Post by Harley on Dec 10, 2008 18:11:27 GMT -5
I've settled on a load for my .45 Pac-Nor: 12/47 SR4759/A2015, a resized and knurled Parker 275 BE, wool wad and CCIM primer. It yields a muzzle velocity of 2307 fps, and when zeroed for 175 yards, gives me a maximum point blank range (MPBR) of about 210 yards; I can extend that to 250 yards if I hold on a deer's top line at that distance.
Some time ago in passing, Tar12 made reference to a suggestion by the Rifleman: use the bottom tapered post on a Zeiss Conquest as a substitute crosshair to simulate a bullet drop compensating (BDC) reticle. My own Zeiss Conquest is the 4.5-14X44 with the Z-plex reticle. This reticle has a fine crosshair surrounded by heavy tapered posts.
A few weeks ago I killed a deer at 186 yards. This was within the MPBR, so all I did was put the crosshair where I wanted the bullet to hit. Since that time I've been thinking how to extend the effective range of the ML. Here's what I came up with:
1. Run a ballistics program for the MPBR. For my rifle and my load this meant +2.52" at 100 yards.
2. While on the bench I aimed at a target grid placed 100 yards down range and noted that the crosshair appeared to be seven inches above the top of the bottom tapered post with the scope magnification set at 14X.
3. I re-ran my ballistics program, this time setting the zero range at 300 yards. The program indicated + 8.58 inches at 100 yards.
4. I was already + 2.52 inches at 100 yards through the crosshair; by adding the seven inches determined in Step Two, above, I then knew that aiming with the bottom tapered post as my substitute crosshair would mean 2.52 + 7 = 9.52 inches high at 100 yards.
5. Since the ballistics program called for 8.58 inches high to yield a 300 yards zero, and since the tapered post would yield 9.52 inches high, I then knew that I should be 1 inch high at 300 yards if I used the tapered post instead of the crosshair.
Note: If you would like to make the same experiment be sure that the magnification you use at 100 yards for your calculations is the same magnification you use when aiming with the tapered post at game.
On the 1100 acres I hunt there is only one stand that offers a 300 yard shot, so I hunted there morning, noon and late afternoon for the last three days. Other than armadilloes I saw nothing until last night. When the daylight had faded so badly I couldn't see the distant food plot I made one more sweep with my binoculars and saw a deer feeding there, pretty much facing me head on. That's not an ideal shot in any circumstance, and normally I wouldn't have taken it, but I'd put in my time and this was my last chance on my last day, so I took the shot.
I found the buck within 35 yards of his feeding spot. I had hit him exactly where I placed the tapered post. The Parker had penetrated the forward part of his shoulder before neatly clipping two ribs. Once inside the chest cavity it had done a tremendous amount of damage while retaining 214 (78%) of the original 275 grains There was no exit and no blood. I found him by walking in widening circles in the dark and heavy brush.
I know some people will fault the bullet for failure to exit and thus leaving no blood trail. I'm not one of them. The Parker is extremely accurate and dead is dead. (Velocity at 300 yards is still 1500 fps and residual energy is 1400 ft-lbs.)
The range was 319 laser-measured yards. I mention this as a shameless brag
as well as testimony that the Savage sabotless can deliver at ranges a center fire shooter would be proud of with a custom rifle.
Here's a picture; I look as tired as I should look after dragging him through the brush to the road.
Some time ago in passing, Tar12 made reference to a suggestion by the Rifleman: use the bottom tapered post on a Zeiss Conquest as a substitute crosshair to simulate a bullet drop compensating (BDC) reticle. My own Zeiss Conquest is the 4.5-14X44 with the Z-plex reticle. This reticle has a fine crosshair surrounded by heavy tapered posts.
A few weeks ago I killed a deer at 186 yards. This was within the MPBR, so all I did was put the crosshair where I wanted the bullet to hit. Since that time I've been thinking how to extend the effective range of the ML. Here's what I came up with:
1. Run a ballistics program for the MPBR. For my rifle and my load this meant +2.52" at 100 yards.
2. While on the bench I aimed at a target grid placed 100 yards down range and noted that the crosshair appeared to be seven inches above the top of the bottom tapered post with the scope magnification set at 14X.
3. I re-ran my ballistics program, this time setting the zero range at 300 yards. The program indicated + 8.58 inches at 100 yards.
4. I was already + 2.52 inches at 100 yards through the crosshair; by adding the seven inches determined in Step Two, above, I then knew that aiming with the bottom tapered post as my substitute crosshair would mean 2.52 + 7 = 9.52 inches high at 100 yards.
5. Since the ballistics program called for 8.58 inches high to yield a 300 yards zero, and since the tapered post would yield 9.52 inches high, I then knew that I should be 1 inch high at 300 yards if I used the tapered post instead of the crosshair.
Note: If you would like to make the same experiment be sure that the magnification you use at 100 yards for your calculations is the same magnification you use when aiming with the tapered post at game.
On the 1100 acres I hunt there is only one stand that offers a 300 yard shot, so I hunted there morning, noon and late afternoon for the last three days. Other than armadilloes I saw nothing until last night. When the daylight had faded so badly I couldn't see the distant food plot I made one more sweep with my binoculars and saw a deer feeding there, pretty much facing me head on. That's not an ideal shot in any circumstance, and normally I wouldn't have taken it, but I'd put in my time and this was my last chance on my last day, so I took the shot.
I found the buck within 35 yards of his feeding spot. I had hit him exactly where I placed the tapered post. The Parker had penetrated the forward part of his shoulder before neatly clipping two ribs. Once inside the chest cavity it had done a tremendous amount of damage while retaining 214 (78%) of the original 275 grains There was no exit and no blood. I found him by walking in widening circles in the dark and heavy brush.
I know some people will fault the bullet for failure to exit and thus leaving no blood trail. I'm not one of them. The Parker is extremely accurate and dead is dead. (Velocity at 300 yards is still 1500 fps and residual energy is 1400 ft-lbs.)
The range was 319 laser-measured yards. I mention this as a shameless brag
as well as testimony that the Savage sabotless can deliver at ranges a center fire shooter would be proud of with a custom rifle.Here's a picture; I look as tired as I should look after dragging him through the brush to the road.
