Blaser R8 Monza .375 H&H Magnum sighted in with custom ammo

Rider717

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Sighted in with Barnes TSX 300 grain custom ammo from Safari Arms LTD.
Blaser R8 Monza stock, Zeiss Victory V8 1-8X30 illuminated on Lead Sled bench rest. 100 yards, 76F, light wind.

First shot with red was spot on. Second shot I flinched. Third shot was with a hot barrel after shooting the other targets. I allowed almost 10 minutes between colors to cool the barrel.

Colors are custom ammo. White is factory Barnes TSX. Good enough to go for Buffalo? Or should I keep dialing it down?

.375 HH Custom bullets_LI.jpg
 
Now practice off sticks lots and you will find it will help a lot with your hunt.
Enjoy your hunt have a great time
 
Sighted in with Barnes TSX 300 grain custom ammo from Safari Arms LTD.
Blaser R8 Monza stock, Zeiss Victory V8 1-8X30 illuminated on Lead Sled bench rest. 100 yards, 76F, light wind.

First shot with red was spot on. Second shot I flinched. Third shot was with a hot barrel after shooting the other targets. I allowed almost 10 minutes between colors to cool the barrel.

Colors are custom ammo. White is factory Barnes TSX. Good enough to go for Buffalo? Or should I keep dialing it down?

View attachment 267450
Not sure I understand your shooting technique and hence what I am seeing. I normally shoot at least a three-shot group. Five is actually better, but I rarely do so with a heavy recoiling rifle, or one that I know. A R8 should give you a MOA group with ammo it likes at 100 meters (1-inch center to center).

As suggested, once it is sighted in on a load producing that accuracy, spend most of your time off the sticks, or field positions.
 
I know it's "minute of buffalo" as some would say, but I sure wouldn't be satisfied. Especially since each 2 (Why 2?!?) shot group is in differing relation to the center.
 
I was testing 4 different custom loads . I had 5 of each to shoot so I shot an initial 2 shot group to see which was best. I went back this week and did 3 shot groups. I was also sighting in and testing my .300 WSM barrel.

Here are this weeks shots:
.375 3 shot group (2).JPG

Better grouping now.

Here are the shots off the sticks, kneeling and with iron sights at 57 yds. I definitely need practice in different shooting positions and getting used to the weight of the rifle. My crappy near vision makes the iron sights tough.
.375 kneeling and sticks_LI.jpg
 
Thanks for the replies and tips. I am trying to get top the range once a week to shoot. I shot 30 rounds of .375 and 25 rounds of .300 WSM this week. My shoulder is sore and I could see my groups getting worse as I shot more even with taking 4-5 minute breaks between shots and groups.
 
My thoughts. Either of the bottom two on the last target are good to go IMO.
My test methods are 3 shot groups for heavy calibers. IMO that’s all you’ll get a chance with DG.
Varmint rifles I use 5 shot groups minimum and 10 shot on heavy barrel prairie dog rifles.
Non-DG I still usually only test 3 shot groups. Reasoning is all my big game rifles have lighter barrels, thus they open up after the first 3 shots. Still I check them once I’ve settled on a loading just so I know what they do.

Now you’re ready to practice practice practice off of sticks. That will likely be the way your PH will set you up for Buffalo. Set up your sticks, start counting or start a timer for 4-5 seconds, get on the sticks, shoot 35-75 yards, reload immediately and repeat.
Once comfortable, set a target at 75, 50, 25 yards. Repeat the sticks at 75, the as rapidly accurate as possible offhand shoot at 50, then 25. This is a game I play (no witnesses as to how bad I am at it!)
Your R8 will have a distinct advantage in speed over my conventional bolt guns.
Have fun and best of luck on your hunt!
 
Practice and knowing your rifle will continue to improve groupings. But really you have some there that will get the job done.
 
Two other useful training techniques that create good shooting habits are dry firing over the sticks - you can do ten or twenty "rounds" an evening in your basement or hallway. Just be sure and "call" each shot that you fire - where you think it went in relation to the sight picture when you fired. Secondly, take most of your practice shots at the range with a low recoil rifle. If you have a .223 or .243 use it for most of your practice. A final target of 3-5 rounds from the big guys is plenty.

Unless you have had training in how to use a sling as a support and how to "sit" on your back ankle, kneeling is the most difficult of the field positions. I use to shoot competitively and dropping to the dirt, sitting on my right ankle, putting my left elbow into the pocket inside and behind my left knee and tightening the whole mess down with a hasty sling is instinctive muscle memory - but it took years. I would concentrate on the sticks, hasty rests (like the vertical post of a shooting position if your range allows it), and sitting in that order.

As others have noted, the two sighting-in groups at the bottom are excellent.
 
My thoughts. Either of the bottom two on the last target are good to go IMO.
My test methods are 3 shot groups for heavy calibers. IMO that’s all you’ll get a chance with DG.
Varmint rifles I use 5 shot groups minimum and 10 shot on heavy barrel prairie dog rifles.
Non-DG I still usually only test 3 shot groups. Reasoning is all my big game rifles have lighter barrels, thus they open up after the first 3 shots. Still I check them once I’ve settled on a loading just so I know what they do.

Now you’re ready to practice practice practice off of sticks. That will likely be the way your PH will set you up for Buffalo. Set up your sticks, start counting or start a timer for 4-5 seconds, get on the sticks, shoot 35-75 yards, reload immediately and repeat.
Once comfortable, set a target at 75, 50, 25 yards. Repeat the sticks at 75, the as rapidly accurate as possible offhand shoot at 50, then 25. This is a game I play (no witnesses as to how bad I am at it!)
Your R8 will have a distinct advantage in speed over my conventional bolt guns.
Have fun and best of luck on your hunt!

Thanks for the suggestion. I hadn't thought of setting the targets like that and shooting fast. I'll do that from now until the hunt.
 
Two other useful training techniques that create good shooting habits are dry firing over the sticks - you can do ten or twenty "rounds" an evening in your basement or hallway. Just be sure and "call" each shot that you fire - where you think it went in relation to the sight picture when you fired. Secondly, take most of your practice shots at the range with a low recoil rifle. If you have a .223 or .243 use it for most of your practice. A final target of 3-5 rounds from the big guys is plenty.

Unless you have had training in how to use a sling as a support and how to "sit" on your back ankle, kneeling is the most difficult of the field positions. I use to shoot competitively and dropping to the dirt, sitting on my right ankle, putting my left elbow into the pocket inside and behind my left knee and tightening the whole mess down with a hasty sling is instinctive muscle memory - but it took years. I would concentrate on the sticks, hasty rests (like the vertical post of a shooting position if your range allows it), and sitting in that order.

As others have noted, the two sighting-in groups at the bottom are excellent.

I like the idea of dry firing from the sticks. I've hunted off them on my first two safaris so I am used to them with a .30-06. I notice the .375 handles much differently on and off the sticks because of the weight. I am also shooting braced against vertical and horizontal beams to simulate branches. Not sure I'll ever be good at shooting while kneeling with a .375!
 
I am a fan of Safari Arms ammo. I am jealous of your rifle! Don’t shoot until you are sore for one thing. Maybe get a Shock Eater shirt with their shoulder pad (Cabelas also has a good T-shirt with pocket for this type recoil pad). Best of luck preparing for your Safari!
 
Always check on the nut behind the buttplate...
 

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