November 7, 2015

In a word, HOT! First weekend of triple digit heat index. Also a good illustration of ammo preference. Latest addition to my growing 22 stable, a “U.S. Property” marked 52C, performed pretty well considering the loose nut behind the butt. Checked the sights with Norma Match and then tried some Eley Match Pistol while I was adjusting trigger pull weight. That produced the best 10-shot group of the day, all but one round just under 3/4” @ 50 yards. Piddled a bit more with the Norma ammo while adjusting the sights. Finished up with some Remington Eley Club ammo. Club ammo looks like Eley, smells like Eley, just doesn’t quite shoot like Eley. At a little over 1 1/4” it isn’t much better than the Norma Match. After studying the target a bit more I think maybe I can do better with the Club. We’ll see.
One hitch in the range session was when I apparently got the trigger too light and it fired on closing a couple of times. It also failed to cock a few times but I’ll chalk that up to operator error as well. I’ve been hearing about the awesome trigger of the 52C, I was impressed. Due to a bench rest match going on next door at the rifle range I wasn’t able to check performance at 100 or 200 but I was able to let a few BR shooters see what a real target rifle looks like.
63 will have to wait until next trip, neglected to bring HV ammo.
Mike
TXGunNut said
One hitch in the range session was when I apparently got the trigger too light and it fired on closing a couple of times.
I once had the trigger adjusted so light on a 52A that no one but me could close the bolt without a slam fire! I let two friends try it, after I’d told them to close the bolt very gently, but they couldn’t do so without it going off. Then I’d demonstrate firing a full mag without that happening, which I think they took to be some kind of trick; not at all–just a light touch.
Never had a “C”, because I don’t care for the Marksman stock. Yours will certainly shoot 1/2 MOA with the right ammo.
November 7, 2015

I noticed that I had better luck with a gentle touch, Clarence. I’m thinking with a new glasses Rx and a box of Eley Match or Tenex I may see 1/2” at 50. Any better than that will require optics and I haven’t really begun to think that move through. Eley ammo is available now at Midway but it’s a bit more than I want to pay. I suppose with a limit of three boxes it won’t break me. I made the mistake of shooting a modern benchrest .22 awhile back, it’s a real eye-opener to see what Eley ammo can do with the right set-up. .5 MOA was not a problem with that rifle, 50 yard groups were small, ragged, almost boring holes. 100 yard groups were influenced by the wind but still easily under .5” when I didn’t fumble the very light trigger.
Mike
November 7, 2015

clarence said
Don’t do it! If you do, you reward the rip-off merchants & perpetuate the feeding-frenzy.
You’re right, don’t feed the monster. I’ll get by. I was shopping used cars earlier until I figured out the 2-3 yr old SUV’s are priced at what they sold for new. Crazy stuff. Guess my old Mercury will have to get me where I’m going for at least a few months until things settle down. Sold my nice pickup for stupid money a month ago so I guess I’m part of the problem after all.
Mike
November 7, 2015

Bert H. said
Mike,“Nice pickup” ?? It was a FORD (Freaking Old Rebuilt Dodge) !!
![]()
Dealer that bought it thought it was pretty nice, paid me a lot more than I thought it was worth.
Mike
Chuck said
You know Bert that 95% of the Dodge pickups are still on the road. The other 5% finally made it home. Dodge/Ram does outsell the Chevy’s now. We will all be long dead before anyone can best the Ford F 150 sales records over the last 40 years. And that is a fact.
My old Dodge makes it home from every trip… 340,000 miles on the odometer and still going strong!!
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015

Bert H. said
Hope you saved all the $$$$ they gave you for the down payment on a real truck… a new Dodge Ram CTD
![]()
Not even sure what a CTD is but it sounds like something I might need penicillin for. I think when the time comes I’ll replace my car first. Ten years old, 200K miles and the radio gets staticky sometimes.
Not sure I’m going to replace my pickup, don’t really have much use for another expensive toy.
Mike
TXGunNut said
Not even sure what a CTD is but it sounds like something I might need penicillin for.
I think when the time comes I’ll replace my car first. Ten years old, 200K miles and the radio gets staticky sometimes.
Not sure I’m going to replace my pickup, don’t really have much use for another expensive toy.
Mike
Mike,
A CTD (Cummins Turbo Diesel) does not require a dose of penicillin… instead, it is what creates all of that “purty black soot” when you put you foot in the throttle.
This is a 6,000 lb + truck, and he isn’t even the fastest one on the track!!
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015

tim tomlinson said
Mike, you started this! Don’t mention pickup trucks! Bert just lurks in order to extol his Cummins powered Dodge! I suspect it is the main under lying reason for his belonging to this forum! Tim![]()
Bert has a Dodge? Thanks for telling me, Tim. Wasn’t aware of that. Wouldn’t be a diesel by any chance, would it?
Mike
November 7, 2015

rogertherelic said
Mike, What sights are on the gun? I am especially curious to learn what front sight picture you use. I personally have poor results with a post. I also have progressive lenses and of course shoot better with the scoped 52s. Thanks, RDB
My 52C has the Redfield Olympic sights and the front insert is a small circle suspended by four “crosshairs”. The sights are great, IMHO. My issue is that the target is a barely visible blob.
Mike
November 7, 2015

TXGunNut said
My issue is that the target is a barely visible blob.
That’s why aperture front sights are the norm in target shooting–centering the blob is almost as good as seeing it clearly. The size of the aperture is important: should not be a tight fit around the blob as some think contributes to accuracy, but rather allow plenty of light around it. If the rifle came without a set of front sight inserts, Lee Shaver & others sell them.
1 Guest(s)
