Bruno Shooters vs Kelbly rifles

[geraldgee]

I am considering taking my first step into short range Bench rest shooting - Light Varmint class. Both Bruno and Kelbly offer builds in this class. I currently own a Kelbly Atlas and have been well pleased with it. A rifle from Bruno would be built on a Bat action.

I am at the 'tire-kicking' stage and looking for some opinions about my 1st BR build. Would like to hear from folks who own or have owned BR rifles built by these men or perhaps other suggestions if you can avoid axe-grinding.

Thank you.

 

[Tim Singleton]

Please do more -as much research and quetion asking as you can. like you are here.
Post over on. Benchrest Central as well
I spent 3x what I should have to get to the point I'm at
For a truly competitive Rifle IMO the stock is just as important as the action
Bat is the favored action by most serious competitors at this time the DS in particular. But the Panda has won its share over the years. Either one of these MUST be in a competitive stock.
Again my opinion Bruno or kelbly's don't build on the two or three stocks that are currently dominanting short range benchrest
I would advise contacting Billy Stevens Dave Bruno (no relation to other bruno) or Wayne Campbell about your build

 

[Tim Singleton]

Please arrange a trip or two to a registered matches to kick the tires in person. I wish I had done that. You will find most of us more than willing to help as much as we can
What area of the country are you?

 

[JRS]

I am considering taking my first step into short range Bench rest shooting - Light Varmint class. Both Bruno and Kelbly offer builds in this class. I currently own a Kelbly Atlas and have been well pleased with it. A rifle from Bruno would be built on a Bat action.

I am at the 'tire-kicking' stage and looking for some opinions about my 1st BR build. Would like to hear from folks who own or have owned BR rifles built by these men or perhaps other suggestions if you can avoid axe-grinding.

Thank you.

Consider purchasing a well made used gun. If you decide you don't like the short range game, you aren't out as much money. Don't get too caught-up on brand names, nor "big name" gunsmiths. Though you did not include the Marsh action in your list, don't overlook it! It is "state of the art", designed specifically for the short range game. Much of "use this one over that one" is a monkey see, monkey do thing.

 

[btc624]

Just got my first BR gun and had DAVE BRUNO do the work. Very pleased.

 

[dkhunt14]

Are you talking Bruno as in Bruno shooting supply or Dave Bruno? They both make rifles. Dave Bruno does good work. Matt

 

[Greyfox]

You will be time and $$ ahead if you will find and buy a used rifle with a proven history of winning matches. For this you should expect to spend more than the going rate for a used rifle and it will probably need a new barrel. The upside is that you will spend less on bullets, primers and powder learning with a proven winner. Bullets, barrels and powder are all expendables. Don't waste your time and $$ on a rifle that may never win anything. Once again, go with a proven winner. You won't regret it.

Rick

 

[josh shrum]

Tim is correct, go out to some shoots! I got started in short range Benchrest earlier this year, and I can tell you that the best advice I can give you as one guy who just went through all of this is the following:

1. Go to some shoots, talk to people.
2. Don't be in a hurry!!

More specifically, BAT and Panda actions are great, if you talk to the people shooting them you will hear lots of reasons why one is better than the other. I like Panda's, I win with Panda's. Then again, I also lose to BAT's. Half of the people who shot 25x's this year used a BAT, the other half used a Panda. I would advise talking to people at shoots, and on forums like this one and benchrestcentral.

It looks like you are not too far from where the IBS will be holding its 200/300 Score Nationals next month, that would be an excellent event to come and check things out.

Since you mention building a Light, can I assume you are looking more into group than score?

Feel free to PM with any questions!

 

[Tim Singleton]

The stock,stock,stock is a critically important factor

 

[josh shrum]

I again agree with Tim. The stock on your rifle is like tires on a car.

Tim, you mention Bruno's and Kelblys not using the top short range stocks, I am curious as to what you think those are? (feel free to pm)

 

[Tim Singleton]

I again agree with Tim. The stock on your rifle is like tires on a car.

Tim, you mention Bruno's and Kelblys not using the top short range stocks, I am curious as to what you think those are? (feel free to pm)

Again this is my opinion based on shooting 4or5 different ones and what I see the top Br short range group shooter's using
Scarborough, Scoville, Leonard, Roy Hunter
I have tried kelbly's McMillan, TM, spg and others
I feel there is no comparison to the low profile state of the art new designs of the Scarborough Scoville and Leonard's

I found mine used. To commission a new build you will wait a year for one of the stocks I mention. There is a reason for the demand causing the lead time
But I feel like they give a competitive edge

 

[JRS]

On the West coast, you'll find many of the Jedi Masters using Bruno/McMillan, Kelbly and Marsh/McMillan stocks, along with the pricier stocks. Another East vs West thing

 

[Tim Singleton]

I'm sure others milage may vary. Just a quick look at the world team members equipment list says a lot

 

[josh shrum]

OP, regardless of what stock you choose (and everything listed is good to go in my opinion) the single biggest factor in how well your stock works is whether or not the barreled action is straight in the stock.

Sounds like common sense because it is. Sadly, common sense is anything but common.

My short range tools:

 

[savagedasher]

I have two Scott built left handed batt scoville with extra barrels Larry

 

[Medic505]

Larry, have a (period) . or two ..

 

[savagedasher]

Larry, have a (period) . or two ..

Do you have cramps ? Larry

 

[Tim Singleton]

Equipment list from this year super shoot

 

[Tim Singleton]

2015 world benchrest team equipment list

 

[SS427]

I own a couple of Lester Bruno built BR rifles.

One is a 6mmBR with a 13.5 twist Krieger barrel, BAT B action and the older style McMillian/Bruno stock. Tracks like it is on rails and shoots incredible groups using both custom Barts and Hottenstein bullets and even Sierra 70 grain match. On some days it shoots better than my 6PPC.

The other is a 6PPC with a 13.5 twist Krieger barrel, BAT SV action and Lester's newer McMillian/Bruno style stock. It tracks okay but not like the older style stock. I agree with Tim about a good stock that tracks well, and this one is so-so. Still I have shot lots of 5 shot 5 group aggs in the very low 2's. Sadly I've yet to break the teen agg mark, but I'm sure that is because of me and the other equipment.

I'm confident a more experience person could shoot even better with these rifles. I do it for fun and have no interest in competing with anyone but myself. I use a Calwell BR rest which I'm sure compromises things. My wind flags are nothing more than ribbons on sticks but since I'm more interested in what my rifle can do than what I can do, I tend to shoot on days with little wind. I don't tune loads at the range, which probably explains why the 6BR will on occasion out-shoot the PPC. (Some days the PPC seems to be broke and the next time be dead on.)

I was satisfied enough with Lester's work that I was going to have him build me a 3rd rifle, but the price he quoted me was $3,500 and I had paid quite a bit less than that for the previous two. So I backed out.

I would not hesitate to buy another rifle from Lester, and would buy from Kelblys as well if I had the extra money, but both will want about $3,500 for a quality build. I'm working on a BR style 20 VarTarg rifle build myself and I've collected all the stuff I need...just need to decide who to chamber it. Even with the gunsmith costs, it will come in under $3,000 by a few hundred bucks. BTW - doing this myself has been a lot of fun and more satisfying. Can't wait for it to be done.