Ely test range is moving to Georgia.

[TRSR8]

Unfortunately the supply question is hard to answer. Lapua doesn’t give us any forecast type info so I can’t guess availability. I can tell you we have a mountain of it on back order and have been receiving sizable shipments recently. Lapua Long Range and Super Long Range are more available than Midas and Center X and we’ll certainly be testing those.

Eley has been working closely with us and the forecast there looks promising. The Eley I’ve shot myself recently has been superb.

We are told that we will have RWS in May.

We have been shooting some Norma XLR with good results and will have more of it in a couple of weeks. This ammo will also be worth testing.

Thank you for all the timely updates.
One last question, for various ammo, especially should you be able to secure any supplies of Midas and CenterX, may I assume there will be purchase limitations involved?

 

[whiddengunworks]

We expect to receive some Midas and Center X. We don't plan any purchase limits on any ammo.

 

[rickytan]

@whiddengunworks

I assume we would pay your retail price for ammo? Unlike the Lapua center where we purchase from our dealer of choice.

 

[VLNBYR]

Of course you're going to pay inflated retail, that's the whole point of the facility.

 

[tactserv]

To get ammo that my gun likes, a bit more to get what works doesn't seem too bad. I just spent $300 on test lots to find the best that my guess of prospective lots might offer. Now I have $175 of warm up ammo. If testing through them and buying the really best of what is available cost me a bit more for a case, I'm in.

 

[whiddengunworks]

rickytan, yes the price will be our regular retail.

 

[Ccrider]

@whiddengunworks, will you be able to test glued in br type rifles?

 

[rickytan]

rickytan, yes the price will be our regular retail.

Thank you for the response. Is there a testing fee as well? I’m just trying to dial in what to expect.

 

[whiddengunworks]

Ccrider, we have a rest that should accommodate your glued in BR rifle with no problem.

rickytan, we plan a flat testing fee then a small charge for each lot tested. If a guy wants everything in the house tested, that will cost a little more than just testing say 10-12 lots of a chosen brand.

We'll be in touch with the customer before testing to accommodate their wishes. For example we can test the very top ammo for utmost accuracy and we can also test some less expensive ammo for practice purposes. We plan to offer lots of options to the customer.

Testing Eley ammo will be just slightly different. We'll be using the methods prescribed exactly by Eley. We'll test Tenex and Ultra Extreme Long Range with at least 15 lots fired with 10 shots each. After this first round of testing, the best looking lots will have an additional 30 rounds fired for further verification.

 

[philaltho]

Ccrider, we have a rest that should accommodate your glued in BR rifle with no problem.

rickytan, we plan a flat testing fee then a small charge for each lot tested. If a guy wants everything in the house tested, that will cost a little more than just testing say 10-12 lots of a chosen brand.

We'll be in touch with the customer before testing to accommodate their wishes. For example we can test the very top ammo for utmost accuracy and we can also test some less expensive ammo for practice purposes. We plan to offer lots of options to the customer.

Testing Eley ammo will be just slightly different. We'll be using the methods prescribed exactly by Eley. We'll test Tenex and Ultra Extreme Long Range with at least 15 lots fired with 10 shots each. After this first round of testing, the best looking lots will have an additional 30 rounds fired for further verification.

What is the flat testing fee? When will testing start? How do we schedule a test?

 

[whiddengunworks]

We don't have the testing fee solidified yet. We are still waiting for our target system to arrive from Megalink. Once we have it in hand we'll be able to determine the time required for testing and the fee structure.

We plan to begin testing near May 1. If you'd like, email us at whiddengunworks@yahoo.com and we will put you on a notification list. We will have a place on our website where you choose an appointment time and date. This isn't on the website just yet.

I appreciate the interest and encouragement! We still have plenty of work ahead of us to get up and running but we're working hard at it each day.

 

[Mike_Carter]

I was one of the privileged few who were beta testers for the Whidden Eley test bench. Martyn Buttery and Mike Atkinson from Eley UK came over the past weekend to train the WGW staff on the Eley methodology.

