1st Chuck hunt of the year

[wilmsmeyer]

The chucks have been out the past few weeks and finally got a chance to feed them some lead and copper.

#1 was 20 feet with the .22 pistol. DOA

#2 was a 200 yd shot with the .243. They look like HOGS at that distance in 20X! No wind and a load that shoots inside 1/2 inch at 100 yds.

The last 2 were got by my 15 year old partner.

#3 appx 100 yd shot with 17 HMR - 20 gr FMJ - head shot

#4 appx 100 yd shot with same gun, same bullet, same placement.

Kid can shoot! On #4, I told him to try a chest shot to test the new bullet on a center mass hit. He couldn't help himself and went for the head again and hit it. So, no news on that new bullet as any bullet would have done the same thing. They did both penetrate completely.

We then shot at the farthest possible distance we could with the .243. He shot a group first. Range was 320 yds. Prone from a bi-pod with a rock and a towel under the buttstock. Not a perfect rest but the kind we get when hunting. His group was about 2 3/4 inches. Then I shot and did about the same thing in the same group. I was trying to show him how different shooters may hit different spots using the same gun. In this case it was a bad example because we both grouped on top of each other.

I don't know about the rest of you Northerners, but this warm snap has been a nice break from this winter. It's bad news for the woodchucks though.

[ozark]

Very interesting post. Although it is not always true many shooters do use the same zero. Generally speaking, better shooters will find that their zeros are close enough for hunting purposes. I too was out shooting today in beautiful weather except a bit breezy. I was shooting pests and crows around my hunting shack using the 17 Cal. Marlin 917V. As you know Wilmsmeyer this is a fun gun. I took crows out to 125 yards. Six hits and one miss that I can't account for. My shooting was done while seated and using a rest that sits on the window sill. The miss may have been my best shot and the six kills accidents. I love this caliber and it is certainly a step above the .22 LR or the .22 mag. If I had to have only one of the three I would choose the 17 HMR. I was using the 17 grain but tried a few 20 Grain FMJ just to determine the difference in impact. Not enough to worry about. I like the explosive effect of the V-Max.

[whyohe]

ozark i know i had my trigger done on my marlin cause it was a little to hard of a pull and i would yank one hear and there. after that my groups improved even more!! just a thought on the ONE miss.

[ozark]

Whyone, For the first time ever you are wrong WRONG WRONG. The first thing I did to the rifle was install a Rifle Basix trigger. Just kidding, you may know of being wrong before. After all, at my age one could have a sharp pain in some body area that never felt pain before just at the wrong time. I have probably missed before but most bad things I forget real quick.

[whyohe]

ive been wrong before and ill be wrong AGAIN!! ;D well evryone has a miss now and then. EXCEPT ME LOL just kidding. glad your loving the gun though.