jackie schmidt
New member
As many know,I have been putting a lot of time in lately with 30 calibers, sort of my own "crash course".
I currently have two versions of a viable 30 caliber Benchrest Rifle, the 30PPC and the 30BR. I have now shot both enough to garner some info that might be worth sharing, and discussing.
I developed my 30PPC with this in mind. A 10.5 pound Rifle, (legal LV weight), minimum recoil, and based on a Rifle that has a PPC bolt face, something many shooters own.
We have built several, and quite a few shooters accross the country have also put together very competitive Rifles on this chambering.
There are a few drawbacks. Making cases is pretty labor intensive, we finally settled in on the proccess that first makes the 220 Russian into a 6PPC, and then a 30 caliber. This involves firing the case twice in a custom barrel,then neck turning for the .332 neck diameter.
We also settled in on 4227 as the powder of choice, mainly because it is the most accurate offerring. Howerver, pushing the 112 grn bullet at 2950 is hard on cases. I tried slower powders, but the accuracy potential simply did not seem to be up to the standards required. I do know of shooters who are using N120, and even 4198, (Mike Stinett). Mike gets great accuracy with what amounts to a full case of 4198 and a 112 grn bullet.
I have recently put a full effort into my 30BR, the one with the chamber length of 1.550. I followed all of the basic rules in loading, enough 4198 to push the 112 grn bullet 3000 fps. Accuracy is outstanding, (duh)
, and case life seems to be a non issue. Even though I made up 100 cases, I have put close to 300 rounds down the barrel using the same 15 cases.
I make my cases by blowing then forward, (hense the longer trim to length). I then neck turn to fit the .330 chamber, and they are ready to go tothe line.
The recoil difference in the 30PPC and the 30BR is not that much, since I am using the same 112 in both. Logic dictates that the larger case and slower powder is the reason for the great case life in the BR, it is an overall "milder" set-up.
Which is more accurate?? As many know, I put it on the line at the Texas Bluebonnet and shot the 30BR in both 100 yard classes. This of course, was a 10.5 pound Rifle as we shot LV and Sporter. I didn't win either class, but top five finishes in each showed that the Rifle is certainly capable.
I have yet to shoot the 30PPC in a group match. It does great in our Club Score matches, but that is not the same thing.
I probably never will. I have come to the conclusion, (based on my own experience), that the 30BR is a better choice. The cases are much easier to make, the case life is outstanding due to the milder tune at the same accuracy potential, and there is the option of going to a heavier bullet if the shooter so desired.
Of course, if a shooter wants a 30, and only has a Rifle with the PPC bolt face, the 30PPC will certaily get the job done. But as for myself,I think Iwill put all of my future efforts into the 30BR.
My next step is probably a Rail Gun Barrel. It will take me a while to get a 1-17 Krieger in 1.450 straight profile, but I think the accuracy potential warrants the effort.
As a final thought, I probably need to change my style of shooting when using the 30BR in LV-Sporter. I have always been a heads up-free recoil shooter. Maybe I am getting a little soft in my old age, but after a couple of aggs, you DO start to notice that thing hitting your shoulder.
I am not sure I can shoot as well hanging on to the Rifle. Maybe one of those de-excelerator pads would help.
I think this is facinating stuff. We have all assumed that a 6PPC was the cats meow for 100-200 yard Benchrest. But these 30 calibers are just as accurate, and from what I have witnessed, might be a tad easier to keep in competitive tune. I based that on the fact that I shot the two 100 yardages on separte days, with a 30 degree temperature swing, and I changed nothing.
These are just some of my own observations. I know the 30 Cal rules score, but perhaps it might do just as well in group if enough good shooters are willing to dive into the deep end.
Joe Krupa made a good observation when he stated that Score and Group were so specialized that it took an entire different set-up for each. Well, that is based on shooting the 6PPC in group, and the 30 in Score.
What about shooting the 30 in both. Time will tell......jackie
I currently have two versions of a viable 30 caliber Benchrest Rifle, the 30PPC and the 30BR. I have now shot both enough to garner some info that might be worth sharing, and discussing.
I developed my 30PPC with this in mind. A 10.5 pound Rifle, (legal LV weight), minimum recoil, and based on a Rifle that has a PPC bolt face, something many shooters own.
We have built several, and quite a few shooters accross the country have also put together very competitive Rifles on this chambering.
There are a few drawbacks. Making cases is pretty labor intensive, we finally settled in on the proccess that first makes the 220 Russian into a 6PPC, and then a 30 caliber. This involves firing the case twice in a custom barrel,then neck turning for the .332 neck diameter.
We also settled in on 4227 as the powder of choice, mainly because it is the most accurate offerring. Howerver, pushing the 112 grn bullet at 2950 is hard on cases. I tried slower powders, but the accuracy potential simply did not seem to be up to the standards required. I do know of shooters who are using N120, and even 4198, (Mike Stinett). Mike gets great accuracy with what amounts to a full case of 4198 and a 112 grn bullet.
I have recently put a full effort into my 30BR, the one with the chamber length of 1.550. I followed all of the basic rules in loading, enough 4198 to push the 112 grn bullet 3000 fps. Accuracy is outstanding, (duh)
, and case life seems to be a non issue. Even though I made up 100 cases, I have put close to 300 rounds down the barrel using the same 15 cases.I make my cases by blowing then forward, (hense the longer trim to length). I then neck turn to fit the .330 chamber, and they are ready to go tothe line.
The recoil difference in the 30PPC and the 30BR is not that much, since I am using the same 112 in both. Logic dictates that the larger case and slower powder is the reason for the great case life in the BR, it is an overall "milder" set-up.
Which is more accurate?? As many know, I put it on the line at the Texas Bluebonnet and shot the 30BR in both 100 yard classes. This of course, was a 10.5 pound Rifle as we shot LV and Sporter. I didn't win either class, but top five finishes in each showed that the Rifle is certainly capable.
I have yet to shoot the 30PPC in a group match. It does great in our Club Score matches, but that is not the same thing.
I probably never will. I have come to the conclusion, (based on my own experience), that the 30BR is a better choice. The cases are much easier to make, the case life is outstanding due to the milder tune at the same accuracy potential, and there is the option of going to a heavier bullet if the shooter so desired.
Of course, if a shooter wants a 30, and only has a Rifle with the PPC bolt face, the 30PPC will certaily get the job done. But as for myself,I think Iwill put all of my future efforts into the 30BR.
My next step is probably a Rail Gun Barrel. It will take me a while to get a 1-17 Krieger in 1.450 straight profile, but I think the accuracy potential warrants the effort.
As a final thought, I probably need to change my style of shooting when using the 30BR in LV-Sporter. I have always been a heads up-free recoil shooter. Maybe I am getting a little soft in my old age, but after a couple of aggs, you DO start to notice that thing hitting your shoulder.
I am not sure I can shoot as well hanging on to the Rifle. Maybe one of those de-excelerator pads would help.
I think this is facinating stuff. We have all assumed that a 6PPC was the cats meow for 100-200 yard Benchrest. But these 30 calibers are just as accurate, and from what I have witnessed, might be a tad easier to keep in competitive tune. I based that on the fact that I shot the two 100 yardages on separte days, with a 30 degree temperature swing, and I changed nothing.
These are just some of my own observations. I know the 30 Cal rules score, but perhaps it might do just as well in group if enough good shooters are willing to dive into the deep end.
Joe Krupa made a good observation when he stated that Score and Group were so specialized that it took an entire different set-up for each. Well, that is based on shooting the 6PPC in group, and the 30 in Score.
What about shooting the 30 in both. Time will tell......jackie