The point being, each test center in the world is doing it exactly the same. John has two benches set up side by side and they are of identical construction. The Eley testing will be done on a Meyton target system at 50 Meters because that is the Eley standard and the evaluation software is written to work with Meyton. Beside that target, and at 100 meters, is a Megalink target. As of our visit the Megalink targets were installed but not operational due to a software activation issue they had to work out with Megalink.

Being able to make one trip and test Eley, Lapua, SK, Norma and RWS ammo is something that has never been available to anyone, probably in the world. On top of that, if you make the effort to test and a suitable lot can't be found, one might assume the gun has issues and while there you have the chance to have it examined by a world class rifle builder.

The other intangible benefit is the impartial approach to testing that comes from an independent tester. Granted, Whidden has partnered with Eley but I truly believe the data coming out of this test range will benefit the rimfire shooting community. Lessons were learned while we were their by Eley and the WGW staff. I don't know what processes will be followed when testing the other brands of ammo but I suspect it will closely resemble the Eley process, especially if testing multiple brands and grades. The difference is on the Megalink bench one will get shot information at 50 meters and 100 meters. While not in place during our visit there is ample room beside the benches to get down in position and validate the ammo while shooting it from the shoulder or from a rest, for those who might not trust the results from a rigid mounting.

Speaking of rigid: I placed my iPhone on the vice while testing my rifle. I have a vibration analysis app on the phone that is basically a seismograph strip chart. The static vibration of the bench was less than +- .001 G's. I tapped on the vice with my knuckles to make it register and it didn't move the "needle". I also opened and closed my bolt a few times with the same result. Once we fired the rifle the needle did move but it recovered back to the static range in less than 200 milliseconds. The concrete is stable and the bench is stable. The only motion being transmitted to the rifle is the vibration of the earth.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

I was one of the privileged few who were beta testers for the Whidden Eley test bench. Martyn Buttery and Mike Atkinson from Eley UK came over the past weekend to train the WGW staff on the Eley methodology.

The point being, each test center in the world is doing it exactly the same. John has two benches set up side by side and they are of identical construction. The Eley testing will be done on a Meyton target system at 50 Meters because that is the Eley standard and the evaluation software is written to work with Meyton. Beside that target, and at 100 meters, is a Megalink target. As of our visit the Megalink targets were installed but not operational due to a software activation issue they had to work out with Megalink.

Being able to make one trip and test Eley, Lapua, SK, Norma and RWS ammo is something that has never been available to anyone, probably in the world. On top of that, if you make the effort to test and a suitable lot can't be found, one might assume the gun has issues and while there you have the chance to have it examined by a world class rifle builder.

The other intangible benefit is the impartial approach to testing that comes from an independent tester. Granted, Whidden has partnered with Eley but I truly believe the data coming out of this test range will benefit the rimfire shooting community. Lessons were learned while we were their by Eley and the WGW staff. I don't know what processes will be followed when testing the other brands of ammo but I suspect it will closely resemble the Eley process, especially if testing multiple brands and grades. The difference is on the Megalink bench one will get shot information at 50 meters and 100 meters. While not in place during our visit there is ample room beside the benches to get down in position and validate the ammo while shooting it from the shoulder or from a rest, for those who might not trust the results from a rigid mounting.

Speaking of rigid: I placed my iPhone on the vice while testing my rifle. I have a vibration analysis app on the phone that is basically a seismograph strip chart. The static vibration of the bench was less than +- .001 G's. I tapped on the vice with my knuckles to make it register and it didn't move the "needle". I also opened and closed my bolt a few times with the same result. Once we fired the rifle the needle did move but it recovered back to the static range in less than 200 milliseconds. The concrete is stable and the bench is stable. The only motion being transmitted to the rifle is the vibration of the earth.

Thank you for sharing the information on this new test center. if I read correctly the rifle/action will be fixed with no movement from recoil forces?

Lee

 

[TZaun]

I was one of the privileged few who were beta testers for the Whidden Eley test bench. Martyn Buttery and Mike Atkinson from Eley UK came over the past weekend to train the WGW staff on the Eley methodology.

