B4
SPORTS
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Seating depth
matters.
Contributed
photo
SHOOTING THE BREEZE
Building a load
I
The Eagle/Alix Hand
Dayville/Monument’s JT Hand (21) shoots against Condon with teammate Mark Thomas (14) in the action.
Dayville/Monument Tiger
boys finding potential
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Dayville/Monument Tiger
boys lost their three games this past
week, but remain hopeful for future
games.
On Dec. 12, the Tigers faced the
Condon/Wheeler Blue Devils in a
game that started well for Dayville/
Monument.
“We came out really strong during
the first three quarters of the game
against Condon/Wheeler,” said assis-
tant coach Josh Williams. “During
the last quarter, lots of small mis-
takes were made with the basics.”
Williams said the team has not
reached their full potential yet, and
the team has the potential be really
good.
The Dayville/Monument boys
took two losses at the Arlington
Snowball Tournament against the
Ione/Arlington Cardinals, 79-43,
and Ukiah/Long Creekh Mountain
Lions, 53-47.
“We learned that we can be really
good if we play as a team and have
the heart and desire to win,” Wil-
liams said. “Drew Wilburn and Don
Schafer are also learning to become
leaders and lead the team.”
The Dayville/Monument Tigers
will face Union in Union at 7:30
p.m on Dec. 19.
n a previous column, I
like to be snuggled up pretty
wrote about struggling
close to the riflings. I tried
to decide which rifle
four different seating depths
to buy for my boy to use. I
from 0.010 to 0.130 inch off
the lands. The 0.010 inch load
am happy to announce that
shot the best at right around a
we are the proud owners of
1-inch group.
a Bergara .30-06. Now we
My last step was
need to work up a load
to try different pow-
that will shoot lights
der charges in 0.5
out. There are lots of
grain increments
ways to go about it,
up to the maximum
but let me share with
listed in the reload-
you my recipe for
ing manual. When
success.
you are working up
In reloading you
Rod
your powder charge,
will always get the
Carpenter
pay attention to pres-
best accuracy by keep-
sure signs and use
ing everything as con-
sistent as you can. Some go
eye protection. The maxi-
so far as to weight sort brass, mum powder charge listed in
bullets and even primers. For the reloading manual may or
a hunting rifle, I don’t go that may not be the maximum for
your rifle. Primer flattening
far. I try to at least use the
isn’t the best indicator of pres-
same brand of brass and the
sure. A shiny, raised bump on
same lot if I’m really feel-
ing OCD. Then I pick three
the base of the case is caused
of four different bullets to try. when the pressure causes the
After perusing the reload-
brass to flow into the ejector.
ing manuals, I pick a powder It is a good sign that you need
that gives good results across to back off your charge. If you
get to a sticky bolt lift, you
the board. For this workup,
have gone way too far. Don’t
I chose to use H4350. Using
try to make a rifle into some-
a moderate powder charge,
thing it isn’t. That leads to
I shoot each bullet for accu-
racy and go with the one that serious injury.
shows the most promise.
After shooting some
So far, the 165-grain Sierra
groups, we found a load that
GameKings are looking good gives good velocity, shoots
in our rifle.
great and doesn’t show any
Once I have settled on a
pressure signs. Now that I
bullet, I use the same moder-
have the load figured out, all
ate powder charge and mess
that is left to do is make up
around with the seating depth, a bunch of rounds and get
or distance the bullet jumps
the kid out shooting to better
before it engages the rifling.
develop his skills.
Lots of folks don’t realize
How do you choose the
what a big difference in accu- load for your hunting rifle?
racy this can make. In my
Share it with us at shootingth-
experience, Hornady ELD-
ebreezebme@gmail.com.
X’s like a big jump of 0.100
Rod Carpenter is a hus-
band, father and hunting fool.
inch or so. Sierra GameKings
Anthony Lakes
Open Daily
December 21 to January 5
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(close at 1pm on Christmas Eve, enjoy $5 off lift tickets)
Closed Christmas Day
Live Music Dec 21 & Dec 28
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(541)856-3277
www.anthonylakes.com
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