Bench Rest Gun Pics

[horsemen61]

A precise fit of the neck to the chamber keeps the neck from being worked any more than needed. I would load so my rounds were .261 at the neck for my .262 chamber. That requires precise/consistent neck turning.

What tools did you use to neck turn good sir!

 

[Offfhand]

so this has truly piqued my interest.
When a gun is described as a .262 neck gun- I get the chamber neck is .262 inches for the reamer cut. what is the neck turn vs. no turn descriptions?
this is pretty fascinating equipment.

All of the rifles I'm currently using in short range Benchrest competition are chambered for the 6mmPPC, and my reamers cut .262" necks. Like most active shooters, I've experimented with neck thickness and have concluded that "less is best". Meaning that I now turn necks to .0085" which allows a fair amount of space around a loaded neck in a .262 chamber. And avoids some problems that typically occur with overly tight necks. I've turned lots of necks in various calibers over the years and tried most of the neck turning tools. The Lapua brass I currently use has a relatively thick neck wall so I "gently" turn the necks with three successive thin cuts using three Sinclair adjusted for specified depth of cut. I have them numbered so I won't confuse myself.

 

[Walkalong]

What tools did you use to neck turn good sir!

K&M

 

[GoldieMI]

so for short range- I see the primary cartridges are 6mm BR-Rem / 6mm BR- Norma / 22 PPC / 22 BR/ 30 BR/ and 6 PPC
if you were to start today- what would you say is the way to go? I love the look of these rifles and the desire to own one is building lol.

 

[Seamaster31]

For most fellows it would be hard to choose anything but a 6 PPC.

 

[Nanook]

For shooting groups, PPC rules the roost at short range, 100 to 200 yards.

But for shooting score, that would be 30BR. Bigger holes, better scores. Best edge gets the next higher scoring ring. Touch it and it's yours.

I've seen some amazing groups with 30BR rifles, too. Not mine, yet, though.

If you're looking for a used rifle, check out Shooters Corner. He has a lot of rifles usually. I have another one coming from him, a 6PPC on a BAT action. Plus he's one heck of a shooter in his own right, nationally ranked. A good guy to deal with, too.

 

[GoldieMI]

If you're looking for a used rifle, check out Shooters Corner. He has a lot of rifles usually. I have another one coming from him, a 6PPC on a BAT action. Plus he's one heck of a shooter in his own right, nationally ranked. A good guy to deal with, too.

Will do. Thank you for the advice. i've been peeking around on accurate shooter as well...I will go check out Shooters Corner

 

[Anchorite]

so for short range- I see the primary cartridges are 6mm BR-Rem / 6mm BR- Norma / 22 PPC / 22 BR/ 30 BR/ and 6 PPC
if you were to start today- what would you say is the way to go? I love the look of these rifles and the desire to own one is building lol.

6PPC, no question. So much has been developed in the way of the body of knowledge for the 6PPC it just makes sense.

 

[Anchorite]

K&M

K&M and Neil Jones or Wilson.

 

[JFrank]

I don't know the original smith, but Billy Stevens of Stevens Accuracy did the barrel that's on it now.

Hard to get a better smith than Billy Stevens

 

[JFrank]

I’m mainly a NRBSA /club shooter, but this little 6 BR will hold a decent group at 600 yards.
I’ve only tried 1000 IBS once and it finished mid pack at the end of the day.

 

[Seamaster31]

Have a peek at the used rifles at The Shooters Corner. That should give anybody a fairly good idea about cartridges are used.

 

[Anchorite]

Hard to get a better smith than Billy Stevens

True. And a fine gentleman to boot. I had Mickey Coleman (Rachel’s Glenn) build a few for me. Hate that he’s passed. And Jim Messer. Another great ‘smith that has passed. I’ve been out of the game too long......

 

[Walkalong]

Mickey Coleman (Rachel’s Glenn)

A very nice fellow and a nice range to shoot at. Close to me which is always good.

And Jim Messer

He was a really great guy, very down to earth.

 

[Offfhand]

Thanks for above mentions of Coleman and Messer, they deserve to be remembered. I knew both quite well and shot with them a number of years and both visited my home when in the area. So has Billy (Col.)Stevens whom I often shoot with or against, and we will again when, if ever, now-cancelled benchrest tournaments are rescheduled. Another great loss to the Benchrest game this past year was Terry Leonard. Who was a major influence in the popularity of wood stocks and crafted rifles that were works of art. I sometimes visited his shop when in his area and was always overwhelmed by his single-mined perfectionism. He built seven wood-stocked rifles for me, five of which I still shoot in competition. Here at top is one built for 600yd competition and chambered for 6mmBR. The other is a short range Hvy Var Class in 6PPC. Both have BAT RBLPRE actions with Kreiger barrels, B&A triggers and 45X Leupolds.

 

[Demi-human]

wood stocks and crafted rifles that were works of art.

