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September 18th, 2007
The F-Class National Championship (FCNC) was a very tightly-fought competition, with the final placings going down to the wire in both F-Open and F-TR (Target Rifle) classes. Robert Bock shot superbly in very switchy conditions at 1000 yards to win the Open Title, followed by Jim Kramer in second, and Jeff Cochran (2005 Open-Class Champ) in third. John Brewer, who won the event in 2004, told us: “Robert Bock was sharing my bunkhouse at the match. Rob’s a talented shooter and deserved the win. We had some tough conditions–to give you an idea, only three or four shooters in F-Open were able to shoot at the NRA ‘Master’ level based on their scores. And the switchy winds played havoc with the leaderboard. Only a few points separated first through 8th place.” In F-Open team comps, Team Berger took the 600-yard title, while Team Sierra Spindle Shooters prevailed in the 1000-yard match.
In F-TR, Brad Sauve came from behind on the last day to earn his third F-TR National Championship (2004, 2006, 2007). In second was Forum member Monte Milanuk (Congrats Monte!), followed by Darrell Buell. Brad has now captured three out of the four U.S. F-TR championships, grabbing back-to-back titles in 2006/2007. Brad also anchored the Sinclair International 4-man squad that captured the both of the F-TR team events this year, edging runner-up Team Savage. Brad provided AccurateShooter.com with this report: “My teammates on Team Sinclair this year were Paul Phillips, Warren Dean, and Derek Rodgers. This was the first FCNC for both Warren and Derek and they shot superbly on the team. We couldn’t have won without them. Paul Phillips coached our team this year. Paul was also a member of our winning team in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, when we also won, Paul unfortunately was not able to attend, but I had the good fortune that year to shoot with Shawn McKenna, Dale Carpenter (2005 FCNC FTR National Champion) and Lane Buxton (2007 US Palma team member). This year, Sinclair International graciously allowed us to use their name for our team. Three of the four team members also used Sinclair bipods during the team events.”
LARGE Sauve PHOTO | LARGE Team PHOTO
Brad added: “2007 played out exactly like 2004 and 2006 for me in the individual events. Once again I had to come back from behind on the last day. Assignment to the last relay on both Day 1 and Day 2 made it more difficult to keep up with the first match scores of some of the F-TR shooters who were placed in earlier relays when the winds were lighter, but a majority of the F-TR shooters were in the same predicament as I was. Fortunately, efforts were taken by match officials to place F-TR shooters in the same relay during Day 3. I know that in those last two days of shooting, I kept rubbing a fireman medallion that a past teammate gave me for luck many many times.”
Brad’s equipment was a key factor: “I used another BAT-actioned, MasterClass-stocked rifle this year and shot 155gr Sierra MatchKings again. The only difference really between the two rifles is the color of the stock. I was so happy with the rifle that won the 2006 FCNC that I ordered another in 2007. BAT Machine and Alex Sitman of MasterClass Stocks have to be given alot of credit for producing two fine rifles.”
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September 18th, 2007
We recently spoke to Norma’s Anders Brolund. He confirmed that Norma is now producing 6XC loaded ammo for general distribution. This is loaded with Norma 203B powder (similar to Reloder 15) and a moly-coated Berger 105gr bullet. Velocity is 3026 fps from a 26″ barrel. Ultra-accurate, this ammo is already proven in competition. Using factory-loaded 6XC Diamond-line ammo, Anders Brolund, Michael Larsson, and Stefan Ahlesved of “Team Sweden” captured the 300m Prone event at European Championships. This week, Norma’s shooters will campaign the 6XC ammo in the European Cup, a prestigious individual event with 12,000 Euros of prize money up for grabs. The CIP max pressure rating for the 6XC cartridge is 63,844 psi (4400). However, we believe the factory ammo is loaded to a lower pressure level for greater brass longevity.
Anders told us: “The 6XC ammo is really good and the Europeans are buying all we can produce right now. But we hope to increase production so that you North Americans can get some before the end of the year.”
Norma has also enhanced its website with many great new features including cartridge profiles (with diagrams), load data, and an interactive Java-based ballistics calculator. Definitely visit Norma’s new home on the web, www.Norma.cc.
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September 18th, 2007
Folks email us regularly saying: “Hey, there was an interesting item in the Daily Bulletin, but I can’t find it now.” Take heart. Every Bulletin story is saved in our archive. You can always navigate to all previous posts using the “Older Posts” link at the bottom of this page.
