Beginner benchrest cartridge

[DShortt]

If you were new to benchrest and on a budget, what chambering would you recommend to yourself?

Thanks for looking.

 

[Tommie]

Short range benchrest?
6PPC

 

[SVT_Tactical]

Short range - 30BR
Long range - 6BR

 

[Schippergreg]

If you’re shooting groups 6ppc. If not competing you can pick up an older benchrest rifle pretty reasonable and put the scope of your choice on it. A lot of older bench guns were built for the Leupold and weaver 36 power scopes and it’s hard to make 10.5lbs with the newer benchrest scopes. Those older rifles are still plenty capable of shooting groups in the zeroes.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

If you’re shooting groups 6ppc. If not competing you can pick up an older benchrest rifle pretty reasonable and put the scope of your choice on it. A lot of older bench guns were built for the Leupold and weaver 36 power scopes and it’s hard to make 10.5lbs with the newer benchrest scopes. Those older rifles are still plenty capable of shooting groups in the zeroes.

This is spot on. This would be a perfect beginner set up. It would also give u a fantastic stock and action that you can screw on a new barrel to at anytime.

 

[Texas Solo]

6BR OR 6 Dasher

 

[Kevin1990]

If it weren't for the brass prep, for beginner in short range id pick the 30BR. It's just so incredibly easy to tune and keep it in tune. Brass and barrel life are insanely long, and if its not a comp gun, I'd make it heavy and reduce recoil even more. I haven't changed anything in over 800 rounds and its still shooting very tiny. Even without custom bullets it will shoot extremely well.

Second choice and on a budget would be 6br or 222 rem. Shooters corner has a pretty good selection for a cheaper bench gun and I'm sure they'll shoot tiny.

Long range? No idea, I don't play that game, but the one 6br I have is very accurate at longer distance.

 

[JB10]

I think id go 6br and do a lot of learning. Get the fundamentals down with that cartridge first. I do not neck turn anything i shoot, so get the learning curve with that easy to shoot cartridge, then branch out. I do not compete against anyone but myself. I have thought about going with a 6ppc myself but for what i do the 6br does great. This is a 5 shot group from my 6br on a budget rifle. R700 action criterion remage barrel. Im pleased.

 

[Pirate69]

I think id go 6br and do a lot of learning. Get the fundamentals down with that cartridge first. I do not neck turn anything i shoot, so get the learning curve with that easy to shoot cartridge, then branch out. I do not compete against anyone but myself. I have thought about going with a 6ppc myself but for what i do the 6br does great. This is a 5 shot group from my 6br on a budget rifle. R700 action criterion remage barrel. Im pleased.

0.25"?

 

[JB10]

Im not sure what it measured. Never checked it. But it does that constantly as long as i do my part.

 

[Will Henry]

The PPC has to be considered the best choice, but I think the 6BR is a close second. A 223 can shoot very well. Right now, I'm shooting two 6 BR's. I'm satisfied with them. A 30 BR is attractive, but just a little more trouble. WH

 

[R.Morehouse]

Now that there is very high quality brass available, I would look at the Dasher in a 17lb gun. That will give you the option to compete at 1K should the opportunity come along, and still be all you would need it to be in too 100yds. A heavier gun can be a bit more forgiving as you are developing your bench technique.

Regards
Rick

 

[demarpaint1]

6BR.

 

[DaWhit]

Short range score, 30 BR. Barrel should last for several thousand rounds. Brass life is great also.
Several powders work well in it. Easy to tune and keep there.

Local shooters recommended a 30 BR for a beginner and after researching on the web I chose a 30BR when I got into it for the barrel and brass life, no regrets there.

 

[Bill Norris]

Since the 6PPC is very accurate when tuned but also temperamental at times I'd say the 30BR. Just so many plus marks on that side of the page. Makes sense to begin at short range either score or group.

 

[varmintshooter]

222

 

[Fuj]

New and on a budget ?? .222

Which benchrest and it's range ?? I mean, the 100 yard guy's
won't get it at Williamsport......LOL

 

[JMayo]

Budget be damned, Lmbo !
This stuff doesn't play well with a budget !
Savage is budget.
There are allot of AR style rifles with custom barrels out there. Looks interesting. Idk those prices.

Custom br that i do know is around 5k, then a scope. Just to start shooting.

30br sure does last longer, upwards of 3k rounds "if you get a good barrel" cases last really long time.

I started with a 17lb 600yrd rifle. Cases last a long time. 2k rounds.
i found short range 1,2,300 yrd, (no group games around here) 30 br.. not really a group cartridge.
6ppc or smaller for group but can't compete to hitting same size x's with 30br.

Raising a family & doing this hobby is gonna be trying. The start up will sure make you pucker up.

 

[Rwfish]

Doesn’t anyone want to know if the OP plans to shoot Short / Long range or Score vs. Group
?

 

[BoydAllen]

If you were new to benchrest and on a budget, what chambering would you recommend to yourself?

Thanks for looking.

Are we talking about registered competition or something else? If a person is interested in learning about how to shoot smaller groups, and most of that is going to be at 100 yards, the .222 is an excellent candidate. Back in the day I put one together just for that purpose. I still have it, and it still shoots. It was the rifle I started using home made wind flags with, and started loading at the range for. I learned a lot, and components are less expensive and barrel life a little longer than a 6PPC