BRA Does NOT Guarantee "Harry" a World Record

[CaptainMal]

Myron Cope, late announcer for the Steelers, likened ordinary pro football players as just another "Harry". My name is Larry but I shoot like "Harry". To be good at the BR game I feel you should be a machinist, chamber your own barrels, fit them to your actions and be superb in your testing procedures. Wealthy would also be another "must" on the list. Had one of the best gunsmiths build me a new BRA last year. To date my results are disappointing.

With way more than $10,000 in rifle, scope, mounts, dies, cases, various powders, bullets (Vapor Trail, Bergers, Barts, Hornady, Sierra), brake, new target camera, neck turner, hundreds of trips to the range, mega hours on the bench and more... my Dashers easily outshoot it on its best day. I am not alone. At Manatee I know three others who had BRA's recently built. Only one, BR1, has had success with his builds. The others are like me but with less than my 1,000+ rounds of testing. Two others on this forum also correspond with me to discuss their frustration with the BRA. We just cannot get it to shoot well.

Sure my gunsmith told me to trash the Krieger barrel at about the 400 round mark. I resisted because this next test would be the one. The next and the next have long come and gone. The gun is now good for fire forming.

New barrels and the work to get it chambered is both expensive and tough to source. Then after, there are no guarantees. While all the recent hype on the BRA seems to say is it's making good shooters great and great ones, world class. That may be the case but BRA does not take us "Harry's" into the realm of a quality shooter just like that.

I regret my recent foray into frustration with the BRA. It has taken much of the fun out of benchrest shooting for me. Think about this before jumping in with high expectations. You just might be another "Harry".

 

[Jason Boersma]

I myself have only ever had 1 6mm barrel that I could get to shoot for me competitively, that is why I shoot 6.5’s now. Tried everything I could and I couldn’t get a brx or a dasher to shoot so I know just how you feel, just cause most everyone else can get something to shoot doesn’t mean you can.

 

[shoot4fun]

I have always shot smaller with the venerable old 6BR than anything else. That said, the 6 Dasher has turned in a couple of very nice groups for me. One, with an 1,100 plus round Bartlein 5R, was a very memorable 1.86" in 1,000 yard LG. I keep telling myself the plain old 6BR won't shoot 1,000 yard groups but I have seen that proved otherwise. Sometimes I reflect and think that my best groups were shot before I "knew what I was doing". Maybe I should "unlearn" some things?
As for the BRA, I will say the loner neck intrigues me and I intend to have one barrel chambered soon.

 

[lawman29]

While all the recent hype on the BRA seems to say is it's making good shooters great and great ones, world class.

I would have to ask where is the solid data to show this or is it really just marketing hype? Time will tell and the jury is still out... The Dasher is tried and true. I shoot it in F Class, it has served me well the last year and a half. I waited to build it till the norma brass came out.

At 1K I'm not going to beat the 7mm, but I'm enjoying myself and trying to shoot better than the last time. The "build a better mouse trap" happened in F Class. Look at all the .284 variants (shehane, walker, yada yada trying to get 50' a second more...how about a 7 saum, hell I saw a guy shoot a 28 nosler, it hurt just to watch...)...but the Berger 180 hybrid still shoots best at velocity X...just a plain old .284.

How many different iterations of stocks.......

Then there's the scope testing; throw away your nightforce competition, but the benchrest works great...oops the March is better (I have one of these), but now throw them all away, you must have a Khales to be competitive!

Fool me once - shame on you, fool me twice - shame on me

 

[bcarico]

To be honest at long range, I do not think there is ever going to be a best plug and play cartridge. The 6s sure shoot small but let the wind get nasty and the big ol 30s seem to come to the front. I think all things being the same the guys that put the most work in testing and trying to improve their own game are going to be the guys that are consistently winning or finishing on top.

 

[group therapy]

I think its important to remember that MUCH of the information and data provided about the 6bra and other things like scope testing results are just that, testing results. the peeps that are doing the testing and research are KIND enough to share THEIR experiences and results with the rest of us. a lot of the sharers are world class shooters and people. I don't think there is any alterior agenda or motive. the folks sharing have reputations that exceed whatever may be gained by any sneakiness on their part. lots of shooters have smiths that they prefer that don't include the ones that advertise on here. I'm new to lr br but I love it. I also came in first today for group size at our 600 meter match, FINALLY!!!!. and shooting a 6.5 creedmoor at that against shooters that are better than me(a blind squirrel found a nut today, that was all LOL). to all the shooters and smiths out there that share their ideas and results, THANK YOU!!!!!. it has helped me a lot and many others I am sure. we are always free to take or leave the advice and test results of others. anyway, y'all have a good night and shoot well. bryant.