The fastest and easiest method to find older posts is simply to search by keyword, or click one of the topic headings. If you want to see a video, for example, just click on “Videos”. If you’re looking for all stories about scopes, click “Optics”. To find a particular item, such as the story on Barnard actions, just type “Barnard” in the search field and click “Search”. Our search works very fast! Try it, you’ll like it.
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September 17th, 2007
Recently, Richard Schatz, the “Duke of Dashers”, set a new IBS 600-yard Light Gun World Record, an amazing .888″ five-shot group. We had a chance to chat with Richard after his record-setting performance at the Nationals where he won the LG division Overall and LG Score title along with posting the new single-group record.
Richard attributes much of his success to his choice of bullets and some recent equipment upgrades: “I recently ordered three Kriegers and had Dan Dowling chamber them. These are all 4-grooves with a .236 land dimension. My gun’s been on fire ever since I put on that new Krieger. I’ve been doing really well at matches and this gun has delivered great accuracy AND consistency. And I can’t say enough about the bullets–the new Sierra 107s. The combination of a new Krieger and the Sierra 107s has been amazing.
In late 2006, Rich Machholz at Sierra gave me a call and said I should try the latest batch of 107s. He said they were some of the best they’ve ever made. I was a little skeptical as I had been using another brand. But I bought 500 of the new 107s and tested them against three bullet types. When I tested them head to head with the other bullets I had, the Sierras were just awesome. Flyers just didn’t happen. I consider this batch of Sierra 107s better than great–the equivalent of a ‘hummer’ barrel. They measure exactly .24300 in diameter and seem ideally suited for the Krieger.”
Richard explained his load development process: “First I shoot multiple groups with different bullets to get a sense which has the best potential. I pick the most promising bullet, then experiment with seating depth. Using a Stoney Point tool, I get a baseline OAL with the bullet at the zero position, just touching the lands. Then I’ll seat them long and start testing .020″ into the lands. (I prefer starting in the lands because I don’t want to soot up the throat first–something that can happen when you’re jumping the bullets.) So, starting at .020″ in the lands, I work backwards in .005″ increments, doing .015, .010, .005 and so on. Then I will try the jumping the bullets, going from .005″ to .020″ out. With the Sierra 107s, I found they shot best .005″ into the lands–a bit less jam than I run with Bergers or Lapua Scenars.”
As to powder, Richard remains a fan of Alliant Reloader 15: “I shoot a load of 32.5 to 33.0 grains of RL15 with the 107s, CCI 450s, and Lapua brass. This runs 3015 fps in a 26″ barrel and 3020-3030 fps in my 27″ barrels. I’ve tried other powders and RL15 still seems to provide the best combination of accuracy and velocity in my Dashers.”
Richard’s record-setting 6mm Dasher was smithed by Dan Dowling, and features a .272″ neck with 0.104″ freebore. Here are the components:
Action: Nesika K, RBLP, right micro-port eject, Jewell trigger
Stock: Shehane Baby Tracker Stock, Sierra color scheme
Barrel: 27″ Krieger HV taper 8-twist, 4-groove with .236″ land
Optics: Nightforce NXS 12×42 NPDD, Burris Sig Zee 30mm rings, Nesika 20 moa base
Rest: Sinclair front pedestal with Farley mini-joystick control, Sinclair top, Protektor rear bag
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September 17th, 2007
New Zealand action-maker Barnard has created a new Across-the-Course and “Tactical” rifle using the Barnard small repeater action (with three-lug bolt) and HS Precision detachable box magazine (DBM). Similar in appearance to a Tubb 2000, the new rifle, dubbed the Barnard ’07’, should prove very competitive in both Highpower matches and tactical applications. As a complete rifle, the gun is currently offered only in .308 Winchester, but it should be able to handle .243 Win, .260 Rem, and 6.5×47 with merely a barrel swap and rechambering.
Information on the new rifle is found on the Barnard website. The rifle’s designers report: “After much interest in the production of a tactical style rifle that utilizes the best of modern materials and finishes, coupled with the reliablity of the magazine-fed Barnard Model SM action, we are proud to introduce the Barnard ’07’ Rifle. This prototype is chambered as .308 and features a True-Flite 26″ 1/12 barrel, and HS Precision 10-shot magazine.” Price for the new rifle hasn’t been set yet, but you can contact USA distributor MTGuns or Canadian Agent Robertson Composites. For now, address technical questions to Barnard in Auckland, New Zealand, 011 +64 (0)9 828 4819, email: bmbarn [at] ihug [dot] co.nz.
