My new "toy" is scoped and sighted in!!!

[atomicjoe23]

I finally got a scope for my new coyote gun!!!

. . .Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Special in .22-250 Remington (22" #3 contour heavy barrel with a recessed target crown) with a Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x42mm and Ballistic Plex reticle

Here's a pic of the rifle and the target from sighting it in on Sunday. . .shot a .392" 3-shot group at 100 yards and a 1.9375" 5-shot group @ 200 yards using "cheap" Winchester USA 45 gr. JHP's. . .not too shabby!!! Especially considering it's the "cheap" Vanguard, the action isn't bedded, the barrel isn't free floated, and the trigger pull is a little on the heavy side. . .

. . .I  also shot some Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertips in 55 gr., but the gun did not seem to like them at al. . .this weekend I'm gonna try some Hornady V-Max in 40 & 50 gr. and probably try some of the Federal with the Sierra  Game King BTHP's in 50 gr. as well. . .I would be more than happy to stick with the 45 gr. JHP's but they aren't easy to find locally right now so I'm hoping it will shoot something that my local Sportsman's Warehouse carries regularly as well as it does those 45 grainers!!!

. . .next up is to get some shooting sticks/bipod for it and some more ammo and I'm all set!!!

[saylean]

grats on the new toy...have a blast!

[509er]

Great gun!  Only problem is now everyone knows if you miss, it wasn't the gun.

[wastickslinger]

Great gun!  Only problem is now everyone knows if you miss, it wasn't the gun.

Man aint that the truth. 

[509er]

you know what I mean slinger.

[wastickslinger]

you know what I mean slinger.

Sorry for the hijack atomicjoe, that is a sweet rig you got there!! Should be fun.

509er

[atomicjoe23]

I'll just have to blame it on adrenaline when I miss!!!

[demontang]

Nice group. My howa liked those 45gr jhp too, you need to let the barrel break in before it really starts to group.

[JoshT]

I was there... and what folks are missing here... is Joe had very limited experience with a high power rifle before yesterday. I gave him a little bench instruction... but for the most part he was learning on the fly. I've shot with enough guys to know who can shoot... and who can't... I knew right away that Joe could shoot, he'll be hammering out some sweet groups in no time... we'll see if he can kill a coyote without using a bench though... like I said, don't get cocky brother.

We ran 3 shots at 50... cleaning after each shot... the 3rd shot center-punched the 3/4" circle. We then moved to 100 where he shot a couple groups and we got the rifle dialed. Shooting at 200 yards on this range is pretty tough... there are 6 wind-flags on the range... they were all pointing different directions. I have no doubt that with some practice, and a trigger job... that rifle will shoot 1"-1.5" at 200... easily. It was interesting to me that the Winchester 45 grain fodder shot so much better than the 55 grain Supreme loads... I guess that's a back-handed blessing.

It was cool shooting with another guy from the board... glad it worked out. By the way... here's the shot of the day from yesterday: We moved to 200 yards and I stuck this orange dot on the lower left quarter of the target so I could shoot a sighter incase we were missing the 3" shoot & see. I shot a couple of rounds at the larger target to see where it was shooting with the new 3.5-10... made an adjustment... then fired a round at the sighter dot... here's that shot:

[Moose Eyes]

That'll put a serious hurt on some yotes.

[atomicjoe23]

Thanks for the kind words Josh. . .

. . .like Josh said the last time I shot a high power rifle was about 12-15 years ago. . .I grew up in Southern Illinois and the only hunting I did was either with a 10/22 .22LR or with a shotgun. . .we didn't/don't have rifle seasons in IL. . .

. . .then I lived in HI where there aren't many places to shoot, moved to CA laws are crazy there, life was expensive and laws were hectic at best!!!

The last time I shot was in SC using a 30-06 on a deer hunt. . .I shot it 3 times to make sure I knew where it shot before we went out. . .I was on a friends farm so I was borrowing his gun. . .didn't see any deer so I those 3 shots constitute my previous experience with a rifle larger than a .22LR. . .

Shooting offhand or off of sticks while my heart is beating like crazy and I'm excited about a coyote will be a lot different than shooting from the bench that's for sure!!!

[FrankDown]

Can you still see through the scope on 22-250 when you fire?

Sounds like a good deal on the grouping.  If you havent shot in a long time I suspect your groups will get tighter by default.  Simply shooting more will or should help your groups.  Finding good ammo or handloading will further improve that.

Overall are you happy with the rifle and its accuracy?

[Antlershed]

We ran 3 shots at 50... cleaning after each shot...

Is this all you feel needs to be done for a "break-in" on it? I ask cause I'm hopefully going to get to shoot my Sendero this weekend for the first time, and I have read so many differing opinions about break-in procedures.

Nice gun and great shooting Joe!

[atomicjoe23]

Can you still see through the scope on 22-250 when you fire?

I could not on the range shooting off the bench. . .but I was not holding onto the forearm of the rifle nor was I putting any pressure on the gun in any way, shape, or form except for on the trigger and pulling just hard enough backwards to snug the stock into my shoulder. . .

. . .the muzzle would jump off target when I shot and would return back to the target but not back on my aim point. .

. . .shooting off of stick or a bipod may control muzzle jump a bit more. . .I don't know. . .

. . .You would need to ask someone with a lot more time/experience shooting the caliber in particular and shooting period to get a better answer. . .maybe JoshT will chime in on that. . .he shot the rifle that day as well. . .and he has a WHOLE lot more shooting experience than I do

. . .BTW JoshT. . .thanks again for the pointers on bench shooting!!!

Sounds like a good deal on the grouping.  If you havent shot in a long time I suspect your groups will get tighter by default.  Simply shooting more will or should help your groups.  Finding good ammo or handloading will further improve that.

I would imagine that the groups will improve as well. . .I'm gonna hit the local range on Saturday and try some different Ammo (Hornady V-Max 40 & 50 gr.) because no one local to me carries the cheap Winchester USA stuff. . .eeerrgggh!!!

Overall are you happy with the rifle and its accuracy?

EXTREMELY!!!

[SpokaneSlayer]

What local range are you speaking of?  Would that be the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club on Seabeck hwy?  I've shot there quite a few times while visiting my parents in Silverdale.  I like going there.