.45 RemPac by Hillbill, range report and first kill, 200sst
Nov 21, 2013 10:18:57 GMT -5
Post by madcityhoosier on Nov 21, 2013 10:18:57 GMT -5
After a year of researching and asking questions, I had Luke order a 27" PacNor barrel for me. I had Hillbill put it all together in a Bobby Hart Long Range Varmint laminate thumbhole. The rifle is very heavy, but is everything I'd hoped for. Thanks again to Bill for his fine work and attention to detail! I picked it up in person in early August, but due to the summer heat and my bowhunting addiction, the first serious range trip wasn't until the latter days of October.
During my first range trip, I fired several loads behind a 200SST in a Harvester blue sabot at 100 yards. As shown below, one load (10/56 N110/RL7) stood out (by the way, the lines on the target are a bit over an inch apart).
So, a few days later, I went back to the range to shoot the N110/RL7 load again, this time at 200 yards. I was quite excited to see the group below form on my target, which measures about 0.95"!
After this 200 yard group, I ran the target out to 325 yards (the next safe backstop), and fired two more. They landed 1.25" apart, exactly 14" below POA. Talk about a boost of confidence! Using this information on my POI from 100, 200, and 325, I worked up range cards for field use.
Opening day of the IN gun season was last Saturday, Nov 16, and I had the new .45 ("Cora" since all of Hillbill's creations seem to have names) in tow. I didn't see much from the stand that morning, but on the way out, I decided to take a peek down into a brushy drainage swale that runs across the middle of a bean field. As I crested the hill, I caught site of ears! I backed away a bit and set my gear down. I pulled out my Harris bipod and quickly attached it to the front stud. I then crawled back to the top of the hill, with backpack and 13 pound rifle in tow, which turned out to be more difficult than I'd imagined! I made it to the top of the hill, so I could set up in a prone shooting position without interference from vegetation. I ranged the does at 195yards, and they were starting to work their way out of the drainage swale across the bean field away from me. But once I got those bipod legs flipped down and settled in the dirt, with my backpack under the buttstock, I knew I had it made and could just wait for a clear shot. One doe finally worked broadside and stopped at 210yards. I hit her a little bit back (on purpose... to save the shoulders from what some have described as the violent fragmentation of the SST bullet), but took out the tip of one lung and shredded the liver and diaphragm. She ran about 100 yards and piled up. I was actually surprised to see two holes in her, about a nickel-size going in, and about a quarter-size hole going out. It looks like the 200SSST performed perfectly.
"Cora" and the entrance wound
exit
I've taken 3 deer with my Savage .50 ML-II laminate at ranges near 200 yards. Those shots always felt difficult, as I was approaching the outer limits of what I feel is my Savage's effective range and I find the Savage a bit more difficult to shoot. With this new RemPac .45 though, I'll let ballistics and field conditions dictate that maximum range, which I could see being around 350 yards with my current setup. I intend to experiment with my new full-form die this winter, but for now, I'm super-happy with this rifle.
During my first range trip, I fired several loads behind a 200SST in a Harvester blue sabot at 100 yards. As shown below, one load (10/56 N110/RL7) stood out (by the way, the lines on the target are a bit over an inch apart).
So, a few days later, I went back to the range to shoot the N110/RL7 load again, this time at 200 yards. I was quite excited to see the group below form on my target, which measures about 0.95"!
After this 200 yard group, I ran the target out to 325 yards (the next safe backstop), and fired two more. They landed 1.25" apart, exactly 14" below POA. Talk about a boost of confidence! Using this information on my POI from 100, 200, and 325, I worked up range cards for field use.
Opening day of the IN gun season was last Saturday, Nov 16, and I had the new .45 ("Cora" since all of Hillbill's creations seem to have names) in tow. I didn't see much from the stand that morning, but on the way out, I decided to take a peek down into a brushy drainage swale that runs across the middle of a bean field. As I crested the hill, I caught site of ears! I backed away a bit and set my gear down. I pulled out my Harris bipod and quickly attached it to the front stud. I then crawled back to the top of the hill, with backpack and 13 pound rifle in tow, which turned out to be more difficult than I'd imagined! I made it to the top of the hill, so I could set up in a prone shooting position without interference from vegetation. I ranged the does at 195yards, and they were starting to work their way out of the drainage swale across the bean field away from me. But once I got those bipod legs flipped down and settled in the dirt, with my backpack under the buttstock, I knew I had it made and could just wait for a clear shot. One doe finally worked broadside and stopped at 210yards. I hit her a little bit back (on purpose... to save the shoulders from what some have described as the violent fragmentation of the SST bullet), but took out the tip of one lung and shredded the liver and diaphragm. She ran about 100 yards and piled up. I was actually surprised to see two holes in her, about a nickel-size going in, and about a quarter-size hole going out. It looks like the 200SSST performed perfectly.
"Cora" and the entrance wound
exit
I've taken 3 deer with my Savage .50 ML-II laminate at ranges near 200 yards. Those shots always felt difficult, as I was approaching the outer limits of what I feel is my Savage's effective range and I find the Savage a bit more difficult to shoot. With this new RemPac .45 though, I'll let ballistics and field conditions dictate that maximum range, which I could see being around 350 yards with my current setup. I intend to experiment with my new full-form die this winter, but for now, I'm super-happy with this rifle.