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September 16th, 2007
There’s a new high-magnification zoom scope in development that will offer precision shooters “more power” than ever before. Lou Murdica, who has been working directly with Deon Optical/Koto Precision in Japan, makers of the March 40x BR scope, is getting a new prototype variable-power March that tops out at 60-power. That’s some serious magnification ladies and gentleman.
In addition to the 60X magnification, the new March promises best-in-class resolution and, importantly, ultra-reliable tracking. We’re pleased to see that the zoom March offers 60 MOA of elevation–good enough for 1000 yards. The scope has a 52mm objective, 30mm main tube, 40 MOA of windage, and weighs 24.8 ounces (704 grams). It has a side-focus parallax control, 1/8-MOA clicks, and focuses from 50 yards to infinity. Currently, the only reticle choice is a 1/16-MOA dot, but that could change with production models.
Lou hopes to use the March 10-60×52 at 200 yards next week in the NBRSA Nationals hosted at the Kelbly’s Range (Ohio). Here are the remaining specs for Lou’s new scope:
March 10-60×52 Zoom Riflescope
| Feature |
Minimum |
Maximum |
| Magnification |
10x |
60x |
| Exit Pupil |
0.86mm |
3.06mm |
| Eye Relief |
88-99mm 10x |
96-101mm 60x |
| Focus Range |
50 yards |
Infinity |
| Elevation Range |
– |
60 MOA |
| Windage Range |
– |
40 MOA |
| Length |
– |
418mm (16.46″) |
| Weight |
– |
24.8 ounces |
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September 16th, 2007
Experienced handloaders consider many factors in determining loads for their rifles: type and amount of powder, primer “hotness”, brass strength in the web area, case neck tension, bullet weight, diameter and bearing surface, freebore length, seating depth, barrel land/groove configuration, and ambient temperature. Some folks even compensate for the altitude and humidity at the range. That pretty much covers it right? Wrong. You can get in BIG Trouble if you don’t account for barrel fouling as well.
Barrel fouling is not often discussed in reloading articles. Yet barrel fouling (both carbon and copper) can dramatically increase pressure inside a bore. It can do this in many ways. First a build-up of carbon ahead of the throat can increase pressures by constricting the bore. Likewise, heavy copper build-up can constrict the bore over a significant amount of its length. This means the bullet is being driven through what is, effectively, a smaller hole. As well, even a light layer of copper can increase friction. Added friction means more heat, and heat and pressure are directly related.
If you have a barrel that fouls heavily, and you need to shoot 20+ rounds with no opportunity to remove the fouling (say during a match), you should adjust your loads down so they are safe when the barrel is fouled. Don’t assume that a load which is safe in a “squeaky clean” bore will remain safe as your bore gets heavily fouled. This is especially true with non-lapped factory barrels with heavy “chatter marks” from machining. Look at this photo, provided by Forum member Clark. It shows the SAME load (identical bullet and powder charge) fired in the same barrel, at progressively heavier levels of copper fouling:
Pretty scary, right? Cartridge ‘C’, fired in a heavily coppered barrel, shows signs of catastrophic case failure, as well as damage to the primer. By comparison, cartridge ‘A’ merely shows some cratering, but the primer pocket edges are still rounded. ‘A’ is probably at the upper limit of a safe load. ‘C’ is at truly dangerous overpressure–with the same amount of powder in the case. The only difference was the amount of fouling in the barrel–particularly heavy copper.
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September 15th, 2007
We are often asked “what’s the difference between the 6×47 Swiss Match, the 6XC, and the 6.5×47 Lapua necked down to 6mm?” All three cartridges have 30° shoulders and fit a .308-sized boltface. However, alone among the three, the 6mm-6.5×47 has a small primer pocket and small flash hole. The 6×47 Swiss Match (made by RUAG), and the 6XC (produced by Norma), have a large primer pocket and large flash hole, just like a .308 Winchester.
Forum member DesertLefty has provided a line-up photo, with 6mmBR and .260 Rem cases provided for comparison. As you can see, the three mid-sized cases (6x47SM, 6.5×47 Lapua, and 6XC) are very similar. The Swiss Match has the longest neck, while the 6XC enjoys the highest capacity. But performance is very similar among the three cartridges (with the 6.5×47 necked down to 6mm), and the same powders, particularly H4350 and IMR 4007SSC, work well in the 6×47 SM, the 6XC, and the 6.5×47 Lapua necked down to 6mm. The parent 6.5×47 Lapua case is rated at 63090 psi, while the new CIP rating for the 6XC 63844 psi (4400 BAR). Though the 6mm-6.5×47 has slightly less powder capacity than the 6XC, max velocities with 105-108gr bullets are quite similar. However, you should not substitute loads from the 6XC directly to the 6mm-6.5×47 or vice-versa. Because of the different case capacities and primer sizes, you should work up loads separately for each cartridge.
