...and had I had more time and more ammo, I suppose I would have gotten it just right with just a couple of clicks, at most, of each of the adjustment screws. The thing was though, I got carried away having fun and took 40 shots at this target and ran out of time despite having enough ammo. The circle on the target is 1.5 inches in diameter and as you can see, all the shots except 2 were inside a group smaller than that. No, not all were inside the circle but all (except those 2) were in a group smaller than the size of the circle. I am pretty convinced that this rifle/scope combo is ready for squirrel hunting. Now all I need is the time to get away for a weekend upstate. Of course, next time I go to the range, I'll bring this rifle again and get it zeroed in a bit better to bring my shots up about 1/2" and to the left 1/4" - two clicks up and one to the left. Normally, since I was sighting in this rifle, I would have done that when at the range while there yesterday but I just started to have way too much fun with my last 40 rounds of ammo in a box and just kept plinking away.
Then, I went back to the Marlin 336 and the Mosin-Nagant 91/30, the other two rifles I had along with me. I got the Marlin 336 sighted in pretty good too but may have to give that one another day at the range to satisfy myself that I got it right. I sure did not shoot what basically amounted to a one hole group with it but the group was acceptable for deer hunting I suppose. The orange center ring of the target is 3 5/8" high by 2 3/8" wide. There are 18 shots in there, the last 18 rounds of .35 Remington ammo that I had with me yesterday. I only sighted in both scoped rifles at 50 yards. That us mostly because I don't expect to get a shot at a deer or bear at much beyond that, all of my shots on deer over the years have been within 40 yards. Of course, a longer shot could present itself and I guess I should really sight the 336 in at 100 yards - maybe next time I go to the range. My shoulder was starting to take a pounding after having fired 65 shots of .35 Remington through the Marlin 336 and another 20 rounds of 7.62x54R through the Nagant and that was enough shooting with them for a Sunday afternoon. Thankfully I had the 25MN, in .22 WMR, along to give me a break between volleys with the larger caliber rifles.
As for the Nagant, I shot it using its original open sights. Those sights suck, especially with my aging eyes but I did okay with them. I had all of my shots within a spread of about 1.5 to 2" on the horizontal plane. My problem was with the vertical. For some reason, about 1/3 of my shots went high by about 2 to 3". There is a chance I may use this rifle when I hunt, especially if Brendan is along because he will likely use the Marlin 336. He did not come along yesterday, he was visiting a friend at an upstate college this weekend so he needs to come to the next range session to make sure the scoped 336 is sighted in okay for him. It should be, although he usually shoots a bit differently with it than do I. So, it may need some slight adjustment for him. I am satisfied to bring either the Nagant or my Remington 870 with me in the woods, so however he needs to adjust the scope on the 336 is fine with me.
All the best,
Glenn B
