Rail Guns at 600 yard BR

[Mulligan]

That is truly a beautiful rig. Theoretically if you could create a base for it to rest on that was filled with sand, some how separating the front and rear, it would be legal for 1000yd HG competition. Currently everyone has a separate front rest and rear rest. Support the whole rig on two separate sand filled platforms and your golden. By the written guidelines, all you need is 1/2” of separation between the “gun” and the rest. I would argue that the complete rail assembly is the gun.Ha.

I think a separate class is the right way to go.
I believe in short range BR they call it Unlimited, that makes the most sense for long range also unless I am missing something?
To be honest, I started this thread nearly a year ago based on some conversations around some local NBRSA short range unlimited shooters wanting to try their hand at long range with the local IBS club. We all shoot together and it sounded like thewas something to learn...... which is what peaked my interest.
I would like to see these rails shoot along side the LG and HG is a different discipline. I plan to shoot some matches with the rail right alongside the bag guns to shoot the exact same conditions and see what we see. I obviously will be shooting out of class, I’m certainly good with that. The goal is to establish the Unlimited Class in long range BR and let the learning continue.

This particular rail was built to handle my PPC and 300WSM. Jay Young did a remarkable job building this big rail. I pulled my long action F-Class pande out of the stock yesterday and with its 1.25’ straight dasher barrel and slipped it into the rail. Will the barrel block change my tune? Will I be able to accommodate that with a tuner?
Loading today, shooting tomorrow.
CW

 

[markwalker]

Here is mine.. will normally shoot as a 6ppc unlimited. It takes 1.45, 1.35, and 1.25” barrels..

This rail has shot great and not so good depending on the barrel.

The accuracy potential is easier to get but is no more accurate than a bag gun (10-1/2 lb)..

The rail allows you to run or pick based on the conditions. You can shoot and not worry about the gun.. so the Indian makes the group good or bad.

I currently only use 1.25” barrel based on a super HV contour (1.25”x6” then taper to .875”).

The rail top is a toothpick compared to others.. using a 6bra is not a problem.

 

[markwalker]

Here is another alternative; a single piece rest.. with my wheeler stock which tracks perfect, its almost as good as a rail gun.

Return to battery is about 95%..

 

[markwalker]

When using a rail and the marige is running I have learned how to adjust using a dial indicator (went to .0005”) on the windage..

With practice you can dial in the amount of windage based on the wind/marige conditions.

This is a great learning tool...

 

[Mulligan]

Here is mine.. will normally shoot as a 6ppc unlimited. It takes 1.45, 1.35, and 1.25” barrels..

This rail has shot great and not so good depending on the barrel.

The accuracy potential is easier to get but is no more accurate than a bag gun (10-1/2 lb)..

The rail allows you to run or pick based on the conditions. You can shoot and not worry about the gun.. so the Indian makes the group good or bad.

I currently only use 1.25” barrel based on a super HV contour (1.25”x6” then taper to .875”).

The rail top is a toothpick compared to others.. using a 6bra is not a problem.

Mark,
Have you shot it at 600 or 1000?
CW

 

[markwalker]

This is another rail that I sold to my friend a few months ago.. as shown it’s chambered in 300wsm.

Shot unreal at 550yards.. was set up to try at the 2k match in Montana, sadly never made it.

I’m an old guy so I sold it to my way younger, stronger friend.. just too heavy, hence my tooth pick rail above.

Make no doubt about it, aggregates/records will fall using these types of guns... it definitely shows up in the short range venue 100-200).

I believe you need an unlimited class to extract the ultimate accuracy in the long range game just like short range.

 

[Mulligan]

This is another rail that I sold to my friend a few months ago.. as shown it’s chambered in 300wsm.

Shot unreal at 550yards.. was set up to try at the 2k match in Montana, sadly never made it.

I’m an old guy so I sold it to my way younger, stronger friend.. just too heavy, hence my tooth pick rail above.

How much does this top weigh?
How much did the rubber snubber help with recoil?
CW

 

[markwalker]

For the 300wsm only shooting Berger 215’s;

The heavy rail weight is about like yours.. the footprint is wider than standard (8” verse 6”).

The heavy rubber bunggi wraps through the trigger guard in addition to the front one. Recoil was not bad at all using the heavy bunggi’s.. I still caught it with my thumb so I could push it back to the stop.

I could run with this rail configuration and the 300wsm about 1 round per second..

