beginner is back....

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canis lupus

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We have established the fact that I need to begin Benchrest shooting with the 6PPC for 100/200yd. Now what do you folks suggest for actions, barrels, and stocks? I will be shooting 10 1/2 lb. class. Should I get serious about Gene Beggs and his tuning theory for the rifle? I am looking at used equipment.

canis lupus
 
Did you have a chance to go to a shoot and look at rifles and shoot a few?
If not, that would be your first step.
Now is the time to buy a used rifel, many are selling to fund other projects for the winter.
As far as custom actions, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the "big" names. Barrels, the same thought.
Stocks, there are many excellent ones out there. I prefer McMillan Edge stocks, they ride the bags very well, but again, there are many excellent ones out there.

Snoop around the classifieds and don't be afraid to ask the seller questions.
Some will offer an inspection period if you ask them, and you could possibly shoot it before making a final decision.

You might wonder why someone is selling........is there something wrong with this rifle? I have found that benchresters are a restless group with a constant quest for superior accuracy. Many build guns and then have to scratch the itch by building another one right away. This means selling something off that is perfectly good.

Be patient, do your homework and you will get a good gun.
Joe cowan
 
Canis...what is you self-imposed spending limit??
If you can afford it buy a new rifle from an established known BR gunsmith..with his input...
Remember you will need a top of the line rest and bags...reloading dies..wind flags etc,etc,etc...
Now if you need to keep the cost down then consider buying a used rifle/scope then have a new barrel installed (keep the old one to fireform)..
a tuner is something that you will consider when you get enough wind reading skills to utilize the tuner...
You need to go to the range where you plan to shoot practice and find a mentor to help you with all the techniques of gun handling, windflag set-up, loading at the range, tuning the load for the conditions..Oh-my....So much to do so little time...better get all those honey-do,s out of the way...you are going to be busy for a month or two..:D
 
Hello,

Well, one word of warning....you'll lose more money that the stock market shooting benchrest but it is a H*ll of a lot more fun...:) :)

Normally, I would say buy new if your very interested but with the used market in BR guns being what it is.....you can basically buy a very good shooting gun for the price of action and stock.

I live in southern indiana, (47581 zip), if you can make it down some weekend, I have a personal range and a variety of guns and rests you can shoot and decide what you like the feel of , ie: ejector or no ejector, RBLP, no grip stock, grip stocks, different scopes, different rests and rear bags. Even different flags. I can also get some friends rifles and you can try drop ports and other setups. Just need to plan ahead so I can get everything together. If you want, we can prep and form cases, etc...

If you don't want to come this far, get a hold of Joe Krupa, NBRSA regional director, and I'm sure either he or he can hook you up with someone that can do the same. You have a ton of very good shooters up there.

Hovis

P.S. don't worry about turners and other things like that yet. You need to establish a foundation and keep it simple...JMHO.
 
Wolf,
At this point you are just starting out in Benchrest. I would suggest that you look, feel, cycle and heft and shoot if possible as many different rifles as you can. There are suttle differences in all. You may find a particular stock that just feels better than the others. Or an action that just feels better. Or a scope that you like more than others. My first rifle was a used one with a new Krieger barrel on it. It doesn't hurt to buy one with a few hundred rounds thru it. Because it will still shoot better than you can. Benchrest has a very steep learning curve and you will not realize this until you have been doing it for about a year or so. You can, if you have the funds, order a top of the line rifle. You will probably have to wait 6-12 months for it and you will still have to learn how to shoot. The rifle is only about 50% of the equation. As long as you get a decent used rifle, one with a up to date action and stock you can always replace barrels, scopes, etc. Decent rests can be had for a lot less than the $700-$1000 super dupers that are out there. Find you a mentor if possible. If not then go to some matches. Don't bother the shooters during the match, they are very busy. Go early and stay late. If you tell them you are a beginner and looking for information and could you show me your rifle and equipment, most all will be happy to do so. But do not go there and try to impress them with your varmeting/shooting skills, they have been there done that. BR shooters are a hard bunch to impress. It is for the most part impossible to explain the level of preparation, expenditure of time and money and level of competition that most have over the average shooter with his Remchestersavage that once in a while gets 5 shots in a group under 1/4 inch. Not trying to scare you off but start off slow, buy decent equipment, even used if need be. But buy smart. Learn to shoot and most of all never shoot unless you have wind flags out. Learning to read the wind is fully as important as the rifle, maybe more so. So much to learn so little time. If you don't have Mike Ratigan's book, get one. Read it and re read it. Welcome to the wonderful world of Benchrest shooting........Donald
 
We have access to quite a bit of equipment for sale in you own backyard.

Bill,

I didn't get to meet you at WWCCA earlier this month at the score match, but Lee and Dana told me that you had a growing interest in the sport exhibited at your last visit to the range.

We have access to quite a bit of good equipment from two estates and will be selling this stuff at very reasonable prices. Starting out with used equipment untl you learn how to load and shoot is the absolute best way to go, if you have someone who knows what they are doing to help you. Otherwise, you could be a lot more poor and not where you want to be from a competition standpoint trying to do this by yourself or simply by reading the Internet.

We also have a very good mentor program at WWCCA with myself, Lee and many others that will get you up to competitive speed quicker (and less expensively). And we have access here in Michigan to one of the best gunsmiths (Dwight Scott) and one of the best bulletmakers (Lowell Hottenstein) on the planet.

We can also fill you in on the tuning part of this sport, of which the barrel tuner system (of which the Beggs system is one) is one of the ways you can go. Tuning with seating depth and powder charge is another (more generally accepted today) method. But, you need to walk before you run in this sport.


I'd be more than willing to help get you going; I live in Dearborn and am a member and shoot quite often at WWCCA. You can reach me at (313) 247-4344 or at Krooppc@aol.com.

Joe Krupa
 
beginner is back...

Thank you very much for all the assistance, it has been a pleasure. A special thanks to Joe Krupa, Lee, Dana, and Hovis,KM. I will get in touch with Joe and Lee since we are almost neighbors. I plan to be at the Dec. 7th. shoot at WWCCA if I do not have a flare-up with my health!
Thank you very much
canis lupus (Bill)
 
Bill, if you want to shoot the December WWCCA match...

... with a real benchrest rifle, contact me (if you are right-handed). I'll put a gun together for you and load up some rounds. I have an extra rest and rear bag. All you need to do is bring your muscles to haul things around and run a cleaning rod. (The hernia that my rail gun developed is limiting my "haul capability".)

If you are left-handed, you need to contact Lee.
 
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