Bench Rest Build...Help Getting Started, and beyond.

[hookem69]

It's great that we have forums to guide us in our interests. I'm calling on the experience of the folks here to lend feedback. Thank you in advance for your input. There is no bad feedback.

I have some experience shooting F Class 1000 yd with a 308 I built. I did ok, but the guys with those heavy, loud-colored, 20 lb rifles were killin me. I hand load and reload in my shop, but I'm not set up or experienced to do serious gunsmithing.

I'd like to have a 6.5-284 bench rest rifle built. I've seen nice components as related to this website. Where does a fellow start? Do I buy an action, barrel, stock...and drop my pile of components at a smitty shop, and ask for him to build a rifle? Do I get with a smitty first? I have an idea about what I want, just not sure of the road to get me there. I want to have a high end rifle built. I've been down the budget road. I want a Cadillac now. ;D

Thanks again for getting me started. I look forward to all suggestions.

Happy New Year to all!

Wayne

 

[Terry]

Start with the Smith. Find a good one and take his advice.

Terry

 

[jonbearman]

I know there are some fine smiths in texas and you need to check the gunsmith index on the home page.I live in new york and have used gre-tan in colorado and was very pleased with his service and workmanship.Bryant Custom rifles in wheeler tx 1-806-826-5618,he is listed on our list and you could try kelblys for the whole rig and they are in ohio.

 

[Darrel Martin]

Hookem69,
Welcome to the madness,it seems you are about to get seriously hooked. I agree with the above advice to start with a smith.At the risk of appearing to shamelessly promote my friends, I will give you a couple of names in Texas.It may not be proper forum etiquette to shamelessly promote your friends,but I am an east Texas redneck surgeon so I don't know any better.
If you live in the Dallas - Fort Worth area try "Stick" at S&S Precision.If you live in the San Antonio-Austin area try Sam and Joe Duke of Little Creek Rifles. I am sure there are plenty other good smiths,but these guys have produced a lot of good guns and they are very good people.
You might enjoy a video showing a sample of the type work they produce.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1opz3d97iY8&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Hope to run into you at one of our matches. If you are anywhere near Huntsville,we have a 600 yd range built by Mike Cockcroft and will be shooting fairly regularly as we get into the new year. Don't hesitate to pm me or Mike to come out and shoot with us.
Darrel

 

[fullersson]

Find a good smith and TAKE HIS ADVICE! The reason I put it like that is just because someone charges a lot of money for a service doesn't mean it will make the rifle shoot better. If you don't know what you are doing find someone who knows and LISTEN! God bless you, Brian Brown.

 

[johara1]

If you go to the match and see what the winners are using,ask questions,check match reports and see what they use. Write down what components win and use those for a guide on the build. Then find a smith that is used by the people that win,if they don't do it them selves.
The big thing is to find a Smith that does what you want,and not the one that tells you one thing and does a other like,you want a 30" 1-8 HV. and you end up with a 28" 1-9 LV. because he had it on hand , or you ask for a .266 neck and end up with a no turn.272. I just found out about this the other day and it happened to a guy i know.
Do your homework and know what components you need, stock? action i would use a F class panda action, barrel,scope,rings. Keep it simple and then get into how to load for long range and you will be fine...jim

 

[hookem69]

Thanks for all the valuable feedback, folks. The starting point is crystal clear. I especially appreciate the specific suggestions to research smitty's you have had good experience with.

Hey doc, I belong to Bayou Rifles, south of Houston. We have regular matches out to 1000 yds. A really nice facility. If you make it down for a match, holler at me.

Thanks again to all.


Wayne

 

[bdale]

Your in Texas i would let S&S Precision Rifles build my gun, talk to stick he will do it right

 

[TxBoy]

+1 for Stick at S&S. I was in the same boat 9 months ago. Best thing I did was go to Mike Cockcrofts range in Huntsville and talk, I mean LISTEN to what several shooters and smiths had to say. Best info I got that day was to decide on what you want to do with the rifle before deciding on what caliber to build. The group that shoots in Huntsville is very nice and willing to help.

Danny

 

[artbosco]

If you live in the San Antonio-Austin area try Sam and Joe Duke of Little Creek Rifles.

+1 for the Dukes in Utopia, TX, WNW of San Antonio. Joe's a fine short-range Benchrest shooter too.

 

[Darrel Martin]

Wayne,
Making it down to Bayou Rifles is on my "to do " list this year.
Darrel

Thanks for all the valuable feedback, folks. The starting point is crystal clear. I especially appreciate the specific suggestions to research smitty's you have had good experience with.

