Shilen Ratchet for smallbore competition?

[VLNBYR]

RFBR shooters, the ones that like Eley, might be still dreaming of 2012

2012 was a very good year. 2018 was the last good year. Very hit and miss since then, mostly miss.

 

[Tacoma]

This is my Shilen Ratchet barrel and this is how it shoots.

Hope this helps.

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Can you tell us a bit about your tuner set-up? I'm considering a retrofit to a 24" Ratchet on my V360 and looking at my options.

 

[wkdickinson]

While I am a newbie to RFBR, but I am not new to shooting or competition. I was running out of the case of CX I bought after I lot tested, and since CX is impossible buy, I decided to try Eley. I went out to the KSS website and bought a box each of 10X and match (4 each), from lots they had the most of.

I found two lots of Match that shot well, one better. I bought 3 bricks. After shooting it awhile I’ve figured out it doesn’t shoot worth shit. I also bought a brick of “old” 10X from a very accomplished competitor at a match and it didn’t work out well either. I’ve gone back to my lot of CX and it out shoots all of the Eley.

For what it’s worth.

 

[BowChamp]

Can you tell us a bit about your tuner set-up? I'm considering a retrofit to a 24" Ratchet on my V360 and looking at my options.

Yes Sir........I'm using a Harrell Tuner with a 6 1/2" Bob's Tube.

My Shilen Ratchet barrel is what Vudoo calls their 22 Benchrest profile.

 

[Tacoma]

Yes Sir........I'm using a Harrell Tuner with a 6 1/2" Bob's Tube.

My Shilen Ratchet barrel is what Vudoo calls their 22 Benchrest profile.

Thanks, so I've been on the fence about what to go with for my next rifle. Part of me wanted the same V22s barreled action as you have. I like the idea of a long shilen barrel and slightly reduced weight over a monster 22" bartlien 1.25" . I struggled with the single shot thing a bit too as I never shoot formal BR /ARA . right now about 80% of my rimfire shooting is from a mag fed rifle.
Yesterday, I came up with the "kissing your sister" solution and arranged to have my V360 repeater rebarreled with a 25" Shilen ratchet. I'm thinking this should scratch the itch for a while (especially if I can get it shooting like yours! Anyway, I've already pulled the BA from it's MDT ESS chassis and it goes out today! We'll know in 3-4 weeks.

 

[BowChamp]

Thanks, so I've been on the fence about what to go with for my next rifle. Part of me wanted the same V22s barreled action as you have. I like the idea of a long shilen barrel and slightly reduced weight over a monster 22" bartlien 1.25" . I struggled with the single shot thing a bit too as I never shoot formal BR /ARA . right now about 80% of my rimfire shooting is from a mag fed rifle.
Yesterday, I came up with the "kissing your sister" solution and arranged to have my V360 repeater rebarreled with a 25" Shilen ratchet. I'm thinking this should scratch the itch for a while (especially if I can get it shooting like yours! Anyway, I've already pulled the BA from it's MDT ESS chassis and it goes out today! We'll know in 3-4 weeks.

Sounds like you have a good plan...can't wait to see how it shoots for you.

I was looking at getting a 1.25" straight cylinder profile for the extra weight but it was recommended I go with the Shilen blank and the 22 Benchrest profile instead for my use. Knowing I was building an ARA benchrest rifle, single shot right bolt left port was an easy choice.
I will say, the Harrell tuner made the biggest change and the tube just a little. My rifle was very easy to tune and the tuner setting I'm using has worked with all the ammo I've tried. I'm not having to change it as I change ammo. Not sure a heavier profile barrel would've tuned as well.

 

[Shiner Taste Tester]

I managed to get to the range for about an hour this weekend and try out some Eley Semi-Auto Benchrest Precision in my Shilen Ratchet barrel. I started with a cold clean rifle and shot exactly 50 rds on this PSL Target. Top left bull was first five shots of the day, shot four more 5 shot groups then shot for score.

Five group average is .262" and final score was 2100-10X.

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Hey Jeff, I figured that you would have a PURPLE chassis color.

 

[butchlambert]

At the moment the average case of Lapua Center-X/Midas+ is better than the average case of Eley Match/Tenex. I hear this from other competitive shooters and my own testing reflects that.

My complaints about Eley are that I find very few lots that perform well and I also experienced many ftf in some lots. There is more lot to lot variance. But a few lots do perform well, and maybe I’m not getting access to the best lots at all.

That said, Eley is more available and since lot testing is a huge factor, I can easily see competitors who make it work with Eley.

Some competitors may have a few awesome Eley cases from a decade+ ago that continue to shoot well. A friend of mine owns a rifle that was shot in the 2012 Olympics and shot a 9.x mm group in the Birmingham test tunnel. So Lapua is not categorically the best.

My barreled action is a 1913 that was shot in the 2008 Olympics by Jon Hammonds on the UK team. Joe Besche tried several lots of Tenex in it and gave up. He had a couple lots of Midas+ that shot lights out. Enough for 2 club matches only. Back to lot testing Tenex and after testing 10 lots I gave up on it. I bought a brick of X-ACT in the 1072 speed and shot a 250-20X in the first match. I was surprised that it liked the fast ammo and it shot best with the same tuner setting that Joe Besche found with the Midas+. I do have a Pappas Limp Noodle screwed into the tuner.
Test target

 

[BowChamp]

Hey Jeff, I figured that you would have a PURPLE chassis color.

Bought this chassis second hand so couldn't be to picky. If I had a choice it would be a nice electric blue.

 

[Tacoma]

Bought this chassis second hand so couldn't be to picky. If I had a choice it would be a nice electric blue.

Funny you should mention this. I purchased the MTD ESS chassis as a store demo (and saved allot). It's mint but I'm bored with basic black. Seriously thinking about changing the color while the action is out for rebarrel. I'm going to get a price to Cerakote it but I've done some decent rattle can jobs in the past too.