[Pet-Rock]

Well I did a search to look for a "target" type thread but didn't find any. I think this will be interesting and informative for everyone. Post pics of your targets and what mods you have done to your rifle (if any). Targets can be a whatever distance, but 50 and 100 yards would probably be the best since they are the most common.

In short:
1) Pics of Targets w/ what ammo
2)Specs on rifle

Here is a couple of mine:
- 581 series Mini 14 SS
- 2-8x32mm Nikon M223 Scope
- ASI 3.5# trigger job
- Epoxy Bedding for factory synthetic stock
- Mo-Reaper Muzzle Brake
- 0.048'' Gundoc Gas Bushing
- 1911 Wilson Combat Buffer on rear of op-rod
- Choate hand guard

Targets are both at 100 yards and shot using Nosler's 55gr. varmint ballistic tip ammunition. I was shooting a shot every 3-7 seconds and didn't let my barrel get hardly warm at all. And none of the shots shown were "cold bore" because I had to sight it in first.

 

[Pet-Rock]

Hey Tri, awesome looking targets!

I managed to pick up some AA2520 yesterday, but still need to find small rifle primers and bullets. Are you picking yours up when the truck comes in locally or online?

 

[Pet-Rock]

You're right, the purpose of the Mini definitely isn't a sniper type role, but man is it fun to tweak it and do the work yourself! I bought the Mini from the outset as a project type gun and I thoroughly enjoy working on it myself. For relatively low $$, its very cool seeing what can be accomplished.

Will it ever shoot 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards? Mine sure wont and I understand that full well.

With many of the AR crowd hammering on the Mini, its great to show them what is possible without spending boo-koo dinero

Anyways, great groups guys!!

 

[Pet-Rock]

Fun day in the Country!

As you all know Im not the best storyteller so bear with me. Anyways, I was able to get out and shoot today! Beautiful Iowa day, 88 degrees F and SE winds at 10-12mph. Had a blast out in the country, I love how quiet it is out there. A buddy and I went out just to plink and came back with a few trinkets. Everything was shot from 80 paces (read 75-85 yards) laying prone with a front rest. Nothing on the rifle (Mini 14 above) has changed.

First Picture-Group 1
- Federal 223 Soft Points...3 shots....55gr?? Cant remember lol

Second Picture-Group 2
- My reloads...24.1 grains of AA2520....60gr. VMAX....Mixed Brass......CCI No. 400 Primers. 4 shots with a called 5th pulled shot just under the caliper.

Third Picture- Can Pic
Well the first shot was pretty hilarious. I shot at it and it fell over but I thought I might have just scared it. Walked down the country lane to find it zipped right through the rim, through the lower hole of the pop tab, and dinged the rim on its way out. :blink:

Fourth and Fifth Picture- Can Pic
We also had a 3/8'' steel plate out there with us so we decided to tape the pop can to the center of it so a buddy with an iron sighted AR-15 could get a better view of the target. Well on the 1st stinkin shot (seated) he nailed it dead center so I guess it worked! We went up because the steel plate fell of its rack and were shocked to see the can! Looks like it had a grenade go off inside of it!:blink: Im not quite sure if that shot was with the Mil-Surp 62gr. steel core 5.56 or bulk 55gr HPBT, but it went through the can fine and when it impacted the steel plate it must have blown up. Many pieces came back out the front and reminded me why I always wear eye protection when shooting....even out in the country during informal plinking

 

[Pet-Rock]

Nice shootin hottarod!

I know bedding really helped my rifle, and if yours is already shooting that well it might tighten things up even further. Plus its just fun to do it yourself!

 

[Pet-Rock]

Just got back from the range this morning. 30* outside today was about as it as it was going to get for me, especially compared to the -35* temp on Monday.

Tried to do some load development with Hornady 55gr. and AA2520. Still very new to this stuff and it looks like 24.5gr and 27.0gr are the weights to go with. My COAL was between 2.187-2.194 so I'm going to try to lengthen that to ~2.200 or more and see what it does for me. Reloading is a blast

On a side note, the hat used for a brass catcher really works like a charm! I wish I would have tried this earlier, I didn't lose one piece of brass.

 

[Pet-Rock]

5/17 Range Session!

Pictures kinda speak for themselves. Only second time shooting this year so Im definitely happy with the groups! I feel with some more trigger time they will tighten up. Im just learning proper breathing and trigger technique and am very satisfied with the results!

I cant wait to improve!

**O.T.O in the pics means it was measured outside edge to outside edge. So most are right around 2 inch groups. One thing I did find cool is that rifles really do need to settle back into the stock after you pull them out. I bedded my rifle and the group still proved that. Cool to witness!