basic benchrest questions

A

artandscience

Guest
Hi guys,

Just bought an Venezuelan Mauser in 7x57 and took it out today for the first time.

I have some experience as a smallbore competition shooter but none with large bore rifles.

I sighted in first at 25 yds and was getting about 0.25" groups with factory ammo. So I go to the 100 yd range with three different boxes and give it a whack. My best group (4 shots) was about 1.25" (haven't measured it yet just eyeball) but I put that down to the military trigger.

My questions are:

1) the barrel in my sporter conversion appears to be fully floated. When I
rest the front end of the rifle on the benchrest, do I put it on a sandbag?
And do I put the stock on the sandbag or just the barrel itself?

I ask because I had one group with a fair bit of vertical stringing (like 3")
and I'm wondering if that came because my rest was pushing the stock
up against the barrel.

2) how many shots would I expect would be necessary to heat the barrel
sufficiently that I might then expect it has reached "operating temperature".
My understanding is that the first couple of shots might be less accurate
until that occurs. Is that true?

3) what's a good scope magnification to shoot 100-300 yds? My 1.5-4.5x
seems a little underpowered for longer distance shooting (which I want
to try once I get tight groups at 100yds).

4) I figure my military trigger is a good 7-9 lbs. I presume that I should
get some horizontal dispersion of my groups because of that at 100yds
but that vertical probably shouldn't be much affected (at least from a
benchrest). Is that a safe assumption? (I'm about to replace it with
a Timney).

I looked for stickies or primers on this site for these questions but couldn't
find anything. Is there a primer somewhere I can read (or buy) on how to do benchrest with a hunting rifle (which is essentially what my sporter is).

Any responses appreciated.

thanks,
Stefan
 
1. Rest it on the stock. You may need to remove wood so float is maintained while on the rest.
2. See above
3. A high powered variable will be fun at the range, but impractical for what rifles of this caliber are usually used for in the field. As a compromise, a 4.5 x 14 AO should be good.
4. At that weight, they both will. You will love the lighter trigger.
This is a forum that is generally about the highest level of competition Benchrest shooting. I am not at all sure that we have more fun shooting than you do, but questions of this nature would be better directed to a factory rifle, or hunting board. Good luck, and enjoy! (For your next adventure, you might want to try learning to reload. First, buy a manual.)
 
thanks

Thanks to Boyd, Dennis, and abintx. If I had just had a response from Joe I probably would have incorrectly concluded that people in this forum were d*cks and my burgeoning interest in your sport would have quickly left.

Honestly guys, how would anyone ever move up to purpose-made centerfire rifles without starting out somewhere like I'm doing?

I've competed in a several shooting sports with some success and never seen an answer as inappropriate or rude as Joe's ever. I've shepherded folks through more beginning practical pistol events that I can remember and one lesson I learned early on is it doesn't matter what path you take to a sport - whether you stay in it depends on the encouragement you give beginners.

To the others, thank you very much for your response and I hope to be back if I ever end up with a purpose-built rifle.

cheers,
S.
 
Stefan, I really didn't get what you did from Joe's answer. In fact, he was directing you to the one forum that might possibly give you the most help in the shortest time. True, he didn't put a lot of words into his post but there was no rudeness in it.

Look at it like this: you stop by my house to ask for directions and I tell you that so-and-so on the next street over can probably give you directions to the very place you're trying to reach. It's much the same thing. Be more cautious with the name calling or the next time you need some help in some areas people may be less inclined to stick their necks out.

Even though we're all shooters some of us don't have much experience with the military firearms and trying to wring the best accuracy out of them. I can drive a car, farm tractor, pickup and such but would a poor choice to advise how to handle a semi. Same thing.
 
Joe P is NOT rude, Dude!!!!!!!

artandscience said:
Thanks to Boyd, Dennis, and abintx. If I had just had a response from Joe I probably would have incorrectly concluded that people in this forum were d*cks and my burgeoning interest in your sport would have quickly left.

Honestly guys, how would anyone ever move up to purpose-made centerfire rifles without starting out somewhere like I'm doing?

I've competed in a several shooting sports with some success and never seen an answer as inappropriate or rude as Joe's ever. I've shepherded folks through more beginning practical pistol events that I can remember and one lesson I learned early on is it doesn't matter what path you take to a sport - whether you stay in it depends on the encouragement you give beginners.

To the others, thank you very much for your response and I hope to be back if I ever end up with a purpose-built rifle.

cheers,
S.
Click to expand...

I have had occasion to shoot with Joe and even once borrowed a reamer. You are way out of line Hoss!
LASER
 
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