Help with Sighting?????

[TKLambert]

I am new to the sport of handgun hunting and it is so frustrating tryin to sight the thing in. i got a 454 Casull with a scope at the end of last season. I have been trying to sight it in but I cant even get a place to start at. I hear people take about these small patterns with handguns and I dont see how they do it. Ive been practiceing but it seems that I am getting no where???? Any help on sighting advice and shooting consistantly in general?

[VTbowman]

Re: Help with Sighting?????

Not sure if I can help or not since I am somewhat new. I have had sucess on the bench with mine over the past several months.

Can we get some more info first?

What type of gun and scope, power of scope?

What are you using for a rest?

What ranges are you trying to sight in for?

I have Encore handguns and had a 454 Casull at one time but opted to stick with the 300 Win Mag for hunting.

I use an adjustable rest with a small sand bag on it. It looks like a mini tri-pod that can adjust vertically. I use another small sand bag under the grip. I have a 4'x4' plywood table top, two 3/4" sheets screwed together, on a steel 4 leg base.

My chair is not attached to the table.

I lay the wide forend on the front sand bag but do not hold on to it at all.

I hold with both hands around the grip. My off hand is 1/2 grasping my shooting hand and 1/2 the sand bag under the grip itself. Its not a death grip either but firm.

I exhale and hold before squezzing the trigger.

I start at 25 yards to get on the paper and then move to 50 to tune tighter. 2 or 3 shot groups.

100 yards for fine tuning.

Handguns are VERY picky and sensitive to any flinching, jerking, punching the trigger. etc. Especially if your using a scope with maginfication.

If you at all do anything other then slowly squezze the trigger you will miss by feet not inches at 100 yards.

Trust me on this. LOL

A 454 has quite a bit of recoil so it may be a flinching issue that your not seeing.

It also helps to make sure EVERYTHING is very tight on your gun. Grip, forend, base and rings, scope, etc.

Anything loose can compound accuracy isseus greatly.

I just went threw that a week ago with a loose forend screw.

I hope this helps.

Once we know more about your specific gun and set up we should be able to help more.

Good Luck.

[TKLambert]

Re: Help with Sighting?????

The set up:

-Ruger .454 Casull with a 9.5 inch barrel

-Bushnell Elite FF 2x6x30 scope

-A table similar to yours with plywood but has wooded legs.

-Hornady 240 grain bullets

-as for the rest I am shooting off of a "sight vise", but I am thinkin about tradin that is for a sand bag, because you just cant beat a good ol sand bag.

-It is on paper and I am out between 50-60 yards.

I think I got all you asked

[VTbowman]

Re: Help with Sighting?????

What are you getting for groups at 50?

I have the Bushnell Elite 3200 2-6x32 so it looks as if our scope are comparable.

I use mine on 6x the entire time I sight in and get 1.5" to .5" groups at 100 if I do my part.

But like I said I am using .300 Win Mag which is a rifle cartridge.

The .454 is a true handgun cartridge and I am not sure but is not great ballistically out to 100 yards but is achievable.

The 9.5" bbl makes the point even more.

Mine was a 12" but I did not try out to 100 yards with it.

I did not care for it much and only got out to 50 with it.

Try the sand bags and see if that helps.

I am not sure what else I can suggest without being there to see you shoot.

Hopefully some other handgunners come in and check your post out.

[TKLambert]

Re: Help with Sighting?????

Thanks for you input VTBowman!!!!!!