I joined the bolt-action world today.

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Wishn4aFNFal

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Today I was really lucky and got a great deal on a Ruger M77 Mark II in .270. My last several years of hunting and sighting (continually) in was spent with a Remington 7400 and a BSA Catseye Scope on it. I remained a frustrated marksman. Besides repetition and rounds, does anyone have suggestions to help develop a good skill set and optic discipline for someone finally into a good rifle and good scope? It has an older Redfield 3x9 scope. Eyepiece is not oval, it is flat on the top and rounded on the side. (Can anyone help ID that model?) Thanks.
 
Yep, that's the Redfield Widefield. It used to be the top of the line when Redfield was made in Colorado. That old company is defunct now. Leupold bought the rights to the name and is making a scope called Redfield in Oregon.

The basics of marksmanship are the same whether shooting your Ruger, a .22, or a muzzleloader. Sight alignment, breathing control, and trigger squeeze. When sighting the rifle in. try to make each shot the same, consistency is the key, and silly little things will make a shot move. The position of the rifle on the bags, the degree of stock weld, whether you hold the rifle loosely or tightly, all those things make a shot move. So, consistency is the key.

Once you've got your rifle sighted in, move away from the bench and learn how to shoot it.
 
The Widefield scope was a sales gimmick. They weren't very good scopes for a couple of reasons. First, the edge barrel distortion was terrible. Try panning some trees and watch them bend as they get closer to the edge. Second, the objective wasn't screwed in, but held in place with set screws; so moisture protection wasn't particularly impressive.

If the one on the rifle seems to work for you, fine, but if accuracy isn't what you want, try another scope. Oh yeah, should you have them, Redfield rotary dovetail mounts also can move under recoil, etc. They're probably okay for the 2-3 minute deer rifle, but not seen on serious long-range rifles.
 
Ruger .270

I know you didn't ask, but I bought that exact gun, used, when I was 16 years old. 22 years later, and a safe full of guns, that is still my "Old Faithful". I absolutely love mine and have for 22 years!!! Oh the stories, she could tell......;)
 
When shooting, make sure you do 'follow through'. Do not get into the habit of immediately moving your head after a shot to see the POI. Get into the habit of doing follow through and seeing the POI in your scope (you mentioned it has a scope). There are several other things that can affect accuracy. Are there any gun clubs in your area when an instructor or RO will work with you? Have you taken the NRA Basic Rifle Course?
 
Congrats on the rifle. I think the 270 could be the perfect round all things concidered. Hope everything works out for you.
 
A man with a new rifle is a happy man, congrats:):) The biggest thing that helped my when I started shooting and caring what I actually hit was bench shooting, A LOT!!! Muscle memory is huge in any kind of shooting. Spend time with the rifle and eventually you will feel comfortable with it and you will start feeling confident to hit anything in the cross hairs. I suggest buying a new Redfield Revolution scope, great deal and a nice scope I love mine.
 
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Sweet Rifle

Congratulations mate on the new rifle!!!! Is it the standard of stainless? 270 is an awesome calibre, and reloading rounds for them is easy too!!! Mine is shooting 5 shot groups on a 5cent piece now (Aus).

Congratulations mate again :)
 
Congradulations! Ruger makes a great rifle, the 270 is a great round, and the original redfields were some good scopes( had a couple over the years, good optics and they held zero). Should be a great combination. Enjoy!:D
 
The biggest thing about developing good shooter form is practice. Everyone has a little bit different shooting form and that's OK as long as you are consistent. What helped me most was getting a scoped 22 LR and shooting targets at various ranges in different shooting stances.

Some are born with a natural aptitude for marksmanship but it is also something that can be developed if you are willing to practice.
 
does anyone have suggestions to help develop a good skill set and optic discipline for someone finally into a good rifle and good scope?
Click to expand...

The biggest thing about developing good shooter form is practice.
Click to expand...

^^^ This.^^^

Practice. Not just from the bench, either*. Learn to shoot from field positions, under time pressure. Learn to use a military style leather sling.

Practice, practice, practice.

To make sufficient practice affordable, I suggest learning to handload.

The biggest jump in my skill level with my deer rifle (a Remmy 721 in .270 WIN!) came when I started handloading and shooting prairie dogs with it. Several hundred rounds at tiny targets under field conditions over the summer make a deer's chest in November seem huge.

*The bench and some sandbags is a fine thing for determining how well your gun and load shoots, but does nothing to improve how steady YOU can hold and squeeze.
 
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