Competition BR Equipment
This treatise will deal with what makes up BR equipment at home and on the road. Keep in mind this a Sport for most of us not considered a Profession unless you let it be. First I want to say buying and selling becomes first nature to many. As I wrote in the San Gabriel BR School pick your buys carefully usually everything used is sold as is. Trust but verify.
BR GUNS
BR guns are the hardest to read. Most new shooters will end up with a used gun. Try and take the gun to a BR smith for scrutiny. Don't discuss price up-front. Ask to shoot the gun. If the guy says no go to the next gun. When you find a seller that will let you shoot his gun ask if the scope is included in the price. If it is an older Leupold 36, B&L 36, or Weaver 36 plan on buying the gun but hold off until you till shoot it. What I would be looking for are a couple groups with 2 in 1 group and 3 somewhere else. Turn the gun over find out what a pillar bed looks like. A good pillar bed will not shoot wild. If it is a glass bed and shoots wild you will need to have it re-glued which will add several hundred dollars soon.
SCOPES
Scopes be careful. Better to buy new if you can afford the load. For 1st year shooters I would suggest a Weaver or Sightron. Both proven quality scopes with warranties. Stay with the 36X while you are learning. Dot or CH I have both you can get used to either. Used scopes unless they come on the gun and price is absorbed in the deal are best left alone by a new shooter. Scopes are like Cadillacs the shiny finish is not what your buying. The difference in price between a used scope and a new will be forgotten after a couple shoots. Use a scope pen to keep the lenses clean and buy scope caps if needed.
Buy good bases and rings. Kelbly or Stiller will do. Have a good set of allen wrenches and snug em up. Don't lose the scope caps.
TECH TIP
After the scope is mounted and you have squared up the crosshairs go in the garage and lower the lights. Place a thin tissue on the front bell of the scope attached with a rubber band. Sight on a light on the other side of the garage. When you see the crosshairs adjust your objective lens till the crosshairs are sharpest. Now you have the best crosshair situation possible.
RESTS & BAGS
Here you save some bucks. Though Jon Loh makes the best rest in BR it could be beyond your means starting out. Most guys with a new rest will have one or 2 to sell. Keep your ears and eyes open. Good used rests are Hart, Bald Eagle, Jon Loh, Sinclair. Shooting bags are good buys. Check for leaks and rounded bottoms. Any used BR bag gets the job done. Don't pay much.
EQUIPMENT BOXES
What works nice is 2 mechanics boxes the 1 inside drawer type. My friend Gene gets all his gear including flags and poles in 2 of these boxes. I just bought a plastic box with 3 drawers. Saved me 14# over my 7 drawer Kennedy. I have 1 metal box like Gene's and 3 plastic boxes. I also have 2 wood boxes 1 for powder and 1 for cases, powder measure, measuring tools, surveyor tape and other stuff. If I want I have a metal carpenter box that I keep all my flag poles and stands.
SMALL STUFF
Most of my small stuff goes in the 3 drawer plastic. Too much to list but here are the basics. Wilson seater dies for all my PPC's, seater dies for my 6BRS. Wilson sizing dies for all the calibers listed. A die box full of Redding and Harrel dies. Bases for the dies. Action wrench. Davidson barrel vise. Bullets and Primers. Bushings boxes 22 & 6. Priming Tools. Scale. De-cap Tool. Spare Redding powder measure. Small stuff like screwdrivers, allen wrenches, shell holders, picks, spare decap rods for Wilson dies, magnifier, etc.
CLEANING BOX
I have 2 could be one. Sample of what I have. A patch box where I keep 1 1/8, 1 3/8, and 1 3/4 patches. Rod guides. Bolt lube. General lube. Spray brake cleaner, silicone, white lithium. Solvents. Rags. Action cleaning tools.
CLEANING RODS
I keep 2 Dewey rods inside a caddy.
TABLE & CHAIRS
I always take a 5 ft table with aluminum plates to fit my press and powder measure. Sometimes I take 2 tables to a large shoot to make sure I have cleaning table. I take a shooting stool and a couple folding chairs.
FLAGS
Don't forget them. No preference they all do the right thing. Have a good set of tails and bring a couple spares.
TARPS & CLIPS
I always take a couple tarps with clips and rope to cover my loading bench at a weekend shoot.