Kinda scary, wish I had that one back.. my friend is happy, first time out with it in competition for him was a total sweep..

 

[Mulligan]

Dusty
Just getting ready to screw a dasher on this rail gun to see if harmonics will be an issue.
I will play with it an go to Whitehorse an see how the set-up will work from bird's to the target.

Stan, did you give this a go?
CW

 

[Stan Taylor]

Stan, did you give this a go?
CW

I have a Dasher barrel on it as soon as weather gets better hope to play with it.

 

[Mulligan]

I have a Dasher barrel on it as soon as weather gets better hope to play with it.

Awesome, I have been shooting a dasher on my rail. Good heavens there is a lot to learn about a rail.

CW

 

[Stan Taylor]

Awesome, I have been shooting a dasher on my rail. Good heavens there is a lot to learn about a rail.

CW

Yes it is going to be a challenge for sure but looking forward to it.

 

[Rat Rifle]

Stan, say it ain’t so

 

[WSMNUT]

I’ve got a beautiful Bud Welsh rail gun that I’ve had for a few years. It has an additional top that was used with BIG calibers. I’ve never used it. I’ve considered selling it several times but not sure I want to especially if they start allowing them in long range matches.

patiently waiting to see how it goes

 

[Mulligan]

I’ve got a beautiful Bud Welsh rail gun that I’ve had for a few years. It has an additional top that was used with BIG calibers. I’ve never used it. I’ve considered selling it several times but not sure I want to especially if they start allowing them in long range matches.

patiently waiting to see how it goes

Unlimited will be it’s own class, for sure.
I have shot my rail/dasher at a couple of matches to see how it “stacks up” against the LG and HG, so far I would say unlimited does have a distinct advantage. I know @David 0306 is inviting unlimited rigs to his matches. I will work on drafting up the rules and get them out to the IBS Long Range Committee soon.
CW

 

[michaelb]

Joe Salt, I do think that a Rail in LR competition is a viable thing. I can state with confidence that I shoot better 10 shot aggs with a rail than 5 shot aggs with a Sporter. Perhaps I have a really good Railgun or maybe I'm only half as good at tuning and shooting a Bag gun compared to the rest of the Field.
I remember getting my tail trimmed too many times down in NC at Hawks Ridge by Joel and Tooley with those tension barrel rigs that were very Rail Gun esque.

Bart, I have a gut feeling that the heavy boattail bullet, while being the obvious projectile to use for its high BC, might not be the projectile offering highest precision. My claim here comes from me shooting really nice targets with 220 Mk's and getting skinned by those guys shooting the slow twist heavy guns with 187 FB Bibs. HECK, I still have a slow twist 1.450 Lilja blank for a heavy gun build that never materialized. I don't know if any of those guys are still shooting FB bullets at 1000 or not but they had some things figured out there for a while.

Where I was heading with all of that was this...I would love to see what those 187gr Flat Base Bib Bullets could do in an overbuilt Railgun. Definitely a Dave Tooley question so Dave if you are here, please opine, curiosity killin me on that one.

 

[Mulligan]

I would like to see a 300WSM rail gun, it would have to be so heavy and it would self destruct in a short time.... jim

I had Jay Young build me a rail designed for the bigger stuff. I have been shooting a dasher in it to get used to it. I will test the 300 in a few days. I think he called it a testing rail, it weighs a bunch..... near 100 lbs.
CW

 

[johara1]

I had Jay Young build me a rail designed for the bigger stuff. I have been shooting a dasher in it to get used to it. I will test the 300 in a few days. I think he called it a testing rail, it weighs a bunch..... near 100 lbs.
CW

if you make it heavy enough you don't need any recoil system, saw one that was around 140 lb. it just sits there. It was a Dasher....... jim

 

[Mulligan]

if you make it heavy enough you don't need any recoil system, saw one that was around 140 lb. it just sits there. It was a Dasher....... jim

My dasher moves the top 2-3 inches, I will test it with a 300WSM soon. I think several others are working with similar rails and the bigger cartridges now. Maybe they will chime in.
CW

 

[johara1]

My dasher moves the top 2-3 inches, I will test it with a 300WSM soon. I think several others are working with similar rails and the bigger cartridges now. Maybe they will chime in.
CW

Your Dasher moves 2-3" ? what is the weight? does it have a brake? My 17lb Dasher with a brake doesn't move near that far..... jim