2020 Creedmoor Cup Lodi

[Distant Thunder]

Kurt,

I tried a scope a number of years back at Lodi on my old C. Sharps .45-70 It worked for mid range ok. It was a complete debacle for long range and I never tried again.

I did shoot in a mid range match with my .40-65 with a scope about 3 years ago and it worked well enough to beat all the .45s and everything else, but there were only 3 of us using scope so it counted for nothing.

When I put the scope on my .44-77 I had in mind using it for load development and silhouette, but not long range. After shooting 1 and 1/2 relays with the scope this weekend I can see that it will work and work well, but it is different than irons.

When I switch in the middle of a relay I just went with the setup I had, meaning mostly my sticks. When I went to shoot the next relay I found that by lowering my sticks just a little my hold was much better. I think it is because the ocular lens of the scope is not as high off the stock as the eye cup on the irons is at 1000 yards. Once I matched the sticks to the scope it was pretty darn good and steady. I liked it. I will probably use the scope again when I shoot the .44-77 at long range. That may cost me a win if I shoot the highest scope in a match, but the system is what it is. I do not think a scope is an advantage in Creedmoor matches, but it does allow older shooters to see the target and the number boards. I haven't been able to see the number boards through the sights for years. I find my target looking over the top of the front sight and then raise the sight to the target. I am very careful about being on the right target and I'm also very lucky at time too.

A scope will not in and of itself win a match for you, but if your eyes are at a point where you are struggling to see the target well enough to sight on it then a scope will allow you to at least see the target and numbers clearly. Sunday I could see the bullseye when it was above the front aperture but as soon as I moved it to the center of the aperture it grayed out on me and I could not find it. I tried every aperture I had in my box including the largest one I have and nothing, it just disappeared on me. If there had been a bit more light I could have seen it I'm sure. Thursday was also a gray day and while I did fight to see the bullseye, but I could see it well enough to shoot. That was not the case on Sunday.

The scope is a 17 inch Leatherwood in DZ mounts and it will work from 100 to 1000 yards if set up correctly, on the correct bases. I have plenty of room above my 1000 yard setting. That was another thing I learned Sunday. I thought it was going to be closer to the end of my travel, but the .44-77 shoots flatter than my .45-70 so my calculated setting was too high. That is why I had to redo the math when I put the scope on Sunday using my actual come ups with irons.

For some reason with the 7.2" spacing on the bases and the each one thousandth of an inch equaling 1/2 minute I get all mixed up and can't remember whether to multiply or divide! I usually just over think math and find some way to screw it up. My teachers in school did a good job of instilling fear of numbers in me and a lot of other fears too! I panic whenever confronted with a form to fill out, it's too much like those tests they made me take in school and I break out in a cold sweat! I hated tests!

The Leatherwood scope is a good scope, but it's not a great scope. The DZ mounts are fantastic!

Anyway, the scope is on the .44-77 right now and I don't see it coming off anytime soon.