Today's Trip to the Range

**J.Baker** · 10-16-2013, 01:50 PM

Between my camera taking a crap, the wind, and some old reloads having grown quite a bit in the 7 years they'd been sitting I might as well have just stayed home today. LOL

My main reason for heading out today was to get some pictures for two scope reviews I'm working on, but apparently my Nikon's auto-focus has taken a dump as it wouldn't focus properly on anything at any distance. It's just a little $100 CoolPix model, but I've got a crappy Sony that's 5 years older than the Nikon and it's still going strong with no issues. Suffice to say I'm not real impressed given the high praise people usually have for Nikon cameras.

One of the scopes I'm reviewing is mounted on my 17 HMR, but the 15-20mph wind made it a real challenge to shoot any decent groups with it at 100 yards.

Then I pulled out the 22-250 AI which I probably haven't taken to the range in at least a year (if not two). As I was loading up and going through my ammo I realized that everything I have for this gun was loaded up back in June of 2006. Once at the range it didn't take long to realize that in those 7 years since I had loaded it my ammo grew a little as I really had to lean on the bolt handle to get it closed on each and every round. Needless to say after three 5-shot groups that got old and I decided to pack things up for the day.

So yeah, today's trip to the range left a lot to be desired.

**fgw_in_fla** · 10-16-2013, 07:27 PM

At least you got to go to the range AND you can see. I'm still waiting for my eye surgery to finish healing. I had the other eye done this week.
Now both eyes are bionic.
I'm changing my screen name to "Eagle Eye."

davemuzz · 10-16-2013, 09:50 PM

Actually.....I have said things like "well...at least I did go to the range today"....but in all honesty....I hate it when a range day goes to the crapper. It is just frustrating. OTOH....you will be better prepped for the next outing!! So...it does get better.

Dave

**J.Baker** · 10-16-2013, 11:17 PM

It wasn't a total loss, I did manage to shoot this 5-shot group at 50 yards with the 17HMR before the wind went into overdrive. Now if I could only manage to shoot that small a group at 100 with it. haha

That stray shot low and to the left was my very first shot on paper zeroing in the new scope.

**fgw_in_fla** · 10-16-2013, 11:25 PM

It seems everyone I've crossed paths with that shoots the 17 loves it.
Kinda like shooting a BB gun at 4500fps....

I recall one old timer telling me he's taken hog with his.

davemuzz · 10-17-2013, 06:25 AM

The important thing with the .17HMR is to shoot it MOC at 100 yards. (Minuet of Crow) HA HA!!!!

**J.Baker** · 10-17-2013, 09:24 AM

I'm safe, mine appears to be shooting MOG at the moment (Minute of Grasshopper) which there seems to be a ton of them around here this year.

BTW, glad to see them Steelers finally managed to win a game.

davemuzz · 10-17-2013, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by MrFurious

BTW, glad to see them Steelers finally managed to win a game.

Yeah....that just may be the only one this year!!! Not really. However, after watching the pre-season games, I said if they go 50-50 this year they would be lucky.

Arm-chair Dave

**foxx** · 10-17-2013, 01:24 PM

Mr Furious, you said your carts "grew" . Is that a fact, or are you just being facetious? Can that happen over time due to environmental conditions or something?

**J.Baker** · 10-17-2013, 01:49 PM

It's definitely not unheard of if/when your powder charge is compressed by seating the bullet and you don't crimp. Basically my rounds went from just shy of touching the lands when I loaded them to being jammed well into the lands years later due to the compressed charge pushing the bullet out slightly.

It's either that or someone replaced my H4350 with Miracle Grow.