Comments on: Water-Cooled Heavy Gun Set 1000-Yard World Record

By: ELR Researcher

ELR Researcher — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 00:04:30 +0000

The term is “tensioned”, not stretched.

I recall a few years ago that Joel advertised this rifle for sale. I suggested he put it up on eBay because the price he was asking (where I saw it) was quite “low” for what the buyer would be getting. But he’d have none of it. Unsure whether it was ever sold.

By: Jay Cutright

Jay Cutright — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 22:41:02 +0000

I made my very first benchrest match at Hawks Ridge back in 2005. I had a light gun for both classes. I spent all weekend looking those big guns over and still have the pictures. I’ve been thinking about building one ever since then.
I traded some supplies with a fellar in Australia for some high grade aluminium tubing for a tension tube light gun that I keep thinking I’ll build some day.
Seeing these pictures brings back some of the drive I had and makes me want to do it.
Thanks for sharing.

By: Jim Hardy

Jim Hardy — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 04:26:31 +0000

Joel’s gun was much more than water cooled. It was a stretch barrel set up, i.e., stretched from action to end of barrel by adjusting the “nuts” on each end. There were several stretch-barrel rigs at Hawks Ridge, and they all did a great job of reducing the vertical.

I Cant’ remember for sure, but I think the 187 BIB was the bob-tail version (very short BT) with a GI BC of around 525 or so. But one heck of a fine bullet traveling very fast out of the magnum chambering.

Joel, his shooting partner Charles Ellertson, and Charles Bailey ran these rings with great precision.

By: Tommie

Tommie — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 18:44:35 +0000

I can’t even start to imagine how this setup affects barrel harmonics. But there’s no arguing with success.

By: nick brungard

nick brungard — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 17:37:49 +0000

I wonder hiw it effect the harmonics of the barrel?

By: Dino

Dino — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 16:11:07 +0000

Would love to hear more of the story! Was it a calm day? How fast did he shoot the string? Was there video? How close are the records of uncooled guns?