FTR recipe library

[Alantra]

Hello all, this is my first post. This will be my third full year of shooting FTR. Started with a Defiance Anti, Bartlein 27” 5r 1-11 twist light varmint, Obermeyer chambered by Larry Racine, with an AG composite stock. Shooting 155.5 Bergers and Juggernauts, with Lapua and Alpha LRP/SRP brass. Anywhere from 42.5-44.5 grains of Varget. Sat between .003”-.02” from the lands. Various kinds of primers. Always landed between 11-12SD. I had the original firing spring on there then swapped to 32lb because the original spring was giving me misfires. When I built this rifle I did not FTR in mind. I just wanted to build a cool gun that was accurate and felt unique.

This year I ran across a left handed Kelbly Panda in a KTS stock, getting chambered with a mansons FTR 2013 reamer, Brux 6 groove 32” heavy Palma barrel. Looking to shoot 185s and 200.20x, with N150 and would like to try set at the lands with 44.7 grains but will work up to it using SRP brass and BR4 primers. Side note, this rifle was owned by Mr. Dave Petzal from field and stream.

I’m also waiting on a BRM from Mr. Jim Borden and a stock from Mr. Dennis Ray.

I’ve been playing with GRT but the powder data is old and I’m not sure it’s taking into account the brass structure.

When I do mental math I’m seeing my SDs need to be tighter to reduce my vertical dispersion on heavier bullets due to the reduced velocity. I’m still learning about barrel harmonics and its vertical stringing response in relation to SD.

I also didn’t chase my lands, but when I read Tony Boyer book recently. It seems to want you to chase the lands… so I’m not sure what to do there. Best groups I ever got was .003 from the lands with 155.5 grain bullets and LT32 powder. Just couldn’t hold up over long strings over 20 firings with a slight dot here and there in occasional verticals when being fired to fast.

What powder, bullet, barrel, chamber, brass, primer, action, spring weight, combination are you using? What’s your CBTO or COAL?

It would be interesting to build a library for various data points of one type of competition.

 

[D-4297]

Since I am shooing a virtually identical rifle ; I do have some knowledge of what you may be dealing with as a new competitor to "F" Class . One could fill a library with all the data for this discipline , and every bit of it would change with every different barrel placed on the rifle .
I would begin with Brass Prep as the initial key for beginning success . Select a high quality brass .
First loading / Firing . Deburr the case mouth inside & out , removing ALL burrs . Run a .307 - .3075 Expander into the case , and load after priming . I prefer , and only use Remington 7 1/2 BR Primers , but that's a choice .
After firing ; remove primer , and touch clean primer pocket to remove any "trash" , and "square" the bottom of the primer pocket . I Wet Clean in a rotary tumbler ; without any pins , using Dawn Dish soap and Lemi-shine . Run cases anywhere from one hour to 3 hours . Experimentation will give you the best time for your desired cleaning . Rinse with hot water ; and place on towel , rolling the cases to remove water. Since I live in Arizona , it's easy to place them in a Tupperware container and put them on the driveway for a few hours to have the Sun cook them dry .
At this point ; I anneal ; Yes , even brand new , once fired cases , Lube and re-size after checking Shoulder lengths . I feel the key to good accuracy is to get the brass to "fit" as close as possible to the chamber , both in length and diameter . Since you are using a Manson reamer , you will find that the closer the case matches the chamber by the least amount of "Shoulder Bump" the better off you'll be for achieving better accuracy and consistency of those lower SD / ES numbers you seek . I "Bump" my cases .001 and no more if possible .
Clean Cases a second time to remove Lube . Check case mouth for any Burrs , inside and out . Prime and Load . After second firing ; look for changes of over-all case length growth , or shrinkage .
The "Key" to low SD/ES numbers is to do it the same way , every time , using the same process that you find works for consistency and accuracy . Find what works for "YOU" , and ignore those people who tell you they don't do this step , or that step because it doesn't make a difference . In my mind ; SD/ES numbers are nothing more than a measurement of how consistently you are prepping your brass . But that's just my .02 cents worth .

 

[RegionRat]

I also didn’t chase my lands, but when I read Tony Boyer book recently. It seems to want you to chase the lands…

Not sure if you know much about the game Tony was playing versus the one you are playing?

