Proper shooting proceedures.

[Boxercup]

On the last trip to the range after nearly a dozen outings with my new rifle, I finally realized that it likes a firm hold to the shoulder. It's a TC Contender with a 22" stainless Bullberry bull barrel chambered in 30-30 with a 1:10 twist and the whole package weighs just under 9 lbs. Load development is with the Speer 125TNT and before you suggest that I post on the Plinkers Forum, I intend to get it to shoot 1/2" or better consistently. I had just got a shade north of that the last time out. It was the 5th string of 5 shots on a hot and uncleaned barrel that I tried the firm hold. Sadly, I had only brought 25 rounds with me.

All this raises some questions for me.

Is there a standard (guidelines actually) for how many shots you should fire at one time before resting?
What is a good interval between strings?
Do you have to clean the barrel?
If so, how often?
If you don't, what is the effect?
Can the barrel get too hot to shoot accurately?
How much leeway do you have in hold pressure?

I'm truly enjoying the process but I would also like to make my range time more effective.

Regards,
Michael

 

[mturner]

Michael

He is correct in saying that all guns like something different. You are also right about the firm hold. Contenders in the heavier recoiling rounds need to be tamed somewhat. Contenders don't ride the bags like a BR rifle. Typically a BR gun has a much better stock which recoils much straighter, and also has a 3" wide forend to help it achieve this. The bags fit the stock better also. Most BR rifles also have much less recoil than your 30-30. Even my 30-30 BR rifle is much easier to control in the bags than a Contender. You might want to make a 3" wide forend for it. Just something simple to reduce torquing. Also while holding it firmly, watch out for to much cheek pressure, and or inconsistant cheek pressure.

As far as how many shots between cleaning, most BR shooters clean at 7 to 15 rounds. Pretty much between each 5 or 10 shot group. Powder fouling can sometimes stabilize a barrel and help accuracy, but copper fouling usually hurts accuracy.

Contender barrels are .812" diameter at the breech, and either the same at the muzzle or smaller. Bench rest barrels start between 1.2" and 1.25", and taper down to around .9" at the muzzle. They can take many more shots without heat build-up that can cause a change in point of impact. Let it cool between 5 shot groups. BR shooters have at least 20 minutes between groups, although we don't need this much time for barrel cooling, it's mainly for cleaning and reloading.

Pay attention to wheter or not the first shot is the one that makes the group the largest. When you change anything at all, the first shot becomes a fouler. This is true for at least these four things: a cleaned barrel, a powder change, a bullet change, a barrel that has gone for several minutes without firing. For testing you don't need to have a fouler plus 5 more shots. Just make note of where the first shot falls. In a match, you will always need foulers and sighters. Never put the first round out of the barrel on your record target.

Michael

 

[Randy J.]

Firecracking

If your barrel gets so hot as to be uncomfortable to keep your hand on it them you have already fired too many shots at a time; firecracking has probably already started if it gets that hot. I learned the hard way and thank Mr. Borden for pointing it out to me. Randy J.