Target Practice (PIC HEAVY)

[hankdatank1362]

Well, done with school (except for finals) and I'm taking two weeks off work, so I figured I'd fill some of that time by heading out into the woods and doing some shooting. Figured I'd take some pics and share with you guys.

First, what I was shooting.


Howa 1500 .30-'06 with an el cheapo 3x9x50 BSA scope and Rock Steady bipod. (Geez, I've got to get new glass.)



Set up the target 100 yards out. (OK, I lied... the Bushnell Yardage Pro said 96 yards... close enough.)



The scope gets sorta hazy when I crank it up to 9x. Unfortunately, my vision is poor enough already that I don't need a crappy scope compounding my problems.


It took me three shots to get me to where I wanted to be.



First two shots had all the makings for a very nice group. Should I mess with the windage, or just leave well enough alone? If I screw with the windage, I may open my group up too much. What the Hell, I'll try anyway.



DOH!!!



All in all, still not bad for 100 yards and my POS setup. Can't wait to show my dad (a truly great rifleman) when he gets back from his hunting trip. He's a deer's worst nightmare. I'm more of a Chinese Buffet's worst nightmare.



One day, I may have the equipment and skill to really do some distance work!

Hope you guys enjoyed the pics as much as I enjoyed my day!

 

[Vicious-Peanut]

Looks like a good time. Wish I had a place like that to shoot out here.

 

[MassMark]

That looked fun and not too shabby for what you call a POS optic. Imagine what a Leupold, good rings and a good base would do....Nice post.

 

[ECVMatt]

Looks like you did great!!

and a funny post to boot! I think you have a winner there with the 1500. I have seen guys with a lot more expensive rigs shoot horribly. I would be proud of your rifle and your work.

Enjoy!

Matt

 

[atek3]

Hank, nice work. Consider Sillhoutte, F-Class, or MOR-Class IPSC... your current setup would work for all three and boost your skill level tremendously.

After you get more skill spring for the good glass. If you like the Howa and want to consider shooting competitively, a rebarrel to 280 AI, trigger, and stock would give you a very competitive 1000 yard setup.

atek3

 

[hankdatank1362]

I like the Howa, but I am really itching for a nice Remington 700.

 

[1KPerDay]

He's a deer's worst nightmare. I'm more of a Chinese Buffet's worst nightmare.

LOLOLOL

 

[Safwan]

Your dad would kick your butt for setting up a target like that! Anyone or anything could have been walking in the woods

 

[hankdatank1362]

No, the road's a dead end... I drove all the way down to the end to make sure no one was down there. It's on our private land we hunti on, there's no one else out there... just us, skeeters, and hopefully deer. The nearest home is about 2 miles away. Trust me, I've been over the whole block of woods on foot, truck and ATV. I've even checked it out on Google Earth.

But once again, let me reiterate, there was no way anything was crossing or coming down the road. It dead ends about another 200 yards behind the target, and just turns to solid woods.


Sorry I didn't explain my setup to you guys. I knew it was safe, but to someone just looking at the pics, it looks like I'm shooting straight down a long road.

 

[ArmedBear]

For those who have questions about whether Howas and Vanguards shoot okay...

 

[Funderb]

That's not pos at all. Howa 30-06 is a nice rifle.
Hazy at 9x is a little weird though.
I wouldn't think it would be at that little mag.
Oh well, I think it's a nice little rig.

 

[Davo]

Fun post, BTY decent glass will track correctly.

 

[Charles W Webb]

That's pretty good shooting with that setup. And be happy, when I go shooting I'm stuck with 35 yards tops with my rifles.........man I want to try out my 1917 and my mosin at 100+ yards >.<

 

[ArmedBear]

I like the Howa, but I am really itching for a nice Remington 700.

Skip the 700. It's very similar and won't shoot any better. Buy a VX-II and put it on the Howa instead.

My Burris Fullfield II works well on my .30-06 Vanguard, as well.

Once you have a rifle that shoots straight, a great scope will give you a much better return on your investment than yet another rifle.

 

[Bacchus]

Nice shooting!

 

[Kman]

Great pics and nice shooting, had a couple good groups going, but I have to say, "woods" make a terrible backstop, you need a hillside right behind that plywood. That 06 is going to carry way too far after passing through the target, it's not a .22! I've done the same in the past and regret my stupidity, anybody could have been behind there whether trespassing or lost, just think a small child or someones grandmother.....

 

[3006mv]

You done good, I just sold my Howa for a Savage Scout in .308, just had to part w/ one of my many 3006's but that was one good rifle. Is that the original stock? Mine had a greyish tinge to it. Anyway the only upgrade I would consider besides the scope is a more solid stock, luckily there are a few for the 1500 out there, also I don't know if yours is the new model with the 3 position safety, there is an after market Timney trigger that has a 3 position safety if you were interested in that, but the stock Howa on mine was very good (adjustable too, but great out of the box, knew when it would break). Other pros: bolt was very smooth, reliable feed, solid flat based action, easy to mount scope, not as ugly as a Savage, good barrel and out of box MOA, cannot beat that. Axiom makes a spendy recoil reducing stock which would be pretty cool too. Good luck with finals..

 

[hankdatank1362]

No, my rifle is the old model with the two-position safety. I love the rifle, but the scope has to go.