HBR newbie

[boltman13]

I got my start in BR shooting HBR with a tight neck 308 in a McMillen HBR Stock, and a Lilja 1:14 twist . Berger had a flat base 135 that shot great but they discontinued it. The Berger 125 FB didn't do as well in my rifle. I used Sierra 150 MK's for some matches with average results then on a whim I tried a box of Speer 135 gr TNT's that almost equaled the Berger 135's. I then scored some custom 135's from a fellow shooter and they were the best I ever shot. I was planning to re-barrel with a 6.5X47 necked up to 30 cal. but instead switched to Varmint for Score and a 6BR. I only shoot club matches now but when this barrel is replaced it may be with a 30BR. When I started in HBR the 10# weight limit, 30-30 case capacity, 2.5" wide forend, and 6X scope all were required and I struggled at 200 yards with mirage in the summer. In VFS I can use a much higher powered scope

 

[spaulding21]

A History of Benchrest Shooting

Here is Bob Pease's article that started my interest in this Hunter Class BR.

 

[AlNyhus]

A History of Benchrest Shooting

Here is Bob Pease's article that started my interest in this Hunter Class BR.

Spencer, thanks for the link to that.

Here's a link to some more articles from the late Stan Ware's 'Benchtalk' forum.

Benchtalk

 

[alf]

When I built my 1st (only) HBR rifle, the 308 was still king, so that's what I had it chambered in. Dan Dowling had built a couple 3 rifles for me in the past, but he didn't have a suitable reamer for a HBR barrel, so he recommended Don Mulhall, as he had a good 308 reamer. This was about the time the 168's were losing favor. Must have been around the same time that Guy started making bullets also, as I shot his 135's in that barrel with N-201. I always like to say I bet I was the only guy in the nation shooting that Norma powder, ha ha.

I managed to pick up a Weaver T-6 from a guy in Mn whose name escapes me...Mike? I sent that scope off to get cleaned up, while Don had Skip Otto flute the shit out of it to make weight with that T-6 anchor. I still remember Don telling me Skip wanted 50 bucks to flute, so I sent off the money. Afterwards Skip was whining because I never gave him anything for shipping! Nobody mentioned that. Fun times....

When that barrel gave up the ghost, I ordered my own reamer & made the switch to the 30x47, still shot Guy's 135's, & again fueled by the N-201. There was no Lapua 47 brass yet, and beings I refused to use the 300 Savage brass, I spent a week making 20 cases at a time from full length 308 Lapua. More fun times!!!

When Leupold came out with the 6X, I bought one from Premier, I think because it was only offered in a duplex? Anyway, I was waffling between the 3/8 & 1/2 dot, worried the 3/8 would be too small, & the 1/2 too big. I was told the 3/8 was actually closer to 7/16, so that's what I ordered. Worked out perfectly.

After 20 or so years, I finally decided to concentrate more on 1K BR so I ended up selling the whole shebang.

 

[spaulding21]

Been cold up here in my part of the country but we did get some 50° weather today so I was able to get out and do some testing with the 308 hunter rig and a couple different custom bullets that were sent to me from some great people on this forum. Couple of the better groups shown in the pictures. The first picture on the left was with @AlNyhus 117gn 7ogive bullet that really came in once I bumped the powder up from where I had started.
Second picture was with @jcarpen 137gn bullet which also began to tighten up as I went up in powder. Both using H4895. Can't thank you guys enough for the help and everything! Good shooting to all!

 

[spaulding21]

Interesting Hunter Class read from the December, 1990 issue of precision shooting magazine. Plenty of hidden gem articles in these magazines!
I have yet to find online @RGRobinett article 'Cartridges of the Hunter Class' in the July 1991 issue.

 

[AlNyhus]

Spenser, both those groups show similar tendencies. FWIW, you may want to keep going up with the powder charge. If that plateaus out before the vertical and group shape comes around, a switch to N135, N140, H322 or Benchmark is likely to give good results.

Again, just my two cents worth. That won't buy a cup of Wall Drug coffee.