TRUCK
Truck is the best way to go but anything that gets you to and from works. I have a GM 8' bed truck that handles all my gear.
CAMERA
Especially for new guys. Start an album. Get to know the other shooters by taking pictures. When you win your first trophy have someone take your picture. Everybody will fuss over your first win and kick your butt at the next Shoot.
MONEY & CARD
If you go to a registered shoot have the card needed and a rule book. Take more money than one might need. Might get a chance at the scope you want. Most guys like cash. Room reservation. Do it early and verify. Check the weather where you are going take the clothes needed and boots.
ATTITUDE
This is up to you. I never found that feeling I was the best shooter at BR Shoot was worth much. At a BR shoot you should have your equipment ready to go. Minor adjustments during the Shoot are to be expected. What promotes a good shoot for most shooters is sizing up the Range. Are there berms or trees on both sides, am I going to shoot next to one. When I shoot in the unprotected middle I am going to have to watch flags on both sides of me. I realize that each shooting lane can have a different set of conditions.
My goal at 100 yd is not shoot the big one. A low 3 can be absorbed into an agg if you get a couple of 1's. Groups in the mid and low 2's are manageable in the agg. In today's short range BR where the range is shoot-able, not a Miami hurricane, winning aggs for say 50 shooters will have 4 or 5 aggs in the 1's and a mess of 2 aggs. Those less fortunate are in the 3's and those whose minds weren't there are in the 4 aggs. An equipment breakdown can cause a monster agg.
For 200 yds, same 50 shooters, maybe a 1 agg or 2. Some low 2 agg's same for mid and high 2's. Largest proportion will be 3 aggs which is respectable at 200. Matter of fact for a new shooter getting all 200 yd groups below an inch is an accomplishment. A big mistake at 200 yd can bring on a 2 inch group no problem. In 40+ winds 3 & 4" groups at 200 show up. A shooter needs to learn to hold off for wind and mirage conditions develop bench techniques that work. Go over on 6mmBR and read the San Gabriel Benchrest School in the Article Archive section. Most of these items were covered and more. I know I was Director for the school.
There is more but I'm getting tired. Shoot often Shoot well Shoot to win.
Stephen Perry
This treatise will deal with what makes up BR equipment at home and on the road. Keep in mind this a Sport for most of us not considered a Profession unless you let it be. First I want to say buying and selling becomes first nature to many. As I wrote in the San Gabriel BR School pick your buys carefully usually everything used is sold as is. Trust but verify.
BR GUNS
BR guns are the hardest to read. Most new shooters will end up with a used gun. Try and take the gun to a BR smith for scrutiny. Don't discuss price up-front. Ask to shoot the gun. If the guy says no go to the next gun. When you find a seller that will let you shoot his gun ask if the scope is included in the price. If it is an older Leupold 36, B&L 36, or Weaver 36 plan on buying the gun but hold off until you till shoot it. What I would be looking for are a couple groups with 2 in 1 group and 3 somewhere else. Turn the gun over find out what a pillar bed looks like. A good pillar bed will not shoot wild. If it is a glass bed and shoots wild you will need to have it re-glued which will add several hundred dollars soon.
SCOPES
Scopes be careful. Better to buy new if you can afford the load. For 1st year shooters I would suggest a Weaver or Sightron. Both proven quality scopes with warranties. Stay with the 36X while you are learning. Dot or CH I have both you can get used to either. Used scopes unless they come on the gun and price is absorbed in the deal are best left alone by a new shooter. Scopes are like Cadillacs the shiny finish is not what your buying. The difference in price between a used scope and a new will be forgotten after a couple shoots. Use a scope pen to keep the lenses clean and buy scope caps if needed.
Buy good bases and rings. Kelbly or Stiller will do. Have a good set of allen wrenches and snug em up. Don't lose the scope caps.
TECH TIP
After the scope is mounted and you have squared up the crosshairs go in the garage and lower the lights. Place a thin tissue on the front bell of the scope attached with a rubber band. Sight on a light on the other side of the garage. When you see the crosshairs adjust your objective lens till the crosshairs are sharpest. Now you have the best crosshair situation possible.
