ashleybrook

I agree case length is sooo important with regards to reloading safely and accurately. I used the RCBS case trimmer pro the the three way cutter, it's awesome. It trims to exact length once set and inside chamfers and externally deburrs the case neck, I could never even think of case trimming with any other equipment after using this. Withe regards to case cleaning, again essential, and will affect accuracy and also clogg up your dyes if you don't clean. I use a Frankford Arsenal tumbler from reloading solutions and use the RCBS formula 1 cleaning media with RCBS powder case polish. My rounds without being big headed are the shiniest rounds I have seen to date (I do use Lapua match brass), but this is one of the cheaper tumblers and the media is not that expensive and it's woked faultlessly for two years now!!! you should check one out. Ashley.

Hi all, Yes the rifle is a Tikka T3 Varmint Stainless in .223, did post a photo on here when I first got it! I just had a T8 mod fitted which makes it a real pleasure to shoot. Only thing was I got this loud "Ting" from the mod when I fired it, so I got a neoprene sleeve from Avalon Guns and I can't beleive how quite the rifle is now. Seriously this thing is almost silent until it hits the target, then "Thud". Hopefully I'll get my first fox soon and post a pic. Saw a few out the last couple of nights, but the little blighters sitout on the top of a hill so no backstop!! Plus they don't repond too well to calls!! Give it time though!!! I'll get one Ashley.

Top Shooting, nice foxes! Did you use a call to get them in? Ashley.

Makes me wonder the sort of concentration and calmness 1000yard benchrest shooters have! Any one heard of Cheyenne Tactical? They make rifles that can group 14" five shot groups at 2500yards!!! I thought the .50 BMG was impressive! I think I'd have to lay off the coffee and get about 18 hours staight sleep before I would be calm enough to try shooting at that distance! All the best Dunganick, Ashley.

Wabbitbosher, top shooting, I've still yet to get my first fox with my .223. Do you get any glare when using your lamp kit with that stainless barrel? I have a T3 Varmint stainless and when I use my lamp kit I get a cloudy haze in the top half of the scope which I traced to glare from the lamp reflecting off the barrel. Did you call the fox in? If so what call? Nice job, Ashley.

Thanks PM, I couldn't help the flinch on the fourth shot, the wind was coming and going and I was trying to hold my breath, keep steady and wait for the wind to calm. I knew it was gonna be a flyer as soon as I pulled the trigger. Dough!!! :< One thing that suprised me was how comfortable it was shooting off the bonnet, half leaning over it. just as good as shooting from a bench. Maybe give it a go, Perfect if you suspect the zero is out and you ain't got no steady platform to shoot from.

Here's the Rangefinder, well impressed with this, flawless readings each time, I've tried a couple of the leica rangefinders and this Swarovski is the best I've used so far.

At the range the furthest I could shoot at the time was 100 yards due to the 200 yard target being rebuilt. So I decided to go to a friends land which I have permission to shoot on and tried shooting some 200 yard groups. The groups shown below were done using a benchrest bipod, sandbag at the rear and were shot off the bonnet of my van. Not sure how well these groups fair compared to everyone else but I was well chuffed Oh and the range was measured using the new Swarovski laser range finder, I'll post a pic. I went on to shoot some coke cans at 300 and 400 yards! missed a few at 400 though, pretty hard just keeping the crosshairs on a target that small at 400 yards. Ashley.

The above group and this group were 3 shot groups from the bench using a benchrest bipod and sand bag under the butt. I centered the scope and shot three more a little high.

Took a trip to the rifle range on Saturday and shot some groups with my home loads at 100 yards, let me know what you think.

1. Anschutz 1417 Carbine in .22LR with Mod. 2. Sako Synthetic Stainless in 25-06, good for everything with very low recoil. 3. Can't fault my Beretta 686E Sporter at the mo for clay shooting, I'd maybe go for a higher model if funds were no obeject. Anyone else had much experience with 25-06? Ashley.

I think this is why I enjoy shooting so much, taking variables into consideration, allowing for them and consequently hitting the target. I feel that shooting a target at further distances provided you are confident in your equipment and capabilities provides a greater sense of acheivement from a marksman point of view than shooting a centrefire or rimmy at 50 yards. There are two sides to shooting in my opinion, There are those who prefer the challege of long shots who take into account wind, bullet drop, temperature etc to hit the target, and there are those who practice good field craft walking down wind from their target and with the use of camo possibly getting as close to there target as practical before dispatching it. I too enjoy both but perhaps I'm lazy on my feet, I just enjoy finding a good vantage point with safe shooting up to 400 yards and waiting for something to show itself, at any distance 50 - 400 yards. That said trying to stalk foxes to within 50 yards is again a very rewarding experience. I think we should all just get out there and enjoy ourselves, Happy shooting everyone! Ashley.

These were my thoughts exactly. I can't see any harm in shooting long range rabbits provided that you use the correct calibre for the job rather than being over-confident with a .22 rimfire or similar. There's also that bonus like you say frank that when using V-max or similar ballistic tip bullets, a hit anywhere on the animal even a leg shot and the bullet expands so violently that the body is hit anyway. Can't see air rifles or rimfires doing that let alone at 200+ yards. Don't get me wrong, I've got a gorgeous Anshutchz 1417 carbine in .22LR and love it to bits. It puts 5 bullets through the same hole at 50 yards and is as close to silent as I will ever wish for, but any targets over 100 to 150 yards at a push and I'll leave that rifle in the safe a use a more suited tool for the job. As I will say it's "horses for courses". Ashley.

Good shot gary, your obviously confident with your setup, were those Eley subs you used? Ash.

FM, I think your local "Plod" would have to justify his dim view as correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the .22-250 designed to be a long range vermin/varmint calibre the same as the .243 was designed to be a flat shooting long range vermin/varmint calibre and rabbits are vermin, am I correct. After doing some research I find it funny to discover that the debate on using a .22-250 for such quarry/pests that include rabbits completely contridicts what that calibre was designed to be used for in the first place, maybe the use of expanding ammunition or reduced range from the target is the real problem here?