82boy
The Extreme Accuracy Game has mirrowed the HotRod Industry in the way the entire endevour has evolved.
I don't know your age, but I consider myself an "old hot rodder". Back in the 60's and 70's, if you wanted to build a serious performance vehicle, you had a choice of highly modifying Factory Offerrings, or going with what was then just a few after market supplyers for items such as cranks, rods, pistons, etc. There were virtually NO aftermarket blocks or heads, businesses such as Air Flow Research started with Factory Castings, and more or less did what ever it took to increase the potential. Allof this was VERY expensive stuff.
Now, just pick up a Jegs, or Summit catalogue. It seems every body and his Grandmother is manufacturing evry concievable high performance item, from the air cleaner to the tread of the tire. The problem isn't finding quality parts, the real problem is deciding who to purchace the items from. The latest Jegs has no less than 5 pages of nothing but aftermarket cylinder heads.
Good Lord, I now see where Edlebrock is now producing heads for the W-Series Chevy's, (348-409). Aluminum blocks are soon to follow. That means, if you so desired, (and many do), a Rodder could assemble a 409 with no more effort than it takes to build a Chevy Mouse or Rat Motor.
The same evolutuion has taken place in Firearms. The advent of moderm manufacturing, (CAD-CAM), has greatly increased the availability of quality parts. For years, a shooter could go with a accurized Factory offerring, or wait forever for one of the few Customs that were available. Many of the custom parts were produced in specialty shops, at a low volume. You almost had to have a 'friend in the industry' to even aquire the more desireable items.
Those days are gone. look at the number of top quality manufacturers we have now, who furnish everything from the barrel to the bullet. And, just like the Hot Rod industry, we have a multitude of large supply houses that keep a good stock of everything from powder to triggers. Need a barrel?? Call Lester or Ron, and I would bet that you could have a barrel blank, (or just about anything, for that matter), sitting at your doorstep in 4 days.
Which brings us to your initial inquiry.
When we answer, "it doesn't make much difference", that is the truth. Whether it's a Kelbly, a Stiller, or a Bat, all are manufactured to exacting tolerances using the latest in CNC machining practices. The decision is not IF you can get something, the big decision is deciding what to buy.
Even though I have been shooting Benchrest since the mid 90's, I am sorta going through the samething you are as a new shooter. I have shot the same Rifle for the past eleven years, a simple Farley that is Right Bolt-Left Port. No eject. I have won a lot of Matches with that onelittle Rifle. I made a decision after this years nationals to upgrade, to a Ejector Bat in a new Scarborough Stock. I chose the Bat because I stumbled into a very good deal, one too good to pass up. For my Rail Gun, I just brought back, from Denton, a brand new Stiller Diamond Back in drop port.
Be warned. As good as the manufactueres are, not even all actions from the same manufacturer are created equal. Just like barrels, some tend to, on a consitant basis, just shoot a little better than one just like it. Just like with cars, two engines can Dyno the same, but for some reason, one will have a slight enough edge in the real world to make a difference.
Keep in mind what we are trying to accomplish. Literally stacking one bullet on top of another on a VERY consistant basis, out doors,in the elements.
Look at this years Nationals Equipment List. It seems that anybody that did anything worhwhile was shooting a Bat Action, Hostenstien (sp) bullets, coming out of a Bartlien Barrel. Untill you did a little deeper. Tony Boyer blew the Unlimited 100 record out the window. What is hanging off his Rail?? A Stiller Diamondback.
Benchrest, just like everything else, steadilly evolves. New items come, and go. A shooter is bombarded with decisions about what is best. The simple truth is, we never had it so good.
The reality is, the biggest decision one really has to make is what phone number to dial.
Right now, you can call any one of the major Supply Houses, and purchase a brand new Benchrest Rifle, and have it in a few weeks. They actually know the market, and build spec Rifles simply to sale.
Go back to the HomePage. On the left, take a look at all of the manufactures. It is amazing what is yours to have, with no more effort than dialing the phone and giving out a credit card number............jackie
