stagpanther
New member
Since my first outing was just a few shots of "very mild" 235 gr hot cors I decided to man up a bit and step up to full-power 270 gr SP driven by RL15 for my next attempt. I worked my way up gradually, but topped out at just below the redline with a load yielding 60,000 psi. Playing around with the numbers on QL I quickly got a picture that there is a diminishing point of returns where large increases in powder (depending on the powder type) net little gain in velocity (but lots of boom/recoil). That said, RL 15 seems to burn extremely efficiently and cleanly in this cartridge
I'm still new to this class of power in a rifle--so I'm still learning how best to adjust by my own trial and error. I'm still learning how to deal with the recoil in this particular rifle--it wouldn't surprise me if a Ruger Hawkeye in the same caliber feels and handles the same cartridge in a different way--but I don't know.
I shot 20 cartridges from the bench using a front bag rest. On my first outing I fet the recoil was akin to a "progressive pulse"--but after today's 20 shots I'd describe the recoil as a "solid shove." It is not a "kick like a mule" slam to the shoulder (in fact I feel no residual pain at all to my shoulder) but a very forceful shove to the entire upper torso, which if I wasn't doing things "just right" resulted in my head snapping back--much more like being rear-ended by a car than anything else in felt recoil transmission--if that makes any sense.
Today's conditions were pretty bad, strong winds of 20 to 25 mph with the occassional rogue gust of up to 40. Unfortunately one such gust blew over not only my target stand--but also blew the rifle off my table--falling down into the rocks and mud, so I scored my first nicks and scrapes in a beautiful rifle (and also knocked the scope out of zero).
Groups were only a little better than my first outing--usually around 2 to 2.5" at 100. I've read multiple reports of the rifle being capable of shooting well under MOA--but I have a ways to go before I get there. This is about as good as I could get today.
Part of the problem is I'm having trouble steadying the rifle for the shot--it seems to demand a good grip pulling slightly back to keep the recoil in the right spot on the shoulder while being able to absorb just enough "push."
Any advice on improving technique (other than shooting more often)--especially by someone with experience with this particular rifle--would be welcome.
I'm still new to this class of power in a rifle--so I'm still learning how best to adjust by my own trial and error. I'm still learning how to deal with the recoil in this particular rifle--it wouldn't surprise me if a Ruger Hawkeye in the same caliber feels and handles the same cartridge in a different way--but I don't know.
I shot 20 cartridges from the bench using a front bag rest. On my first outing I fet the recoil was akin to a "progressive pulse"--but after today's 20 shots I'd describe the recoil as a "solid shove." It is not a "kick like a mule" slam to the shoulder (in fact I feel no residual pain at all to my shoulder) but a very forceful shove to the entire upper torso, which if I wasn't doing things "just right" resulted in my head snapping back--much more like being rear-ended by a car than anything else in felt recoil transmission--if that makes any sense.
Today's conditions were pretty bad, strong winds of 20 to 25 mph with the occassional rogue gust of up to 40. Unfortunately one such gust blew over not only my target stand--but also blew the rifle off my table--falling down into the rocks and mud, so I scored my first nicks and scrapes in a beautiful rifle (and also knocked the scope out of zero).
Groups were only a little better than my first outing--usually around 2 to 2.5" at 100. I've read multiple reports of the rifle being capable of shooting well under MOA--but I have a ways to go before I get there. This is about as good as I could get today.
Part of the problem is I'm having trouble steadying the rifle for the shot--it seems to demand a good grip pulling slightly back to keep the recoil in the right spot on the shoulder while being able to absorb just enough "push."
Any advice on improving technique (other than shooting more often)--especially by someone with experience with this particular rifle--would be welcome.