 

[Falfan2017]

I think its important to remember that MUCH of the information and data provided about the 6bra and other things like scope testing results are just that, testing results. the peeps that are doing the testing and research are KIND enough to share THEIR experiences and results with the rest of us. a lot of the sharers are world class shooters and people. I don't think there is any alterior agenda or motive. the folks sharing have reputations that exceed whatever may be gained by any sneakiness on their part. lots of shooters have smiths that they prefer that don't include the ones that advertise on here. I'm new to lr br but I love it. I also came in first today for group size at our 600 meter match, FINALLY!!!!. and shooting a 6.5 creedmoor at that against shooters that are better than me(a blind squirrel found a nut today, that was all LOL). to all the shooters and smiths out there that share their ideas and results, THANK YOU!!!!!. it has helped me a lot and many others I am sure. we are always free to take or leave the advice and test results of others. anyway, y'all have a good night and shoot well. bryant.

Hey I was at that match!

 

[bcarico]

Don't get me wrong, I am on this site for the info and new ideas. I will be giving that Bra train a ride too. I am just saying I think you can win with multiple combinations of gear, barrels, cartridges, bullets. I am just a firm believer that in anything you are competing in that if you aren't consistently winning you are getting out worked by your compitition. If you are winning you had better not let up because someone is gearing up to take your place.

 

[group therapy]

Don't get me wrong, I am on this site for the info and new ideas. I will be giving that Bra train a ride too. I am just saying I think you can win with multiple combinations of gear, barrels, cartridges, bullets. I am just a firm believer that in anything you are competing in that if you aren't consistently winning you are getting out worked by your compitition. If you are winning you had better not let up because someone is gearing up to take your place.

my post was not in reference to your comment. I totally agree with you. there was a shooter on the relay opposite mine today. he had 5 of his sighters in the 10 and x ring. with a 223. his record shots were all over jims farm. he practices a bunch and is a better shooter because of it (better than me for sure). a great shooter with lesser equipment will win most of the time. the trick is to become a great shot with great equipment. then it gets FUN!!!. shoot well and God bless. bryant

 

[R.Morehouse]

I wasn't around when the 6ppc was developed but it would be my guess that it didn't replace the proven rounds that were being used at the time over night. It may very well work out that way for the 6BRA in time. What i know about it so far from hands on is that it is a breeze to FF and accurate for me when doing it. And cost effective to shoot long compared to my 6.5-06imp.

Regards
Rick

 

[Mulligan]

Larry,

It has been my experience that if I hand a good rifle that is tuned to a first timer, they probably will beat me with it. That's the truth.

Let's see if I can help you out. If I was in your shoes I would be asking myself the following questions, so I will ask you.

1. Is the rifle a proven platform? In other words, has this action/stock had great barrels on it before?

2. Is the scope proven? Has it been on a rifle that performed great before this? Has it been tested recently even if so?

3. If the above is all proven winners.. What, even if so slight, might you be doing different on load development and maintenance compared to your dasher experience? Brass prep? Neck clearance? Etc.?

Tom

Priceless!!!!
CW

 

[carlsbad]

If BRAs are dominating, that probably means that the best gunsmiths are currently building BRAs. No more, no less. --Jerry

 

[Stan Taylor]

I guess I am going to have to make me one of them Bra's I built my customer one an he handed me my ass twice this past weekend.LOL PS shooting varget an Berger105 hybrids by the way.

 

[6BRAckley]

How much money in components did you spend on the last 700 rounds (from 400 when Alex advised you to take the barrel off and when you finally stopped at 1100)?

 

[urbanrifleman]

I would have to ask where is the solid data to show this or is it really just marketing hype? Time will tell and the jury is still out... The Dasher is tried and true. I shoot it in F Class, it has served me well the last year and a half. I waited to build it till the norma brass came out.

At 1K I'm not going to beat the 7mm, but I'm enjoying myself and trying to shoot better than the last time. The "build a better mouse trap" happened in F Class. Look at all the .284 variants (shehane, walker, yada yada trying to get 50' a second more...how about a 7 saum, hell I saw a guy shoot a 28 nosler, it hurt just to watch...)...but the Berger 180 hybrid still shoots best at velocity X...just a plain old .284.

How many different iterations of stocks.......

Then there's the scope testing; throw away your nightforce competition, but the benchrest works great...oops the March is better (I have one of these), but now throw them all away, you must have a Khales to be competitive!

