Bolt configuration help needed

T

thumper4fun

Guest
Can you guys give me some advice please? I’ve only been shooting point blank bench rest a short time and I currently have a RBLP Panda (no eject) that has been serving me well. Recently I have been trying to increase my speed getting 5 shots down range in the same wind conditions but this is really a challenge with my current setup. I’ve been contemplating sending my bolt off to have an ejector added hoping this would provide some improvement, however being right handed I keep my rifle close to the left edge of the bench and I’m afraid my brass will be ejected on the ground when I cycle the action. My other choice is to find and buy a RBLPRE rig. Of course this will be more expensive but I could offset some of the cost by selling my current rig. Do you guys have a recommendation?
 
Before you do anything, get on the phone and talk to the folks at Kelbly's. They may well be able to cut a right ejection port into your action as well as set you up w/ another bolt that will eject thru it.

FWIW, there is a VERY good, FAST, (!!!!), near HOF shooter who shoots a R/L/L rifle. The secret is that the eject is Very soft and simply drops the case into a basket under the port. Another thing to think about is sweeping the empty out of the chamber w/ your finger AFTER you insert the new cartridge. I have sat beside Bart Sauter many times and he is just as fast as an ejector doing exactly that. I am VERY jealous of his skill. But it does take a LOT of practice to get to that skill level. You need to be able to not think about it, just do it.

Hope this helps
 
David Halblom said:
Before you do anything, get on the phone and talk to the folks at Kelbly's.
Click to expand...
David, I did this about a year ago. Kelbly's response was while they could do this, it was most of the way, cost wise, to a new action. For that reason, they didn't recommend it.

With a Panda, it doesn't take that much practice to remove the old hull, quickly, by hand, after inserting the new round. For whatever reason, I find it harder with a .30 BR than a PPC, and it was for that reason I investigated the mechanical ejector. Just being a wimp, I suppose.

FWIW
 
David Halblom said:
Before you do anything, get on the phone and talk to the folks at Kelbly's. They may well be able to cut a right ejection port into your action as well as set you up w/ another bolt that will eject thru it.
Click to expand...

I actually called Kelbly's and asked about cutting an ejection port in my 1986 rblp action and got the same response as Charles E so I scratched that off my list of options. The soft ejection spring idea would work if I could get it to drop the brass straight down. I'm also going to make up a dummy round and practice the method of dragging out the empty after I insert a new round. I appreciate the ideas and the feedback.
 
The drop-ports I've seen -- including my Viper -- use a Remington-style extractor which is at the top of the bolt with the action open. That's how they drop the case. The RBLP Panda has a sliding-plate extractor on the right lug. Don't believe the ring on the bolt forward of the where the casehead sits -- the cone -- is deep enough for a Remington extractor. In fact, the coned bolt generally would be an issue.

So no, can't see how one would convert a Panda to a drop port. Doesn't mean someone smarter can't figure out a way... Pulling the empty out after inserting a new case is pretty quick, just takes a bit of practice.
 
A little off topic, but related to speed...
Have you ever seen someone shoot who carries his (or her) loaded round to the port and starts it in the chamber before removing the empty from the bolt face (doing both with a single move to the port)? I have been told by more than one source that, well practiced, this is as fast as any port/ejector configuration. Comments?
 
thumper4fun said:
I actually called Kelbly's and asked about cutting an ejection port in my 1986 rblp action and got the same response as Charles E so I scratched that off my list of options. The soft ejection spring idea would work if I could get it to drop the brass straight down. I'm also going to make up a dummy round and practice the method of dragging out the empty after I insert a new round. I appreciate the ideas and the feedback.
Click to expand...

I've cut the ejector ports in two Stolle actions a 1992 Panda and a 1994 Teddy and got two bolts from Kelblys for these, both were left bolt right port and now both have a left eject port........Ian

Panda.jpg
 
Boyd Allen said:
A little off topic, but related to speed...
Have you ever seen someone shoot who carries his (or her) loaded round to the port and starts it in the chamber before removing the empty from the bolt face (doing both with a single move to the port)? I have been told by more than one source that, well practiced, this is as fast as any port/ejector configuration. Comments?
Click to expand...

Boyd, that's exactly how I shoot my Panda. Pull the bolt back, toss the new round in, flick it forward with my index finger nail, flick the fired case out by sweeping the index finger back and across the end of the neck, then close the bolt. That's the beauty of an action like a Panda with a huge loading port. Even though I can load fast, I'm still a slow shooter. But I can go fast(er) when I need to.

I learned that trick by watching the late Dan Hackett..... -Al
 
Boyd Allen said:
A little off topic, but related to speed...
Have you ever seen someone shoot who carries his (or her) loaded round to the port and starts it in the chamber before removing the empty from the bolt face (doing both with a single move to the port)? I have been told by more than one source that, well practiced, this is as fast as any port/ejector configuration. Comments?
Click to expand...

Boyd, that is exactly the way that Bart Sauter shoots. i having watch him thru a NUMBER of big matches, he every bit as fast as an ejector gun, when he wants to be. It does require a RbLp or LbRp configuration to use this method at it's real potential.

David
 
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