- Joined
- Apr 10, 2008
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I'm not sure where to put this but I guess here is as good as any. Up until Lewis started posting his shooting videos I thought 400+ was a pretty long shot with a muzzleloader. I concede to his abilities and humbly post the start of my long(ish) range venture.
I have the incredibly good fortune of being able to shoot in my backyard but haven't really taken full advantage of this. I guess a couple years ago now I decided I wanted to become proficient out to at least 300 yards with my muzzleloader. This meant I had to address my range setup. Last year I built a very heavy, very solid bench. That in and of itself improved my groups. I also picked up a chrono so I can start working on the ballistics. Last fall I started trying to figure out how to stretch the range out. After a couple false starts and changing ideas, I finally ordered some gongs and got it set up.
I had planned for a straight line right above the backstop, but 150 wasn't visible behind it, so it's offset to the left. I was hoping to get to 450, but would have had to cross a fence and possibly been down in a ditch. Decided 430 was good for now and I can always expand farther if I get to that point. I need to get some stall mats or something to place in front of each target to keep the grass from growing up and blocking them. We're fortunate it's dry this year so I could get back there easily enough to set it up. Some years it's too wet to practically make it out there with the weedeater if I need to knock stuff down. My hope going forward is that I can go out late fall and early spring when the ground is frozen and paint or any other maintenance needed. But it's a start.
I have the incredibly good fortune of being able to shoot in my backyard but haven't really taken full advantage of this. I guess a couple years ago now I decided I wanted to become proficient out to at least 300 yards with my muzzleloader. This meant I had to address my range setup. Last year I built a very heavy, very solid bench. That in and of itself improved my groups. I also picked up a chrono so I can start working on the ballistics. Last fall I started trying to figure out how to stretch the range out. After a couple false starts and changing ideas, I finally ordered some gongs and got it set up.
I had planned for a straight line right above the backstop, but 150 wasn't visible behind it, so it's offset to the left. I was hoping to get to 450, but would have had to cross a fence and possibly been down in a ditch. Decided 430 was good for now and I can always expand farther if I get to that point. I need to get some stall mats or something to place in front of each target to keep the grass from growing up and blocking them. We're fortunate it's dry this year so I could get back there easily enough to set it up. Some years it's too wet to practically make it out there with the weedeater if I need to knock stuff down. My hope going forward is that I can go out late fall and early spring when the ground is frozen and paint or any other maintenance needed. But it's a start.