Now we’re talking!

 

[Offfhand]

Here is another full time resident of my home for retired bench rifles: Built by Ed Shilen's shop about 1970 it was about as good a rifle building got back then, or since. By today's standards, the amount of work involved boggles the imagination. It was as expensive as it looks. The action is a Rem 40-X with Shilen sleeve, Shilen barrel and trigger, Lyman 35X scope. It's a .222 Rem of course, which ruled Benchrest shooting at the time, and It still shoots lil'bitty groups. .

 

[horsemen61]

Here is another full time resident of my home for retired bench rifles: Built by Ed Shilen's shop about 1970 it was about as good a rifle building got back then, or since. By today's standards, the amount of work involved boggles the imagination. It was as expensive as it looks. The action is a Rem 40-X with Shilen sleeve, Shilen barrel and trigger, Lyman 35X scope. It's a .222 Rem of course, which ruled Benchrest shooting at the time, and It still shoots lil'bitty groups. .View attachment 917754 View attachment 917755 View attachment 917756 View attachment 917757 View attachment 917758

@Offfhand

what do you mean by sleeved?

 

[Offfhand]

what do you mean by sleeved?

Mr. Horsemen, thanks for your question because it makes me realize, once again, how far the progress of accuracy development has marched beyond what was then considered "state of the art." So go back to the '50's and '60" when Benchrest shooting was getting popular and attracting accuracy rifle buffs and like-minded gunsmiths. Remington's M-722, followed by M-700 and XP-100's had changed the game and become the core of most bench rifles. But successful as they were, advanced thinking experimenters and gunmakers like Ed Shilen made them even better by making close fitting "sleeves" that make them even stiffer and provided a flat-bottomed "footprint" that made bedding more secure. The sleeves were held in place by expoxy or other types of cold solder and made the sleeved action a single rigid unit. Sometimes the donor receiver was even lightly turned to ensure a perfect fit and pressed into the sleeve. Occasionally you still see sleeved actions on the shooting circuit but they have mostly been replaced by more modern target type actions that duplicate what was trying to be achieved with sleeves. Excuse my long-winded explanation, so here are a couple pics to better show what I was trying to explain.

 

[horsemen61]

Mr. Housemen, thanks for your question because it makes me realize, once again, how far the progress of accuracy development has marched beyond what was once considered "state of the art." So go back to the '50's and '60" when Benchrest shooting was getting popular and attracting accuracy rifle buffs and like-minded gunsmiths. Remington's M-722, followed by M-700 and XP-100's had changed the game and become the core of most bench rifles. But successful as they were, advanced thinking experimenters and gunmakers like Ed Shilen made them even better by making close fitting "sleeves" that make them even stiffer and provided a flat-bottomed "footprint" that made bedding more secure. The sleeves were held in place by expoxy or other types of cold solder and made the sleeved action a single rigid unit. Sometimes the donor receiver was even lightly turned to ensure a perfect fit and pressed into the sleeve. Occasionally you still see sleeved actions on the shooting circuit but they have mostly been replaced by more modern target type actions that duplicate what was trying to be achieved with sleeves. Excuse my long-winded explanation, so here are a couple pics to better show what I was trying to explain. View attachment 917811 View attachment 917812

@Offfhand

sir no need to excuse anything I’ve come to THR to learn I’m trying to be a sponge and soak all this up that I can,so one day I may pass this info on to a youngster like myself. Please feel free to talk about benchrest shooting here as much as possible I can’t remember the 50’s or the 60’s or the 80’s for that matter so I come here to learn so thank you for the explanation and pics!

 

[Walkalong]

what do you mean by sleeved?

lol, showing my age, I knew the answer.

I had one of these Pandas, and saw some sleeved Remingtons in the hands of older guys.

 

[Anchorite]

Here is another full time resident of my home for retired bench rifles: Built by Ed Shilen's shop about 1970 it was about as good a rifle building got back then, or since. By today's standards, the amount of work involved boggles the imagination. It was as expensive as it looks. The action is a Rem 40-X with Shilen sleeve, Shilen barrel and trigger, Lyman 35X scope. It's a .222 Rem of course, which ruled Benchrest shooting at the time, and It still shoots lil'bitty groups. .View attachment 917754 View attachment 917755 View attachment 917756 View attachment 917757 View attachment 917758

Love the Deuce.

 

[Walkalong]

I had a heavy barreled Sako .222, in a fit of stupidity I traded it off, at least I had sense enough not to sell the .222 Mag.

 

[horsemen61]

I have a heavy barreled Sako .222, in a fit of stupidity I traded it off, at least I had sense enough not to sell the .222 Mag.

I am sorry to hear that @Walkalong can you please tell me is there any real difference in the .222 and the .222 mag?

 

[Walkalong]

A fair size difference.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/222-remington-magnum.262582/#post-3204969

.222, .223, .222 Mag