Need info on designing 100 & 200 Yards Benchrest Rig

[TheSilverFox]

Hey guys,

I am not new to shooting i own a 6br 1-7 twist and pretty much never shoot below 300 yards. I am experienced in reloading and know the lingo.

One thing i am not very familiar with is benchrest rifles. But i want to start competing. I do not want to buy a used rifle. i understand that i might burn out my first barrel just figuring out what i am doing and thats ok.

From discussing with the local br competitors, i have learned that most people only have one rifle and compete in several classes with it. The most popular class in canada is varmint groups matches. So most people shoot light in the heavy class.

I Have been in Contact with Clay Spencer,My smith that made other rifles for me) and he let me know that there is lots to discuss.

So, when i call him i want to know what i am talking about,lol.

Here's what i am tinking about;
-Bat seems to be the most talked about action but i also like the rimrock, stolle,already have one on a rifle), stiller.
-A rimrock stock, SG&Y, recoil balanced, or terry leonard.
-Spencer or Kreiger barrel, 262 or 263 ??? i just dont know. I like turning necks,call me crazy.I know a lot of great shooters are going to a no trun also.
-br trigger, jewell or kelbly.

I would like to see more br rigs around where i live but most guys shoot accurized factory rifles. So most info i am getting is from the net. I have read all thte post i could find and articles on benchrest central and 6mmbr

If you are an experienced br 100 yard and 2oo yard shooter, i would like some advise from you.

Cheers Mike D.

 

[JDJones]

I have never shot any BR comps but talking to several BR shooters it seems that the 6mmPPC and 30BR are the two most accurate calibers going right now, the PPC has been around for decades and is often refered to as the most accurate round in the world. I have been talkig to Don Geraci a good bit about target rifles lately and he is a huge fan of the 6PPC, hasen't delt with the 30BR much but from what I have read its a new up and comming star with up to 7000 rounds of accurate barrel life it seems to be a very good investment also.

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

One approach would be to ask Clay what he would build for himself if he was competing in 100 or 200 yard BR under your range conditions.

The .22PPC and the .30BR seem to be the hot cartridges at the meets I've attended lately.

 

[Forum Boss]

Mike,

6ppc for group competition, 30BR for score comps.

If you want just one rifle, it will need to come in under 10.5 lbs for IBS and NBRSA Light Varmint Class.

This article has many good tips: http://www.6mmbr.com/Supershoot2005.html

Also get Mike Ratigan's book: http://www.6mmBR.com/bookreviews.html

You might also contact Mike directly and offer to pay him for a couple hours of his time. Do this AFTER you've read his book cover to cover.

Re stocks, the Robertson Speedy model is really nice and is made in Canada. I won't say it's the very best, but it is very competitive and very well made.

Krieger seems to be the most popular barrel right now, but Bartlein, Hart, Shilen, Kostyshyn and others are winning matches too.

Reading wind flags is key to doing well at 100/200 yards. You should immediately invest in a good set of flags once you have your rifle.

Clay Spencer is an excellent choice of smith. But Clay has a strong bias to .262-.263 neck chambers. Other smiths can give you a .266, .267, or .268. Results with rail guns show thicker necks can be just as accurate and the brass may be more durable.

 

[TheSilverFox]

Yes, i forgot to mention 6ppc is probalbly what i will go with

I have wind flags from david Halblom.

I called up Mike Ratigan and he's shipping the book on monday.What a nice guy, i was really impressed. Mike also recommended i go with a book called uuuuhhh, extreme rifle accuray, or something like that, made in the late 80's

I will go with components Clay recommends, especially stock, i just need to be more familiar with this subject, re: stocks, twist rates,,neck thickness vs. durability, accuracy potential),

I must specify that the rifle must be under 10.5 lbs.

 

[tightneck]

Yes, i forgot to mention 6ppc is probalbly what i will go with

I have wind flags from david Halblom.

