Fall Shooting

I love when the weather is cool and I get a chance to go shooting.  It's always great to get out and fire some shots down range. The new setup is working great, thanks to everyone involved for assisting me with this project.

Target Shooting

I was able to get to the range in Washington County yesterday and do a little target shooting. I was at the Pennsylvania Game Commission shooting range near Claysville Pa. It's a 100 yard range and is wheelchair accessible.

The range has several shooting benches but is not covered by any pavilion or cover. The road into the shooting range is a little rough but my mini van was able to get there without any issues.

Hopefully I can get back out before the weather turns cold but if not, at least the 308 is sighted in. As you can see my 5th shot was a flyer.

I would also like to say I really enjoy using the Splatter Burst Peel and Stick 8 inch targets.  They are very easy to put up and you can clearly see your point of impact from 100 yards out through your scope. This eliminates the need for a spotting scope or walking back-and-forth to check the target.

Bushmaster .223 Range Day

Today was spent sighting in the Bushmaster .223  It was a beautiful day to be outside sending some rounds down range. We were sighting in a new Nikon  3x9x40 scope at the Western Pa Wounded Warriors range. Everyday shooting is a day well spent.

Using the Caldwell lead sled made sighting in easy and the rifle was dialed in pretty quick. The scope was not bore sighted but was on the paper the first shot. Using three shot groups it worked out well. The .223 shot just as well off the bench too. I can't wait for deer season to start.  But until the season gets here, shooting paper targets will have to do...

Bushnell Banner 4 x 16 x 40mm Scope

My brother mounted a new Bushnell scope with weaver medium profile rings on my Savage A17 yesterday. We decided to use a Bushnell 4 x 16 with lighted reticle. It will light up red or green and will be great for early morning groundhogs.

Unfortunately I do not have a bore sighter in .17 caliber. But I should be able to get the rifle zeroed in without too much difficulty. My plan is to sight the rifle in .50'' low at 25 yards, then move to 50 yards and 100 yards.

My friend Chuck recently bought the same rifle. He is very impressed with the accuracy, Chuck is easily shooting one inch groups. The Savage A17 is definitely a tack driver and I cannot wait to try it out.

Patterning My Shotgun

On Monday morning I was able to get to the range just in time to see a flock of turkeys crossing down below me in the fields. It was a beautiful site to see.  It made the urgency to get my new Stoeger shotgun and Bushnell scope sighted in even higher.

Now I can practice shooting for a few weeks before the season opener. I was shooting 2 3/4'' shells with number seven and a half shot for the ham and bacon shoot. When I go turkey hunting I will be using 3'' shells with number five shot.

Have you sighted in your shotgun or crossbow for the Pennsylvania spring turkey season yet?  What broadheads or shotgun loads do you prefer for spring turkey?

Spring Turkey, Crossbow or Shotgun ?

I have been trying to decide what weapon to use for spring turkey season this year. I love to shoot my Tenpoint crossbow and feel confident shooting it out to 50 yards. I have taken turkeys prior to my injury using a compound bow. But I have never harvested a bird using my crossbow.

That being said, I have not taken a turkey since my injury and using a shotgun would provide more opportunities. I made the decision to use my shotgun. Using my Stoeger semi automatic shotgun will allow me to have multiple shots if necessary.

The current temperature is only 7°F outside, so I don't have the opportunity to sight in my shotgun today. Hopefully in the next few weeks the temperature will warm up and allow me to get some shooting time at the range.

This practice will also come in handy for next month's Ham and Bacon Shoot sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors.

I like to sight in my shotgun at 40 yards.  What distance do you prefer?

.243 Shooting and Venison on The Smoker

 

 

Yesterday I took advantage of the great 70 degree weather to finish sighting in my .243 at the Western Pa Wounded Warriors range.  I get frustrated with my shooting groups these days.  I use to be able to have my shots touching, but as the song goes "I'm doing all right for the shape I'm in".  I have to be satisfied with 1 inch groups.  I am glad its sighted in and ready for my next hunting adventure.

 

In the afternoon we put some venison, pork, a turkey breast and a few pieces of salmon on my weber smoker.  I like to use mesquite wood for my smoke and Kingsford charcoal.  We used a dry rub from A1 this time on the meat and it turned out great.

While the meat was smoking we cleaned the hide from the 8 point rack.  I bought a mounting plaque for it and hope to have it finished soon. I can't wait to see it on my wall.  It was a great hunt and it's a great trophy for my memories.

Scopes Are Mounted

Last night my brother and I mounted two scopes.  The first one, a Nikon 3x9x50 Pro Staff went on my .243 and the second scope was a Bushnell 3x9x40 Trophy Hunter, it went on my Stoeger shotgun.  The Truglo shotgun scope I was going to mount looked cheap and the eye relief was not good for the weaver 93 mount I had.

We used medium (blue) Loctite on all the screws to keep everything locked down tight.  The Nikon used regular screws and the Bushnell used allen screws.  They were both easy to install.  We also bore sighted both scopes using the laser Sightmark.

The next step is getting both rifle and shotgun to the range to complete the sighting in process.  I want to do this while the weather is still nice.

The Sightmark 12 Gauge and .243 Review



 

 

I recently used the Sightmark laser bore sight to pattern my 12 gauge shotgun. I  think it was very easy to use and it worked very well.  The shotgun shell used three batteries and the.243 used two, the batteries were included with each.

 

The left and right was spot on accurate using the sight.  I used the laser sight indoors at my home so the up and down needed tweaking at the range.  If I used the sight at the range in low light conditions I am sure it would have been more accurate.

"The Sightmark Laser Bore Sight provides the most convenient and accurate method for sighting in rifles of all types. Simply chamber the bore sight like a regular bullet and a laser dot will show exactly where the rifle is aiming; it’s easy to sight in any scope without firing a single shot. The Sightmark laser bore sight is available in several calibers and gauges for use with all the most popular rifles and shotguns. "


I plan on using the .243 when I install my new Nikon 3 x 9 x 50 scope later next week. I did try it  out with  my current Bushnell scope and it was easy to use and very accurate. Hopefully it makes installing the new scope easy.

       

Spot On Ballistic Software

Are you wondering how your rifle or shotgun shoots at certain distances, wind conditions etc. ?  Check out the free software from nikon  SPOT ON