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If you have ever wondered what is the smallest, 5-shot group ever shot in competition, here’s the answer. In 2013 Mike Stinnett drilled a 0.0077" group at 100 yards. No it wasn’t a 6 PPC. Mike was shooting a 30 Stewart wildcat, basically a 6.5 Grendel necked up to .30 caliber.
This is a NBRSA Light Varmint class record, But Mike’s .0077” is also smaller than any group shot in any class, either NBRSA or IBS.
Click the link for details on the gun and cartridge. You will also find a table with comparative records for all 100/200/300 benchrest classes: Light Varmint, Heavy Varmint, Sporter, Unlimited. This .0077" Is the smallest five shot record group in any of those classes, both for NBRSA and for IBS.
The previous record was the "untouchable" .009" group shot by Mac McMillan in 1973:
Mac’s .009″ group was the “Holy Grail” of rifle accuracy. This .009″ record was considered by many to be unbreakable, a record that would “stand for all time”. Well, it took 40 years, but Mike Stinnett finally broke Mac’s record with an even smaller group in 2013. Stinnett’s NBRSA record .0077″ group now stands as the smallest 100-yard group ever shot in registered benchrest competition.
Here is the record certificate originally issued to Mac McMillan. We've been told Mac was shooting a .222 Remington:
If you have ever wondered what is the smallest, 5-shot group ever shot in competition, here’s the answer. In 2013 Mike Stinnett drilled a 0.0077" group at 100 yards. No it wasn’t a 6 PPC. Mike was shooting a 30 Stewart wildcat, basically a 6.5 Grendel necked up to .30 caliber.
Click the link for details on the gun and cartridge. You will also find a table with comparative records for all 100/200/300 benchrest classes: Light Varmint, Heavy Varmint, Sporter, Unlimited. This .0077" Is the smallest five shot record group in any of those classes, both for NBRSA and for IBS.
As I understand it, they originally started out by necking up and blowing the shoulder forward a tad on 220 R brass but later moved to Lapua 6.5 Grendel brass with the shoulder pushed back a little, and just bumping it back until it fit the chamber. But yes, it would be very close to a 30 Grendel/Major. I'm certainly open to correction if anyone has more specifics on the chamber dimensions. I'll post a pic of my 30 Major reamer for comparison, should anyone have a Stewart print to compare. FWIW Dwayne Cyr set a new Canadian National record in score using a 30 Major in September of last year, too. It's a good cartridge to say the least, particularly if you have a dedicated ppc bolt face.--Mike
I'm not disagreeing but that's not what the article says, in regard to the builder(s). It's very specific even. Says a Larson stock, bedded by Larson and that Stewart did all his barrels.
I'll disagree with you a little. Speedy put his hands on the Panda receiver and Ralph Stewart chambered the barrel, and Mr. Larson did the stock and bedding.
We reported two weeks ago that Texas shooter Mike Stinnett nailed a .0077 group in competition -- the smallest 5-shot group ever shot at 100 yards. This has now been officially recognized as a new NBRSA record, <a href=http://bulletin.accurateshooter.
bulletin.accurateshooter.com
Mike Stinnett .0077″ Record Group Equipment Report
Mike reports: “Several guys have asked so here is my equipment listing. The hardware build actually started in 2008 with the goal of building two identical Benchrest rifles which could be used for both group and score. The idea was to shoot 6PPC and a 30 Cal without a base rifle change.”
Action: Kelby Panda “Speedy Shorty” with solid bolt and PPC-diameter bolt face. Kelby was asked to build several actions which were identical with the intent to eliminate any variance in head space between the two new rifles. This helped me use a single set-up on sizing dies for both rifles and ammo is interchangeable. Both actions were sent to Thomas ‘Speedy’ Gonzalez to be blue-printed and have Jewell triggers installed.
Reamer: 30 STEWART (I just call it a 30 PPC as that is what everyone expects, but it is in fact a custom design and Ralph deserves about 99% of the credit).
Barrels: Krieger was selected for the barrels. After discussions with Randy Robinett of BIB Bullets, a 1:17″ twist was identified as the correct, safe solution. Ralph Stewart has cut all my chambers using a custom-designed reamer. [Our goal] was consistent headspace and Ralph has been able to keep my barrels within .0002 variance. The barrel tuner also comes from Ralph Stewart.
Stock: Larson (including action bedding)
Scope: Leupold 45X Competition in Kelby Single Screw Tall Rings
Brass: Lapua (Base case is 6.5 Grendel)
Bullets: Randy Robinett (BIB) 30 Cal. 114gr, 10 Ogive (secondary bullet; primary is 112gr BIB)
Powder: H4198 – Stout Load with 2980 FPS Velocity
Front Rest: Farley Coaxial
Bags: Micro Fiber
Flags: Graham Wind Flags (large)
About the Cartridge — 30 Stewart (Based on Lapua 6.5 Grendel Parent Brass)
Mike explains: “Our goal was to shoot H4198 as the optimal powder for stability. There were several versions of the reamer before we settled on the current configuration. I am optimized for the 10 Ogive BIB bullet, powder to the base of the bullet. I found in testing the small 30-cal case did not like compression at all. The bullet is seated only 0.12″ into the case with zero freebore.
Cases were initially created with the .220 Russian (like a PPC) but I later decided it was better to build from the 6.5 Grendel. I size the brass and bump the shoulder back until it will fit into the chamber, fill to shoulder with International Clays, cotton wad packed on top. I have a fire-forming barrel. (I would not recommend this Clays and cotton wad method in a good barrel.) After initial fire-forming, I then mandrel the neck up the rest of the way to .30 caliber, turn the necks and trim.
It takes at least 8 firings to fully form a case! If you fire only three loads I find the brass does not have a sharp shoulder or any pressure on the bolt so any die selection is incorrect. Brass continues to harden well past 25 firings. I have match brass with well over 500 rounds fired, and I have never blown a case or neck yet (using my forming method).
For loading I use a Hornady Custom Shop Sizing Die and a Ralph Stewart Custom Seating Die. For those who are curious, yes the small group was fired with pre-loaded rounds. I do this now and then with local matches or may load 50 in a batch for one match.”
Mike wanted to thank his smiths, Randy Robinett, and all the folks involved in running the matches: “A big THANKS — as these are the guys that make our matches possible and without question maintain the integrity of the targets and record system. I was very fortunate to have all the right people in the right places for this match and my record. As for measurement – I only saw the target for about 10 seconds up close and can say I’m very happy I did not have to measure that group! Thanks again to everyone!” — Mike Stinnett
All target shooters strive for perfect shot placement. Well one man has come closer to perfection than any other shooter who ever lived. You are looking at Michael Stinnett's .0077 NBRSA world-record group, the smallest 100-yard 5-shot group ever shot in the history of rifle competition. The...
I might add that all my Kelbly receivers would allow me to swap barrels between the receivers and they headspaced correctly. If they were off, it was my fault when I chambered my barrel. I didn't have that problem as holding headspace is just checking and measuring properly.
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