Top_Heavy's World

The wind was picking up, holding steady was going to stretch me to the limits of my known ability. A quick look at the flag across the street was the base for a decision. "Almost straight out... 12 to 15 mph. With this round I would say... (He turned the dial in silence) That will be close." I climbed into the sling and I slithered into position, my right knee moving forward as though I was crawling. My hand grip was off. "Over and through, to pull it tight" was his firm and sure advice. I controlled my breathing... "I wish I had more magnification, I miss my 20X Leupold". "Trust me, this is all you need, just practice with a few dry fires" he was sure, steady and confident. After a half dozen practice runs I was confident I could at least shoot the gun, where the bullet went in this wind was unknown to me. A box was handed to me, a small box of loaded ammunition. Some were bullet down and some were bullet up. My questioning glance was met with "Each group is perfectly matched, now shoot, the wind is increasing and it will be hard to group if you keep messing around". I picked three rounds from the same lot and I loaded the gun. Closing the bolt on the Nieseka action was a dream, so smooth and simple. The long bolt handle was a little strange to me, he showed me with a hand gesture the "sniper slap" to open and close the bolt. Not really a slap, but a quick up and down, more simple than a traditional hunting style rifle with it's curved and styled bolt handle. I settled the cross hairs on a 1" circle way down range and I shot a 3 shot group. "Good, now shoot again" and he reached across me and added clicks for elevation. I moved to the next target and the next. "Was that a good shot?" he asked, looking through the Leica spotting scope he said "shoot again, because you twitched funny on the last one". His guidance, adjustments and patience were very clear as we walked the almost 1/2 mile to the farthest target. I found groups at 800 yards, better than I had ever shot before even at only 400 yards. He smiled, impressed I think. "That might be the best rifle I have ever owned" was his only comment.

We went back to the rifles and this time he laid behind his favorite custom rifle. He has fired 1000's of rounds through this gun. He looked quickly at the flag, turned a dial, hesitated, turned another click and took the same position he coached me into earlier. He looked much smoother, his body obviously familiar with this pose. "The bottom left, bottom center and center center dots have been shot at" was my statement as I now looked thru the big lense. I could clearly see the 1" dots at 400 yards and my groups. "Center left" was his reply as he squeezed. He shot again and looked at me for a report. I used my fingers, my middle finger representing the black dot, and my pointer finger was his group placement. He smiled as there was less than the width of another finger between them! He had picked up a rifle, quessed the wind, adjusted the sights and shot a group that was less than an inch from perfect and the entire group could have been covered by a quarter! he moved to longer ranges and proceeded to show me what a skilled shooter can do. I was humbled, I had shot the best I could and he bested me easily.

The difference between a shooter and a rifleman is as large as the F-250 my friend drives. He put these rifles together, every component including the paint, was carefully chosen. He uses Mil Dot scopes, a system still foriegn to me, but simple for him, to judge distance and then hit very small targets at determined extreme distances. He has spent countless hours reloading ammunition, every detail measured and perfected until consistancy is achieved. Cleaning has ideal steps to achieve maximum consistency, loading has desired steps, the level on the scope shows the exact upright hold.... A rifleman knows his rifle, his loads and his ballistics like most of us only know our own name, unconciously! I was amazed and inspired at watching his movements, no wasted motion in set up or shooting. I was a good shot before I spent a couple of hours with my friend, I am a better shot after that time, and I will be a very good shot with his continued help. The true test of someones greatness is in how well he makes those around him... 222, you are the best I have ever met!