Report by Jay Christopherson
2020 Berger SW Nationals F-Open Champion Team Member, Team Lapua-Brux-Borden
I’ve been shooting F-Class for about 9 years now. In fact, I shot my very first match, a 600-yard mid-range match, using a 6mm Dasher, on March 19, 2011. My first relay was a 188-4X and my overall score was 582-19X. I remember shooting a really nice group in the 9-ring, because I dialed the scope the wrong way and I shot lots of “verification” shots before making adjustments. I also remember wondering if that was a good score for that range in those mostly calm conditions (it wasn’t). I’ve tracked every match I’ve ever shot and I’ve come a long way since then. I’ve always been a competitive person and F-Class gave me an outlet to indulge both my competitiveness and my fondness for details. In what other individual sport does a thousandth of an inch (or less!) become important? Or a tenth of a grain?
Some of my greatest pleasures in this sport come not necessarily from winning a match (though I won’t turn that down), but in identifying something small in what I am doing that has a material effect on paper. Maybe it’s a tiny change in seating depth. Maybe it’s a slightly modified strategy for making wind calls. Maybe it’s a tiny position or hold change. Whatever it is, when it works, there’s no better feeling.
I have a full-time job to go with this hobby, so finding the time for productive training is difficult. You have to really plan ahead to maximize the time you spend reloading, developing loads, and training at the range. To that end, I invest a lot of time in reducing the things that I do at the loading bench. I load ammo on a progressive press, though modified to produce ammo to my standards. I don’t clean brass. I don’t do a lot of things that most shooters would call traditional in the loading room. Because frankly, I don’t have the time between family, work, and other interests.
If it doesn’t make a difference on paper, I mostly don’t do it. Still, there are one or two loading habits I’m trying to get rid of. I also pre-seat all my ammo for matches — whatever I show up at the match with, is what I have. I don’t clean my rifle between days at the match. I had well over 200 rounds without cleaning by the time the last shot was fired at the 2020 SWN. It took a lot of time for me to get comfortable with that. That works for what I do, but I wouldn’t dare try it with any other loads or rifles, at least, not without a lot of testing to be comfortable. My original 6MM Dasher shooting Reloder 15 couldn’t go that many rounds without cleaning and building up a carbon ring. Unfortunately, I learned a tough lesson on that one my first year.
I do all my own gunsmithing, including chambering, bedding, and stock work. I’m no Keith Weil, Alex Wheeler, or some of those other guys, but I feel pretty good about the work I do. I know that when there’s a mistake or imperfection, it’s MY mistake and I can live with that. I like to keep things as minimal as possible, so I shoot off a SEB Mini (no mods) and SEB rear bag.
I also shoot with a spotting scope at Long Range, using a Kowa TSN-663 with 25X LER eyepiece and a relatively new spotting scope stand by Rod Brakhage who is a fine F-Class shooter himself. I really like how smooth and adjustable it is on the ground compared to some other rigs I’ve used.
The 284 Wheeler — Slightly Modified .284 Win
This year at the SWN, I shot a 284 Wheeler, which is a straight .284 Win that has some small modifications designed by Alex Wheeler. I think that the work and experimentation that Alex does with reamer design really shows up on paper. In 2019 I was testing the reamer in a couple barrels, looking for the right load. I shot some great relays and team practices with it that year, but this was the first time I brought enough ammo to shoot the entire week with it. Coupled with Berger’s 7MM 180 grain Hybrid Target bullets which I point to increase BC consistency, and Lapua brass, it’s an effective combination. In particular, the brass has lasted me for 13 firings with no signs of fatigue, so I expect I’ll be able to use it at Worlds in 2021 and beyond.
I also shot the entire 2020 SWN with a Vortex Golden Eagle 15-60x52mm scope, my preferred scope for individual matches. It’s a rock-solid reliable scope in my experience, with a great eye box, reliable and repeatable mechanical controls. The Vortex ECR-1 reticle has quickly become my favorite reticle. All four of my Open rifles are built on Borden BRMXD actions, Brux barrels, and sitting in X-Ring F-Open stocks, which are Robertson clones (more on that below). I’ve tried to make each of my rifles as much of an identical clone as possible.
I am not sponsored by anyone as an individual shooter, only through team sponsorship with Lapua-Brux-Borden. Which means that for individual matches, I am free to use what I think gives me the best opportunity to win for individual matches. In practice, the only difference tends to be the scope that I use, as mentioned above.
