May 2008 Rimfire Match

[Fast Frank]

Thanks, Mo.

I think any model 60 out there can shoot groups as good or better than mine.

There's absolutely nothing special about it.

 

[Mal H]

Shots fired!

... and target mailed. Not as good as I would have liked. I asked Mo if I could swap one of the outer targets for the center.

About 47 nanoseconds after the envelope slid down the mail chute, I thought I should have shot the target with my Model 60 and mailed it along with the 39 target. Oh well, maybe the next time I'll remember it. Couldn't use my 10/22 since it never originally had iron sights of any type - 10/22T.

 

[sadlsor]

WooHoo!!

Such grand excitement, for such a minor activity. Can't help it... it's been so long since I have been able to shoot more than a handful of rounds in a day, I was really pleased to get out and burn bullets non-stop.

Thanks, Mo, for the P-M idea, and taking your time to score our offerings. I actually went out Saturday, with the 39M and the as-yet-unfired-by-me Model 60. I shot the Mountie with Remington shorts, CCI sub-sonic shorts, and Federal LR. As Mal mentioned above, the targets weren't exactly match-grade material when I was done, but as the stated purpose is to SHOOT and HAVE FUN!, I feel the mission was an unqualified success. I finished up at 1800 on May 31, in time to meet the May deadline, and only 45 minutes late for dinner with my wife. (Forgiveness vs. permission, etc., etc.)

The 60 was a bit more disappointing; when I found it earlier this month at the gun show, with a Simmons 3x9 already mounted, I foolishly A$$-umed someone had actually fired the gun using that scope. Hmmmph. At 25 yards, I couldn't even hit the paper target wiith my first 10 rounds. No idea where they went. I paced off 10 yards from the target and found it placing a group about 6 inches high, and an equal distance to the right. Started spinning clickers like it was going out of style, and after a few more rounds got groups nearer my point of aim. You won't be seeing THOSE targets this month. I'll tune it for June's match. While I can't say the trigger affected my shot placement, it was 180 degrees from the smooth, light Mountie trigger. By contrast, the Mod 60 trigger was like pulling a wagon full of rocks with one finger. I'll be reviewing those trigger mod threads here on TRH, thank you very much.

I did take pictures, as well, of the range setup, but as I'm already a day late even posting this, it's safe to say the pix will not be tonight. The good news is, the targets will be in the USPS tomorrow, hopefully to arrive by or before June 5.

In closing, no one need be concerned with my accuracy and consistency, but I got enough in and around the circle to confirm that if I do my part, the 39M will definitely shoot groups within a COA*.



*Ummm... that would be "Chipmunk Of Angle."

 

[sadlsor]

Pix are up!

To give y'all some real encouragement, I've posted my PM entries on my smugmug account. You'll have to go here to see the targets, only if you're interested. I even added explanatory captions... nothing's too good for my THR buddies!

Here's what I "need" to shoot the match:


For June, I'll have my new-used Model 60 in shape. While I didn't like the trigger pull, the machine just chomped those Federal LR cartridges, and the action cycled beautifully and silky-smooth. Looks dirty in the chamber, tho. I haven't cleaned it since I brought it home.

Did finally get a 1-inch group after spinning the dials on the scoped Model 60, but I ran out of time to follow through with a complete target. It might have real possibilities, especially if I can lighten up that monster trigger pull.

 

[JustsayMo]

Cool Sadlsor! Enjoyed the pictures and the commentary. Pretty nice setup too!

 

[Fast Frank]

Is it just me or does that target look to be more than 25 yards down range?



Man, that's a nice range. looks like a great place to shoot!

 

[Mal H]

Looks like more than 25 to me also, but it totally depends on the focal length of the camera lens.

 

[sadlsor]

Mal called it... using small digital camera, I was focusing on the spotting scope, so the optics are deceiving. I measured a long length of cord in my garage with a tape measure; 15 ft time 5 loops. I'm SO glad I learned math in the 3rd grade! (Toughest four years of my life, I'll tell you.)There were other targets left nearby, at the same distance, as if for confirmation. But they're not in the picture.`

Fast Frank - I love my range. The club purchased the land about 4 years ago, after leasing from CSX for years. With all the residential development around here, it was just a matter of time before CSX sold it. It's less than 2 miles from my home. It's been in operation for over 40 years, so we're grandfathered in, protected from encroachment. Nary a firearm-related injury in all these years; we're proud of it.

We're still growing the range, too... opening a 1000-yard range, and full-on across-the-course NRA hi-power setup. We currently shoot hi-power with reduced targets, for the 100-yard course. Read more on our website.

This weekend is the state center-fire rifle match. (I'm not familiar with this format.) But it's all here; we'll also be opening sporting clays course AND archery.

 

[JustsayMo]

Highlights and teasers

Thanks to all for your participation. We have one more day before I post the official results but I figured I'd share a few highlights.

Fast Frank wasn't kidding when he said he had a Marlin model 60 tackdriver! With the CCI green tag he managed to put 25 shots (actually 50 shots if you count both targets) into the center white, all in nice neat little tiny groups. Wow.

Dr Twigs submitted the first 100 yard target. So far it was the best. Scored a perfect 50! That Henry Octagon can shoot!

