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Doc Reports In (10-28-02)
(Sunday Afternoon Prairie Classic)
I received an excellent e-mail report
this am. As background, during my maintenance project yesterday
afternoon, I got a call from Doc (Mike Marino). He was going to
the range. Alas ... I could not get away. And look what I missed
...!
Let me copy some of
Doc's e-mail. I'll let him tell you about it ...
Gary,
I hope the painting is finished on your end.
*** Part of my project
for the day ***
(Gary I tried to email you the pictures in
the note but aol could not do it. I am sending the picture of
the four shot group and will give you a copy of the file when
we get together again. It is a nice story with a great ending.)
I went to the range this afternoon and I thought
of updating you on my progress of pushing the distance. Although
this is only a start I am very pleased with the gun. As you see
I have a number of settings to experiment with. The scope has
found a home on the rifle too. This rework of Premier Reticle
has made this scope a great match for the rifle (I used the dots
for windage correction on the four shot target).
Well to start there was a strong wind blowing
from my left to right (at a ninety degree angle from the line
of fire). It was not constant but when it blew I could feel it.
The first few groups at 50 yards were OK so I decided to move
out to 100 yds. I spent a while at the Thurmont Conservation and
Sportsman Club and theses are the highlights.
***** Here .... Doc tells me
all the usual stuff ... "world class airgunsmith" ...
"how he didn't pay enough for the rifle" ... "looks
like I'm loosing weight" .... "what do I want for Christmas?..."
etc, etc. ...**** We now resume Mike's e-mail in progress ...
Now for the final group I shot four shots and
tried to compensate for the wind. The bull on the 4 shot group
has a three-inch diameter. This was .287" ctc at 100 yds!!!!
Stats
Barnes Prairie Classic with a modified target dot reticle Leupold
24X scope.
Caliber .32
Bullet Barnes Bishop 97gr.
Gun filled to 2500 psi. every five shots.
Power setting on the third setting (of six) from the stock.
Mike
***** OK ... I'm
speechless .... ALMOST!!!! ...*****
HOLY COW!!!!
Cow ... that's it
.... "Where's the Cow Mike?" ... You traded it for those
five magic bullets didn't you? ;?)
Nice Shooting Doc!
Sorry I missed that one. (But I got the painting done ...)
Doc took home a few
trophies from Standing Stone 2002 last summer. I certainly appreciate
that he takes his Prairie 32 Classic out and shoots it. Clearly
he's mastered the rifle. What a great target! Beats my best. I
once shot a three shot 100 yd. .330" ctc with my Prairie
32. If you spend alittle time with them, they'll reward the effort.
Thanks for the report
Doc. Well done!
(Note: Doc's file was
in a format I could not convert for the web. After almost frying
my computer and crashing the internet, I finally just took a digital
pic of my computer screen and ran it through that way. if it looks
odd, that's why)
At the Range ..... With Mike "Doc"
Marino
I got an e-mail this week. Claimed
that that old Doc was going to be on the ground this weekend!
I didn't believe it. Thought it must be a prank. Doc logs more
air time than most commercial airline pilots!
He told me he was going to try to sneak
away to the range for a couple of hours. And, he did too . . .
by Golly!
What's that you're shootin' there Doc?
Why ..... is that a 32 Barnes Prairie Class? Good Heavens! I haven't
seen one of those ..... since I delivered that one.
That's a nice looking pc. of glass
you've mounted there. A Classic Leupold 24X dot reticle. Very
nice. But .... will it shoot?
We had a discussion regarding benching
the rifle, a few things I like to keep in mind, technique, etc.
Mike let me behind the wheel for this 50 yard demonstration group.
I liked the scope alot. We walked down range to take a look. That's
Doc's hand (and quarter).
He's a pretty quick study too!
This was the group he shot following
mine above. Too close ..... I almost had to buy the coffee! I'm
not betting no more with no globe hopping scientist ....
We had a great range session. It rained
the entire time. We both ended up with wet feet. We also both
ended up in a corner booth at the local McDonalds. Coffee was
hot - conversation was enjoyable.
Thanks Doc
Range Session 9-02-01
Had another chance
to get to the range with Mike Marino Sunday afternoon.
He's been enjoying
his 32 Prairie Class. (And getting pretty good too). I'm afraid
it won't be long until I'm buying the coffee! (...soon as he catches
on that I've been the one measuring the targets ... He he he...)
Here's some of his
targets from today ...
That's a 5 shot group
of 32 Bishops @ 40 yards from Doc's Prairie Class.
This one is a five shot group @ 50
yards! Nice shooting Doc.
Doc's turned up the Prairie Classic
to "hot". And he's balancing it out @ 100 yards. Here's
a group from Sunday.
More Prairie
Class Photos