Jay Christopherson F-Open Rifle Specifications:
Cartridge: 284 Wheeler (variant of .284 Winchester)
Optics: Vortex Golden Eagle 15-60x52mm
Stock: X-Ring F-Open Stock with R.A.D.
Barrel: Brux 1:9″-twist, 32″-long barrel
Action: Borden BRMXD action
Trigger: Flavio Fare
Q: What was your biggest challenge at the 2020 Berger SWN?
Jay: The biggest challenge for me at this year’s SWN was purely mental. At past SWN matches where I had done well, I was trying to focus on not thinking about the different things going on around me. Where I was ranked on the score sheet. How well other shooters were doing. How many points or Xs I was ahead (or behind). Being worried about conditions or whether my ammo would hold up. And so on. And sooner or later, I think those things break your focus.
Going into a relay calculating the points or Xs that you can’t afford to drop is a recipe for losing. It’s like trying NOT to picture a pink elephant with purple dots when somebody challenges you try to not think of a pink elephant with purple dots. In previous SWN events, I came up just short three times in a row, for one reason or another. So, in 2020 I went in with a mental game plan.
Mental Game Plan — Envisioning Success
I pictured what it would take to be successful and what winning would feel like. First relays, then days, and then the match. I started that process months before the match actually happened. I thought about who I was shooting against and how much pressure there was to make every shot count. I thought about how I had performed or reacted in similar situations in the past. And I planned out what I would do and how I would handle those things. I strived to be neither negative nor positive — I wanted to be neutral. I wanted to be ready to win, instead of being surprised by it.
Q: What gear/hardware items give you an edge over the competition?
Jay: There’s no single piece of gear that I can think of that gives someone an edge over somebody else. It all sort of works — it’s more about being consistent with whatever hardware you have. But one piece of new gear that I tried out at the SWN was a single-piece scope mount called the Alphamount (photo below), by Richard Near of NEAR Manufacturing.
I think scope mounts are the most overlooked piece of equipment in F-Class right now — whether they be improperly aligned, improperly torqued, or just plain junk. I think people put a lot of blame on their scopes that can be traced back to mounts. The Alphamount (and single-piece mounts in general) are something that I believe in now, having done a lot of testing. It worked out OK for me at the SWN.
Action for Back-Up Rifle Is Glued and Screwed into Stock
One of the new things I am trying this year is a “glue and screw” action set-up. At the 2019 US F-Class Nationals in Raton, we got rained on a little and when I pulled my rifle apart, I found water between the bedding and action (the bedding is about 2 years old). At the SWN, I found that something had moved enough that I could torque the front action screw and bind the bolt. Not good, but luckily this was my backup rifle that I shot for Mid-Range (badly) and not my lead rifle. There could have been stock movement or other factors as well, but there was no question the bedding had shrunk when I stuck a dial indicator on it and found that my pillars were now standing proud.
Some people had been goading me to try a “glue-and-screw” procedure. Since I had nothing better to do during the COVID-19 lockdown, I pulled out the Dremel, scuffed up the action and bedding, removed the recoil lug, and glued the action into the stock. I’ve had it out a couple times since and it seems to be shooting well, but we’ll see how it holds up and what sort of difference it might make as time goes on.
Q: What is your advice to newcomers in F-Class and Long Range competition?
Jay: Find a nemesis. Someone local who puts in the same effort that you do and is as competitive as you are. Be friends, share info, but work your behind off to make sure you win on match day. I guarantee you someone reading this knows what I’m talking about. The best thing you can do is have someone who pushes you to perform better each time out. You love to win against them, but not as much as you hate to lose to them.
Q: What do you like most about Long Range and F-Class competition?
Jay: I like the challenge of F-Class — it’s a nice blend of working to get the most out of your equipment and the most out of yourself as a shooter. You can have the greatest shooting rifle in the world and it won’t matter a bit if you can’t be consistent pulling the trigger or making good wind calls. By the same token, you can be the greatest wind caller and most consistent trigger puller in the world — but it won’t matter a bit if you can’t wring the best possible performance out of your rifle for that tiny little target at 1000 yards. I like Long Range because everything is magnified — there are rarely easy shots.
Q: What do you prefer, individual events or team matches?
