Ely test range is moving to Georgia.

[ljmontano]

Capstone 50.00 per rifle Widdens 240.00?
I think I’ll stay with Capstone.

 

[dusterdave173]

OK $50 compared to $240 Seems like a lot but you can't get the $50 deal--the back up is crazy--if you want to test for This season then $240 is cheaper than many bedding jobs--They test all brands--that is worth some extra to me for sure--they offer a Different service than Capstone because they will test any and all brands so not apples to apples IMO
In this age of $150 for 100 rounds of brass seems OK to me.
It costs $$ to win--always has always will--having an over priced rifle. scope, mounts, magazines etc then getting hung on just one of the Many expenses that it takes to win ?
Flat rate shipping and out the same day has been my experience with them--drop down menu for lot numbers on Many brands not just the top 3 or 4--all seems OK to me
Of all the stupid $$ I have spent on shooting it seems like it does not stand out to me
Do the testing on your own by guesswork trial and error? That will costs a Lot more IMO

 

[dusterdave173]

And...it is my understanding Whidden was working out a shipping program for there and back--he said they would even send you the box and all! Lots of upside here

 

[Pinetreebbs]

I have not used the Capstone testing, but I believe the testing is not as extensive as the test for Eley lots, other brands get a slightly less extensive test. It's still much more than shooting ten rounds of ten lots like myself and shooting buddies do for lot testing. The fixtures and action adapters used to hold rifles for testing very substantial. Finely, testing took a good four hours of manpower, throw in the cost for about 200+ rounds of excellent .22 rimfire ammo, and sixteen pages of documentation, the price is quite reasonable. Best of all, the ability to purchase the lot that shot so well and taking it all home.

It's your money, your mileage may very.

 

[CacheCropp]

$240 sounds like a good deal. If I added all of my time and expense to test my own rifle across multiple brands it would cost me more. My testing would be in open air with wind and other variables and be limited to the stability of my own shooting rest and bags.

Im curious about the process for switching a rifle from one brand to another. Does Whidden just start shooting a 2nd brand or does some barrel seasoning for that brand take place first? I would think the results would be skewed until a barrel adjusts to the specific lead and lube of each different brand.

 

[whiddengunworks]

We do shoot fouler rounds between brands.

 

[CacheCropp]

I’d love to hear what changes you see in seasoning/fouler shots between brands. I’ve often wondered if there’s a consensus number of shots needed to adjust. Seems your testing will definitely provide that data in larger sample sizes than anyone else.

 

[MrG52D]

A barrel actually needs to be cleaned before switching brands. JMO

 

[Dgd6mm]

A barrel actually needs to be cleaned before switching brands. JMO

Have you or anyone else tested ammo for grouping with only fouling the barrel against cleaning, in a facility such as Widden's? If you have please post your results. Also, how many fouling shots compared to how wsll you cleaned the barrel?

 

[doclu60]

A barrel actually needs to be cleaned before switching brands. JMO

The above is correct, and exactly what I do when testing ammo. As far as the questions about 'how many fouler shots' before the barrel comes back in, IME, it is totally dependent on the barrel. I have a couple that come back with as little as 3 rounds, and others that take twice as many, or more. Also in my experience, Eley comes back faster than Lapua, or other petroleum based lubed bullets, like RWS. I will also add that the barrels I have that foul in with fewer shots are also my best barrels as far as the scores they will consistently shoot.

Scott

 

[doclu60]

Have you or anyone else tested ammo for grouping with only fouling the barrel against cleaning, in a facility such as Widden's? If you have please post your results. Also, how many fouling shots compared to how wsll you cleaned the barrel?

I answered one of your questions above on number of fouler shots.

Yes, I used to test at Lapua in Mesa every year for about 5 years. I sat right in the tunnel entrance room with the tech and cleaned my own rifle when I said it was ready to be cleaned. Now whether it was in a 'facility' or outdoor testing at the club, it doesn't matter. It still takes the same number of shots to foul barrel XY, or barrel YX in a commercial facility or out behind the barn. As far as how well you cleaned the barrel, I do see small differences in the number of foulers it takes for the barrel to settle down again, but again, it's barrel dependent. My best two barrels both come back with the same number of foulers whether I just patch them between cards, or patch and bronze brush them. My other barrels normally take an extra round or two to get back in.

Scott

 

[MrG52D]

Have you or anyone else tested ammo for grouping with only fouling the barrel against cleaning, in a facility such as Widden's? If you have please post your results. Also, how many fouling shots compared to how wsll you cleaned the barrel?

No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn once. But seriously, I have shot enough to know what works and what doesn't. I have shot one behind the other, shooting Lapua first, will make a not so good lot of Eley look good for about 20 shots. Shooting Eley first will have the opposite effect on Lapua. I have shot indoor matches as well as tested indoors for the last 12 years. Outdoors is different, the wind will make a so so lot look great, when the wind calms, it's back to wallowing around the 10 ring. The only fool proof way to test any lot of ammo, is to start with a clean barrel. Again JMO YMMY

 

[Dgd6mm]

I appreciate the replies from both of you.
Thank you.

 

[whiddengunworks]

This is a little surprising to me, but many barrels take fewer rounds than I would have expected. Many are over the ammo change in 3-5 rounds. This is without cleaning between the different brands.

As stated above, barrels can be individuals about this as well. We've seen one excellent shooting rifle that always pitched the first shot out of the group. The owner new his rifle and at a match he always shot the first round in the dirt off of the target.

 

[BowChamp]

No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn once. But seriously, I have shot enough to know what works and what doesn't. I have shot one behind the other, shooting Lapua first, will make a not so good lot of Eley look good for about 20 shots. Shooting Eley first will have the opposite effect on Lapua. I have shot indoor matches as well as tested indoors for the last 12 years. Outdoors is different, the wind will make a so so lot look great, when the wind calms, it's back to wallowing around the 10 ring. The only fool proof way to test any lot of ammo, is to start with a clean barrel. Again JMO YMMY

This statement probably sounds odd when someone reads it. Can't explain it......but I've noticed similar with some ammos I've tried.

I've seen the opposite as well. LOL!!!

 

[PWNolan]

This is a little surprising to me, but many barrels take fewer rounds than I would have expected. Many are over the ammo change in 3-5 rounds. This is without cleaning between the different brands.

This is what I found years ago while informally testing different match ammo through a Remington 513T and a Anschutz 1413 simultaneously. With both rifles when switching ammo I'd shoot a 5 round fouler group that was not very good in most cases. But the subsequent 5 shot groups were excellent with both rifles. I knew then, as I do now, that I really should clean when switching ammo but I was short on time and really just goofing around anyway. Today I'll do the same thing with my factory and match guns as long as the ammo I'm changing to has the same or similar lube. If I'm switching between Eley and Lapua (or vice-versa) I'll at least run a few wet patches down the barrel followed by a couple dry before switching. It only takes a few minutes to do and I like the peace of mind of knowing I'm starting fresh.