Built a .222 high twist benchrest rifle

[watrob]

Thought I would build a new .222 competition benchrest rifle to shoot the new VLD type bullets, on the third outing I shot tight 3 shot groups consistently.

The 3 shot group measures .283" minus .224" = .059" (shot at 100 yards)

 

[pacificman]

Thought I would build a new .222 competition benchrest rifle to shoot the new VLD type bullets, on the third outing I shot tight 3 shot groups consistently.

The 3 shot group measures .283" minus .224" = .059" (shot at 100 yards)

Yup it's a shooter for sure! It would be interesting to know a bit more...what twist, bullets, speed etc.
Great looking rifle!

 

[wapiti25]

cool, now shoot the 5 5 shot target.

 

[watrob]

Shot the second rifle today, .222 high twist in Sporter Class, 9lb all up weight (the rifle at the back is the 3rd rifle which is PPC), fairly windy and I finally got the right load tune although still a little hot but ran out of time, 3 shoot group was .091" at 100 yards.

 

[watrob]

3rd rifle high twist 22 PPC shooting 70 gr VLD's at 100 yards for testing, very hot loads flattening primers and with heavy bolt lift, more testing needed, shots running vertical, average .140"s 3 shoot groups.

 

[boltfluter]

Very nice looking rifles. Definitely tac drivers.

Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[watrob]

4th rifle, high twist .222 Hunter Class 10lb, 6x power scope, would be great if you could see where one was shooting. Was not really looking for close 3 shot groups but more for hitting the bullseye.

 

[redrockranger]

Yup it's a shooter for sure! It would be interesting to know a bit more...what twist, bullets, speed etc.
Great looking rifle!

Must be a secret. Don't need no competition.

 

[RonS]

watrob, can you reveal the basic specs of your 222 benchrest rifle? By the way, very nice looking gun and nice shooting.

 

[DMC]

Super interested in spec's of all the rifles. Always thought about a nice new 222, nice work !

 

[watrob]

The 3 x .222 rifles are running hand made carbon fibre stocks which weigh in just over 1lb, we are using Defiance Deviant actions milled down from 2lb 5ozs to 1lb 13ozs thus giving us the max weight for barrels & competition scopes being NightForce & March. The stainless steel barrels are Krieger 1:9" twist with long throats to shoot the longer 60gr bullets. All triggers are BR Jewells, all barrels are bedded & floated and are match grade cut rifling.

The 22 PPC is running the same specs except a Pierce Action using 3 screw down action stock bolts, again a Krieger barrel but in 1:8 twist, shooting 70gr VLD long projectiles.

The barrels have had another 6/16th's taken off the breach end and throats reworked last week to bring the group size down under the .100".

Loads are still being tested and are still a little on the hot side showing vertical. Barrels are Boron coated and projectiles Boron impacted as well. I expect about another 2 days at the range to finalise loads, powder & primers.

The light weight .222 Sporter Class rifle requires its own load data because of the light barrel compared to the other two .222 rifles, it is the hardest to shoot, has a more sensitive harmonic and a narrower temperature range, all rifles are cleaned every 6 or 7 shots.

The reason for 3 shot groups is because shots 5 & 6 (4th & 5th shot of the group) come back, this is because of the light weight and the rifle not settling down in the rest correctly and the barrel just starting to warm up, the temp here is fairly cold being winter. We will test by having 2 flyer shots first and moving fairly quickly to the group shoot so the barrel does not cool down to much but cannot afford for the barrel to get to warm either, think this is a winter problem. I know we are not talking about much movement in the shots but the 2nd shot of the group with this rifle is determining the overall group size.

 

[DMC]

Thanks for the info - great work, please keep us informed how you go, i can see a lot of people following this ! thanks again

 

[RonS]

Yes, thanks for the insight. I have an old Rem 788 in .222 that I think I actually wore out [it has well over 3000 rounds through it]. It now shoots 1 MOA or worse and I've been thinking of rebarreling it.

 

[watrob]

Spent Saturday at the range doing more load testing, thought you might like the results?

 

[Frankr]

Watrob very nice rifles..very cool running the fast twist and heavy bullets...I have been wanting to try a 1-8 in a .223

BUT you are way off on your group measuring. those group's look real big to be in the zero's...like a .047 is going to look like one hole..in other words .047 over bullet dia..Not trying to be a D*ck just look real big to me.
Like the one you call .047 I would call It .110 to .150 looken..
But I could be wrong.. But I can seen several targets with two and a half bullet holes.

 

[watrob]

Its close to .271" minus .224" equals as .047" the photos are pretty large, also the bullets are actually making paper holes less than .219"

 

[RonS]

Watrob, very nice shooting, absolutely fantastic. No complaints from me...

 

[Beau]

Yes, you need to subtract .219" from the outside spread, not .224".

 

[Frankr]

hey good shooting..not in any way trying to detract from it..But you need to measure to the edge of the black.. the farthest apart. so the widest point from the edge of the black. then subtract what the hole size is in the paper if it .215 then take .215 off...or you could buy a group measuring device..I just think they look big..but it could just be the way they look in the picture to..I just want you to have accurate information..if you see 2 and a half bullets holes you are not in the zero's.. At a match they will use a group measuring device and if you want to get close to it. measure to the widest edge of black to edge of black then substract the hole size in the paper and you will be real close.
Here is a example target shot in a match a 6mm hole and it's a .126 I kind of felt I was robed I thought surely it in the zero's but I have measured it from 16 different directions and it's a .126
You maybe spot on on your measurements but it does not look like you are that is the only reason I posted.

 

[kolar55]

View attachment 983876 View attachment 983877 Thought I would build a new .222 competition benchrest rifle to shoot the new VLD type bullets, on the third outing I shot tight 3 shot groups consistently.

The 3 shot group measures .283" minus .224" = .059" (shot at 100 yards)

I have to agree with FJIM on the measuring. I measured the first target posted with "ON TARGET" software and came up with .117. That is still good shooting.