Metal Mayhem 30BR Nearly Done

C

crb

Ray Brooks
The rifle was about 5 oz overweight and I had always planned on making the forend a wedge shape so I finally took the gun apart and started making chips. 5.15 oz of chips later I was done. The gun weighs 13.5 lbs exactly on my baby scale [ with the turret caps and lens caps removed ]. I will probably find some place on the buttstock to remove another couple of oz just to be safe.

Fortunately the rifle shoots just as well as it did before. Now if I would just do my part :eek:

Before:
metalmayhemviperassembledlhfront.jpg


After:
Metalmayhemlightenedlhfromfront.jpg

metalmayhemlightenedcloseupforendlh.jpg
 
The Gun is Always a Tool

Ray
I've always felt it does not matter what a BR gun looks like. As long as it passes tech inspection go at it. The gun-barrel, bullet, and scope always wants to repeat time after time. The shooter needs to learn to do what the gun wants. A BR gun is like the Pavlik dog repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat,repeat then measure. Twice that for 10 shot. Score I don't relate to.

BR is a simple Sport, shoot and measure, 2 things. Shooters, if they can control their personal worth can capitolize on shoot and measure. Good aggs are most times deteriorated my bad bench technique and losing your sense of your shooting enviornment. The best shooters generally rise to the top because they fight to control their poise during the event. You can't shake a shooter destined to win so stay out of their way, BS is cheap and belongs after the Shoot.

Some words from God.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR
 
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You made it "legal" by cutting the taper on the butt stock. FWIW, you can easily skeletonize that butt area and loose more weight.
 
CRB, Can ya tell us a wee bit

about how she performs? Perhaps show us some groups she has shot, etc, etc? Thanks, Pete
 
Pete, at the March group match at 200 yds the rifle was first on 1 target and 2nd on two more [ unfortunately it was last place on the remaining two targets :eek: ]. At 100 yds it was first on 2 targets with a 3rd, 4th and a 7th for 2nd place at 100. So for 5 out of 10 targets the rifle was first or second. I had some issues with the drop port and my rest was fighting me. On 2 targets I was closing the bolt on the 5th shot at the 15 second call. The wind was horrendous. This was basically this combo's first match.

At the April score match I had fixed the drop port problem but not the rest problem it turned out. 249 7x for 5th at 200 and a very disappointing 250 12x at 100 for a 499 19x for 6th overall.

At the May group match the rifle was first on 2 targets with a 3rd, 4th and 5th for 2nd overall at 200. Small group and only one other rifle didn't have a plus 1" group. At 100 the rifle was low for 2 targets [ and the yardage ] with a 4th and two 6ths [ ie last of the BR guns ] for 3rd at 100 and 2nd grand agg .3648. I used a different front rest. Again, the conditions were very bad. Low group at 200 was a .450 and at 100 it was a .225.

In our clubs group matches I have never done better than a couple of 4ths at 200 and am usually last or next to last at 100. I actually was thinking of not even shooting this year's group matches but after the positive results of the March match I guess I am stuck shooting both group and score this year :D. As much as I struggled in the past with group I had instant success in our score matches with several 2nds and 3rds BUT I did buy a great 30BR back in 07 before my 4th match [ 3rd overall finish ] but I just didn't have enough sense to shoot it in both formats.

I have come to the conclusion that the 30BR is the best beginner BR cartridge available. There are no tune issues to bedevil a beginner. I go preloaded and I only clean the rifle between aggs. It remains to be seen how competitive the rifle will be at a match with good conditions where the 6's will be shooting mostly .1's and low 2's.

As for my stock design it is immensely rigid which may be an advantage but mainly it allows the rifle to shoot at least as good as a glue in but at the same time allowing simple disassembly for tinkering. Also there is only about $50 of raw materials used. I haven't shot the 30BR with the parallel toe line but eventually I will just to see what shows up on the target.

http://benchrest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68320

http://benchrest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69316
 
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Wayne Shaw said:
You made it "legal" by cutting the taper on the butt stock. FWIW, you can easily skeletonize that butt area and loose more weight.
Click to expand...

There is 5 oz of weight in the Hal Drake tuner and right now the CG is less than an inch in front of the action face so I don't want to remove too much weight from the back end of the rifle.
 
Thanks for the report Ray

Looks like she is a winner and you are doing ok as well. Good Luck and Keep at er.

Pete
 
Personally I prefer a "pretty" rifle. I know "pretty" don't mean squat on the target. What I can really appreciate is when someone thinks a little outside the box. I always like seeing something a little different, especially if it proves it's worth.
Keep us up to date on how it performs through the season.

Matt Guthrie
 
Pete Wass said:
about how she performs? Perhaps show us some groups she has shot, etc, etc? Thanks, Pete
Click to expand...

Oh - she performs just fine. The scores don't show it - but this match was shot in 20 mph swirling switching wind. Wind blowing target boards down and never could get all the flags to show the same direction.

That rifle is just cool, and it shot crazy good. Yet, we all know that in wind like that, i don't care how great the rifle is - you gotta pull the trigger at the right time. Ray has it figured out. Very patient, very smart.
 
Ray

That is one fine looking shooting piece. Some of you guys need to load up and come shoot with us at Buck Creek sometime, we would be delighted to have you. It's not a bad trip ( I have been to Riverbend a few times) and Greg Ellis knows the way.

Jackie
 
Thanks Guys

Next up for me is being match director for the first RF BR match at Riverbend in over a decade. May 29.
 
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