What is the mallet for?
- Thread starter Tozguy
- Start date
I use mine sometimes when I return to the trailer after dropping a point.
Tozguy, it really doesn't cure it but it does feel great, once it stops hurting.
In benchrest days gone by, a soft faced mallet was used for hand reloading dies.
Accuracy gunsmiths made the shooter/reloader a sizing die, usually a neck sizing bushing die.
The case was tapped into the die to size the neck, then the die was placed on a base with a center hole. The mallet was used to tap the primer out using the de-capping pin. If the mallet was wooden, rawhide, or plastic then this was probably the use.
The arbor press was strictly used to seat bullets.
As another poster stated, some would tap the pointed legs of their front rests into the concrete top of the bench. Today, a frowned on practice.
Hope that helps.
Bob
Accuracy gunsmiths made the shooter/reloader a sizing die, usually a neck sizing bushing die.
The case was tapped into the die to size the neck, then the die was placed on a base with a center hole. The mallet was used to tap the primer out using the de-capping pin. If the mallet was wooden, rawhide, or plastic then this was probably the use.
The arbor press was strictly used to seat bullets.
As another poster stated, some would tap the pointed legs of their front rests into the concrete top of the bench. Today, a frowned on practice.
Hope that helps.
Bob
During the past Summer, was at my club`s 300 metre bench range when a guy with some sort of home-made .50 BMG tube gun showed up. One of his pieces of equipment was a big mallet for pounding the bolt open after every shot. Took him 5 minutes of pounding and sweating to be able to load the next round. No point talking to these guys. They know everything.
Luckily I was finished after his second shot. Left wondering how long the bolt handle would stay attached to the bolt.
Luckily I was finished after his second shot. Left wondering how long the bolt handle would stay attached to the bolt.
Bob, when I first started shooting many people used the mallet and neck dies. Nowdays about the only time I see a mallet used is to drive windflags stands into hard dirt.
Tozguy said:
The mallet has and is still being used at some matches for driving the front rest's pointed legs into the bench for stability. A lot of clubs are starting to object to their use because of the damage inflicted on the bench surface. The idea is to keep the entire front rest from moving out of position along with the recoil of the rifle. That usually happens when the sides of the front bag are tighten too much. Today you see more use of Superfeet: http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/pid=34461/Product/Tru-Kote-Superfeet as a remedy for reducing damage and maintaining the front rest's position.
John Loh of JJ Industries makes a one piece accessory that I place under his rest that accomplishes the same thing as the three separate feet.
Thanks for the replies. Used a mallet may years ago for reloading with Lee Reloader dies. Brings back sweet memories of a model 788 in 22-250 that was deadly on pumpkins and squashes. Use a press these days for reloading.
Can't imagine why anyone would want to hit their rest with a hammer nor tolerate someone else 'nailing' their rest to the bench with a mallet.
Mashing a bolt open doesn't sound like a nice way to treat a rifle. If someone who operates their bolt with a mallet shows up at the range, I would probably pack up and come back another day.
Still want to get another mallet though cause I love tools. Brass, leather, plastic, dead blow, wood, lead, rubber, aluminum...won't be happy till I have one of each.
Might even get some wind flags so I have something to use them on.
Can't imagine why anyone would want to hit their rest with a hammer nor tolerate someone else 'nailing' their rest to the bench with a mallet.
Mashing a bolt open doesn't sound like a nice way to treat a rifle. If someone who operates their bolt with a mallet shows up at the range, I would probably pack up and come back another day.
Still want to get another mallet though cause I love tools. Brass, leather, plastic, dead blow, wood, lead, rubber, aluminum...won't be happy till I have one of each.
Might even get some wind flags so I have something to use them on.As Guy Clark said, "Sometimes I use my head and, sometimes I use a bigger hammer".
They can also be used if someone is encroaching on your firing point:
Some F-Class shooters use a mallet to seat the feet on their front rests. Depends on what works for them: firmly anchored vs. feet that slide. Open class you'll see the former while T/R pretty much demands the latter since rifle & rest are attached.
Personally I try to give a really wide berth to shooters who need a mallet to open their actions. If it's a habit, there's something wrong somewhere.
Was that pic taken at Winnequah? Sure looks like the range up there....
Personally I try to give a really wide berth to shooters who need a mallet to open their actions. If it's a habit, there's something wrong somewhere.
Was that pic taken at Winnequah? Sure looks like the range up there....
spclark said:
Hey Steve!
Yep, sure was, good eye! That is David Gosnell w/ the mallet, and Jeff Cochran about to get penalized for "encroachment"..
Was great to meet you up there, you have a beautiful facility and put on a great match!!
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