Benchrest Heavy Class Group and Tapered Barrels - Information wanted?

[Michael Huebner]

We are having a debate in Australia about the use of parallel barrels within the Benchrest Group Heavy Class, primarily should they be allowed for use for qualification for World Championships. The parallel barrels have slowly appeared here over the last 7 yrs or so, as we do not have a rule like the NBRSA barrel taper rule. Infact the only barrel rule we have is minimum length 18”.

Why did the NBRSA only allow tapered barrels what was the reasoning behind this decision?

Do competitors believe their is an advantage when using a parallel barrel against a tapered barrel in Short Range group shooting in Heavy Class?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. If you wish you can email me direct on mhuebner@y7mail.com and let me know any information you may want to share.

Regards

Michael Huebner (AUSTRALIA)

 

[hoz53]

We are having a debate in Australia about the use of parallel barrels within the Benchrest Group Heavy Class, primarily should they be allowed for use for qualification for World Championships. The parallel barrels have slowly appeared here over the last 7 yrs or so, as we do not have a rule like the NBRSA barrel taper rule. Infact the only barrel rule we have is minimum length 18”.

Why did the NBRSA only allow tapered barrels what was the reasoning behind this decision?

Do competitors believe their is an advantage when using a parallel barrel against a tapered barrel in Short Range group shooting in Heavy Class?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. If you wish you can email me direct on mhuebner@y7mail.com and let me know any information you may want to share.

Regards

Michael Huebner (AUSTRALIA)

im no authority or even a competitor but i was under the impression barrels are tapered to make weight as we have HV and LV clases here.

 

[Michael Huebner]

im no authority or even a competitor but i was under the impression barrels are tapered to make weight as we have HV and LV clases here.

Thanks for replying

Yes, but 13.5lb overall weight for Heavy allows a substantial barrel. Pretty hard to get to Heavy 13.5lb if your using a stock/action that gets you to Light Varmint.
You won’t get there with Heavy Varmint taper barrel alone without say a tungsten weight in rear of stock.
You will with a parallel barrel though

 

[DaveTooley]

The rules were established in the days of heavy wood stocks, heavy optics and sleeved actions. Tapered barrels were a necessity. There may be a few individuals still alive that know why the specific taper rule was written the way it is.

 

[rwj]

The rules were established in the days of heavy wood stocks, heavy optics and sleeved actions. Tapered barrels were a necessity. There may be a few individuals still alive that know why the specific taper rule was written the way it is.

This article dovetails with the insight provided by @DaveTooley and suggests that the tapered configuration is the best geometric solution for the weight constraint and optimal barrel performance.

A Look at the Rigidity of Benchrest Barrels - Lilja

While there are a number of factors that determine the accuracy of a rifle barrel, one of the more critical elements is its stiffness or rigidity. Obviously the larger in diameter a barrel is, the stiffer it will be. Almost as obviously, as the length of a barrel increases it becomes more...

riflebarrels.com

 

[marchx]

This article dovetails with the insight provided by @DaveTooley and suggests that the tapered configuration is the best geometric solution for the weight constraint and optimal barrel performance.

A Look at the Rigidity of Benchrest Barrels - Lilja

While there are a number of factors that determine the accuracy of a rifle barrel, one of the more critical elements is its stiffness or rigidity. Obviously the larger in diameter a barrel is, the stiffer it will be. Almost as obviously, as the length of a barrel increases it becomes more...

riflebarrels.com

Weight aspect aside, according to Dan's paper, isn't the straight profile the one giving you the least amount of deflection?

 

[geo.ulrich]

Michael, Most of the minutes from bod are on the NBRSA website they go back pretty far, its probably your best chance of finding anything on why rule was written. just look in bod minutes...

 

[rwj]

Weight aspect aside, according to Dan's paper, isn't the straight profile the one giving you the least amount of deflection?

I see it that way too. But like with all solutions, one has to pick what aspect(s) that they want to optimize… choose wisely!

 

[Michael Huebner]

Michael, Most of the minutes from bod are on the NBRSA website they go back pretty far, its probably your best chance of finding anything on why rule was written. just look in bod minutes...

Thanks George I will take a look.
I was also after opinion if people thought a parallel might shoot better or easier.
I have my own opinion, as have used them but understand that most likely in the USA they may not have so much due to the rules that have been in place for barrel taper in Heavy Varmint.

