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Hi Flex, Thought I'd post an update since the last one from long ago about how the pistols are doing. Upgraded to Vortex Viper 4-16PST rifle scopes on both of ours which really helped a lot to see smaller targets. Also did away with the VGM mounts since the Vortex has enough travel to let us shoot to 1000 yards using turrets. Did manage to finally break the 300 barrier which is still a milestone even for the precision rifles to achieve. Shot a 310 after two bad matches which were caused by the rear action mounting lug breaking loose from the bedding. It was allowing the action to move all over the place. A bit of dremel work, a new larger lug and some new bedding and it solved the problem. That was good enough that day for 5th place out of 64 rifle shooters. We did build two new Savage 260 rifles over the winter and jumped immediately into the mid to high 300s. Son is bumping close to 400 which has never been shot before. The rifles are a LOT easier but still a challenge since the stakes are higher shooting at the smaller and higher valued targets. 300 is still a challenge, a couple gambled small targets and misses do to wind and you're right back to high 200s again. Really had planned to get down to HardRock in AL but their season ends this month and I thought it ran into next month. I believe that is where Kgunz is from and would have liked the chance to shoot with him and Chris Self (he made our VGM mounts). Anyway, just wanted to update on the pistols, my friend DaleT has also switched over to rifle scopes on his LR handguns and his scores have also increased. He's keeping us on our toes and anytime I can keep up with him I feel I've had a great day. Here's a great video we made at Rayners during a practice day. We've talked about how once everything is lined up and ready you really shouldn't have to even look thru the scope while squeezing the trigger. Same goes for our rifles, well DaleT got all ready and below is the results. Topstrap1

Flex, if it was any easier we'd have to switch over to revolvers I guess it's easy now but took a lot of load work and lots of practice to get them to perform but it really isn't that hard once you get it all figured out. You really should get with Dale and join us for an afternoon. I'll bring some extra rounds and you can see it is actually that easy. See Ya Topstrap

Another little thing that may help you and you'll learn as you get more experience not matter how big a target is, it still has a small exact center and that is what you are striving to hit. Then if you miss that perfect shot you have the rest of the plate/target to miss onto. Like others have said, nothing beats quality practice. Standing shooting is one thing that you can do in your house with an empty (repeat EMPTY) gun practicing aiming at a fly or lil spot on the wall or out the back window at something and squeezing a shot off and see if it's still on target when it goes click. Topstrap

I use the Harris 6-9 and find no fault with it at all. Absolutely get the swivel and I wish I had the notched leg version. I always use mine in 6" height but a buddy has the notched and find it would be a good addition if buying new. We use wooden wedges under the rear of ours so you can see we aren't into fancy but what is functional and what works without spending a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$$$. Topstrap

Added another video of some shooters at Rayners during a match. Some rifle, some pistol. My son is shooting the lightweight 7-08 XP that seems to be rising way above his head but it's really not a hard kicker. We've found that particular gun shoots best with a very light hold. The last few shots in the video is of him dinging the 990 yard plates with the last shot hitting the 8 inch circle at 1000 yards. That shot was for you Kgunz. Dale is shooting the rear grip XP in 260 also. For this year my son has upgraded his gun to a Lilja 3 groove 260 and we've both added new Vortex Viper 4-16x50 PST FFP scopes which have really helped seeing the targets better. Come on out and join us and all the rifle shooters. 4th Sunday of each month except for April this year. http://www.raynersrange.com/ Topstrap

Sell that 700 and get one of the new Savages in 260. Money ahead and have a great gun that you can work on the kitchen table. Sorry about the linked video. I had to make one more post to be able to edit my profile to get it stopped. Think Flex added it a while back for another thread. At least I'll blame him for it Topstrap

I heard Georges sigh of relief clear out here in Ohio when red team won. Like to see how he'd do in a heads up challenge where he has to put up or shut up. I haven't figured out how to get the video to stop being on each post. I think Flex may have added it but didn't think it used to be there. Sorry I'll try to get it off as soon as I can. Next week looks fun. Topstrap

It still seems like the winner of Top Shot might not necessarly be the best in any one type of competition. We've seen where someone with exceptional skills in one discipline get tossed out when matched up with another shooter of another discipline and the competition for that day luckily or unluckily falls towards a certain shooter. The winner of Top Shot may come from behind and be of modest skills in all disciplines but is well rounded in a lot of things. As good as a JJ or others might of been what if one of them somehow had to compete against Kelly in the first round in the long range shoot off? I still don't think the show shows the full potential of any of the competitors skills even though they might of been some of the best at what they do. Still a good show for the masses but probably disappointing to those of us that do compete and can appreciate the skills needed to do well in whatever we enjoy. Maybe the next season will be different but at least the show is out there and showing whoever is watching it that there are people that enjoy the shooting and competitive sports where accuracy is needed that we aren't all crazies wanting to shoot people whenever we have a firearm in our hands. Great post Brad, you are right about people judjing us quickly by what we say or are percieved to have said and acted in situations. Topstrap1

