Post by: Sabotloader on February 17, 2016, 04:24:11 PM
Got to the Pit got everything set-up for the first part of the shoot. Placed 9 birds, I started down there with 10 but dropped one on the basalt pit run rock and well you know, so I got the remaining 9 set-up for the first round of the planned shoot.
By the time I walked back to the truck - it started - not real bad at first - but it was only working it's way to what was coming. I was committed now so I got the rifle out and decided to make the most of the shoot - which meant shot after shot. Popped my ritual 3 caps and loaded the first shot - I am always a bit concerned about that first shot because I do not clear the bore other than the fouling caps. But it was raining so the first shot was going to be shot seeking a target - no sweat!
I have not shot this gun in ages... so there was some concern there also. I have never shot these new Lehigh's from this rifle and I was a bit concerned about that for two reasons. The high BC of these bullets (.330) might lead to them being higher at 100 yards than I might expect. And the Whitetail only has a 22" barrel - 1/20 twist - but it stabilize the long brass bullet. I decided to take a figure 8+ hold on the birds. In that I mean I set the bird on top of the crosshair + a bit lower. This hold proved to be very good for the entire shoot. A couple of the birds were tucked in behind a small piece of basalt rock - so I really needed to hit near the center or slightly higher on the bird. Again the hold accomplished the need and shatter the birds.
I normally shoot 110 grains in any of my percussion inlines - but again a bit worried or least thought about would I burn than in a 22" barrel. Because of the weight of the bullet and the fit of the sabot+ bullet in the barrel I thought the fast burning T7-3F would get the job done. It seemed to work fine - I know the WHOP!!! at the end of the shot sounded awful powerful + I could see I was breaking rock...
During the shoot I ended up putting a plastic zip lock bag over the muzzle to keep it dry while I prepared for the next shot. Seemed to work very well - no problems with wet powder.
I think I should add - every time I shoot a White I am really impressed with their ability to shoot... I know Doc built these rifle as big concical shooters - but I am telling you he was ahead of his time with the twist rates he was using + the fact that they shoot sabots extremely well.
Here a couple of pics of the shoot... by the time I left things were pretty wet and getting wetter...
White Whitetail .451
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv130%2Fsabotloader%2FWhite%2520451%2520Whitetail%2FG%2520Series%2520451.jpg&hash=716e9b157e419877cba497b16fa068502b17f553) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/sabotloader/media/White%20451%20Whitetail/G%20Series%20451.jpg.html)
Shoot Pics...
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv130%2Fsabotloader%2FWhite%2520451%2520Whitetail%2FCompo%2520-pg1.jpg&hash=3fced92fb7d42edca231008d1223688f90ffada9) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/sabotloader/media/White%20451%20Whitetail/Compo%20-pg1.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv130%2Fsabotloader%2FWhite%2520451%2520Whitetail%2FCompo%2520-pg2.jpg&hash=a78977202a108fc52cb30e7c1c860803470457d0) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/sabotloader/media/White%20451%20Whitetail/Compo%20-pg2.jpg.html)
Post by: floatinghat on February 19, 2016, 09:40:56 AM
sounds like a fun day, curious on your 8 oclock hold (pic looks like 5). Was it weather or load related? Looks to be couple MOA in windage?
Post by: Sabotloader on February 19, 2016, 11:50:15 AM
sounds like a fun day, curious on your 8 oclock hold (pic looks like 5). Was it weather or load related? Looks to be couple MOA in windage?
I am just use to shooting with a 8 o'clock hold - especially with open sights. But the other reason is I sight my rifles in to be approximately 3" high @ a 100. With it being near 3" high and the bird being @ a 100 yards I need to use that hold to get into the bird.
With the rifle sighted in this way there is not much guessing for me. I know that I can shoot an animal from 0 yards to 175 yards and the bullet will never be more than 3" low or 3" inches high. So at a 100 yard it is about 3" high and at the max distance it will be near 3" low.
It is called Point Blank Ranging...
Side note... the load and bullet I was actually shooting has a PBR of 0 to 216 yards. That little 40x215 has a BC of .330