In Short Range Bench Rest, they are not starting a string of 15 to 20 rounds plus sighters. In most instances, their ammo isn't pre loaded.

They shoot a relay with ammo loaded for their conditions, and the record target is five rounds. They most often clean and reload between relays. You don't get to load between relays.

While there are certainly skills and techniques that are attributed to group and score bench rest sports that are often applicable to other disciplines, it would be important to understand their context and how that contrasts and differs from what a Mid Range or Long Range Highpower match must achieve.

That said, I got to spend a lot of time in Keene and still have old friends there. We made a lot of great stuff at the old MPB, OFC, Moore, etc. Lots of things came from your area, and some still do.

The next time you are at a club match, ask around and find yourself a mentor and get yourself adopted. You will climb the learning curve much faster with far less frustration. Good Luck and welcome to the forum.

 

[Alantra]

RegionRat, thank you!

They’re totally different disciplines. However Im just trying to be a sponge. There is a range near my parents place in northeast Louisiana that gets out to 800 and also does Benchrest.

I’ve been shooting with a few of the guys out here for the last few years, great group of people. Learned a lot, however I’m just trying to expand as much of my knowledge as possible. I love the social aspect and the desire to learn more and shoot better. Lots of great shooters out here.

 

[RegionRat]

I don't know if you have been in the Keene area very long, but that area is known for some of the world's highest order machining.

That usually results in some folks with a passion for shooting of all sorts. Ask around and you will find the other shooters nearby. My friends there are not active shooters any more as most were much older than me when I was working in that area. Ask around and you will find the club shooters.

Is the range on Ferry Brook Road still running?
ETA: Here you go.
https://www.ccssef.org/high-power/

 

[Alantra]

I don't know if you have been in the Keene area very long, but that area is known for some of the world's highest order machining.

That usually results in some folks with a passion for shooting of all sorts. Ask around and you will find the other shooters nearby. My friends there are not active shooters any more as most were much older than me when I was working in that area. Ask around and you will find the club shooters.

Is the range on Ferry Brook Road still running?

Yes sir, the range is still alive and well. I spend as much time as I can aggravating Larry, Pete and Neal. Ray Simmard passed away earlier this year. Mr Racine has done all my rifles and bedding, Ray did do my shotguns.

I shot most of the competitions last year and the year before last when travel/work permits.

The machinists around here are amazing and feel blessed to be around the knowledge. When I moved up here a 7 years ago I had no clue.

 

[mgunderson]

Good to know Larry is still doing work. Sounds like you have some good shooters there. Shoot the matches and talk with everyone you can. Test what they tell you to try and see if you can replicate it.

308s are fairly tolerant and responsive. I would tell a newer shooter to spend time with the 185 and see how it reposts before moving on to the 200s.

 

[Alantra]

Good to know Larry is still doing work. Sounds like you have some good shooters there. Shoot the matches and talk with everyone you can. Test what they tell you to try and see if you can replicate it.

308s are fairly tolerant and responsive. I would tell a newer shooter to spend time with the 185 and see how it reposts before moving on to the 200s.

He's got my Kelbly right now!

Larry, Just an absolute pleasure to be around. I've been shooting the 185s for 2 years swapping back and forth between 155.5 and 185s. I get tighter verticals with 155.5s, but I also didn't spend much time tuning last year. This year I have more than a few hundred pieces of brass ready to go for tuning and matches.

They've been trying to get me to travel around and shoot at different places, almost did last year at Lodi but work schedule didn't permit. Now it's not in my territory, so I'm mapping out different places around steel mills so I can shoot in between clients.

Larry is just an absolute pleasure to be around. I've been shooting the 185s for 2 years swapping back and forth between 155.5 and 185s. I get tighter verticals with 155.5s, but I also didn't spend much time tuning last year. This year I have more than a few hundred pieces of brass ready to go for tuning and matches.

When I found out about the Keene Range and Larry, I instantly took my 700 for him to work on it. He sent me packing and told me to shoot first then come back..... lol. Then I went to the range to try my first reloaded 3006 rounds feeling proud of my accomplishments and his buddy was shooting next to me with what i didn't know at the time was a Palma rifle in a 22lr and bloop tube. His groups at 200 with a 22 made me feel inadequate, and told me I had a lot to learn. That was 3 rifles ago. I've learned so much from him, his friends and other shooters.