Fool me once - shame on you, fool me twice - shame on me

This post should be a sticky.

 

[kountryboy2]

Myron Cope, late announcer for the Steelers, likened ordinary pro football players as just another "Harry". My name is Larry but I shot like "Harry". To be good at the BR game I feel you should be a machinist, chamber your own barrels, fit them to your actions and be superb in your testing procedures. Wealthy would also be another "must" on the list. Had one of the best gunsmiths build me a new BRA last year. To date my results are disappointing.

With way more than $10,000 in rifle, scope, mounts, dies, cases, various powders, bullets (Vapor Trail, Bergers, Barts, Hornady, Sierra), brake, new target camera, neck turner, hundreds of trips to the range, mega hours on the bench and more... my Dashers easily outshoot it on its best day. I am not alone. At Manatee I know three others who had BRA's recently built. Only one, BR1, has had success with his builds. The others are like me but with less than my 1,000+ rounds of testing. Two others on this forum also correspond with me to discuss their frustration with the BRA. We just cannot get it to shoot well.

Sure my gunsmith told me to trash the Krieger barrel at about the 400 round mark. I resisted because this next test would be the one. The next and the next have long come and gone. The gun is now good for fire forming.

New barrels and the work to get it chambered is both expensive and tough to source. Then after, there are no guarantees. While all the recent hype on the BRA seems to say is it's making good shooters great and great ones, world class. That may be the case but BRA does not take us "Harry's" into the realm of a quality shooter just like that.

I regret my recent foray into frustration with the BRA. It has taken much of the fun out of benchrest shooting for me. Think about this before jumping in with high expectations. You just might be another "Harry".

Reminds me a old saying I read years ago " into the world walks 1000s of good men and a few sore heads"

 

[BT1]

I have been following Larry's attempts to get his new bra to shoot. We have talked at length about what could be the main issue with it. He is a level headed (sometimes hard headed) shooter and competent reloader and tuner of loads. We have encouraged him after about 400 rounds to just move on with that barrel. We all have had one or more that will just not shoot. I hope this poor experience has not turned him away from bench shooting. Even suggested he come over to the dark side and start shooting f-class with me. No question in my mind the barrel is at fault. I think he has a new one on order, new reamer, so not all is lost. I have had good results switching from a Dasher to the bra. First barrel was a hummer, the last 2 are just OK. Tom's post above should be read by all.

Steve

 

[6BRAckley]

I had a different message typed up that I decided to delete. I just want to say this, which gets to heart of what I was gonna say in a better manner: The long range shooting community owes A LOT of thanks to Alex Wheeler, Tom and many other experienced shooters who do lots of testing and innovating AND choose to share some or all of that info with others. I caught a vibe in at least a few posts in this thread that was negative toward the constantly unfolding innovations. Yes, we as we get more information (from innovations and testing) then past observations are superseded, but all of that is in the name of helping shooters improve and ultimately save money, not spend it. Funny thing about the "different iterations of stocks" comment --- @newbieshooter had Alex build him a BRA before the LRB stock existed (painted wood, 3 inch forend, etc)...there isn't anything wrong with that stock as witnessed by the whipping Jeff has put on many at last year's regionals and this year's NBRSA nats.

Its fine to share positive and negative findings from testing but lets keep the conversation moving in a way that encourages that info sharing.

 

[dkhunt14]

This post should be a sticky.

The funny thing is, in 1000 or 600 yard BR the 7mm is almost nonexistant. Many tried and they just didn't shoot good enough. I know one guy that tried for years and had at least 5 new barrels on a heavy and a light gun and none of the 10 were competitive. Matt

 

[urbanrifleman]

The funny thing is, in 1000 or 600 yard BR the 7mm is almost nonexistant. Many tried and they just didn't shoot good enough. I know one guy that tried for years and had at least 5 new barrels on a heavy and a light gun and none of the 10 were competitive. Matt

6mm are not competitive in F class. Only 7mm are competitive.

Of course, if you go back in the archives of Accurate Shooter blogs you will find that the new "everything but this is crap" rigs will be replaced by something new, and then you will no longer be even considered anything but an unwashed heathen if you shoot the old rig, and you will never win, and you will have no friends and girls won't like you, if you don't shoot what SO AND SO shoots, because this person on the Internet says SO AND SO won this or that, and everyone else sucks.

Even though at the last Nationals with 100 or so guys, every single person there got beat except on guy.

So, I guess none of them were competitive.