Hello. I'm new to Accurate Shooter, and am getting into BR Competition.

[quest450]

since you're shooting 600 and 1k listen to long range benchrest shooters

as mentioned before buy once cry once, get yourself a reamer and a custom die to match the chamber

consider going to BRA if you're gonna shoot 1K

Flags.....fuggedaboutit, not as important as shooting fast and smooth, get five rounds off in less than 10 seconds, practice muscle memory using dummy rounds loading from ammo caddy to your chamber without moving your head off the glass

get yourself a decent spotting scope and spy on best shooters to see how they manage sighters, going from steel to the target

 

[Brew2]

My biggest mistake when I first started Benchrest back in the Mid 1990’s was not buying a custom action from day one to build a rifle.

As for your needs right now at longer ranges, I would build a no neck turn .272 neck 6BRA with a .103 throat.

We have ordered a Kauger PIII i believe.

 

[Brew2]

What ranges do you shoot at now ?

I live north of Two Harbors, Mn. Agate Bay gun Club ia a small 700 yd range.

 

[Brew2]

Spend wisely. It is going to be expensive. A proven used gun is cheaper than having a new unproven gun.

Don’t fall into the trap that you need the most expensive reloading tools to be successful. A cheap Partner press can make ammo as good as a $1000 soup de jour press. The die does all the important work anyway. I would be inclined to spend more money a good custom die that plays nice with my chamber than I would on a press.

Not all custom bullets are created equal. I immediately became a better shooter when I moved from Brand X to Brand Y. Keep your options open and do not be hard headed the way I was. I wasted a lot of time and resources trying to make bad bullets shoot good.

Thanks. Yes my gunsmith will be doing the reaming of course and will be making me my dies.

 

[Brew2]

The 6BR will be great for 600yds and in, further out, there are better options. I shoot a 6 Dasher, the mentioned 6 BRA is another good one for 1000yd BR......

I suggest getting your own reamer and a set of custom dies to match.....You will be glad you did. Alpha makes good Reamer/Brass/Die combos for the calibers you are looking at.

Regards
Rick

Yes, thanks. My gunsmith will be reaming my barrel and making my dies.

 

[Brew2]

If you have any questions about shooting rest, let me know I might be able to help.

Mark Johnson
MA Machine & Benchrest Service

Yes. My gunsmith has offered to make one for me and am using one of his now. But I am interested in looking at other options. Especially a coaxial. Im off fishing now but would like to hear from you. Thanks.

 

[JFrank]

Yes my gunsmith will be doing the reaming of course and will be making me my dies.

My gunsmith has offered to make one for me and am using one of his now.

That’s quite a gunsmith you have, better keep his name private or he’ll be too busy to answer the phone. lol

 

[jackieschmidt]

Flags.....fuggedaboutit, not as important as shooting fast and smooth, get five rounds off in less than 10 seconds, practice muscle memory using dummy rounds loading from ammo caddy to your chamber without moving your head off the glass

probably good advice. Precision flag reading more or less ends at just over 300 yards. When Shooting at long range, speed is paramount.

Short range is different. You have to be able to read flags and shoot fast and smooth if the situation presents it’s self.

 

[TIMO]

Welcome to the forum. A ton of info here.
Find that mentor that you can relate to and ask question of all shooters and be observant that everyone has their own technique. Consistency in everything you do that is related from ammo, setup, trigger control to assessing your targets and scores after each range session or match.
Tim

 

[std7mag]

@Brew2, welcome to the forum!

I'm sorry for your wallet, savings account, kids college fund, vacation time.

My biggest surprise with short range BR was wind flags and good glass.

Shooting only a 100-400 yards, I thought I was going to be ok with a Sightron STAC 4-20X56 for the 223 Rem.
Oh how wrong I was!!
Quality glass with more than enough magnification is what you want.
I'm now shooting a Sightron SIII 10-50X60. I usually only use in the 28-32 power, but it's nice to have the higher magnification for when you can use it.

 

[Brew2]

Thanks. Will be shooting @ 600+. I went with NF 15-55 x 52 w. the BBR-2 reticle.

 

[LCazador]

That wind flags are as important or maybe more so, than any other piece of equipment you can buy to improve your shooting. There is virtually no such thing as a no wind condition. Even if there was, I prefer a light, honest wind. Equipment and tune are important, but only if they shoot within the conditions. The only way to know the condition...is flags. So don't waste time, money and components even trying to tune without flags. In summary...every single shot you fire without flags is a total waste.

This is without a doubt the best suggestion! I wish I would have done it back 50 years ago when I started shooting BR. I had a great mentor, a BR guy and gunsmith but he never used flags. He was a "runner" and shot them in 60 seconds or less.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

probably good advice. Precision flag reading more or less ends at just over 300 yards. When Shooting at long range, speed is paramount.

Short range is different. You have to be able to read flags and shoot fast and smooth if the situation presents it’s self.

Then how do you know which 10 seconds to send them in? I'm positive flags help at all ranges. I hear it all the time from long range shooters who have gone to using flags. Not only that, but for tuning, too. And look at Bart! He does ok with flags. Lol!

 

[std7mag]

Then how do you know which 10 seconds to send them in? I'm positive flags help at all ranges. I hear it all the time from long range shooters who have gone to using flags. Not only that, but for tuning, too. And look at Bart! He does ok with flags. Lol!

Oh, they are definitely used for short range BR also!

I haven't seen @JEFFPPC at a match without them!

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Oh, they are definitely used for short range BR also!

I haven't seen @JEFFPPC at a match without them!

You'll almost never see a sr shooter without flags. The LR guys are coming around to them now.

 

[JFrank]

Long range is a different discipline. Short range guys might be scratching their heads when they pull in on Friday to do a little tuning and all you get is a pin wheel flag at 90 yards and a simple ribbon at 1K. ( and sometimes I wonder myself ) lol

View attachment 1595756

 

[std7mag]

Yeah, I don't have any wind flags.

I tried the short range BR game.
While I enjoy it, and the people, my focus is really on hunting.
Another reason that I like the mid range & long range matches more, to a degree.
I do it for the attention to the act of shooting, getting in good habits.
I don't care for the 20 round strings.

One thing I did learn at Reade Range.
You need to pay attention to the surrounding terrain.
And how high the wind flags are.
Wind flags were blowing right to left.
Mirage, down lower was going left to right.
Tried holding for the wind flags and sent it way right.

 

[Brew2]

Thanks to all of you for the tremendous feedback. I will take every word to heart. I look forward to this, and especially the competition.

Thanks, Brew2

 

[WIB3]

For 1000yd BR, find a good gun smith. There a many out there. I have yet in 30yrs have met any competitor that could read flags. Good barrels and good bullets will help you tremendously. There are a few custom bullet makers out there who turn out fantastic products. Don’t expect overnight delivery though. There is a good year waiting period. 103 to 105 seems to be the ticket. Personally I prefer Kreiger barrels, they have historically been very good to me but others are very competitive. The game is won on the reloading bench but Mother Nature has the final word. Have fun and enjoy.

 

[WIB3]

For 600-1000yd give Alex Wheeler a call. He will be happy to talk with you and give you sound and trusted feedback. Spend once and enjoy forever.