(I posted in Dec 2021 that I was on a mission to take a Bull Elk in 2022 with my dad’s Weatherby Mark V chambered in 300 Weatherby Magnum, the rifle given to him for that very purpose 35 years ago upon his retirement but that he never got to shoot before cancer took him. Here’s where I am now.)
Finally getting to work on zeroing the Mark V. Been a busy spring, but now all I can think about is Utah at the end of August. Set up a range at the farm for 50, 100, 200, and 300 yards. The Mark V is on the lead sled, buddy’s suppressed Ruger American .308 on the table.
I was able to dial in a decent grouping in the orange at 100 yards, but rain cancelled the session before I could work at the 200.
The action initially was very tight but loosened a bit as I ran it though its paces; need to be able to quickly initiate follow-up shots. Before long, she’ll be purring like a mountain lion.
However, there is an issue. I was hoping to run with the original Zeiss 3-9x36, but, with a nasty astigmatism in my dominant eye and generally shitty vision, I think I’m going to need more magnification for a potential 250 yard shot in the field without the niceties of a shooting bench and lead sled. Indeed, I feel like I’d get better results at 200 with my 5-20x ATN X-Site II HD day/night scope. Anyone have any suggestions for a good Elk scope (lightweight, magnification, objective lens size, etc.) ? I’ve never had the need to venture beyond the 3-9x40 glass universe before. @686 had mentioned some manufacturers. @Brisketexan, you mentioned that you had the same rifle but wanted to upgrade the glass. Have you, and if so, to what?
Been working on the cardio and techniques to prepare for the shot, as @686, @BabaYaga, and @deadshank advised.
With regard to the ammo we discussed, mostly all the 300 Weatherby Magnum ammo I’ve found on the market this year has been Weatherby Select and Select Plus 165 and 180 Grain Hornady Interlock with a box or two of Remington Core-Lokt 180 grain softpoints here and there. I decided to go heavy (and cheaper) and went with the Select 180 interlock to shoot-in the rifle.
That said, just last week, more variety started hitting the market, including Weatherby Select Plus 180 grain Barnes TTSX and 200 grain Accubond, plus tons more Remington 180 grain Core-Lokt. @Gladeite, thanks for the recs for the 200 Accubond and others in your post. Anyone else have any thoughts on ammo?
Guide is supposed to contact us in June with more details; he gave us the basics earlier this year so that we could start planning (good call, @686). More posts to follow more frequently. Shaping up to be epic.
Thanks again for any and all input/advice/insight.