Jay: Team matches. No contest. Most of the reason I travel to matches is for the team events. But just throwing together a team of great individual shooters is not enough to consistently win. You have to operate as a team, which at times means subsuming your own individual goals for the good of the team. I’ve gone into big matches knowing that my team rifle is my best rifle by a mile — but knowing that the best thing for the team’s current and future success is for me to not burn that barrel out (or burning up known good components) in the individual events. And that’s fine with me. Being part of a team of shooters with the same goal, with the same drive, the same focus on team rather than individual — and able to deliver the goods — that’s the reason why I do this.
Q: What kind of stock do you use and how does it behave?
Jay: I use an X-Ring Open stock, which is basically a Robertson clone. I’ve been using X-Ring for about 4 years now. I’ve been through a lot of different stocks to find the one that fits me and the way I like to shoot, and X-Ring has done that for me. There’s a lot of focus recently on lowering the center of gravity and extending the stock length through various methods to solve problems like torque, jump, etc. — those are just problems that I don’t experience or, at least, that don’t bother me while I’m shooting. So, I don’t tend to worry about them. The X-Ring fits nicely and runs very well in the bags that I use. I do think that you have to spend some time finding the right bag setup for the stock you are using. I have at least 9 different rear bags that I have tested at one time or another until I settled on my current bag.
Q: Do you have any specific Gun Handling Tips for F-Open shooters?
Jay: As for gun handling, I prefer a light hold — my cheek indexes off the stock with a very light touch and my trigger hand indexes off the stock also with a light touch so that I have a consistent trigger finger position. What I do is in the style of “free recoil”, but is NOT fully “free recoil”, since I DO lightly touch the stock. For the butt, I run the R.A.D. recoil reducer at its lowest setting, which means that I can barely touch off for indexing purposes and still not interrupt the recoil pulse because the R.A.D. absorbs it. This was a suggestion that Will McCloskey made to me a couple years ago in place of leaving space.
This video, from a past Berger SWN, illustrates Jay Christopherson’s shooting style. He employs a very light touch on the gun. The front rest is a SEB Mini. If this Facebook video doesn’t load,CLICK HERE.
My hold for F-Class has evolved over time into what it is now. There are lots of successful shooters that are using varying degrees of holds, from light to hard. Again, It all sort of works — the most important part is that whatever you do is consistent and repeatable, hence my touch points that ensure my head, shoulder, and trigger finger are in the same position every time. There are shooters out there that will rant about “the fundamentals of shooting” and insist that your legs have to be a certain way, your cheek has to be a certain way, your breathing has to be done a certain way. I’m sure that’s valid for what they do and I’m fine with them looking down on me for it, but I do what produces results for me. For certain, my position and hold when shooting sling is completely different. All it means is that you have to be prepared to adapt.
PARTING SHOT — Have Guns, Will Travel
Here is one of Jay’s other F-Open Rifles. When traveling he separates the stock from the barreled action. He uses a custom-cut foam piece that holds the components very securely. Note the separate slots for barreled action, stock, scope (in rings), bolt assembly, and spotting scope.
While Long Range Benchrest, F-Class, and ELR competitors may want to measure their powder charges very precisely using expensive Force Restoration scales, for many shooting disciplines, a good thrown charge will do the job. And now, with Forster’s very smooth and precise new Bench Rest Powder Measure, many shooters may want to try throwing their charges. We honestly think you may be surprised at how accurate and repeatable this new measure is…
If you’ve been looking for a simple, efficient way to measure and throw your powder charges, you should give Forster’s Bench Rest® Powder Measure a try. The design of the cast-iron constructed tool features a long, narrow, powder charge reservoir that minimizes shearing, even with long extruded powders. Forster says, with most powders, and a little operator practice, this new Bench Rest Powder Measure can “achieve repeatability within 1/10th of one grain while throwing a charge every 4 seconds.”
Here are comments from two early testers:
“Forster’s Powder Measure throws the IMR stick powders I use (IMR 4895, 4064, 4320) easier and more accurately than the other measures I have owned, those being Redding, Hornady, Belding & Mull.” – Chris Straughn, longtime reloader and tool aficionado
“Forster’s Bench Rest Powder Measure is a welcome addition to any bench. The precision design and CAST IRON construction of this measure is part of the Forster tradition. The heart of the measure is the measuring chamber contained in the massive cast iron Charging Arm. The mass of the arm in conjunction with the small Cutting Surface in the measure itself provides for the smoothest rotation of any measure on the market. Large IMR extruded powders do not impede the smooth operation of the Bench Rest Powder Measure making it the most repeatable measure on the market.” — Vernon Smith, engineer and reloader since 1974
The Powder Measure (order number 010631) and optional Stand (order number 017941) are now available for sale and ready for immediate shipment. You can purchase direct from Forster or from leading retailers Grafs & Sons, and Midsouth Shooters.
