Recent content by Tim Oltersdorf

I do exactly as you do except for a couple of things. In close range benchrest most scopes are of fixed power usually 36-50 power. To adjust parallax I look through the scope and move my head and eye around to see if the crosshair/dot moves around on the target. If it does the parallax is not...

Darnell, Welcome to the wonderful world of benchrest shooting. I couldn't find out where you live so I don't know if you will be shooting under IBS or NBRSA rules. In general the west shoots under NBRSA and the east under IBS. The rules are similar except for some very important rules about...

Some things to try without too much trouble: Use wind flags, Give the barrel a good cleaning with a mild abrasive like JB compound or Iosso, Shoot from a rest and a rear sandbag if you have them. Remove the swivel studs from the stock if you are shooting off of a rest and/or sandbag. Lighten up...

Wait! What! You are back. Why wasn't the national alert level at red? Why aren't nuns packing sidearms? Why aren't we at Defcon 2? Wake up America. Someone has been sleeping at the switch. It may already be too late and mankind is doomed. I always thought it would be nuclear war of a giant rock...

Early designs of moving backers were first produced by Rube Goldberg in the late 19 century. Their designs were tinkered with by a myriad of benchrest shooters since the 1950's. The result is that very few systems are identical. Each has its foibles and strengths. One common feature of all of...

That looks like a cruiser rifle the precursor to rail guns in the unlimited class.

The red dust coming off the old powder as well as a vinegar smell is due to nitric acid a breakdown product of the nitrocellulose in the powder. I have known where a can of old powder spontaneously combusted when it got to this stage. I have only had one very old can of powder like this. I...

Dear Bill, The origins of benchrest date back to pre-history as evidenced by the cave paintings found in Pennsylvania, a state where cavemen are rumored to still exist. These ancient drawings depict groups of hunters brandishing sharpened sticks. Some of the hunters had more than one stick. One...

I think I found an answer to my question about 205M vs 205MAR primers. Two sources cited a difference in primer cup thickness between the two with the 205MAR having a thicker cup. How that would impact short range benchrest accuracy is an unknown to me.

On the subject of primers: A number of years ago I purchased a case of 5000 Federal 205M primers. The cardboard box they came in listed them as 205M. When I opened them recently the boxes of 1,000 and the individual boxes of 100 primers were marked 205M AR15 primers. Does anyone know anything...

Jackie you are the original "Look up in the sky! It's a bird. It's a plane. Wait. It's not superman. It's Jackie sailing through drag strip timing lights, over water, without any attached device, even perhaps into outer space. I am jealous. I always wanted to fly. I got to know. Did you have...

Dear R, If you need to further clean your trigger and cannot disassemble it you can try cleaning it in a small ultrasonic cleaning machine. If you don't have one, see if you can use a friend's. Despite your budget constraints small US units are cheap and you may consider purchasing one if...

One thing to remember when switching springs is the ID of the spring. If it is too small the spring may bind when compressed. If it is too large the spring may bow to one side when compressed and rub against the inside of the bolt. I am not an expert on this. Perhaps someone with more expertise...

I recently replaced my plastic railgun points (pins) with the ones from PMA. Here are a few things to know: 1) The points are very slightly larger than 0.5" in diameter. They are an easy press fit into a 0.5" hole. I did not use any adhesive when installing them and so far they have remained...

I have seen that Lab Radar has come out with a unit similar to the Garmin for $600 and that Garmin has come out with a cheaper Pro Compact unit for slightly more than $400.00. I haven't tried either of this units and hence cannot comment on them.