Newcomer Johnson_n used his CZ 452 Lux to position himself on the top of the iron sight class. Five excellent groups and will likely be a real contender in future matches too.

JW is improving with every shoot (one of our goals for the shoot). He had been leading the Scoped class until Fast Frank's targets arrived. His 39A is the top Levergun entry for average group size.

 

[johnson_n]

Thanks for putting these matches together. Patiently waiting for the June match.

 

[JustsayMo]

Be sure to check out the June Match at:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=4562435#post4562435

 

[Fast Frank]

Well, tomorrow's the day, and it'll be tomorrow in fifteen minutes. I guess there's no reason to withhold pics.

Here's my entries.





I shot them with the Model 60.



There's nothing special about the rifle.

I smoothed the trigger up a little bit with a fine sharpening stone, and bent the trigger springs a little to back off the trigger weight. It's slightly better than it was, but still nothing to write home about.

Other than that, the rifle is exactly as Marlin made it. No parts have been changed out.

The scope is a Mueller 4.5-14X40 AO.

I shot from sandbags on the bench.

This rifle prefers CCI Green Tag ammo ($15.00/100) but will shoot ALMOST as good with Remington Target ($6.50/50).

I think any model 60 should be able to shoot groups like this. I've owned several of them over the years, and the other ones shot very much like this.

The best groups this rifle has ever fired were about the same as these, but were shot at 50 yards. I went into this expecting groups half the size of what I actually produced.

I guess that's the difference between fantasy and reality, huh?

 

[johnson_n]

Here was mine.

CZ 452 Lux with Federal bulk. Used a front shooting rest on some of the shots. At first I was using a few empty 9mm boxes of ammo stacked on my laptop bag (range bag) because I didnt know you could flip the rest to get a higher position. Rear support was my shoulder and left fist. Never tried match ammo before. Sights arent zeroed.

 

[sadlsor]

JustSayMo remarks -

Thanks to all for your participation. We have one more day before I post the official results but I figured I'd share a few highlights.

Pffffffttt. No, Mo - you got it backwards. Thank YOU!!

And especially thank you for not posting the, um, ...lowlights. Until you do, eveyone here just might believe I can really shoot. Oh well, my relatively dismal results for May have inspired me to stop making excuses, and get myself 2 miles down the road to shoot at Alabama's finest shooting range.

Congratulations to Fast Frank for those incredible target groups!

 

[Mal H]

Man! That's some good shooting, Frank! I was very pleased to see the scopes on your rifles (I didn't use one) after seeing those targets. I might still have a chance to at least leave the contest with head held in a fairly upright position - it ain't going to be held high. I'm sure of that.

 

[JustsayMo]

Results

Sorry for the delay. My internet service was just restored.

Scoped Class Results, smallest Group
1-Fast Frank, Marlin Model 60, CCI Green Tag 0.377" (also had 0.381", 0.395" and 0.494" groups)
2-JW, Marlin Model 39A, American Eagle; .649"
3-Dr Twigs, Henry Octagon, Blazer: .763

Scoped Class AVERAGE Group Size
1-Fast Frank: .411"
2-JW: .941"
3-Dr Twigs: 1.532"

Scoped Class Closest to Center
1-Fast Frank: .193"
2-Sadlsor, Marlin Model 39M, Federal Bulk .732"
3-Dr Twigs: .755"

Scoped 100 YARDS Bonus Match Score
1-Dr Twigs PERFECT 50 points
2-TG Ruger 10-22, CCI mini Mag 27 points
3-DM Same as TG, 19 points

Scoped 100 yard Bonus Group Size
1-Dr Twigs 1.608"
2-TG 4.572
3-DM 6.799"

IRON SIGHTS
Smallest Group
1-Johnson_n, CZ 452 Lux, Federal Bulk .432" (w/ two other sub half inch groups)
2-Mal H, Marlin 39AS, Fed 900, .478"
3-JustsayMo, Marlin Model 39A Mountie, Remington Subsoinic, .494"

Group Average
1-Johnson_n: .587"
2-MalH: 1.117"
3-Justsaymo: 1.157"

Closest To Center
1-MalH: .813"
2-JustsayMo: 1.102"
3-Johnson_n: 1.880"

Thanks to everyone who participated!

 

[Fast Frank]

Thanks for running this match, Mo.

 

[Spinnerblade]

Sorry I missed this one. Haven't been on this forum much, lately.
Just started shooting my rimfires again.
Nice seeing everyones guns too.

What's next Mo?Patrick

 

[N1150X]

Didn't send my targets in but...

I wish I would have cuz I didn't do too bad I dont have a pic of my rifle but it is a remington bolt action (581-S) with a 3-9 power Simmons scope using Federal 710 .22LR ammunition


EDIT:Also there was a slight wind (4 mph) which I did not account for because I just shot the target without using a spotting scope

target was shot in 20 seconds

 

[JustsayMo]

SpinnerBlade check out the June match

N1150X: Nice shootin' dude!

For the June match you don't even need to send in your targets. Just email me a picture. It is a different format. The early feedback is that it's tougher.

 

[Spinnerblade]

Thanks Mo. Patrick