A few dribs and drabs of this rifle have been included in my "6 BR 68 Berger accuracy nodes?" thread and another that I started about 6 Dasher that I don't remember the name of, over in the 6 BR forum. It is a Remington 700 standard length action that has been blueprinted, fitted with a Jewel trigger set at 4 ounces, with a fluted Gre-Tan firing pin, spring and bolt shroud. It sports a 28 1/2 inch, 8 twist, tight neck, heavy Broughton 5C barrel. The chamber was cut with Pacific Tool & Gauge's "World Record" reamer. I bought that reamer at the suggestion of Tim North, owner of Broughton Barrels (North Manufacturing). As Tim was shooting the same cartridge in his 600 yard gun, using the same chamber. Tim told me the reamer was freebored for 142 grain Match Kings with a -.010 OAL. The stock is a Lone Wolf Ultimate Thumbhole with a 3 inch forearm and an adjustable cheekpiece, a stock they no longer make.
I started shooting the rifle again 2 or 3 weeks ago. Not having competed with it for the past 3 years; in fact, I haven't shot in competition at all during that time. Some readers may note that I mentioned I now have an Edgewood Gator rear bag and a new Farley front rest. Those two additions have done marvels at taming the effects that torque and recoil were imposing on my bench set up. It used to be that my front bag would pound over and result in tipped crosshairs, and my Protector, double bottom, rear bag would be shoved backwards during recoil. Both of those issues are behind me now.
My buddy Milton and I headed off to St. Louis Benchrest Club this Wednesday to take advantage of the low winds and mild temperatures. I had never found a way to mount the rifle that would yield consistent results at 600 yards. My best way was to grip the forearm, push hard against the front rest stop and pull the stock tight against my shoulder, while taking a firm grip on the thumbhole. With that method I was able to break 8 to 10 consecutive claybirds on the 600 yard back berm. But then things would come apart with my setup during the match.
I spoke to our match director after my first, recent visit to the range to shoot it again off of my new front and rear setup. I told him that I could manage to get 3 of the 5 shots of the group to be about a 1 1/2 inches but that inevitably I would wind up with a 6 inch group. He advised that I stop gripping the forearm, in fact.....don't touch it. Keep my left hand on the joy stick. Further, don't push against the rest stop as hard, and that if I felt I needed downward pressure on the rear bag to put my thumb over the stock and push down a bit with it.
Well, let me tell you, that approach made quite a difference. If I vary the groups, alternating between using the thumbhole firmly to switching to a no thumbhole grip and just touching the trigger while applying a little downward pressure with my thumb on top of the stock it makes all the difference. I shoot 5 one way, then another group of 5 the other way. Not using the thumbhole always shoots better. I also lightened up on the pressure against the forend stop and only use my fingers to pull the stock snug against my shoulder. Not free recoil, but certainly one handed and as little influence as I dare from my hands or body. We were easily able to keep 5 shots comfortably inside a 5 inch Shoot and See target, with groups averaging in the 3 1/2 to 4 inch range.
One thing that I noticed though, regardless of how I gripped the stock, the forearm jumps slightly during recoil. When I bought the Farley, I asked what people thought of the 3 inch wide bag that comes with it. He said that some shooters thought they were filled too hard. And I believe that may be right, hence, my bouncing. I need to take a look at the bag and see if I can let some of the sand out. Even when I "set" the bag by placing a three inch block of wood on it and whacking it down with my palm, it still has wrinkles on the bottom. I think it is just too hard. My thoughts are; that if I can get the front bag softer, or replace it with a softer one, and if I fine tune the amount of pressure against the front stop, against my shoulder and the downward force from my thumb, that I will finally get this beast to shoot the way it needs to.
My match director, while telling me that I should consider going to a 6 Dasher for 600 yard competition, also advised that my 6.5x284 would still be his choice if it was windy. Right now, all is getting better with the world on my 6.5 and I believe I can get it better still. The 600 yard game has turned upside down since I had this 6.5x284 built. I started off shooting a 243 Ackley, changed over to 6.5x284 because it was king then. Now it seems you need some sort of a 6 BR to place well. This rifle is waiting for it's 6 Dasher barrel job to be completed. It should be finished in a week and a half. Then it will be another of my switch barrel match rifles.
Life is good. Now, if I can just get competitive again. My fingers are crossed.
I started shooting the rifle again 2 or 3 weeks ago. Not having competed with it for the past 3 years; in fact, I haven't shot in competition at all during that time. Some readers may note that I mentioned I now have an Edgewood Gator rear bag and a new Farley front rest. Those two additions have done marvels at taming the effects that torque and recoil were imposing on my bench set up. It used to be that my front bag would pound over and result in tipped crosshairs, and my Protector, double bottom, rear bag would be shoved backwards during recoil. Both of those issues are behind me now.
My buddy Milton and I headed off to St. Louis Benchrest Club this Wednesday to take advantage of the low winds and mild temperatures. I had never found a way to mount the rifle that would yield consistent results at 600 yards. My best way was to grip the forearm, push hard against the front rest stop and pull the stock tight against my shoulder, while taking a firm grip on the thumbhole. With that method I was able to break 8 to 10 consecutive claybirds on the 600 yard back berm. But then things would come apart with my setup during the match.
I spoke to our match director after my first, recent visit to the range to shoot it again off of my new front and rear setup. I told him that I could manage to get 3 of the 5 shots of the group to be about a 1 1/2 inches but that inevitably I would wind up with a 6 inch group. He advised that I stop gripping the forearm, in fact.....don't touch it. Keep my left hand on the joy stick. Further, don't push against the rest stop as hard, and that if I felt I needed downward pressure on the rear bag to put my thumb over the stock and push down a bit with it.
Well, let me tell you, that approach made quite a difference. If I vary the groups, alternating between using the thumbhole firmly to switching to a no thumbhole grip and just touching the trigger while applying a little downward pressure with my thumb on top of the stock it makes all the difference. I shoot 5 one way, then another group of 5 the other way. Not using the thumbhole always shoots better. I also lightened up on the pressure against the forend stop and only use my fingers to pull the stock snug against my shoulder. Not free recoil, but certainly one handed and as little influence as I dare from my hands or body. We were easily able to keep 5 shots comfortably inside a 5 inch Shoot and See target, with groups averaging in the 3 1/2 to 4 inch range.
One thing that I noticed though, regardless of how I gripped the stock, the forearm jumps slightly during recoil. When I bought the Farley, I asked what people thought of the 3 inch wide bag that comes with it. He said that some shooters thought they were filled too hard. And I believe that may be right, hence, my bouncing. I need to take a look at the bag and see if I can let some of the sand out. Even when I "set" the bag by placing a three inch block of wood on it and whacking it down with my palm, it still has wrinkles on the bottom. I think it is just too hard. My thoughts are; that if I can get the front bag softer, or replace it with a softer one, and if I fine tune the amount of pressure against the front stop, against my shoulder and the downward force from my thumb, that I will finally get this beast to shoot the way it needs to.
My match director, while telling me that I should consider going to a 6 Dasher for 600 yard competition, also advised that my 6.5x284 would still be his choice if it was windy. Right now, all is getting better with the world on my 6.5 and I believe I can get it better still. The 600 yard game has turned upside down since I had this 6.5x284 built. I started off shooting a 243 Ackley, changed over to 6.5x284 because it was king then. Now it seems you need some sort of a 6 BR to place well. This rifle is waiting for it's 6 Dasher barrel job to be completed. It should be finished in a week and a half. Then it will be another of my switch barrel match rifles.
Life is good. Now, if I can just get competitive again. My fingers are crossed.