In the beginning I had hopes for Denny, after the first few seconds of seeing him try to shoot that revolver last week lamely off that table it was like learning there is no Easter Bunny. That was supposed to be his game or at least the one he was supposed to have the most experience in handling that type of weapon. Dissappointed big time I was. After this week I think he is a smooth talker with skills in shooting still to be discovered. I was glad to see Kelly pull off another win and think he's a quick learner with good skills. Not sure who will be the Topshot but I foresee a short future for Denny if the others have a choice in the matter. Topstrap1

We finally got a bit of video of my XP-100 shooting at Rayners Range. First time we've tried it so forgive the poor quality and lack of editing skills. Topstrap

Yup, we did have a pretty good day at Thunder Valley although it was only the short course out to a bit under 600 yards on 12 inch plates with some wind picking up as the day went on. This was our first time there and you shoot from 3 different locations at 4 targets at each location at varying distances. Dale and I both did well on all targets we could see, 1 was tucked in the woods in the shadows and unpainted and I just could not see it well enough to get a good shot on it and another out in the middle of the field was just plain impossible to see in my pistol scope. Not many of the rifle guys with their big scopes hit it either so I don't feel to bad but at 500 yards neither of us should have missed it. Can't hit what ya can't see though. I got first round hits on all the farther targets and ended up with a 90 out of a possible 120. Dale got a 85 and had same problem as me with not being able to see some of the targets. A bit of paint would have done wonders for us. Top score shot was a 110, I think we only finished one target down from the FNH USA team guys so we're pretty happy with our overall scores but think if we could of seen the other targets we could have possibly cleaned that short range match. Maybe next time. Kgunz11, this isn't a precision rifle match with benchrests but whatever makeshift thing you can come up with or shooting prone on a hillside at varying distance targets in varying wind and lighting conditions with targets maybe in the woods, or tucked behind a pile of rocks or in front of a batch of cattails. There were some high dollar guns and scopes and also some common hunting style rifles used. When we did finish the regular match we did stop off at the 1000 yard benches and yes we can hit the 1000 yard plates but as for groups. No we can't shoot tight lil groups at a known distance but on steel plates in a match they group good enough we aren't embarrassed with our scores. Topstrap

I think a couple of fellas on Speciality Pistol have competed in it. I think they finished 12th last year. That is too far away for us and we really aren't into the tactical end of it. We enjoy shooting the extreme distances and it usually ends up that the only place we can shoot the steel plates is at a tactical rifle plate match. We don't even try to pretend we're able to do what the guys do at the real tactical matches. Both of mine are single shots and I'd never be able to get off multiple shots in their time limits. Luckily they let us shoot with them and hopefully we'll get to try out a couple more long range plate matches. An update: we did get to go to the 800 yard range last Wednesday and try the new mounts out. Made some first shot hits at 640, 720 and I think 800 with presetting the mount positions with the dial indicator I think it's going to work great. I had trouble with closer targets and the presets until I realized the 10 positon mount takes a calculation to get the correct reading on the dial indicator and the 5 position don't so that messed me up for a bit. Going out again tomorrow to fine tune and double check before the match on Sunday. After getting the settings right we really didn't have any problems with any of the targets out thru 800 including the mini IPSC 8" x 14" plate at 800 yards. Dale's rifle scope on his XP worked far better than he hoped and was ringing everything. Looks like he'll keep the rifle guys on their toes for sure. Should be a fun match this Sunday and hopefully we'll all be ready. Topstrap

Legally it's still a Pistol and built for utmost accuracy competing in bechrest competition. Is an extreme build but for what it is made for it works. Topstrap

They did well, not exactly like I hoped but I think with our short barrels and the trajectory at the closer targets out to 400 yards the calculations don't work out as good as they do on a rifle. But once I got each distance set it drilled them. You take the scope off to set the presets, I know I had it off and on at least 25 times today making adjustments and it went right back perfectly. Was really amazed. Once I got further out the calculations with the dial indicator were very close. Made a few first round hits on the 640, 700 and I think possibly the 800 yard targets with calculations. Tweaked a bit and even the lil 8"x14" mini IPSC target at 800 was an easy hit as long as we paid attention to the wind flag. Dales guns did great also, his Striker was on as usual and his XP with the rifle scope worked far better than he hoped. Lots of first round hits using the dots in the scope. Will try to get another day in maybe next week before the match for final tweaking but if we miss any of the 15" plates it'll be because of misreading wind or doing something dumb. They shot excellent today. I didn't post what me and Dale are doing to get into any arguments or debates on our use of them but just to show that it can be done and isn't beyond the capabilities with a bit of work and practice. There are fellas out west that are into bigger calibers with much longer barrels and higher end rifle scopes with special benchrest style stocks and rests on a Speciality Pistol action that are shooting much further than us. I think they are shooting out past 1400 yards and doing quite well. You should try to sneak over next time Flexmoney and try one of these things out. Topstrap

Hi Flexmoney, those two pistols in those first pictures happen to be mine. Ask Dale about how his and my pistols did today on the plates out to 800. I don't think our lil 260's have anything to be ashamed of. As for right tool for right job, they will definately do it. I don't feel we are hindered at all, we'll be very competitive this year. I can see why someone that has not been around them being skeptical but they still amaze us everytime we stretch them out. Topstrap