Thank you, Jim, Rick and Bart. I appreciate you taking the time to leave a note. Just for the record, I was shooting over Graham wind flags (a couple of 'em with holes that shouldn't be there!)! Jim, it's always great to shoot with you and Cindy and the whole CFSC gang. Greatest bunch of shooters and great friends. Pretty heady stuff to get my first-ever match win with a 250/25X score. A lot of people have played a big part in my shooting. I'd like to take this opportunity to give a bit of testimony.
When we started having IBS matches at Caledonia Forest & Stream Club, it was the first time sanctioned benchrest matches had ever been held in Vermont. I sent my Savage BVSS to Mickey Coleman and he put a used barrel and used stock on it and sent it and a bunch of used wind flags back to me. And that was my beginning.
I would never have had a full custom benchrest rifle without The Caledonian-Record, a small daily newspaper where I worked for 45 years. As a retirement gift, they literally gave me a blank check and said build whatever you want for a benchrest rifle -- no limit.
I selected a top name gunsmith and started ordering pieces. I selected a BAT SV action, Krieger 1:18 barrel, Robertson BRX stock, Jewell trigger and Leupold 45X scope. About a year into the gathering, the gunsmith started telling conflicting stories, lying, not returning calls, etc. Finally, I had all the pieces except the stock and had been waiting about six months for it. At one of our matches, Jim Borden was here and asked how the new rifle was coming. I told him what was going on and how discouraged I was getting with the name brand 'smith. When Jim got back home, he called me and gave me Ian Robertson's phone number and told me to call and find out what was going on with the stock. I called Ian, a totally fine gentleman who answered his home phone on a Sunday. He told me he made "all the stocks" for the name brand 'smith but didn't think he had any on order. When he went into the shop the next day, he called me and said there wasn't any stock on order for me and that the name brand 'smith hadn't ordered a stock in months. Ian asked what I wanted and I told him. He special made it the next day. Jim stepped up and said to send him all the pieces I had and he'd build my gun. He built me the most beautiful creation I've ever seen, and way better than I'm able to shoot it. Jim didn't have to do that and I'm indebted to him for his work.
It's been great fun and I thank all the folks who have been a part of it.
Any idea how many wipe-outs? What hurdle will you conquer next??? Great job by one of the nicest gentleman I know.