The point being, each test center in the world is doing it exactly the same. John has two benches set up side by side and they are of identical construction. The Eley testing will be done on a Meyton target system at 50 Meters because that is the Eley standard and the evaluation software is written to work with Meyton. Beside that target, and at 100 meters, is a Megalink target. As of our visit the Megalink targets were installed but not operational due to a software activation issue they had to work out with Megalink.

Being able to make one trip and test Eley, Lapua, SK, Norma and RWS ammo is something that has never been available to anyone, probably in the world. On top of that, if you make the effort to test and a suitable lot can't be found, one might assume the gun has issues and while there you have the chance to have it examined by a world class rifle builder.

The other intangible benefit is the impartial approach to testing that comes from an independent tester. Granted, Whidden has partnered with Eley but I truly believe the data coming out of this test range will benefit the rimfire shooting community. Lessons were learned while we were their by Eley and the WGW staff. I don't know what processes will be followed when testing the other brands of ammo but I suspect it will closely resemble the Eley process, especially if testing multiple brands and grades. The difference is on the Megalink bench one will get shot information at 50 meters and 100 meters. While not in place during our visit there is ample room beside the benches to get down in position and validate the ammo while shooting it from the shoulder or from a rest, for those who might not trust the results from a rigid mounting.

Speaking of rigid: I placed my iPhone on the vice while testing my rifle. I have a vibration analysis app on the phone that is basically a seismograph strip chart. The static vibration of the bench was less than +- .001 G's. I tapped on the vice with my knuckles to make it register and it didn't move the "needle". I also opened and closed my bolt a few times with the same result. Once we fired the rifle the needle did move but it recovered back to the static range in less than 200 milliseconds. The concrete is stable and the bench is stable. The only motion being transmitted to the rifle is the vibration of the earth.

Great write-up Mike.

 

[Allen Corneau]

With the other test centers backed up for six months or more, and this one being able to test all major brands of ammo side by side, they probably could have tripled the number of lanes and will still be backed up for months. Just my guess.

I really do wish John and the WGW team the best in this new endeavor. I’m sure it will keep them busy!

 

[gaboy]

Got my appointment scheduled for next Thursday.
Can't wait

 

[gaboy]

Went to the Eley test center in Nashville Ga. on Thursday.
Had a great experience with the testing crew.
They all went out of their way to make sure my time there was a success.
Looks like we found some good ammo and can't wait to get some down range.
If you're in need of some good ammo, this might be your best opportunity.

Thanks to Whidden Gunworks and the whole crew for making my time there feel like I was a part of the family. Can't wait to come back.

Rick

 

[jpx2rk]

How many lots/brands were you able to test?

 

[gaboy]

How many lots/brands were you able to test?

I only tested Eley. Started with 14 different lots of Tenex, shooting 10 shot groups.
Then went back and retested the 5 best lots, shooting 3 more 10 shot groups.
Eley (not the test center) only allows testing of Tenex. They don't have Match (black box) ammo there to test.

They do test other brands of ammo. I think it's RWS, SK, CENTER X and some others.
I think John listed them all in a previous post.

Rick

 

[Pinetreebbs]

Had a great afternoon getting my Bergara H1-4R lot tested at Whidden Gunworks.

I had an appointment last Friday, 5-17-2024 to lot test my Bergara H-14R. We drove down to their shop from North Augusta and had a 1:30 PM appointment. We arrived a little early. The folks at Whidden GunWorks welcomed us in and led to the testing range. Jeremy and Lamar were running the test and explained the process. There are two very substantial test fixtures and associated target/data systems that allow two tests to be run simultaneously. Another gentleman was there to get his Voodoo run through the Eley test and I was there to get the Lapua/SK/Norma ammunition series. Both test are very through and include 50 and 100 meter data.

Both Jeremy and Lamar are shooters, took exceptional care of our rifles, and throughly explained the testing as well an analyses of the results. I was happy to find a lot of CenterX that shot better than the Midas+ I had managed to buy recently.

I highly recommend getting your rifles lot tested at Whidden Gunworks, they are great folks and do a great job. I have been a customer of their centerfire loading tools and ammunition and it was a pleasure to meet them in person.