Although I’m a point blank benchrest shooter, the benchrest season closes in my part of Texas in September and doesn’t get going again till March. But there are some live varmint shooters about 100 miles from me who hold longer range matches on the forth Saturday of each month all year long. The first bench gun that I ever purchased was a big old 5†wide Hall pattern unlimited stock with an engraved Hall “B†action. When I bought it I thought I was getting something I could compete in benchrest matches with. It didn’t take long to hear about 3†wide fore stocks and weight limits. So, I’ve had this neat old gun that isn’t too useful. I did shoot it against the rail guns till I bought my own rail. Anyway, a couple of months ago Bob Estes ended up with an extra box of that new 6.5X47 Lapua brass and asked if I wanted it. Buying that box of brass meant that I had to rebuild my cruiser. I already had a 1.450 straight taper 8 twist Shilen that I had planned on chambering in 6.5X55 and putting on my big cruiser so I still needed a reamer that I got from Dave Kiff, dies, powder and bullets. Because of an article on 6mmBR.Com, I bought some 120SMKs and a pound of Reloader 15 and fire formed the hundred cases. I then tried to tune but the conditions were too switchy so I settled on 39.5 grains with the bullets on a medium jam.
My first match, yesterday, with my newly chambered 6.5X47 Lapua was a complete success. These guys shoot 6 different yardages, 5 shots at each yardage. The close in targets are shot at 4.5†X 6†targets and the longer distance targets are 5.5†X 10â€. The distances are 100 meters, 150 meters, 200 meters, 300 meters, 385 meters and 500 meters,547 yards.) The ranges are in meters because this is a silluette range.
I did well at 100 meters but then I left my rest top loose at 150 meters and did poorly. At 200 meters I dialed in the wrong come up.,Come ups are new words to this point blank shooter.) But at the longer ranges, in the wind, the little 6.5X47 really sparkled. I ended up in a tie for first place and the rules call for a sudden death shoot off at 385 meters at 4†X 11†steel knock down targets. I won the coin toss and choose to let the other guy shoot first. He missed the plate and my first shot downed it. The entry fee was $15.00 with a $10.00 cash option. My winnings came to $75.00 but it just ain’t about the money. I’m really excited to have a new place to shoot and I’m getting to use a gun that’s sat in the safe for most of the time that I’ve owned it. This longer range stuff is really a hoot.
Shelley
My first match, yesterday, with my newly chambered 6.5X47 Lapua was a complete success. These guys shoot 6 different yardages, 5 shots at each yardage. The close in targets are shot at 4.5†X 6†targets and the longer distance targets are 5.5†X 10â€. The distances are 100 meters, 150 meters, 200 meters, 300 meters, 385 meters and 500 meters,547 yards.) The ranges are in meters because this is a silluette range.
I did well at 100 meters but then I left my rest top loose at 150 meters and did poorly. At 200 meters I dialed in the wrong come up.,Come ups are new words to this point blank shooter.) But at the longer ranges, in the wind, the little 6.5X47 really sparkled. I ended up in a tie for first place and the rules call for a sudden death shoot off at 385 meters at 4†X 11†steel knock down targets. I won the coin toss and choose to let the other guy shoot first. He missed the plate and my first shot downed it. The entry fee was $15.00 with a $10.00 cash option. My winnings came to $75.00 but it just ain’t about the money. I’m really excited to have a new place to shoot and I’m getting to use a gun that’s sat in the safe for most of the time that I’ve owned it. This longer range stuff is really a hoot.
Shelley
