FergusonTO35
Here For The Long Haul!
- Local time
- 3:50 AM
- User ID
- 3545
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2017
- Messages
- 5,943
- Reaction score
- 14,366
- Location
- Boonesborough, KY
So, I think I learned something today. Right after work I decided to finish sighting in my Rossi 92 .357 lever action at 80 yards with 7.8 grains Accurate #5, Lee 358-125-RF lead slug, and Federal SPM primers. This load has been very accurate in the 92 previously and also in my Marlin 1894. First few groups were really close, just needs a little more adjustment down. Next few groups were all over the place.
Ok, the gun and ammo did not suddenly change in 20 minutes of shooting and the barrel was still cold. So I start racking my brain as to what did change. Then, looking through the sights it suddenly hit me like the moment Columbo solves the case. The light had faded just barely enough to where the bullseye on the target went from being a neat black box to a gray patch with indistinct borders, and I really couldn't tell where it was in relation to the front sight. Just that little bit of reduced light was all it took.
I guess that explains why I missed a big doe broadside at 50 yards (twice!) during rifle season with my receiver sight equipped Winchester 94. It was about the same time too, around 5pm. And this is where even a small and low power scope makes the difference, much better aiming in dim light. The second biggest buck I ever took was with one shot from my 336 with a little straight tube 4x Leupold, in the same place in the woods and even darker. The scope provided just enough extra light to make a good shot.
Ok, the gun and ammo did not suddenly change in 20 minutes of shooting and the barrel was still cold. So I start racking my brain as to what did change. Then, looking through the sights it suddenly hit me like the moment Columbo solves the case. The light had faded just barely enough to where the bullseye on the target went from being a neat black box to a gray patch with indistinct borders, and I really couldn't tell where it was in relation to the front sight. Just that little bit of reduced light was all it took.
I guess that explains why I missed a big doe broadside at 50 yards (twice!) during rifle season with my receiver sight equipped Winchester 94. It was about the same time too, around 5pm. And this is where even a small and low power scope makes the difference, much better aiming in dim light. The second biggest buck I ever took was with one shot from my 336 with a little straight tube 4x Leupold, in the same place in the woods and even darker. The scope provided just enough extra light to make a good shot.
