Thirteen hundred and twenty five metres

I put the laser range finder down and looked through the scope once again.

Three targets at 1325 metres and unaware of my presence. Quickly running scenarios through my mind I determined I'd take two down easily; the third would run. But where? It was unlikely it would know the direction of my shots so possibly closer, maybe left or right or, the worst scenario, up and over the hill. I wanted all three but it seemed unlikely.

Initial calculations

Range to target: 1325m
Slope angle: -9.0°
Wind speed: 1.5 mph
Wind direction: -151°
Coriolis effect: -34/178
Density altitude: 4285m

The wind was no factor, a slight puff over my left shoulder from 7 o-clock (-151°). The range though...I was good for it, easily I wasn't concerned about that, but the flight time concerned me. A lot can happen down range when bullet is in-flight for so long, especially with a flighty target, and not effecting a clean kill was something I was not fond of. Only seconds passed as I contemplated the shot but I considered the implications of clipping my target and not impacting it squarely, centre-mass, and I wasn't in any shape to move downrange and deal with a wounded target today.

Field firing solution

Elevation: 11.5 MRAD
Windage: 0.3 MRAD left
Flight time: 2.05 seconds
Impact speed: 1579.6 f/s
Impact energy: 787ft-lbf

Field firing solution table - StrelokPro ballistics solver

I decided I'd send the shots and settled behind the rifle system.

It was a familiar position that my body assumed without thought; I'd done it a million times. My body sought as much contact with the ground as possible, legs spread wide apart, feet turned outwards flat to the ground.

My left hand loosely held the buttstock, arm bent, elbow pointing almost directly forward, right hand gently resting on the rifle grip, finger straight, off the trigger, arm bent similarly to the left. My shoulders relaxed into the position stabilising my upper torso and my body relaxed into the typical prone-position favoured by long range shooters.

I looked downrange, the scope zoomed at 16x magnification, bringing the targets closer. I could see their hair ruffled by the light breeze and head movements as they looked around...and with intent I began my pre-shot process.

Check the scope level, critical at this range with so much elevation. If the rifle-system isn't level elevation-dialled in would move the point of impact away from the point of aim. Breathe in. Breathe out. Finger to trigger. Breathe in. Breathe out and when I reach the natural end of my expelled breath...Trigger pull. A smooth motion.

There's no time to watch the bullet arc away towards the target. I racked the gun, extracted the spent case and reloaded a fresh round in one second. Acquire second target...Breathe in...breathe out...trigger pull and the second bullet was in the air as the first target dropped. 2.05 seconds.

I watched this one all the way in. It was a good hit. Target down.

My eye flicked left to the third target that had begun to move and I racked the rifle even as I shifted left and aimed. It bounded to the left, away from the two downed targets, through a small stand of trees, out the other side then up the hill...and it was gone. I'll get it next time.

I moved the scope back to the first two targets looking for signs of movement and the potential need to send another round. There was none. Good hits.

---

This is a very brief account of a last minute culling trip to the farm I made after work tonight. I've had a few small physical issues so rather than do the walking I'd usually do I decided to take my long range gun and snipe from a hill top. It meant I could set up right near my four wheel drive, scope the land below and shoot as required. No walking.

Reticle screen capture from my StrelokPro ballistics solver. This is exactly what my reticle looks like (just the black markings, not the coloured text)

The calibre I used is 6.5mm Creedmoore and the round is a precision hand-made (by me) round with a 142 gr Sierra SMK projectile which pushes out of the muzzle at 2851 f/s with a ballistic coefficient of 0.301 using the G7 drag model. The scope is a Kahles 6-24i(6-24x56) with the SKMR 3 reticle as pictured above. My ballistics solver is StrelokPro and my range finder is the Bushnell Elite 1 Mile ConX.

I don't usually use this rifle-system to cull on the farm; it's too heavy to move around with for long and, whilst it's the most accurate rifle I have, I generally leave it home in preference for my Tikka CTR .243. Tonight I knew I'd not be moving far from my four wheel drive so decided to take the 6.5CM which would permit me to engage from greater distances than usual. It was great to blow the cobwebs out of it (as if I let cobwebs get anywhere near my firearms) and to send a few rounds out to a reasonable distance.

Tonight made me think it's high time I got out to my long range property and really stretched a few shots out to my full range-potential (which I do not mention here)...I like to keep my skills sharp and, with this particular skill, shooting is the best way to do so. But that's for another day. Today I took those two targets down, packed up and came home. Job done.