2018 Trip #7, Central Wyoming, 15 – 17 July, with Ash and myself.

2018 Trip #7

A three day trip planed this time.  Started off early on Sunday and headed to Wyoming.  Just passed Cheyenne we hit rain.  The weather didn’t appear to be clearing up so we passed up Wheatland and moved on to Lance Creek to shoot.  Just as we got to Lance Creek the rain stopped, great. We waited about a half hour and the sun came out and the wind was nonexistent.  We shot steady all day, myself shooting 196 dogs.  I shot my 20 VarTarg all day and hardly missed.  The 20 VarTarg is a laser.  Using a 32 gr Sierra Blitz going 3380 fps I had NO problems, life was good.  We stayed in Lusk for the night planning to head to Douglas the next day.  It rained VERY HARD for about an hour, we had doubts about the next day.

Monday when we went to breakfast it was very foggy and damp; but no wind.  We headed to Douglas to the ranch we had planned to shoot on that day.  A little muddy, but not bad.  The sun came out and the wind stayed under 20 mph.  I used up the rest of my 20 VarTarg ammo, about 30 rounds, and changed to my 222 Rem 700.  The first few rounds went great, then everything went in the toilet.  I shot and the hits started going all over the place.  Shot several shots trying to adjust my hits, got out a target and put it at 100 yards and shot.  Several inches off.  Shot some more to get it on center with three in one hole.  Five or six shots later it was off again.  This time I took off the scope and checked it.  Base mounts were loose, don’t know how that happened.  Re-sighted, I didn’t check the scope rings, not smart.  Shot a few rounds and I’m all over the place again.  Checked the scope rings, they were loose.  I wasted 50 – 60 rounds and a lot of time.  I only managed to shot 112 dogs that day with much frustration.

The next day Tuesday, we were going to shot South of Wheatland after staying the night in town. They had around an inch of rain on Sunday, so it was a little muddy.  We managed to stay high in the two tracks and made it into the fields with little problems.  We couldn’t get everywhere we wanted, but almost.

I shot a few rounds, maybe 50 of 222 Rem  then changed to my Ruger 6 PPC Custom. The 222 wasn’t doing very good, maybe it just wasn’t my day after the day I had the day before.  After a few shots the 6 PPC started going all over the place, DAMN!!!  This time I took the scope off and checked the mounts, they were tight, the scope rings were LOOSE.  Wasted more ammo.  I had went to the range before leaving and each rifle had shot FINE, a little tweak here and there, but FINE; after setting in the safe for a year.  Got the 6 PPC back hitting and the weather went in the toilet.

Headed out of the field but didn’t make it. Got close to getting stuck and made it to the last gate and the hail, wind, and rain hit. The hail wouldn’t let us get out to open the gate, it was half to three fourth of an inch and hurt like hell.  We set for an half hour.

The last day was my worst day, only 96 kills. Shooting three different guns. Having problems with two of them I still managed 404 for the trip.  I’ve had better trips.