RFD 30BR project update

A

Al Nyhus

"It'll never work!"
Some time back, I posted about my RFD actioned 10.5 lb. 30BR project. Here's the link to that original posting: http://benchrest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48036&highlight=bolt+timing

Here's an update on the project, for those interested. Everything works smoothly, cases extract effortlessly and accuracy is great. Here's a couple of 5 shot groups after 50 rounds with what's become my 'standard' baseline test load....Fed 205's, .003 neck clearance, a neck bushing .004 under what a loaded round measures, a big heapin' helpin' of H4198 Extreme and a Dakota B1 117 gr. seated .030 past just touching the rifling. The barrel is a Rock 1:17
from the hands of Paul Tolvstad and James Lederer:
rfdtargets.jpg
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Here's a pic. of the completed rig:
lizardking.jpg
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Thanks again to Stan Ware of SGR Custom for making this all happen! And to Randy Robinett for letting me have a crack at breathing life into an old project. :) You guys rock! :cool: -Al
 
Al

You obviously need to get that thing in tune.:D
Nice report. Geeze, does that thing REALLY shoot that well??
Scary.........jackie
 
Al

Like Jackie said, you really need to get that thing in tune. Maybe for powder you should try some H5010, and if you have around a 18" twist, you might try some Sierra 240gr Matchkings. I'd also run them about 1/2" of the lands, but no more than that or you might close off the flash hole with the base of the bullet. For real, that gun looks real nice in the picture. Now that it's been to the range though, I'm sure it's all used and scratched up now. If you'd like, you can give it to me.:)
 
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Exciting results...I notice that you said .003 clearance. I would like to hear more on that subject. Have you done that with 6mm as well?
 
There is NOT a better action than the R.F.D.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
 
I dunno...

...those wallered out bullet holes look like they're starting to tumble. Might oughta' try another barrel.


:eek:
 
Appreciate the comments, guys. :)

Jackie- the weird thing is...over a 1.8 gr. charge weight range, there was barely any vertical. I used a Hunter taper barrel, based on Dan Lilja's barrel stiffness calculations and for balance reasons. Stan modified the action to a bolt in config. with a pinned lug. I did a bit different type of pillar bedding job than I normally do on a round reciever to get around some of the quirks of a reciever that was designed to be a glue in. So, maybe the combination of all this has calmed the predictable vertical down that I'm used to seeing as I go through the tune process with these 30BR's? I find this a bit hard to believe, though. :confused: It's way too soon to say...just need some more range time with it and a couple of 100-200 Grands to get a better feel for things.

Boyd- I've been running quite a bit more neck clearance with my .30's for quite a while now. I've never tinkered with this in a competitive 6mm BR rig. At this point in time, all 3 of my BR rigs (10.5 & 13.5 Varmint and a HBR) are all .30's. I've owned 3 different 6PPC's but have just evolved into being a .30 cal. slut, I guess. :D I'll confess that a little .22 caliber 'true' Light Varmint horns me up pretty good, though. :eek::D There's just something about a 22 Beggs/.100 short 22PPC/.200 short 22BR that seems so right. :cool:

My plan for today is to test at 200. The winds were howling yesterday (25-30) but the NOAA forecast calls for NW winds from 5-10 today. But it's 06:10 and the anemometer is already reading 13 mph. steady state and tickling 15. :( It's the rare day in Southeastern South Dakota when the winds decrease as the day goes on. With our range setup, sometimes the best way to test at 200 is in the harder/steadier NW winds, ignore the 'on target' horizontal and concentrate on the vertical.

Hmmmm...there's an 18 mph. reading on the anemometer. Maybe the day won't be a total loss, after all.

Good shootin'. -Al
 
Al, I think you have just got a really good barrel, AKA. a hummer. The first lilja that i had would shoot in a hole over several grains powder change. It was the best barrel I have ever had and you sure do miss them when they die.
a really good barrel will do things that defy's reason, enjoy it and good shooting, steve
 
Bummer test day.

Worked my behind off trying to test today but the conditions were just too much for me. Winds were 16-25 from 6:00 to 9:00 and the flags always seemed to be moving. When they stabilized a bit, they all wanted to go in a hole, so I guess I didn't go backwards....just wasn't able to come back with any meaningful 200 yd. data.

At the end of the day, I'd put 100 rounds downrange and left not knowing any more than when I came, except that the stuff that wanted to shoot well before was the 'best of the worst' today.

This was a day when had it been a tournament, I'd have counted my blessings to stay clean at 100 yds. And 200 yds. would have been pure survival skills. :eek: -Al
 
I dig that snake skin looking stock. Where'd you get it?
 
Snakeskin

Mike Marcelli said:
I dig that snake skin looking stock. Where'd you get it?
Click to expand...

Mike, this is a dipped finish that I had done by Dynamic Finishes in Joplin, Mo. They have a website and their phone is: (417) 624-0281. I've had several of these done there for myself and pals on guns I've restocked and bedded. It's the same type of finish that's used on bows, ATV's, etc.

Hope this helps. -Al
 
Hi Al
What a fine looking rifle and it shoots like crazy.
Been away from BR shooting for a while due to eye surgery and knee replace ments. No fun for sure. I have a 30 BR that is not even broke in yet
with a brand new Sheilen barrel on my Kodiak action and lots of Randies 125gr bullets. Need to get going this year.
Fred Melzer
 
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