pics of my first benchrest build in progress

(Just gotta have that pivot ring at the chuck like any other setup ) You are so right and I do now. Thanks for pointing this out makes life so much easier.

Thanks Chet
 
I'm certainly no expert machinist, but I believe I understand the concern. I thought perhaps the point being made for the possible movement or stress in the barrel would stem from the axis of rotation of the headstock not being exactly the same as the axis of rotation of the mid-bed-mounted 2nd headstock (as I type this now I forgot what term was being used for the 2nd headstock). Maybe the alignment between the two isn't greatly different, but it does make sense to me that stresses or walking would occur if the two headstocks axis were not identical.

I also agree that when held within one headstock, there is only the one axis involved, and this source of possible stress (as it rotates) is not present.
 
A rifle for my father

Posting pics of the finished project. She comes in at 12lbs 11.5oz amd balances about an inch in front of the receiver. I epoxied in a slug of a barrel into the butt stock. I had drilled and tapped 1/2-20 threads so dad can pull the weight and put on a light barrel to make weight.
The little insert behind the action came out of necessity as I bedded the action too deep in the stock. As I dished out an area for the bolt to slide into I found myself into the shell of the stock. Hence the insert and the appearance of the loading port side of the stock. The tang and ejection port side of the stock match perfectly to the action without alteration.
I am pretty happy with the insert asthetics and the little tube that I had to fab to alllow access to the bolt release screw came out really well.
We have had a chance to take it out pre final bedding and it does show potential. Another lesson learned is to make sure any weight you add to the butt is locked in tight! I had to use a dead blow hammer to tap it in initially and thought that should be pretty good! Wrongo!!! The weight moved at least an inch further into the stock and I have to imagine that effected accuracy.
I am hoping that by gluing in the action and the weight system that things will tighten up a bit.
The action certainly sounds more solid during cycling.
Cant wait to get it out to the range for further testing.
Thanks for watching.
Mike
 

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Mike

Make certain your weight system is secure. I walked off the line a few years ago with a guy who had been leading with his HV and it had suddenly gone haywire. As he slung the rifle onto his shoulder he heard a thump. We took the butt plate off and his weight fell out.

Why are you making a 12# + gun build anyway? Its too heavy for LV/Sporter and under weight for HV. The only advantage I see in HV is that some folks are recoil sensitive.


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it's a

Make certain your weight system is secure. I walked off the line a few years ago with a guy who had been leading with his HV and it had suddenly gone haywire. As he slung the rifle onto his shoulder he heard a thump. We took the butt plate off and his weight fell out.

Why are you making a 12# + gun build anyway? Its too heavy for LV/Sporter and under weight for HV. The only advantage I see in HV is that some folks are recoil sensitive.


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score rifle Jerry. Something appraising 13. 5 is what most think they need for a 30BR. Recoil can be punishing on some of the "straight" stocks today.
 
As far as the rifle weight that is what dad ordered...a score gun in 220 beggs. "That'll never work!", says I.
"Maybe not, but it sure will be fun." Says he.
We shall see.
 
As far as the rifle weight that is what dad ordered...a score gun in 220 beggs. "That'll never work!", says I.
"Maybe not, but it sure will be fun." Says he.
We shall see.

I can buy that.

If your Dad did for you, growing up, what my Dad did for me, growing up, he deserves to get what he wants in the build!! Who knows, he may know best.

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Another pic of the finished work.
Because I had gone through the shell of the stock behind the action as well as the loading port relief I needed a solution for both locations. The aluminum inlay works nicely for behind the action and if I had the inclination I would have created a second one for the loading port as well.
Instead I used some plumbers epoxy and rustoleum I had on the shelf andnit actually turned out quite well. Dad and I will be heading out this sunday for the official first voyage. We had gone previously before the action was glued in and the weight system was still shifting badly on me. We did manage an .080 but the majority were at .2-.25. range for the better groups.

Jerry, you mentioned something about what your dad did for you and I can tell you that for what my dad has done for me it would take 20 of these guns to start to repay him. Not just monetarily of course but the hours of time spent fishing, camping, learning, and talking...and there was the five year plan at MSU, but it did pay off and get me into OSU vet school which I will be paying for for the next 20 years!
Mike
 

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I wanted to report that the 220 beggs has been performing really well for us so far. We just had a range session today and were able to get it tuned to shoot in the mid 1's when the flags hold steady. It was a fairly tricky day to shoot for us as the wind never really held steady for more than a few seconds and seemed to be changing vector and velocity constantly.
We settled on a load of LT32 26gr at 0.002 into the lands. Nice round groups and a bit forgiving as 25.5 at the same seating depth also gave decent results though with a bit more vertical than the 26gr load. This thing is a pleasure to shoot! It returns to battery within 1/2" or less from the aim point and the action is super smooth and conducive to rapid reloading.
The smile on Dad's face when all five will stack into one small hole is priceless.
Mike
 
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