 

[geo.ulrich]

Michael, Going back to the start. people started making barrels and rifles heavier. I believe this is when the varmint classes were born. as for using a straight barrel vs a tapered on a 13.5 rifle I would think it would be alittle nose heavy without offsetting weight in the back...

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Id make sure you qualify and show up to compete with a tapered barrel. Youre not losing any accuracy i assure you or the rules would have been changed

 

[DaveTooley]

I figure a couple of guys got hot and were whiping everyone with straight barrels. Which prompted a rule change to tapered barrels. We all know there is no difference in accuracy.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Aren’t the World Team Qualifying and Championships shot in NBRSA LV 10.5 and HV 13.5 weight classes.?

 

[Michael Huebner]

Aren’t the World Team Qualifying and Championships shot in NBRSA LV 10.5 and HV 13.5 weight classes.?

Jackie yes they are in the USA.
The Australian rule book does not preclude the use of a parallel barrel in Heavy.

 

[Michael Huebner]

I figure a couple of guys got hot and were wiping everyone with straight barrels. Which prompted a rule change to tapered barrels. We all know there is no difference in accuracy.

Dave,
I am going to have to disagree with you on your last statement.
The evidence is showing that the parallel barrel is shooting better than a light Varmint with barrel taper (Notice I didn’t say smaller groups)
When we look at the results it is more likely the winner of Heavy has used a parallel barrel.
Cheers
Michael

 

[jackieschmidt]

Jackie yes they are in the USA.
The Australian rule book does not preclude the use of a parallel barrel in Heavy.

I see What you mean.

It would be disheartening to have a great shooting Heavy Varmint that helped in making the World Team with a barrel profile that did not meet the rules as set forth by the NBRSA.

As to your question, the very best shooting 30 caliber barrel I ever had on my HV Varmint for Score Rifle was actually a Light Varmint profile.

 

[expiper]

it seems like there are a lot of people who do not know where the improvements of target rifles have came from over the years --whether you shoot palma---F class (belly benchrest)---long range benchrest ---the various components like actions ((Stole-BAT-Borden-Hart-Hall-Shilen-Witchita (sp)--and all of the various Remington clones--the many comp 2oz style triggers--barell groove design and mfg--bullet design and last but not least the introducton of light weight internal adj scopes ---these all come from the minds of countless "B"enchrest competitors and has trickled down to the many other disciplines and the improvements have been used to build rifles that have distinclty changed all of our shooting skills--I was at the nationals in Fairchance PA in the early 90's and saw Tony win the Unlimited with a Sporter just to show us it cold be done--I dont remember it it was NBRSA (8 tens at 100/200) or IBS (5 tens at 100/200) but never the less it proved to everyone all profiles are capable of winning accuracy but the most important factor is to know where to put the crosshairs on the target--Roger

 

[DaveTooley]

Dave,
I am going to have to disagree with you on your last statement.
The evidence is showing that the parallel barrel is shooting better than a light Varmint with barrel taper (Notice I didn’t say smaller groups)
When we look at the results it is more likely the winner of Heavy has used a parallel barrel.
Cheers
Michael

Many different facets to the word better.

 

[geo.ulrich]

it seems like there are a lot of people who do not know where the improvements of target rifles have came from over the years --whether you shoot palma---F class (belly benchrest)---long range benchrest ---the various components like actions ((Stole-BAT-Borden-Hart-Hall-Shilen-Witchita (sp)--and all of the various Remington clones--the many comp 2oz style triggers--barell groove design and mfg--bullet design and last but not least the introducton of light weight internal adj scopes ---these all come from the minds of countless "B"enchrest competitors and has trickled down to the many other disciplines and the improvements have been used to build rifles that have distinclty changed all of our shooting skills--I was at the nationals in Fairchance PA in the early 90's and saw Tony win the Unlimited with a Sporter just to show us it cold be done--I dont remember it it was NBRSA (8 tens at 100/200) or IBS (5 tens at 100/200) but never the less it proved to everyone all profiles are capable of winning accuracy but the most important factor is to know where to put the crosshairs on the target--Roger

Don't forget Bob Adamowicz winning the IBS nationals including unlimited in the mid 80's shooting a sporter in all classes... with a remington he trued...

 

[jackieschmidt]

Don't forget Bob Adamowicz winning the IBS nationals including unlimited in the mid 80's shooting a sporter in all classes... with a remington he trued...

Pat Byrne did it also with a legal Sporter In Kansas City In the mid 2000’s.