My Greetings

H

highseas

Guest
Gentlemen, and Ladies

Wanted to introduce myself. Ive been around rifles all my life. Carried them in many places and countries. Ten years ago, the reloading bug bit. Then the tinkering. Last year I stumbled across benchrest. What a interesting and complicated disapline. So for the last year I have read everything I can get my hands on. Lurked and watched the threads on this sight. About two months ago I decided I better join, since I acuired a Benchrest rifle I figured I would be asking some rather Noobie questions. So far theve been aswered by some real nice people here in washington.( and I havent had to show my Noobie rear in public)

I must chuckle a bit, I learned one thing right out of the starting gate, the rifle was the cheap part.

Second, I dont know squat:D

Third, though Im a very good shot in the field, wind, rain what have you. I dont know how to shoot in the wind on the range.( now i know what all those pretty colored flags are for)

Fourth, There is entirely way to much information, think Im more confused than when I started.

Fifth, just do it, take great notes, and learn from them, make changes accordingly. A bench rest rifle is the most exacting, tempermentle, frustrateing and lovely beast Ive encountered.

Damm thems some small aggregates you fellers shoot. Now if the wallet will hold out :)

Ethan
 
highseas said:
Third, though Im a very good shot in the field, wind, rain what have you. I dont know how to shoot in the wind on the range.( now i know what all those pretty colored flags are for)

Fourth, There is entirely way to much information, think Im more confused than when I started.

Fifth, just do it, take great notes, and learn from them, make changes accordingly. A bench rest rifle is the most exacting, tempermentle, frustrateing and lovely beast Ive encountered.

Damm thems some small aggregates you fellers shoot. Now if the wallet will hold out :)

Ethan
Click to expand...
Welcome.

The first thing is to get your gun in reasonable tune. You may not be able to tune it starting out good enough to beat Tony Boyer. That comes later.

I'm assuming you have a 6PPC with a reasonable barrel and you have a good front rest and rear bag. Start at 29.2 grains V133 and benchrest bullets in the 64-69 grain range. Start the bullet seating at a hard jam (good square marks on the bullet nose left by the rifling. Load for 3 shot groups.

In early morning or late evening when conditions are really still, start firing for tune. If the first 2 shots don't go through the same home, no use shooting the 3rd shot. Move the seating stem out 0.003" from previous and seat that 3rd bullet, then load 2 more. Keep repeating this and you will find a place where the first 2 do go through the same hole and the 3rd shot does not significantly enlarge that hole. Now you are in reasonable tune. Repeat 4-5 times to authenticate repeatability.

Next trip to the range, start out with a good set of wind flags, watch them, then shoot. Where were the flags pointing and how much intensity did they show? Where did the bullet go based on what you thought the flags indicated?

For the first several trips let the gun do the work, i.e. do not try to hold for condition changes. Right now you are just learning what the gun can and will do.

All the above assumes you know how and when to clean the barrel, etc.
 
Ethan, I see you are in WA state, so I’d like to invite you up to the first BR shoot of the season at the Tacoma range. It is the Manly Oakley sporter class regional Saturday, and HV Sunday May 1st and 2nd. If you need more info you can email me at rgart@zipcon.net, or call (206) 214-6484. Always good to see new guys in the sport. Hope you can make it.

Rick Graham
 
There's really not all that much to it. You just start with a perfect rifle, perfect optics, perfect load and then learn to read the wind.....perfectly :)
I have no clue why I haven't figured all that out by now.
;)

Rick
 
Welcome Ethan

Welcome Ethan, These are a great bunch of people here, listen to them. I'm in about the same boat that you are.
Mark
 
Al
Thank you

eljefe
thank you and I can see where this may lead to madness, normal here.

Jerry

Thank you for the great advise. The rifle is a Nesika (poaulsbo) Very few rounds throut it from the looks of it. The stock looks to be McMillan LV pillar bedded by Speedy. Two Bartlein barrels, both chambered same reamer. Barrel work by Kostinich here in washington, one for fire forming, the other not fired yet. (ill practice at home with the fire forming one, save the other for when i go to the range and play with the "big boys"). Looked at a few 36x luepolds, sure they did what the owners say, just to marred for me to trust. so still looking.Same with rests, nothing "tight " or comfortable yet. Grown out of my improv flags looking to pick up real ones soon. But getting the idea. Please feel free with any aditional advice.

Rick
This must be Rick from Graham flags? If so then Im sure you will see me soon with checkbook in hand :) Thank you for the invite, I want to make it, but will depend on the ship I have in Port at the moment. If I do, will you have some of your flags for sale at the match?

Butch
Thank you, and nice to meet you. Ratigans book was one of the first.Like the chapters on wind flags and gun handleing. Its now dog eared and full of sticky notes. Rather pathetic looking. :D PS publication library put a dent in the credit card a few months ago. Like the Benchrest primer alot. Alot of variations on essentially the same thing. Vaugns book was a very very interesting read. Though I dont think ill ever crank a barrel down as hard as him on a BR rifle.

Rick
Perfectly stated :D

Mark
Hope your enjoying this as much as Iam.

Thanks again Gentlemen. Seems Ive found a nice place to be.
 
Welcome

Go to the match in Tacoma, have no expectations, everyone there is nice and will help you, shoot or observe, (its funner to shoot), be vocal, everyone wants to help, you will learn a lot. Have fun > shooting is fun > you have something in common with everyone there. We all like to chat about shooting.


Marty
 
Thank you Marty, Ill be there if I dont have to be at the ship. Hopefully get to say hello

Etahn
 
Hi Ethan. There is a shoot at Kenmore this Saturday. If you could make it give me a call or email and I'll give you the particulars.

Rick Graham
 
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