I went out with the vz-58 today, intending on doing three things, getting it sighted in after the removal of the EOTech, shooting at 300 yards for one persons curiosity, and testing some cast bullet loads at 50 yards.
That DIDN'T quite work out the way I had planned...
When I got out to the range, I suddenly realized I had left my shooting bench behind. All groups were fired kneeling, instead. Ok, been there, done that, we can handle it. Oops, left the camera behind. OK, no prob, phone camera is just fine for quick and dirty pictures.
BTW, this was the first test of ObiwanbonJovis' American made gas piston rod - worked PERFECTLY...the only thing that did.
Set up at 100 yards, sight on the 100 yard mark. Fired 5 of my favorite reloads. Hmm. Took a picture, taped and adjusted to the battle sight. Fired 5 more. Better. Took picture, taped and moved it back to 200, but while walking it out there to 200 the wind came up HARD.. With battle sight, fired 5, walked out, took picture, (not great). When I finished my string of five, my metal based target stand blew over. This bodes ill. BUT, I made a promise to try this, so I taped it on the stand as tight as I could, and walked it out to the far end of the range. Whaddya know, I was wrong, it actually IS 300 yards. Walked/pushed by the wind back to the bench, loaded up, took position, fired 5. At 300 yards a B-27 target is the same width as the front sight post. Realized after I was done that my target looked "odd".
Walked out, discovered the wind had torn the target across the chest, and everything below the collar bone was flopping in the dust. I looked at the fragment, saw a tear in the target that looked like an ODD hit, realized that the only thing I could be sure I hit was my target stand! When the wind was pushing it from behind it tilted forward, and the bullet neatly impacted the TOP of the leg, and then up through the target. Weird, didn't hurt anything, really. I guess I am good at shooting a bad guy in the foot at 300 yards...
Brought the stand back to 50 yards, weighting the legs down with rocks - I am NOT gonna drive all the way out here, fire 20 rounds and go home! Nope, I fired 10 of the cast bullets, got a decent group that was not near POA, watched the target stand throw off the rocks and go sailing.
DONE!Uploaded all the pics from my camera phone...NOT! You noticed I kept saying I took pictures? Yep, but only ONE uploaded, this one at 100 yards, taped holes are from 100 yard sight, untaped are battle sight.
Threw everything in the car and came home for spam and eggs, only to find my eggs were frozen solid.
I need to go back to bed and start this day over...