Made an express trip up north yesterday to get the 50's zero'd in at 100yds then some testing at 600yds in preparation for Mildura in August. I was going to head up Friday after work but realised that the Mac didn't have a scope fitted. I found a NF 8-32x56 on the shelf, some Barrett 15/30 MOA rings and a couple hours to get it fitted up and lapped put a hole in my plans for getting away early Friday. I had an early night (8pm) and set the alarm for 1am as 5 hrs sleep is about normal for me. Was on the road and in Gunnedah just after 6am for some drive through sausage & egg McMuffins for breakfast. Headed out and did a lap of my place in the Pilliga now that I've got a 4WD and can get round it faster. Didn't see anything worth shooting at and it was too friggen cold that time of morning to leave the comfort of a heated car even if I saw anything.
Drove over to the cousins place, arriving just after 9:30 and after a little small talk I headed to the back paddock for some 50Cal therapy. Started at 100yds with the Barrett M95 and couldn't do better than a 3" group so I swapped to the McMillan and after a few shots to get the scoped dialed in managed to put 3 into an inch. Packed up the ute and headed to the 600yd marker (pink marking paint on the ground). Ballistics indicated I'd need 10.1 MOA elevation but since I was 2" high at 100yd (Scope was dialed to the bottom so I couldn't get a proper zero) I dialed in 8.25 MOA Elevation and R2.0 MOA which was very close to where I had to be. Video shows the last 3 shots of the session, not a great group but considering the temperature and wind I'm satisfied.
I know the benchrest guys (Apollo
) will look at the group and tell me about how they can put 3 in the same hole at that distance and that's fair. Just keep in mind this group was done with factory ammo, shot in 12c temperature, strong gusty x-winds with a dead stock factory rifle. When project 50 is complete then I hope to start seeing some <3" groups out past 1000m
After a bit more socialising with the cousin I drove home, arriving just after 10pm. Covered just on 1200km in 1 day, the New Ranger performed very well and returned an honest 9.0L per 100km or 11.1km to the litre which is actually what they advertise !!! I did have 1 weird little issue on the way up, there was a little orange light that kept coming on then going out. Would stay on longer each time then disappear, curiosity got the better of me so I pulled over in a rest stop and consulted the owners manual. Apparently the light comes on when the outside temp drops to 4c or lower, I can only assume it's purpose is to warn the driver that there may be ice on the road maybe.
Slept in till 12 today and now I can't sleep...might head down to car lovers at Norwest and wash all the mud and dust off the Ranger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP-EEfpijVs