Hey doc, I belong to Bayou Rifles, south of Houston. We have regular matches out to 1000 yds. A really nice facility. If you make it down for a match, holler at me.

Thanks again to all.


Wayne

 

[Cimarron2011]

Hookem,

I am a Bayou Rifles member as well. I am just now building a .308 to get LR qualified. Sounds like I am about a year behind your evolution. Even though the delivery date is mid-March, I am already planning my next build. I may do a 6.5, but I am leaning toward 7mm. Either .280 AI or 7mm SAUM.

Currently, I spend most of my rifle time on the 100 and the 300.

I sure wish we had some between 300 and 600!

See you at the range!

Cimarron

 

[hookem69]

Hey BRI Bro,

Our paths are certainly parallel. I still love my little .308. It's proven at 1000, and that tickles me to pieces. Get with Bob Mullins on your LR qualification. He's a real nice fellow and a library of LR shooting info and experience. If you need someone to pull target for you during the week for your qualification, shoot me an email.

Wayne

 

[hookem69]

Well, my bench rest rifle turned into a tactical/varmint/F-class....mutt rifle. Here's the blueprint:

6.5-284
Stiller TAC 300 action (thanks 6mmbr )
Krieger #10 30" stainless, 1:8 (Cerakote finish to be done after barrel install)
Bell & Carlson adjustable tac stock (#2098/black with red spider)
Wyatt's detachable mag w/ integrated trigger guard
Jewell HVR trigger
NF 5.5-22 scope (in stock )

I'll shoot pics to add to the 6mmbr collection when it's done...in about 7 months

Thanks again for the kind feedback and shared experience. Ugh, Ill be at the 3 gun range until my build comes in. :

Wayne

 

[Cimarron2011]

Which 3 gun range do you use?

 

[Cimarron2011]

Hey BRI Bro,

Our paths are certainly parallel. I still love my little .308. It's proven at 1000, and that tickles me to pieces. Get with Bob Mullins on your LR qualification. He's a real nice fellow and a library of LR shooting info and experience. If you need someone to pull target for you during the week for your qualification, shoot me an email.

Wayne

Thanks Wayne. I will be getting with Bob in March or April...after I get the .308 broken in.

Had a surprise at Bayou last week. A couple of guys showed up at the 100 with 338 Lapuas. They said that they were new to the range; I told them that they were not supposed to run 338 Lapua or similar rigs at BR.

A few minutes later Bob showed up to do their LR qualification. I was happy to find out that there was a rules change for 2012. 338 Lapua and 408 Cheytec are now approved for use.

 

[hookem69]

I recently joined West Houston Shooting Club (formerly west Houston idpa), and they have monthly 3 gun and other pistol only matches monthly out at Impact Zone. I Z is between Brookshire and Hempstead. I observed a 3 gun match there recently. I was impressed that it was a loose group of folks, having fun and helping each other.

They turned me on to an incredible shooting facility near Navasota, Cawthon Cartridge Club. They have tons of instructional courses and competitive shooting, including a phenomenal 3 gun course. I'll get my feet wet out at I Z, then shoot some 3 gun at CCC in July.

I hope I find time to do a little fishing this year. ;D

W

 

[hookem69]

Hey BRI Bro,

Our paths are certainly parallel. I still love my little .308. It's proven at 1000, and that tickles me to pieces. Get with Bob Mullins on your LR qualification. He's a real nice fellow and a library of LR shooting info and experience. If you need someone to pull target for you during the week for your qualification, shoot me an email.

Wayne

Thanks Wayne. I will be getting with Bob in March or April...after I get the .308 broken in.

Had a surprise at Bayou last week. A couple of guys showed up at the 100 with 338 Lapuas. They said that they were new to the range; I told them that they were not supposed to run 338 Lapua or similar rigs at BR.

A few minutes later Bob showed up to do their LR qualification. I was happy to find out that there was a rules change for 2012. 338 Lapua and 408 Cheytec are now approved for use.



Wow! I was not aware of that rule change. 1000 yd matches just got real interesting at BRI. Lord, I hope I don't have to shoot next to one of those during a match. Ouch!

During Thanksgiving, there were some newbies shooting full auto stuff down at the 1000. Claimed they didn't know the rule prohibiting NFA rigs out there.

Remember, if you qualify during the week, and need someone to pull target, holler.

W

 

[nhm16]

If you are a Bayou Rifles member look talk to Kenny Porter. He's not a member but competes there. He does a good bit of work for the long range and mid range competitors, and built my Stiller tactical rifle. PM me for his contact info.