BR Rifle and what events it can enter . . . . .

[Montana Pete]

I worked with a custom riflemaker and have a BR rifle on order. It will be in 6BR and will weigh about 12-13 lbs without scope. The riflemaker realized I don't know too much about BR events, and did not want me to order something that was not legal, and so he told me he would set it up as legal for F-Class events.

Question: Could a rifle like this be entered in other events?

I believe that sometimes you can enter a more limited rifle in events that permit more weight, etc. You may not win, because you are running lighter than your competition, but you are at least allowed to go out there and shoot. I was thinking of -- like -- 200 yd events.

I have plenty of time to learn more, since it will be a good long while before the rifle is ready for pick-up.

A couple of people responded to some of my past postings and stated "I was a potential convert to BR shooting." Looks like I finally "fell off of the log," so to speak.

 

[Wayne Shaw]

To shoot short range BR, your gun can't be over 13.5 lbs, which is HV class. No problem with the 6BR. I would question the stock. The forend can't be over 3" wide, and the butt has to have a taper that meets the rules. Some long range stocks don't. No muzzle brakes in short range.

 

[Cheechako]

. . . Question: Could a rifle like this be entered in other events?. . .

Because of the weight you are going to be limited to Long-Range BR (600&1000 yds) and/or point blank Unlimited Class. Stock shape will not play a role in either of those disciplines.

Ray

 

[pbike]

F Class rules are very Basic when compaired to BR rules. I have shot F class matches with my BR rifle and done well though. I would order based on BR Hv or HVFS set up, and then be able to use it in F class if you wish. remember though, in F class you shoot from Prone on a rest or bipod, and because of that, Right Bolt Left port is hard to manipulate. Right right, for a righty is a better choice

 

[crb]

What Pbike said.

We get a lot of queries seeking input on a 'universal rifle'. Something the respondent can use to win just about any rifle competition [ tongue in cheek ]. I was going to respond to this thread with the old saying that " Universal means it don't fit nuthin". But as I gave it more thought it came to me that a 13.5 lb HV 30BR is about as good a choice as you could make for a rifle capable of very competitive scores in the widest variety of club events that are shot off of a rest and rear bag or even a bipod and rear bag and within about 600 yds.

The 30BR can be a winner in both group and score 100/200/300 yd BR matches and many 30BR shooters do well at other match formats out to 600 yds if the wind isn't too extreme.

 

[Russ Rosene]

More information

Hi Pete,

What can you tell us about the rifle? Barrel taper and length, stock, action. I just built a 30BR and I have to add weight to get to 13.5lb.

Russ

 

[Montana Pete]

Russ--

The rifle is going to have a McMillan stock, a Brux barrel in the medium Palma configuration, barrel length will be 24 ". Savage target action. The riflemaker is planning the project to weigh between 12 and 13 lbs w/out scope. We have not settled on the scope definitely, but it may turn out to be a Vortex Viper in 20X. The project is just at the beginning stages at this point, and there may be room for a few minor tweaks.

Based on info supplied by persons posting to this thread, it may be desirable to keep the total weight to not exceed 13.5 lbs so it could also be used in something other than F-Class.

I wish I knew more about the benchrest rules. The rifle will not be ready until 2011 so there's probably still time to think through some of these things.



I was looking at the Weaver 36T scope in catalogs, but have not discussed this with the riflemaker yet.

 

[pbike]

I'm Not Familiar with this Vortex Scope, I would recomend Leupold Comp series or LRT Series, Depends which McMillan Stock you ordered. To say I got a McMillan Stock would be to say you are getting a Ford Car, could be a minivan or a mustang, not all fit BR Stock Guidelines, Palma Barrel Tapers do fit within BR taper guidelines. 13.5 pounds is 216 ounces, a scope with rings, not mounts will take up 24 ounces, leaving 192 ounces left to build, go from there. Set a weight based on Item you are buying and hold the smith to it. Weight is what will or will not allow you to compete. Also get on the NBRSA and IBS website and look at the online rules book both have barrel and stock configuration descriptions... You need to know them, and if your smith doesn't know them... There are BR and F Class smiths out here.

 

[Larry Elliott]

The problem I foresee is that most short range BR rifles have short barrels with slow twist, usually no more than 21" or so long wiht a 13 or 14 inch twist for light bullets. F class rifles in smaller calibers like 6 BR need longer barrels with a fast twist to stabilize the longer more wind resistant 105-107 gr VLD bullets. Of course a switch barrel is possible, but that's going to mean another maybe $500-600 for another barrel. Most group BR rifles use 36X and more scopes too.

This isn't to say that the rifle might not be able to win at one discipline or another, but as far as all around it's nearly impossible to do. It's not like a rifle that you can use for deer and varmints where there are no rules and no score is kept. Even then a rifle will be either a deer rifle that CAN be used for varmints or a varmint rifle that CAN be used for deer.