Self-Loading A Continuing Field Review: Working With Western Rattler .45 LS

[Airgun-hobbyist]

Just before sunset I quickly shot a few Mr. Hollow point slugs .454, 325 grain.
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Those lighter 325 grain Mr. Hollowpoint slugs are shooting significantly better group/string than the 360 grain HAH. Do you always use that bipod to shoot? My Rattler's like to rest on a bag or lightly held on my palm to group tightest.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Those lighter 325 grain Mr. Hollowpoint slugs are shooting significantly better group/string than the 360 grain HAH. Do you always use that bipod to shoot? My Rattler's like to rest on a bag or lightly held on my palm to group tightest.

@Airgun-hobbyist I prefer to practice the way I would use a gun on a hunt. In this instance I used a tripod. Shooting from a bag or a table does little for me since I won’t be shooting that way afield. Rarely will I lay down prone afield. I like to see how my shots print in positions that I use. Once I get this figured shooting from a tripod, then I’ll try a bipod, kneeling, offhand, etc.

 

[Airgun-hobbyist]

@Airgun-hobbyist I prefer to practice the way I would use a gun on a hunt. In this instance I used a tripod. Shooting from a bag or a table does little for me since I won’t be shooting that way afield. Rarely will I lay down prone afield. I like to see how my shots print in positions that I use. Once I get this figured shooting from a tripod, then I’ll try a bipod, kneeling, offhand, etc.
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That's a good idea. It correlates the same to me as well, as how hold the rifle rested on the bench is similar to how I'd rest it hunting (either on my open palm, wrist while gripping a sapling, or rested on a branch).

 

[Ezana4CE]

That's a good idea. It correlates the same to me as well, as how hold the rifle rested on the bench is similar to how I'd rest it hunting (either on my open palm, wrist while gripping a sapling, or rested on a branch).

@Airgun-hobbyist My opinion differs in the sense that while shooting from a bench may show one what a gun may be capable of while target shooting bench rest, it doesn’t reveal how the gun will perform afield. A gun that is hold sensitive can be learned to be held properly from other positions.However, if similar results cannot be replicated in positions that will be used afield, then the results are pretty useless to me. If that is the case, then said results indicate that one has purchased a bench rest gun. I like hunting guns. I bought what was advertised as a hunting gun and it will be treated as such. Eventually I will likely lock it down best I can and shoot from a table for contrast. That style of shooting will likely be brief.

 

[Airgun-hobbyist]

What speeds were you getting with the lighter Mr. Hollowpoint 325 grain slugs? And, was it consistent throughout the full magazine? (I see in your notes about 2 shots being off reg. with the HAH slugs.)

 

[Ezana4CE]

What speeds were you getting with the lighter Mr. Hollowpoint 325 grain slugs? And, was it consistent throughout the full magazine? (I see in your notes about 2 shots being off reg. with the HAH slugs.)

@Airgun-hobbyist Unfortunately you saw something I did not intentionally reveal. That photo has been edited.

... I’ll fill in the details later after discussing some things with the folks at AOA per our agreement.

I’ll discuss the details further after I speak with the folks at AOA later this week. Since they don’t work weekends, I doubt I’ll do any more shooting with the Long Strike this weekend. In the mean time I can get some squirrel and deer hunting in with my other guns.

 

[Ezana4CE]

A few thoughts after stowing my Western Rattler .45 Long Strike for the day.

1) In its stock configuration with nothing added but a scope and rings their rifle feels considerably light. My chosen scope plus rings add approx 2lbs to the rifle. The Primary Arms PLx 2.5-20x48 FFP scope weighs around 30.05 oz according to specs. I also only have 2 slugs in the mag (The .45 Long Strike magazine holds 12 slugs). That was for when I checked the property for deer this morning, if I happened upon a 20-30 yard broadside shot, I was going to take it with the Mr. Hollowpoint slug I last shot. I saw one young non-shooter, and didn’t shoot. I did take the opportunity to observe it by viewing it through my scope using my bipod for a rest and then holding the rifle offhand as the deer moved through the woods. for a bit Baches of the long barrel I suppose the weight feels more evenly distributed. Once I placed it in its case, I picked up my .357 Rattler with a very heavy Nocpix ACE S60R thermal scope (45.9oz) and a full magazine. The .357 felt noticeably heavier. I don’t have any qualms having to pick this rifle up off of a rest and shoot it offhand. Maneuvering it and dealing with its length while positioning myself may prove to be more of an impediment to a quick change of shooting positions afield.

2) Once I removed my picatinny-to-Arca plate adapter, there is obvious marring of the finish on the Rattler LS’s pic rail situation beneath the reservoir. This is an accessory that I will tighten firmly in order to keep a rifle secure while on a tripod. I’m assuming that this pic rail is aluminum which makes sense to keep the rifle’s weight down.

3) Power level. This gun produced a little over a maximum of 400 FPE from what I recall in my shooting yesterday. I’ll post more shot data later. It doesn’t have a lot of recoil compared to my Bushpig. I didn’t end up gathering some reclaimed lead and freshening up the wood in my backstop. It was leaning and pretty much toppled by the end of my shooting session yesterday. For game and animals I’d consider shooting in these parts, that’s more than enough energy.

 

[AtlasAirguns]

@Airgun-hobbyist Unfortunately you saw something I did not intentionally reveal. That photo has been edited.

I’ll discuss the details further after I speak with the folks at AOA later this week. Since they don’t work weekends, I doubt I’ll do any more shooting with the Long Strike this weekend. In the mean time I can get some squirrel and deer hunting in with my other guns.

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