BR rifle for casual shooter?

O

oldbob

Guest
I hope this isn't too inane for my first post here...I'm an old guy,75..I have not shot in about 12 years..I used to shoot a lot and hand loaded..Mostly off a bench and some varmints..My best rifle was a 6 BR Rem.trued R700 with a hart barrel,jewell trigger..I bedded it..Factory stock..I want to get back to shooting now but I have a health issue so now it's got to be off a bench only..I really enjoy the challenge of printing small groups on paper..I found a website that sells used Br rifles only..Way less money than having a a custom built..Ive never had a full out BR rifle although a nice guy let me try his at the range,it was 6PPC..I could not get used to the 2oz. trigger and free recoil thing..I need a fairly light recoil now...222,PPC or br 6 and under..Can the glued in stocks be removed and a good traditional stock be used,also I'd like a single stage trigger up around 12-14oz...Any advice with out going to a $3,500 full custom rifle in a traditional stock..Thanks,Bob
 
Don't give up on the 2 oz. trigger; they're not hard to get used to -- you'll end up liking it. As for the stock question, I guess the answer is "Yes," but you'll also enjoy the 3" wide, flat forearm seen on most BR guns.
 
Removing a glue in action is a piece of cake. All you need is your wife’s iron, or yours if you do the ironing and a piece of window shim stock or a wooden wedge. Tap the wedge between the barrel and the fore end. Tap lightly. Place the hot iron in the top of the action. As the action starts to heat up tap again on the wedge under the barrel. Don’t over do the tapping of the wedge. All of a sudden Voila, the two are separated.
Bob White at Shooter’s Corner has always had good deals on used BR rifles if you are inclined to go that route. Your recoil sensitivity can be cured with a 22PPC, 6PPC or other variants. The two ounce trigger is really the way to go as the rifle is disturbed less in the bag with the light trigger.
 
Welcome to the Forum.

I am a newbie and have learned a lot here on this site.

You might want to take a look at what Bob White has used at www.Shooterscorner.com. I did not think I would like or get used to a 1/2 ounce trigger until I used one and got used to it and now love them. If you are only going to be a casual shooter, maybe a 6PPC in a Heavy Varmint configuration rather then a light varmint. The extra weight helps a lot. I do not shoot Free Recoil so balance is less of an issue for me. My 6PPC short range bench rest rifle (100-200 yards) is just under 10.5 pounds until I put the 3 pound weight in the buttstock and then it ia a just under 13.5 pound HV class rifle.

Where are you located?

Bob
 
I drop in on Bob about once a month. I have been to three of his Short Range Bench Rest shooting clinics and seminars and he runs a summer league at Cheery Ridge Gun Club and a winter league at Mid Jersey. Both are club shoots, not registered.

Bob
 
oldbob said:
I hope this isn't too inane for my first post here...I'm an old guy,75..I have not shot in about 12 years..I used to shoot a lot and hand loaded..Mostly off a bench and some varmints..My best rifle was a 6 BR Rem.trued R700 with a hart barrel,jewell trigger..I bedded it..Factory stock..I want to get back to shooting now but I have a health issue so now it's got to be off a bench only..I really enjoy the challenge of printing small groups on paper..I found a website that sells used Br rifles only..Way less money than having a a custom built..Ive never had a full out BR rifle although a nice guy let me try his at the range,it was 6PPC..I could not get used to the 2oz. trigger and free recoil thing..I need a fairly light recoil now...222,PPC or br 6 and under..Can the glued in stocks be removed and a good traditional stock be used,also I'd like a single stage trigger up around 12-14oz...Any advice with out going to a $3,500 full custom rifle in a traditional stock..Thanks,Bob
Click to expand...

Hi Bob,
Welcome. No, none of your questions are inane and 75 isn't too old for this game. You are, in fact, in your prime. BR is a game for old men like you and me. Although I've been playing the game for about 18 years I still feel like a newby a good bit of the time.
You asked some good questions and volunteered some information that I'm going to try and address in hopes that you will avoid some of the mistakes that those unfamiliar with the game are sometimes prone to make. You mentioned shooting a friend's benchrest 6PPC and that it was enjoyable, but there were a couple of things you had some trouble with. Consider the fact that there was a reason this rifle was so accurate and enjoyable. There has been much thought and effort put into making these rifles into the most accurate on the planet. From your questions it seems that you might consider taking an extremely accurate rifle and changing some of the features that made it that way. My advice would be to talk with, or visit, if possible with Bob White. Although I've not done business with him personally, I have friends that have and have read nothing but positive about him. He will have what you need at an affordable price. But please don't buy the rifle and then begin to change the things that made it what it is. The 2oz trigger is that weight for a reason. Don't make this into a hunting rifle and expect it to shoot like a benchrest rifle. Rather, learn to work with the trigger as it is. Second, leave the stock the way it is, same reason. Free recoil is probably the best, but several I shoot with hold the rifle. Either way can be made to work. While the 6PPC is the most popular benchrest cartridge, there are others that are easier to work with that will be competitive if you choose and fun to shoot paper even if you never compete. These would include the 220 Beggs (much easier to form & load), 6 Beggs(same), 22 PPC, -.100 (more trouble to make but shoots like legal cheating) and the 6 BR you mentioned. There is a good change Bob will have all of these in stock. If you want to stay on the low end economically, you might choose a Remington that has been modified for benchrest. I have an ancient sleeved 722 (6 Beggs) and a sleeved XP 100 action chambered in 220 Beggs that have both beaten far more expensive rigs. You should be able to acquire a very noce rifle for about 1/2 the cost of a new build and will probably shoot just as good, maybe better. If you are in an area that holds benchrest matches, go and visit.