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September 15th, 2007
Now through December 31, 2007, Weaver Optics is offering a “Upgrade” promotion on Weaver Grand Slam and Classic Extreme scopes. If you purchase one of these Weaver scopes, send in an old scope (any make or model, 1″ or 30mm), and fill out a form, Weaver will send you a $50 check. Or, you can still get a $25 rebate check if you mail in the redemption form with proof of purchase without sending in an old scope. Click HERE for more details and to obtain the mail-in Rebate Form.
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September 14th, 2007
The 600-yard stage of the U.S. F-Class Nationals, at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, NM was completed on the 13th. Many top F-Class shooters who have been featured on this site are competing, including recent champions John Brewer and Jeff Cochran. So far, the competition has been fierce. In F-Open, Cochran leads by a single point over Dean Morris. Today and tomorrow, competitors shoot at 1000 yards. Official results, as available, will be posted on the Bald Eagles Rifle Club website.
First Day F-Class Nationals Leaderboard
F-Open:
1. Jeff Cochran – 443-20X
2. Dean Morris – 442-16X3. John Brewer – 440-17X |
F/TR:
1. Mike Miller – 430-10X
2. Darrell Buell – 428-11X3. Mark Pharr – 427-12X |
Forum member Monte Milanuk offered this late-breaking report: “Conditions at 600 were squirrely at best. With a shortage of target pullers, we only had 18 targets, and 90+ shooters, so the order of the day was 5 relays. One relay might get an easy relay w/ either little wind, or at least readable wind, and the next might get one w/ complete 180° switches and huge pick-ups and let-offs. To some degree it averaged out over the course of three stages, but some people faired better than others. I’m pretty sure everybody got hosed at least once but some got it a couple times.
The rest of the Nationals is at 1000 yards, and if I’ve picked up anything over the last 6 days shooting here in Raton, it is that the 1K yard line is probably going to be bloody….”
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September 14th, 2007
Keeping your loaded cases at a controlled temperature is vital for maintaining good ES and case life. At a late summer varmint match we observed pressure signs with cases that had been sitting in direct sunlight for about 15 minutes. As we were running a “moderate” RL15 load, the pressure indications were surprising. Testing over a chronograph, cases that had been sitting in direct sunlight showed velocities up to 70 fps higher than those that had been kept in the shade. Using QuickLoad’s temperature function, we calculated from the rise in velocities that case pressures had increased by over 4,000 psi–just from 15-20 minutes in direct sunlight!
We will now keep a temp strip in our ammo boxes at all times. Neconos.com offers Bar-L Benchrest temp strips that visually display heat readings from 86 to 140 degrees (our cases got warm to the touch so they were probably about 110-120° F). Think of these strips as compact, unbreakable thermometers. With adhesive backing, they can also be used to monitor barrel heating. Put a strip on the side of the barrel and the barrel’s temp will be indicated by a stripe that changes from black to green. There is also a “general purpose” strip that reads to 196 degrees (bottom row). The Benchrest strip is in the middle.
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September 14th, 2007
The Third Annual Shilen Swap Meet will be held on October 27, 8am to 3pm in Shilen’s parking lot at 205 Metro Park Blvd., Ennis, Texas. All buyers and sellers are invited–and you’re welcome to just come and mingle or take a tour of the factory. Anyone can set up a table or just drop your tailgate. There are no fees and the Swap Meet will go forward rain or shine (Shilen rents a tent). Shilen will also provide complementary chili, frito pie and soft drinks. Shilen’s organizers noted: “Please call (972) 875-5318 if you plan on attending so we can have a rough head count. If you want to put up a table please call, fax or email us and let us know. We will add you to the list of vendors”
As an added incentive, Shilen Rifles will offer discounted “Swap Meet Barrels”. Shilen’s Mike Hull reports: “Last year was the first year we offered our ‘Swap Meet Barrels’ and they will be BACK this YEAR by popular demand. These are barrels that we have from customers who ordered a certain contour, or caliber and then changed their mind and wanted something else. In the name of customer service we let the customer change their order and then placed the barrel back in stock. Those barrels that are still left at Swap Meet time are offered at discounted prices! All warranties still apply; these are NOT of lower quality or factory seconds.”
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