Shooting 500m Fly off bipods!

[Ackley Improved]

Well, at the last fly shoot I shot the 6.5X47L tact rifle off bipods using a small rear field bag. I have always wanted to try this and it was a good indication of just how hard the Fly shoot is. Let me tell you, it is a lot easier with a 40X scope, BR rifle and coaxial rest!! But, after some initial teething problems it was not to bad!!!

I suppose this thread is for you guys out there without a BR rifle, rests etc....... come along and have ago! It is not as bad as you think!!!

It can be done, and I suspect I will do a lot better next time after finding a couple of issues!

Two two issues that I had were

1. I feel I was pulling shots in regards to windage, something wrong with technique which I need to look at (can see it on targets when I shoot of bipods else where) I know what the problem is which is good! Natural point of aim.

2. Not having enough manification for holding off for wind. With 25X scope judging the holdoff from splash plate to target was a killer. The crosshair width was worth a good inch by itself, plus judgement put in a bit more error. On a Fly target, you dont that that much to play with!!! I fixed this after the first 4 targets by dialling in wind. I was shooting splash plate, then quickly dialing to where it landed. I had to adjust a few times during the one target on a couple. Also the scope is milrad, so one click was worth 5cm at 500m. This is a little much!

I could see holes all day as well with the 25X, but the conditions could not have been better for seeing them, little to no mirage.

Target sizes were
A 106, B 176, C 238, D 199, E 125, F 178, G 194, H 115, I 144, J 98.

Average group size was 157.3mm, or 6.2". I would have liked to get it to around 5" average.. next time!

Load was 123 Scenars at only around 2875fps.



Cheers

[wadcutter]

Great post AI,

Now if only they would let me use my .338 Edge at that blastard fly. I would love to give it a go.

I have a heavy .308 barrel that I plan to screw onto a long Rem 700 action when I get a chance, would this do?

Question???? It is Duck season this weekend. When is Fly season? I think you would need to shoot quite a few to make a feed out of them!

[Ackley Improved]

Mate

You can use the 338Edge, but rules say no muzzle brake. A guy was there shooting a Sako TRG 338L with no brake, so it can be done. Done well, I dont know!

Cheers

[stinkitup]

Well Done Trevor, I have shot it before with a bipod and rear bag with my old mauser and al ot less mag than 25x, was only 9x, couldn't even see the scoring rings.

There is def a technique to using a bipod well, its harder to get that nice repeatable shot position that a nice bag riding rifle does on the rest.

Once again well done.

PS There is a plan in place for the 6.5AI this year!

[macca]

Bipods are tricky for great groups at that range.
Most of my LR work in the bush is still done with a rest.I take the bipods when I walk but if its a fixed job the rest comes.
They were very respectable groups.
Looking forward to your next effort with them.
cheers,
Macca

[Brad Y]

You might be able to work better groups if you used one of the f class bipods.... they are ugly things, but ive seen 308's be competitive with them.

[Ackley Improved]

You might be able to work better groups if you used one of the f class bipods.... they are ugly things, but ive seen 308's be competitive with them.

Mate, its got nothing to do with F Class style bipods.. I hate those things.. I would use a rest before that for serious work. This was shot of Harris bipods as the rifle would be in the field. I could have put the rifle in a coaxial front rest n shot it, but not the point.

Also to show you dont need a BR rifle to have a crack!

Cheers

[Brad Y]

Ah I thought you were trying something odd- sure thats what you would have usually used (rest and rear bag) but just re read the original post. Definitely not bad shooting from a bipod. I was able to keep around the 1.5MOA with the BRX out to 400m and 69gr bullets when I shot from the bipod. Good enough to hit a bunny occasionally. Are you going to try the heavier bullets at all?

[andrewk]

i haven't even come close to br work as far as rests and bags go. all i have is a harris and a bag full of empty 9mm brass for my rear bag.

i got a few targets under moa at 500m last time i shot fly

[Rath]

Considering that the first effort with the new setup that is good shooting AI. Here is some good info on shooting from a bipod: http://www.6mmbr.com/TacticalFroggyA1.html

Rath

[Tony Z]

Gooday Trev, i see Jugs shot pretty good at the last Fly/1000. Did he go with the 30/284 in the end?

[trevort]

Yep. He calls it something different though, his case is ïm-proved

[Jugs]

Tony Z

Yep I did go with the 300ZNK which is a very improved improved 30-284.

Thanks heaps for that info via AI, it was good to confirm what I was thinking given that all my case prep and load development was in practice Friday.

I ended up at 58.9 gr 2209 175 SMK (remember people all the normal load warning crap ie don't try that at home kids)

In the 1000 the first target was a bit average as I was holding off and with the recoil jumping around in the rest it was hard to get back to the aiming point. Next one I dialled in to be able to get back to centre quickly and then make fine adjustment from there and that seemed to work better.

Jugs