40X rifles in BR competition . . .
I bought my first 40X from Al Freeland in 1958. Probably was made in 1957. It came in a cardboard box. Paid $98.00 for it. Extra for the Olympic iron sights. I bought a M52C for my girlfriend a year later for $109. It came in a wood box.
If you just want that 40X as a collection piece, the price was right. If you wanted it to compete in ARA, RBA or IR-50/50, it would need some custom work to make it competitive; Like an extra $600 for a BR stock, $600 for a custom barrel, $150 for a barrel tuner. and $150 for a 2 oz. trigger.
As it is now, it is too heavy for the 10.5 lb. RBA & IR-50/50 classes.
Thanks to Bill Clinton, and the EPA, many indoor 50 foot ranges were closed in the 1990s because of lead poison phobia. A LOT of rifles were turned back to the CMP, that were on loan to ROTC and other Junior clubs, because those ranges were closed. Four years ago CMP sold 3500 used Remington 40X rifles to members of CMP clubs. Later a smaller lot of Winchester 52Bs and Cs were sold.
I got to thinking about all those nice old Smallbore rifles that were used in NRA Prone and Position Leagues and Tournaments. There are no rimfire benchrest classses that those rifles would fit in.
What a shame! Thousands of match grade target rifles that can't be used in Rimfire Benchrest matches, because there is no class they will fit in. They are just sitting in gun safes all over the country.
So: Why not set up a class for them? Who would be willing to do it? I asked that question over on Rimfire Central. I got a bunch of answers: All positive. So we came up with some suggestions for rules: Voted on them and now we have an On-Line Match for "Vintage Smallbore Rifles".
We started this new class last October and it is gaining in popularity. If any of you here have one of those fine old rifles in your gun safe and would like to use is, in benchrest competition: Take a look at our rules, here:
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222687
That forum is for posting 50 yard Vintage Smallbore scores. We also have a 25 yard match, using the same USBR target. The rules are the same for the 25 yard match and you can get to that match here:
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222552
We added an iron sight match for the Vintage Smallbore rifle in January. We use the NRA A23/5 target for that match. If you don't have a scope on the rifle, but have the irons: Take a look here:
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=223113
You can shoot alone on your home range. Or, go to one of our clubs that sponsors RFC Matches. Or organize a group of shooters at your home club, shoot your local matches and post your scores with us in the "On-Line" matches on RFC. We have shooters from many States, from Canada, England and Brazil.
Joe Haller.