Doug Beach
Silver $$ Contributor
Considering a Shilen ratchet for a smallbore prone rifle. Let me hear the good, bad & the ugly. Thank you.
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Shilen Ratchet for smallbore competition?
- Thread starter Doug Beach
- Start date
Doug Beach
Silver $$ Contributor
Smallbore prone, sling & irons.
Wow. If you think anyone can win in SB prone competition with "less than RFBR accuracy", you may want to venture outside your discipline.
Shilen barrels are great, but to the OP Benchmark barrels are also equally good. Unfortunately, its the luck of the draw though. These manufacturers tend to put the odds in your favor though!
kev
dgeesaman
Gold $$ Contributor
The smallbore prone game is not far from rfbr.
The MidAtlantic 6400 was held at my club in June and the winning targets I saw would be difficult to match with rfbr equipment. Not quite as good, but close.
David
I put a Shilen ratchet in their R0 contour that I chambered with a Nevius reamer on a V22S in a very nice Doan Trevor English walnut prone stock a year ago. My first V22S in a McMillan Kestros stock has a Benchmark 3-groove in Shilen's R5 contour, also with a Nevius chamber. They're both excellent shooters, though I haven't had much time to shoot either one of them so far this spring/summer - farm work is kicking my butt this year. Maybe - just maybe - I'll have the opportunity to get more rounds through both these rifles when it cools down a bit, and then get away long enough to run them down to the test center in Mesa this winter... But from what I've seen out of both these rifles so far - shooting a good lot of Lapua Center-X - it won't be the barrel on either one of them that's holding me back.
My comments based on the amount of Eley I see being used. If they're using Eley it can't be that tough.
10XSHOOTER
Gold $$ Contributor
I have 2 Shilen Ratchets. One is on a Anschutz 1813 that Mark Penrod rebarrelled for me and the other is on a V360s that Vudoo put together for me. Both Rifles are for SB F-Class. either one shoots Great. Easy to clean the 50 meter target.
So what smallbore prone matches are you personally attending to directly survey what ammunition is being used by competitors? After your survey, did you inquire as to the AGE of said ammunition?
Curious on what level do you have direct personal smallbore prone match experience based on your second sentence.
If one is only going by observations and not personal experience, then it could also be said that shooting from a bench with a one piece rest not touching the rifle and having a Marti-Gras of wind flags down range is not only simple, it's a waste of perfectly good match ammunition, be it Eley, Lapua or RWS.
That observation can be made, however not necessarily true.
Observations are fine, but combined with direct experience and data gives them credibility. Just sayin'......
SSchnd
Silver $$ Contributor
Doug, I am unable to speak to a R/F Ratchet barrel but my last Shillen 7.5R service rifle barrel from John at WOA was outstanding. At first It lost more at the gas port than I liked but it settled down there and kept hammering to 600 yds for twice the rounds I had expected it too as with any button barrel. I would get another if that helps.
I can certainly provide an estimate based on my observations and direct experience, however I would also respectfully request a response to my prior questions.
So what smallbore prone matches are you personally attending to directly survey what ammunition is being used by competitors? After your survey, did you inquire as to the AGE of said ammunition?
Curious on what level do you have direct personal smallbore prone match experience based on your second sentence.
So what smallbore prone matches are you personally attending to directly survey what ammunition is being used by competitors? After your survey, did you inquire as to the AGE of said ammunition?
Curious on what level do you have direct personal smallbore prone match experience based on your second sentence.
First off, I'm not sure the Eley loyalists (prone or RFBR) would appreciate you using the percentage of Eley users at any match as a measure of lower accuracy expectations LOL. Everyone who knows me knows I bleed Lapua blue - but geeesh!
Secondly, last I looked at the RFBR match results, there were still plenty of Eley users. And I assume they are not all giving up on being competitive (as you seem to suggest)? I can't tell if you are trying to be funny, sarcastic.........or a little of both?
I am not denying that there has been a market shift in recent years, and I certainly can't speak to the competitiveness of Eley products (I simply haven't used them for over 15 years), but I am sure competitive lots still exist (and competition is a very good thing). IMHO the RFBR crowd has been late to the Lapua party.........its popularity is very well deserved, but it has been exceptional ammunition for far longer than the point in time when it became popular in the RFBR ranks.
All the best,
kev
I have a Shilen ratchet on my 10x action, it set the eley range record at Winters back in 17? Good enough to win NRA prone nationals in ‘22. Ratchet, 1” straight 21” long. Mark Penrod put the barrel on.
To me who puts the barrel on is probably just as important as who makes the barrel.
Lots of great options for barrels- Kreiger, Shilen, Benchmark, Muller, Hart. Any can be great, and any can be average. Takes a little luck of the draw.
I would buy a Shilen again.
As to Eley vs Lapua, this shilen has shot mostly Eley because I prefer someone else to do the testing it removes my emotion from the situation. But, I have won some bricks of Lapua and shot through it in training, it is has been as good or better than my Eley test lots. I would have no problem using either.
Kevin has whooped me with his Lapua plenty of times, and will keep doing it because he is a “all timer” on the Mt Rushmore of SB prone competitors. And, he is just a really nice guy.
To me who puts the barrel on is probably just as important as who makes the barrel.
Lots of great options for barrels- Kreiger, Shilen, Benchmark, Muller, Hart. Any can be great, and any can be average. Takes a little luck of the draw.
I would buy a Shilen again.
As to Eley vs Lapua, this shilen has shot mostly Eley because I prefer someone else to do the testing it removes my emotion from the situation. But, I have won some bricks of Lapua and shot through it in training, it is has been as good or better than my Eley test lots. I would have no problem using either.
Kevin has whooped me with his Lapua plenty of times, and will keep doing it because he is a “all timer” on the Mt Rushmore of SB prone competitors. And, he is just a really nice guy.
Hi-NV Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
This is spot-on Kevin, When I posted my results from my first trip to Mesa at RA back in 2016 there was a lot of silence.
Mike Cameron was the one who piqued my interest in Lapua and reading what you did with chambers pushed me over the fence. I been happy ever since.
Lee
Hi-NV Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
Question to those who have bought and used Shilen barrels. I bought this barrel and was shocked to see this. I been a Benchmark user since day one and I strayed and bought my first Shilen I hope I don't regret it.
FYI, I was told this is fine since an inch is normally cut off. I just don't know
Lee
FYI, I was told this is fine since an inch is normally cut off. I just don't know
Lee
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