Up until I bought one of the AIM Molot PU sniper rifles, my outlook was the PU was really a dedicated marksman type rifle and probably accurate enough out to 600 yds / meters. I have changed my mind now that I took it out to 1000 yds. For sniping purposes, it can be deadly across the course. I hope that does not offend anyone here with superior more modern systems but those systems were out there at 800,900 and 1000 yds and so was my lowly PU sniper and we all were in the black, in the 9 and 10 ring at times . Your human errors and winds will be a dynamic to master with the PU but it can be done. 600 yds: piece of cake to compete one on one against modern systems.
My rifle is a Izhevsk 1943, Progress scope (yellow hue but optics fine), mint (and truly mint) bore, refurb blue job as usual and what I consider the average Molot grade finish to the wood but stock is bedded right for the rifles accuracy. Its not the beauty queen some folks got from AIM but its metal and wood are 110% and it shoots / drills holes with accuracy.
I shot this PU sniper at 100, 300, 600, 800, 900 and 1000 yds. Once you got the load and scope data sorted out and it will put rounds into that 9 and 10 ring on a F class NRA target at 800, 900 and 1000 yds. Winds...they play with you hard at these ranges but you can hold front sight post into the wind and push rounds back on line..if your winds fluctuate, you got your work cut out. At the 300 and 600 yd distance, the rifle shines and is easy to shoot very very accurately. If you practice and have your load down right, 300 and 600 yd vintage sniper matches are no problem whatsoever. I was using the 300 yd SR3 NRA bull for 100 to 600 yd validation of loads and my rifle. 800 to 1000yds, F Class NRA bull was used for validation of loads and rifle.
My lessons learned with some hard knocks along the way all center on the 100 yd zero. I kept on reading concerns about not having enough elevation on the PU scope for long distance work so my 100 yd zero was with a 3 inch high bullet strike above point of aim with PU scope set at 0 elevation, 0 windage.
It was a PITA solution that worked but drove me nuts on Saturday. At 100yds, my hand loads shot 3 inch high as expected (no problem), At 300 yds, my scope was still at 0 elevation 0 windage and shooting point of aim to point of impact, at 600 yds with my elevation on drum 300 setting , 0 windage and rifle is shooting point of aim to point of impact. Clearly drum readings are not remotely close to the distance I am shooting. The 3 inch high at 100 yd zero is skewing things off for drum readings.
Day 1 , Saturday, we left 600 yd line and went to 1000 yds (the 338Lapua Mafia crew voted this and I had no choice... what now do I put on the scope as I have not shot 800, 900 yds yet with it so I am flying in blind here). Swag of 700 and 900 setting on drum and all shots fired at 1000 yds missed the target. Am I over or under? Shooting day was over so I mulled on this mystery.
On Day 2, Sunday,the F class non sanctioned match was happening and we started on the 800 yd line and would move and shoot 900 and 1000 yds. With spotters shot, my drum results for elevation at 800 yards ended up with a setting of 6, drum results for elevation at 900 yds was 7.5 and 1000 yds was 8.5 on the drum. Had I not factored that 3 inch high at 100 yd for zero, I would have drum
settings a bit more aligned with distance I am shooting.. or close to it.
Saturday and Sunday were the 2nd and 3rd time I ever shot at 1000 yds and the first times ever with my PU sniper. I am 65 next month so I am well onto the down hill slope. I say this to make a point: There is no magic with 1000 yds.. you just get the load sorted out, zero your rifle at 100 yd and head down range and kick the can hard. I got tons to learn about winds and mirage but I know my rifle and load will hang to 1000 yds and I can too. I am heading out every time I can to shoot long distances. I hope my experience will convince others to do so and to have a healthy respect for the PU sniper rifles capabilities.
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