My first group --- (it works!)

B

bailey bud

New member
This is the first time I ever shot a high power rifle, systematically - so be kind.

Shot grouping is a Winchester model 70 --- at 100 yards, shooting 180 grain Federal Premium soft point rounds (they were on sale at Wal-Mart)

Wind from the west (left of this target) at about 15-20 knots.

The bottom right is a stray .22 - so disregard it.

 
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Burris 3-9x 4 fullfield II.....

Note: I didn't show you the 50 yard target that I used to sight-in...... It's not quite as pretty.

My Model 70 has iron sights, if I like --- and I'm tempted to stick to them.
(I've had shakes all my life - and the magnification of the scope drives me nuts).

My conclusions from this:

- Winchester model 70 .30-06 is a darn nice rifle
- The rifle on its first day on the range with me is already good enough for hunting.
- The recoil on the .30-06 is a a little more than I expected --- can't imagine shooting lots of rounds in a single sitting. I shot a dozen shots (30, 50, and 100 yds) - and called it a day. It was a great day, though.
 
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Clean or slightly dirty barrel? With some rifles it makes a BIG difference. Also, are you letting your barrel cool between shots?
 
Doyle ----- the barrel had some powder residue in it when I bought it.
(I cleaned it after my day in the field - it wasn't bad)

Looking at my ammo - there's some irregularity on the tips. Suspect a more expensive bullet would produce better results.

A dozen shots over the course of an hour. (no rounds in the magazine - hand fed each round - and check spotting scope after each shot). Minimum time between shots would be about 2-3 minutes.

There was also a fairly stiff, gusty cross wind (we have a snow storm en route)
 
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bailey bud I had the same experience with the 30-06 recoil my first time out. After a few shooting sessions I can run through 50 or so before I call it quites. Pratice will go along way.

Mals
 
Federal ammo is pretty good but your rifle might like another brand. My Weatherby 30-06 shoots two inch groups at 100 yards with Remington Core lokt or Winchester Power Points. No matter how much I would do to let the barrell cool or clean in between shots, the group just does not get any better. I tried Fusion and it got down to 1.5" groups. I then tried Hornady and my groups are regularly within 1". With the group you have, that's plenty accurate for hunting deer or elk. And yes a 30-06 kicks a little. You'll get used to it over time with more range time. :cool:
 
Nice start for a first time out with a centerfire caliber.

The Winchester Model 70 is an iconic rifle and the .30-06 is an iconic caliber. Every bolt action rifle in the past 60 years has been compared against the Model 70. For better or worse, it's a benchmark.

As for the .30-06, what can I say about it that hasn't already been said?

The recoil on the .30-06 is a a little more than I expected --- can't imagine shooting lots of rounds in a single sitting.
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You'll get used to the recoil, and a good pad helps a lot. Also, 180 grain ammo will give you more recoil than 150 or 165 grain.

(I've had shakes all my life - and the magnification of the scope drives me nuts)
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. Lots of folks like iron sights and use them well. I've got some iron-sighted rifles that I refuse to scope. Whatever works best for you is what you should do. But, the shakes are there, whether you can see them or not.


Good shooting, and enjoy your rifle.
 
Just saw the wind condition, 15-20 knots, I don't know how much that affects the round but I'm thinking that could explain the side to side grouping. Well done indeed.

Oh, with the scope, the higher the magnification, the more you will see the reticle moving around a target because your movement is also magnified. I tried shooting offhand with a 24X one time and I swear I got dizzy from all the movement, felt like I was in a roller coaster.
 
Not bad at all!

As you learn to duplicate your postion it will shrink that group! You are on your way man! I wish my first groups with a scope looked that good!:D
 
Not bad at all for the first time out with a .30-06. I picked up my first .30-06 last year , a Weatherby Vanguard Deluxe. It has a very nice recoil pad which really tames the recoil.
 
Pretty good! Have you tried other manufacturers, weights, and types of ammo? That's one of the fun parts of a new rifle, seeing what it likes best. Set aside a day and hit the range with different ammo, and record the results. I have a Winchester 70 in .223 and I love it to death. After much experimentation, I now that is loves some Black Hills 68gr open-tip match...and 55gr FMJ-BT's from PMC. Give it a try, your rifle has a preference, you just have to go find it. Happy shooting!
 
if you have the shakes use the leats amount of magnification you can on a scope.

if it had been a deer it would have been bought down
 
You are doing fine.Don't worry too much about minor flaws on lead tips.They have minimal effect on accuracy.At this point,more experience with good,decent ammo is probably more benificial than less with expensive premium ammo.
No disrespect to you,I have a high degree of confidence the rifle with standard good hunting ammo will group 2 inches or better.Most modern bolt rifles will.My point is spending more money on more expensive things is not the priority.Get a natural point of aim,so you aren't pushng the rifle to the target.Put the rifle on your face the same way each time.Read up on the fundementals of breathing and trigger squeeze.most important,follow through.See the crosshairs on the target at recoil.Call the shot.You will gain more from shooting 5 good ones than you will from squinting,ducking,and jerking 40 rds downrange.Take a good .22 with you.Practice with it.
On single loading your rifle:if your M-70 is the Classic,with the long extractor on the side of the bolt,that extractor wants you to put that round in the magazine so it will feed up the bolt face under the extractor.That extractor is not happy if you just drop a round in and force the bolt closed.
Have fun!
 
Practice is the ticket. That's not a bad group for the first time out. Having said that, maybe you have the right load, and need more fundamental work, maybe you need more work, and so does your load. Whatever the case You have a great start and basics may be the ticket dude!!:) anyway happy shootin dude!! (killer caliber man);)
 
I took my Winchester model 70 to the range today and had similar results. Mine is a .300 Win Mag and since it has a muzzle break and an aftermarket butt pad, the recoil is the same as an 30-06. I am very happy with it and seems to be a tack driver. Those model 70's are in a word, outstanding!
 
Your off to a pretty good start for the first big power rifle. There could have been some nervous moments from the start. Practice with it and try some different brands of ammo to see if the groups get better. Hang in there you are on the right track.
 
Get a similar setup .22lr and work on your fundamentals. You need to shoot a lot more and get some help in person from an experienced shooter.
 
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