Building of a Benchrest rifle

tonykharper

Well-known member
For those that have not had a Benchrest rifle built I would like to share an example of what it can be like.

This build was done by Bill Calfee quite a long time ago using what at the time was the latest equipment available.

The build was for Jim Peightal.

Jim is a gunsmith in his own rite and has built many RFBR winning rifles not to mention some of the most beautiful Mod 70, Winchesters.

He is also a stock maker and has made some of the most beautiful stocks of all kinds. He is a complete stock builder in that he can take it from a blank piece of wood and make it into a finished, checkered, and bedded stock in the famous Monty Kennedy style.

He is also a long time Match Director and currently runs the Wilson Range in Indiana, Pa. He is also an IR 50/50 Gold level Hall of Fame shooter.

Can you just image the pressure that comes with trying to build this guy a RFBR competition rifle?

I'm going to share some letters between Jim and Bill Calfee so you can get an idea of what may be involved with a build.

In the letters Bill reffers to "John". That is John Benyo the winner of the 2024 IR 50/50 Unlimited Nationals.

John is also a gold level IR 50/50 Hall of Fame shooter. Yes, it is tough competition around these parts.

PS: Jim won the ARA State Tournament with this rifle.

TKH
 

Attachments

  • ltr2.jpeg
    ltr2.jpeg
    81.7 KB · Views: 106
  • ltr3.jpeg
    ltr3.jpeg
    68.8 KB · Views: 103
  • ltr4.jpeg
    ltr4.jpeg
    76.5 KB · Views: 93
  • ltr5.jpeg
    ltr5.jpeg
    76.2 KB · Views: 88
  • ltr6.jpeg
    ltr6.jpeg
    55.6 KB · Views: 90
  • ltr7.jpeg
    ltr7.jpeg
    60.9 KB · Views: 91
  • jimls.jpeg
    jimls.jpeg
    40.2 KB · Views: 94
  • jimp.jpeg
    jimp.jpeg
    79.5 KB · Views: 100
  • jimls2.jpeg
    jimls2.jpeg
    42.4 KB · Views: 97
  • jimp2.jpeg
    jimp2.jpeg
    58.2 KB · Views: 103
Last edited:
Interesting stuff Tony, Story on bedding reminds me of a rifle I built for a fella one time, Shot very well here after I bedded it into his stock, but he chose to finish his own stock, then it was not so well, This stuff has got to be "just right", almost don't cut it,
 
Back
Top