Good luck with whatever direction you choose,
Rick
 
I would call up Bob White at the Shooters Corner and pose those exact questions to him. My bet is he would have something on hand that would be exactly what your looking for without you having to search his inventory. He might come up with something at a great price and do exactly what you want and have the dies and everything you need to get to shooting in one good reasonable bundle.
 
oldbob:

I was older than you when I bought my first benchrest rifle. It is a lot of fun shooting those small groups. I bought a used 6 PPC rifle with a scope on it already.

I went in "whole hog", with dies, press, powder measure, barrel vise, action wrench, primer pocket uniformer, arbor press, micrometer seating die, hand primer seater, joystick front rest, and wind flags.

You do not have to go in that deep to have fun. I wanted to be able to reload at the range, and at matches. You can reload at home.

I found that those one hole groups are shot by fairly experienced guys who know how to read wind flags, so don't expect one hole groups immediately. Practice, Practice, Practice.

I did find many of the benchrest techniques have made my other rifles shoot much better, so it's a great chance to learn.

I have 3 recommendations:

1) Buy Tony Boyer's book. https://bulletcentral.com/product/the-book-of-rifle-accuracy-by-tony-boyer/

2) Continue reading this forum for info on benchrest.

3) read the accurate shooter forum. http://forum.accurateshooter.com/
 
I be jump in with a vote for Bob White...... I think the crucial ingredient is to by a gun that DOES SHOOT!

I made the mistake of having 3 different "benchrest" guns assembled before buying a real one.

I had no idea what I didn't know......and absolutely NO CLUE what the guns "should do."

My first BR Rifle assembled by a BR Gunsmith was like a light came on, I COULD SHOOT DOTS!!!! The gun did EXACTLY what it was supposed to, like reaching out a long 100yd arm and touching the target with a Sharpie.

You need a good gun and a good bag setup. A good solid bag setup is like you can get up and walk away and come back and set down and the crosshairs are still on target (except for mirage) but the crosshairs are SOLID whan you look, no wibbly-wobblies.... NONE ..... like a turd on the road, NONE.


Yeahh, ya' got's ta' practice to win out in the real world..... and yeahh ya' got's to tune and stay on top of things to WIN out in the real world....... it's exhausting to win....... BUT....


but



but





BUT!





If the gun don't SHOOT, all's you're learning is bad habits.
 
alinwa said:
If the gun don't SHOOT, all's you're learning is bad habits.
Click to expand...

Agree entirely. You're concern over trigger weight and glued in actions and funny shaped stocks is just the bad habits taught to you by hunting guns that on their best day couldn't shoot like one of these guns will shoot on its worst day.

Almost everyone I've met who has trouble with a 2oz trigger has an awful habit of touching the trigger before they are ready to fire. Practice dry firing will help your trigger control immensely!

You don't need to shoot free recoil, you can hold the gun and still shoot tiny.
 
Thanks to all,

Thanks for all helpful opinions...Yes, I have always "draped" myself around the rifle when shooting from a bench in the past..I did have a jewell set to about 12oz. on a R700 tuned action and Hart barrel in 6BR Rem..many years ago..and many other rifles from .223 thru 300 WM..I reloaded for all of them..I did find the used BR rifle website...I hate to restock a beautiful BR set up tho..But I still feel I'd like to have a more traditional stock,but a good one with a correct alignment from wrist to trigger finger..and stiff..I should actually get a low round count BR and use it and see first I guess..Either a 6BR norma or 6 PPC..Again thanks for the help,Bob BTW the guy that uses the 6 PPC tried my 6BR,compared at 200yds his full house BR rifle was only about 3/16th. tighter groups..B.
 
It's a quick and wild ride down the rabbit hole on this one! Going down that next 3/16" in group size will take a lot of effort. That last 10% takes 90% of the work as they say! However you'd like to chart your adventure into this sport is A-OK! You'll have a great time and everyone will be here to help out. I think we are all just trying to show you the shortcuts through the forest so that the path isn't as long, if you care to take them. :)
 
oldbob -- what site did you see used benchrest rifles?

When I look at ShootersCorner.com all I see are links to other websites.

I'm new to this site and thinking about trying Benchrest. I currently like to shoot pistol and long range rifle.
 
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10ring said:
oldbob -- what site did you see used benchrest rifles?

When I look at ShootersCorner.com all I see are links to other websites.

I'm new to this site and thinking about trying Benchrest. I currently like to shoot pistol and long range rifle.
Click to expand...

When you get to the Shooters Corner web site, on the right side there are links to his listings. The very top one is for benchrest rifles.

He's got some good stuff listed, and it changes often.
 
Bob
I think your best course is too buy a used rifle from your local BR club member and get a mentor to help you along
Your profile does not list where you are?

DAN
 
I use Jewel BR triggers for live varmint shooing in a Kelbly Panda action rifle.
Right Bolt, Left port.


Ir is scary accurate in .22-250 AI or 6mm Rem AI.

Easy to swap barrels.
 
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