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I’ve been supplying equipment for my local forest preserve biologist friends for about 20 years. These folks band birds and bats, relocate beavers, collar coyotes, and study every wild thing that lives in the woodlands and swamps. Population control of deer takes place most of the year including now. The carrying capacity of our woods for deer is from 9 to 11 deer per square mile. Some of our preserves have OVER 100! The latest package that was dropped off at my house was a new stainless 700 in .243. I lapped the barrel 777 times like I usually do, polished the crown and installed a 3.5-10×50 Zeiss Conquest in fully lapped Leupold Dual Dovetail two piece rings and bases as my standard. The problem was that the windage adjustment of the scope was almost buried to one side when boresighted with my Zero Point boresighter. I swapped to a different set I had laying around as well as turning them 180 degrees, all with no change in windage. The screw holes were obviously not centered. By my caliper measurements they weren’t even close, and I could see the difference just with a close look. So I installed Standard rings and bases and adjusted windage that way. I could’ve used Burris Signature rings with inserts, but I like metal on metal. Along with this rifle I packaged an ATN PS-22 with the 3A tube and appropriate adapter. The rings were extra-high for a bit more clearance with this ultra-modern night vision unit, so I also put on a Blackhawk Ammo Cheekpad for a more comfortable cheek weld. Formerly the biologists had to carry two guns when they stayed out a while: one for daytime and one for night. Now with the ATN PS-22 they simply install the unit onto the existing daytime riflescope in about 5 seconds and shoot away. The whole package has been out of my Gunroom for two days and I can’t wait for the required reports from a person who will put it all through its paces and give me real-world reports with no bias. I learn an awful lot from these guys and gals. I also sold them another pair of 8×42 Leica Geovids which probably have the nicest picture of any binocular I have ever used. If you want to know how tough a piece of equipment is, just give it to these folks for a season. I enjoy helping these people a lot, and they are a wealth of information.
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