I called up Mike Ratigan and he's shipping the book on monday.What a nice guy, i was really impressed. Mike also recommended i go with a book called uuuuhhh, extreme rifle accuray, or something like that, made in the late 80's

I will go with components Clay recommends, especially stock, i just need to be more familiar with this subject, re: stocks, twist rates,,neck thickness vs. durability, accuracy potential),

I must specify that the rifle must be under 10.5 lbs.

The other book is "The Ultimate in Rifle Accuracy" by Glenn Newick. BAT's and Panda's are the most popular. A more important feature isn't the brand, but the port configuration. I like a Right bolt/Left port/Right eject, others wouldn't even consider anything but a Right bolt/Right port. Matter of preference and shooting style, but you won't know until you shoot them. I would advise you get to a match and ask some if you could check out their rigs. Stocks: Leonard is wood/carbon fiber, Borden and Stiller are both made by Robertson and are Graphite for the light stocks. Barrel twist is a toss-up between 13.5 and 14 twist for the most part. I don't think there is a bit of difference between a .262, .263 or above, so long as you are taking a full cleanup cut.

 

[TheSilverFox]

Thanks for the book info.

Terry Leonard shure seems to be the man regarding wood stocks

 

[tightneck]

Terry's stocks are very nice indeed, but he's not the only game in town. BAT makes a similar stock, as does Tony Larson and Cecil Tucker. Bob Scoville makes maybe the one all others are judged against, although his have a woven carbon fiber look and not a "wood" look to them. There are others as well.

 

[TheSilverFox]

Thanks tighneck

i'll check these guys out.

I've also noticed that the hot action is the bat 3 lug design.

It also seems that there is as many opinions on twist rate and neck size as there are shooters out there.

And what do you think about the 3 groove rifling? or i should even consider it for a beginner.

In thinking about it though, i dont want to overwhelm myself with a rifle that is cutting edge,experimental), i should ask Clay to stick with something that has a proven track record in design.

 

[TheSilverFox]

I talked to Clay today here's what we potentially came up with.

Tony Boyer low profile stock balanced
panda action
Jewell br trigger
march scope
6ppc spencer barrel, .6o lead, 13.5/8 twist,,still needs to be finalised)

 

[tightneck]

I talked to Clay today here's what we potentially came up with.

Tony Boyer low profile stock balanced
panda action
Jewell br trigger
march scope
6ppc spencer barrel, .6o lead, 13.5/8 twist,,still needs to be finalised)

Looks like a pretty good plan. I assume that the Tony Boyer stock you are referring to is actually a Scoville? The .060 leade is great for the 6.5 or 7 ogive bullets and not so good for the newer double radius or higher ogives. Only reason I'm bringing this up is that the new trend seems to be toward the latter type bullets and a shorter freebore is preferred for them. Clays bullets are a 7 ogive I think most of the older names in bullet making have dies for that style too. Lots of shooters are going to the Bart's Ultra style of bullet though, and they like the shorter freebore.

 

[TheSilverFox]

Thanks tightneck.

Lead is something we decided to go into at a later date. He gave me more info on this subject that i could process in just one phone call, lol. I need to sort it out.

 

[NVTHG]

If you intend to shoot some of the newer bullets i.e. Bart's, Bruno's new Eubers, you are going to want no more than .40 freebore and better yet somewhere from .15 to .30. Also I have had great luck with 13.5 twist barrels. I am sure Clay will not steer you wrong. Most of the bullets readily [ha] available are the newer double ogive or fat style.

 

[TheSilverFox]

So, a reduced freebore,lead) with a double ogive bullet is necessary.
This is why ?
-The body needs to be shortened, because the ogive,ratio of radius vs bullet diameter) needs to start closer to the base compared to traditionnal bullets.

I see that bart has some that go from 9 to 6.5

does somebody have pics of those fancy bullets

 

[NVTHG]

The simple answer is the bearing surface that contacts the lands in the barrel is closer to the base of the bullet than with a 6 or 7 ogive bullet.