitting pretty good in the past ,  been looking at kicken it up a notch ,  still use the #11  mag caps though not really going to use the 209s cant here during B/P season over here  you know  once i get my butt in gear  will let you know how its going!
shoot well  OLD SON

The Rem 700 is a great rifle and 99% of them shoot lights out.  Your 3f powder load and cap ignition would be right in the area that I would use - just make sure you are taking your bolt apart and cleaning the hammer spring and hammer from time to time.

Next part and I am trying to be diplomatic.... Have you ever considered switching from a Power Belt to a projectile and sabot.  I do have to agree that the PB's shoot great! and with the 100 grain load in a 54 you are probably not over shooting them which can/might cause them to pancake or even splatter.  If they pancake - it certainly will reduce penetration and if they are driven to hard they can 'blow up' especially with contact on a major bone.

Are most of your shots on deer or are you working on elk also?

I really enjoy shooting so - I do shoot a lot for recreation - have really gone to shooting biodegradable clay pigeons for practice than shooting paper - I like breaking things...

later - mike

[oneshot12]

 will give them a try  got any good suggestions  ?   do both  deer and elk  so far haven't really had much trouble with penetration  as far as i can see   plenty of knock down power , as i said  looking to kick it up some so any help  is welcome  mike  just remember iron sights and # 11 caps  for this side of the mts   be nice if and when they ever change the rules on them here
Russ

[Jonathan_S]

Next part and I am trying to be diplomatic.... Have you ever considered switching from a Power Belt to a projectile and sabot.  I do have to agree that the PB's shoot great! and with the 100 grain load in a 54 you are probably not over shooting them which can/might cause them to pancake or even splatter.  If they pancake - it certainly will reduce penetration and if they are driven to hard they can 'blow up' especially with contact on a major bone.

later - mike

I shot a bear at super close range (like 15 yards) with a 295 aerotip powerbelt in front of 140 grains of powder.  There was NO penetration at all, complete pancake, luckily got a second shot.  Since then I've learned the dynamics of these projectiles much better.

Shot a buck at 90 yards last fall with a 348 grain HP powerbelt with a 100 grain charge.  Penetrated both shoulder blades on a 3 1/2 year old buck.  I like the heavier bullets because they seem to plow through and make a good clean hit rather than ricochet around.

I know I should probably make the switch to saboted projectiles or bloodlines but I'm nervous about change 

[Sabotloader]

will give them a try  got any good suggestions  ?   do both  deer and elk  so far haven't really had much trouble with penetration  as far as i can see   plenty of knock down power , as i said  looking to kick it up some so any help  is welcome  mike  just remember iron sights and # 11 caps  for this side of the mts   be nice if and when they ever change the rules on them here
Russ

Since you are after both deer and elk - for right now I would suggest you see if you can find a box of .452-300 grain Speer Deep Curl bullets (they will be really hard to find they are awful popular) or .4515-300 grain Sierra Sports Master bullets #8830 and/or .452-300 grain Hornady XTP's.

Then you will need to come up with some Sabots - You will be looking for some 45x54 sabots... that might be a little tough and you might have to go online to find them.  Actually I have a bunch of them (older sabots) I could send you a pack if you can find some bullets.

mike