This story first ran ten years ago. But to mark our long-standing friendships with shooter Joe Friedrich and chassis builder Gary Eliseo, we wanted to reprise the article for a new decade. Joe’s Eliseo-chassis 6BR rifle delivered some of the most stunning factory ammo accuracy we’ve ever seen, in any rifle, in any caliber.
Amazing Accuracy from 6mmBR Tubegun
What kind of accuracy do you think a tubegun can deliver with factory ammo — during barrel break-in? Perhaps 0.6″ at 100 yards, half-MOA if the conditions are perfect? Well you may want to change your preconceptions about tubeguns — and factory ammo. This Eliseo R5 repeater, smithed by John Pierce with a Pierce CM action and Broughton 5C barrel, shot the Lapua 90gr factory ammo into flat ONEs during the break-in session. A day later, in tricky 8-14 mph winds, the gun nailed a witnessed and software-measured 0.174″ 5-shot group using the 105gr factory ammo. That would be impressive for a “full-race” benchgun with precision handloads. For an across-the-course rifle shooting factory ammo, it’s pretty amazing.
Eliseo Tubegun Shoots in the Ones
This accurate rifle belongs to our friend (and designated expert trigger-puller) Joe Friedrich. During the initial break-in session, since his reloading dies had not yet arrived, Joe decided to start with some Lapua factory-loaded 6BR ammo he had on hand. After doing a few two-shot-and-clean cycles (with patches and nylon brush), Joe decided to try a 3-round group just to see if the Broughton barrel had some potential. To his astonishment, the Eliseo R5 put three rounds in 0.100″ (photo below left). Joe then cleaned the barrel again, shot a couple foulers and tried a 4-shot group. The results were just as stunning — 4 shots in a mere 0.104″ but three in virtually one hole (photo below right).
You Can’t Believe How This Gun Shoots
Joe called your Editor and said “You can’t believe how this gun shoots with factory ammo!”. So we arranged a photo session for the next afternoon, where I could verify the rifle’s accuracy. Well it turned out the conditions were way more challenging than when Joe broke in the barrel the day before. Winds were running 8-14 mph and were swinging through 180 degrees half-way down the range. Joe fired a few 90s through the Oehler chronograph at my request, then opened a box of Lapua 105gr factory ammo. It took about four rounds for the barrel to settle in after being cleaned the night before. Then Joe got serious, and with your Editor looking over his shoulder, he drilled a 0.174″ five-shot group in switching winds, doping every shot. Joe felt the gun could have shot tighter but he missed one wind call.
Serious Accuracy with a Multi-Purpose Rifle
So there you have it — a tubegun that shoots in the ones with factory ammo. Joe says that, at least with the 90s, the Elesio R5 shoots as well as his 6 PPC. Joe stressed that “steering the tubegun is hard work. You really have to concentrate compared to a purpose-built bench gun like my PPC. With the tubegun, everything has to be perfect on every shot — hand position, cheek position, stock position in the bag. If you’re off just a little bit, it’s easy to steer the gun the wrong way and send a shot out of the group.”
Accuracy Great But Fouling Heavy and ES Could Be Better
Have there been any negatives to Joe’s 6BR tubegun experiment so far? Well, the Broughton 5C barrel, while phenomenally accurate, shows signs of being a bad fouler. Copper built up pretty quickly over the first 25 rounds or so. We saw best accuracy with a recently-cleaned barrel. Hopefully the fouling will lessen as the barrel polishes in with use. And the canted land barrel is slower than average with the factory ammo. Lapua rates its 90gr naked-bullet ammo at 2950 fps with a 26″ tube. In Joe’s 27.5″ barrel we only averaged 2901 fps. With the 105gr factory ammo, which is rated at 2790 fps, we averaged just 2694 fps. That’s quite disappointing. Also the ES on the factory ammo, slightly over 50 fps for both bullet types, wasn’t particularly good. Still, the overall results were stunning. This gun shoots better than many long-range benchrest rifles running carefully-developed handloads — and it does that with factory ammo, right out of the box.
