Casual varmint rifle shoot at the Hamilton Rifle Club

[Branxhunter]

It has gradually become apparent that not only are quite a few of us at the place I work keen shooeters, but that one of my workmates is involved in the Hamilton Rifle Club. A few of us hatched a cunning plan to have a casual shoot at the range yesterday (Saturday) morning before a formal shoot in the afternoon. A few other non-work guys also joined us on the day, including Dad who my brother strongly encouraged to come along.

Most of us had not shot at a range before, so it was all about taking along whatever we had to just put some holes in paper, and get a feel for what is involved. The shooting was done prone over mounds, startingat 100 yards then backing off to 300 yards.

There was an interesting collection of rifles. AV member and workmate Crackers17 brought along his Howa .204 with custom thumbhole stock, my cousin had his Rm VSSF .204, my brother had his matched pair of HB Tikka T3s in .30-06 and .204, there was also a very nice clancy custom Sako A1 .204, a Sako 85 in .22-250, a Neilson 6.5x47, a beautiful sporterised Mauser 8x57JS, a beat up olf SMLE .303, and my Sako A1 .222 and Rem .22-250.

Everyone had a ball, and I would think that its likley to happen again some time soon. Some nice groups were shot. The Sako 85 shot suprisingly good groups with bog-standard Win Super-X factory loads, some of the loads being tested in the .204s howed some promise, and the 8mm mauser showed it can shoot quite straight if about a foot too high. After not firing a rifle for more than 8 years Dad was quietly chuffed at cutting holes with the .222, and landing 3 shots within the black at 300 yards with the open sighted .303. He reckons he has still got it!

Marcus

[Branxhunter]

Photos of the Mauser 8x57 JS - this rifle showed some beautiful workmanship, including very fine checkering, 3 blade express sights, a spoon-type bolt, and quite a decent trigger. It wore a Hakko 6x50 scope in QD rings which had a suprisingly fine reticle. I shot a three-shot group from it - with the skeleton butt plate I certainly knew when the projie was on its way!

That is not me firing it BTW.....

Marcus

[Camel]

Now thats the sort of range shooting that I would be interested in having a go at, never been into the competition type of shooting. Looks good.

Edit...Where is Hamilton at ??

[MISSED]

Now that looks like a great day out.There are some nice looking rifles there.

.

[Branxhunter]

Edit...Where is Hamilton at ??[/quote]

South-west Victoria, about 100km from the SA border, 100km from the coast, and around 300km or so from Melbourne.

Marcus

[Camel]

Edit...Where is Hamilton at ??

South-west Victoria, about 100km from the SA border, 100km from the coast, and around 300km or so from Melbourne.

Marcus[/quote]


Thanks mate, nice looking area down there by the look in the photos.

[wifecallsmegrumpy]

Looks like great fun, well done Marcus.

Did Hammer hit anything ?

[Branxhunter]

Yeah, his bog standard Tikkas shooting factory ammo did very well. He picked up some cheap 170 gn target rounds for his .30-06 and it produced a nice little clover leaf at 100m. Surprising (well for us anyway - haven't shot much beyond 200m) how much that dropped at 300m.

I think might have the bug though - he was musing earlier today on whether he should sell the .30-06 and buy a something like a .308 or 7mm-08..........

GH was telling us about the feral shoots (rabbit target at 100m, fox at 200m, pig at 300m) that the club runs - sounds like something we might try to get along to. Next time you are over here we should head out for a blast after work.

Marcus