TLDR: I still have all my body parts, but I'm an idiot.
My precision bolt gun is at the smith getting a new barrel chambered....so I decided I would shoot my local precision bolt match next weekend with my OBR Heavy 16".
Only problem was I needed to chrono some new loads. It's been hellu-windy the past few days, so I put it off.
This morning seemed like a good time to get away, in spite of the 17 mph winds, with gusts into the high 20's+...after all, I wasn't going to zero, just chrono. I brought my heavy tripod and a 25# sand bag to hang from it.
So, I get there and there is a guy 2 lanes down that is also chrono'ing loads, but with a very flimsy tripod, with the added support of some 2x4's...
I put the bipod'ed OBR on the shooting bench and turn my attention to setting up my chrono on the rear bench....
.......SUDDENLY a strong gust comes up.....target stands are doing cartwheels....this guy's flimsy tripod does a summersault, landing on the sky screens (SNAP!)...and I look over just in time to see my OBR (what? about 14# with the optic?) BLOW OFF THE MOTHER LOVIN' BENCH and drop 2-and-a-half feet onto the concrete deck. MOTHER EFFER!
I recover it, and I'm not quite sure where it took the most impact...maybe on the edge of my LaRue mount...seems to have some new dings there...but I can't see any others on the rifle itself. The Harris bipod leg springs are acting a little funky now, but that's the least of my concerns. Just hoping I didn't knock my Bushnell out of whack.
Shit happens, right?
I go back to setting up the chrono. Thinking it wise to remove the sky screens to lower the tripods susceptibility to the wind, I now have to worry about the direct sun hitting the sensors....so I've got to put the tripod in the shade of the overhead cover, that only extends about 6 feet from the firing line, instead of the 15 foot distance from the firing line, , which at the moment is in full sun, that I normally place the chrono.
2 yards would call for a come up of 36.6 mils, but I couldn't dial that much, so I thought I would hold the rest.
Do you see where this is going.......
Apparently I did NOT hold enough, and put a 155 SMK right through both my P.A.C.T. sensors @ 2600 fps. Made my range trip real short....Just stood there and shook my head in shame.
They say it happens to everyone sooner or later, but I've been using these a while now without issue.
Luckily, those sensors are only $15 each and I found 2 in stock.....although I'm going to try dremeling off the top portion of the shot up pair and see if they still work after I clear away the damaged portion.
UPDATE:
So now after Dremel'ing off the damaged tops of the sensors, surprisingly, they still work. Went back Wednesday and chrono'd some load work ups. Went back again today (wind was at 3mph) to see what kind of groups I would get within the new node.
Powder: IMR XBR 8208 42.9gn to 43.3gn
Bullet: 155gn SMK HPBT
Brass: Winchester .308 trimmed to 2.005", annealed, FL resized, with 5 firings so far.
Seated to 2.1250" OAL
MV was about 2535 to 2545 +/-...I tried going faster, but it wasn't as consistent
Rifle: LaRue Tactical OBR 7.62 16" with Harris Bipod
Optic: Bushnell Elite Tactical 6-24x50 G2 in LaRue OBR Mount
Shot prone, with rear bag
Target @ 100 yards....0.6" Dots
Weather: 90-degrees, 3mph wind
The 3 rounds just above "42.9" were sighting in.
Then a 5-round group of 42.9gn, with one called flinch on the left...resulted in a 5-round group of 0.643 MOA
Then a 4-round group of 43.3gn on the left side of the target, resulting in a group of 0.797 MOA
Finished with another 5 round group of 43.1gn, with (2) called flinches, resulting in a 5-round group of 0.686 MOA
Decided if I do my part better, I'll be good with 43.1gn