RESTS & BAGS
Here you save some bucks. Though Jon Loh makes the best rest in BR it could be beyond your means starting out. Most guys with a new rest will have one or 2 to sell. Keep your ears and eyes open. Good used rests are Hart, Bald Eagle, Jon Loh, Sinclair. Shooting bags are good buys. Check for leaks and rounded bottoms. Any used BR bag gets the job done. Don't pay much.
EQUIPMENT BOXES
What works nice is 2 mechanics boxes the 1 inside drawer type. My friend Gene gets all his gear including flags and poles in 2 of these boxes. I just bought a plastic box with 3 drawers. Saved me 14# over my 7 drawer Kennedy. I have 1 metal box like Gene's and 3 plastic boxes. I also have 2 wood boxes 1 for powder and 1 for cases, powder measure, measuring tools, surveyor tape and other stuff. If I want I have a metal carpenter box that I keep all my flag poles and stands.
SMALL STUFF
Most of my small stuff goes in the 3 drawer plastic. Too much to list but here are the basics. Wilson seater dies for all my PPC's, seater dies for my 6BRS. Wilson sizing dies for all the calibers listed. A die box full of Redding and Harrel dies. Bases for the dies. Action wrench. Davidson barrel vise. Bullets and Primers. Bushings boxes 22 & 6. Priming Tools. Scale. De-cap Tool. Spare Redding powder measure. Small stuff like screwdrivers, allen wrenches, shell holders, picks, spare decap rods for Wilson dies, magnifier, etc.
CLEANING BOX
I have 2 could be one. Sample of what I have. A patch box where I keep 1 1/8, 1 3/8, and 1 3/4 patches. Rod guides. Bolt lube. General lube. Spray brake cleaner, silicone, white lithium. Solvents. Rags. Action cleaning tools.
CLEANING RODS
I keep 2 Dewey rods inside a caddy.
TABLE & CHAIRS
I always take a 5 ft table with aluminum plates to fit my press and powder measure. Sometimes I take 2 tables to a large shoot to make sure I have cleaning table. I take a shooting stool and a couple folding chairs.
FLAGS
Don't forget them. No preference they all do the right thing. Have a good set of tails and bring a couple spares.
TARPS & CLIPS
I always take a couple tarps with clips and rope to cover my loading bench at a weekend shoot.
TRUCK
Truck is the best way to go but anything that gets you to and from works. I have a GM 8' bed truck that handles all my gear.
CAMERA
Especially for new guys. Start an album. Get to know the other shooters by taking pictures. When you win your first trophy have someone take your picture. Everybody will fuss over your first win and kick your butt at the next Shoot.
MONEY & CARD
If you go to a registered shoot have the card needed and a rule book. Take more money than one might need. Might get a chance at the scope you want. Most guys like cash. Room reservation. Do it early and verify. Check the weather where you are going take the clothes needed and boots.
ATTITUDE
This is up to you. I never found that feeling I was the best shooter at BR Shoot was worth much. At a BR shoot you should have your equipment ready to go. Minor adjustments during the Shoot are to be expected. What promotes a good shoot for most shooters is sizing up the Range. Are there berms or trees on both sides, am I going to shoot next to one. When I shoot in the unprotected middle I am going to have to watch flags on both sides of me. I realize that each shooting lane can have a different set of conditions.
My goal at 100 yd is not shoot the big one. A low 3 can be absorbed into an agg if you get a couple of 1's. Groups in the mid and low 2's are manageable in the agg. In today's short range BR where the range is shoot-able, not a Miami hurricane, winning aggs for say 50 shooters will have 4 or 5 aggs in the 1's and a mess of 2 aggs. Those less fortunate are in the 3's and those whose minds weren't there are in the 4 aggs. An equipment breakdown can cause a monster agg.
For 200 yds, same 50 shooters, maybe a 1 agg or 2. Some low 2 agg's same for mid and high 2's. Largest proportion will be 3 aggs which is respectable at 200. Matter of fact for a new shooter getting all 200 yd groups below an inch is an accomplishment. A big mistake at 200 yd can bring on a 2 inch group no problem. In 40+ winds 3 & 4" groups at 200 show up. A shooter needs to learn to hold off for wind and mirage conditions develop bench techniques that work. Go over on 6mmBR and read the San Gabriel Benchrest School in the Article Archive section. Most of these items were covered and more. I know I was Director for the school.
There is more but I'm getting tired. Shoot often Shoot well Shoot to win.
Stephen Perry