Joe Friedrich is a superb benchrest shooter, who has won many matches and set National Records in ARA rimfire benchrest competition. Here is Joe with “Sweet Pea”, his favorite .22 LR rimfire rig. With over 100,000 rounds through the Benchmark barrel, this well-worn rifle set an ARA 4-target Aggregate record! READ about Sweat Pea Record HERE.
We created this custom target in 5 minutes using PrintTargets.net. If you like it, DOWNLOAD HERE.
AccurateShooter.com has a HUGE collection of FREE downloadable PDF targets. We offer a very wide range of target designs: Load Development Grids, NRA Bullseye targets, Official-Size BR targets, Realistic Varmint Targets, Silhouette Shapes, Fun Plinking Targets, and even specialized tactical training targets. If our collection of free targets isn’t enough, or if you want to create a new kind of target — you’re in luck. The Australian-based interactive website, PrintTargets.net, allows you to create your own customized, printable PDF targets. Shown below are just a few of the target designs you can create in minutes:
CLICK Graphic to Create Your Own Targets.
Just follow the step-by-step instructions to set paper size, layout, bullseye color, line thickness, number of rings and diameter. You can even add Score Numbers to your target rings. PrintTargets.net is easy and fun to use. It’s much faster to create targets this way than to try to draw a series of circles with PowerPoint or MS Paint.
Power-User Tip: PrintTargets.net even offers a handy diamond-grid calibration diagram that you can add to your custom target designs. You’ll find the calibration grid as option #15 when you design your target — just scroll all the way down the PrintTargets.com home page.
Look for a lighter barrel for your latest hunting or PRS/NRL rifle? Well there’s a new option on the market. Bartlein Barrels, makers of premium benchrest, F-Class, tactical, ELR and hunting barrels, is now offering carbon fiber-wrapped barrels. These will be available in a variety of lengths/contours, and multiple carbon colors. Bartlein posted on Facebook: “We are thrilled to announce that Bartlein Barrels is now offering carbon fiber-wrapped barrels! With the help of Mission Specific Worldwide LLC, another Wisconsin-based company, we will be offering these barrels in limited contours and calibers.
Bartlein’s Matt Buettgen told our Forum: “Bartlein Barrels is proud to introduce its new line of Carbon Fiber-wrapped barrels. We will start off with three (3) contours, the #4 Bull Sporter, #13 Rem Varmint, and the #14 M24/M40. Lengths will be 20″, 22″, 24″, and 26″ finished lengths in any twist you like including Gain Twist and Left-Hand Twists. And just to make it a little more interesting, there are four colors: Black, Red, Green, and white/black marble. For more information give us a call at the shop or check out our Facebook Page.”
Here is more information from George Gardner of GA Precision:
It’s been a hard thing to keep under wraps, no pun intended. But Bartlein Barrels is now offering carbon-wrapped barrels! We have been helping test these for a few months now and all I can say is they are very impressive. Same Bartlein accuracy and no point of impact shift at all as the barrel warms. Plus as a bonus, GA Precision will be offering colors: Red/Brown, Green and White. These colors really pop against the sunlight and accent various colors offered by composite and painted chassis stocks (see below). These color-wrap barrels are special order for 4-month delivery.
GA Precision already has good inventory of Standard Black Carbon barrels in all four contours in popular calibers and twists. See GA Precision website for details. These are available for immediate delivery.
NOTE: GA Precision currently offers FOUR (4) contours:
Bartlein #4 B Sporter | Bartlein #13 Remington Varmint
Bartlein #14 M/24-M40 | Bartlein 1.200″ Straight
Price is $700 + shipping for standard black carbon wrap, or $750 + shipping for colored carbon wraps.
Sig Sauer Electro-Optics (SIG EO) is releasing a new line of SIERRA6BDX hunting scopes that combine relatively light weight with advanced features and up to 95% light transmission. We think hunters may see the advantages of a “smart scope” which offers ballistics and windage info in a relatively streamlined form factor with a 6X zoom ratio. These scopes calculate an aim point and wind hold-offs.
There are currently three SIERRA6BDX riflescope models: 2-12x40mm, 3-18x44mm, and 5-30x56mm. All three have 1/4-MOA clicks. We think many hunters will prefer the 2-12x40mm optic which is the lightest at 21.7 ounces, as well as the least expensive at $1169.99 MSRP. Twelve power is plenty for a hunter. Designed “by hunters for hunters”, SIG’s new SIERRA6BDX riflescopes offer some very advanced features:
1. LevelPlex™ — a built-in Digital Level that displays rifle cant.
2. QuickBOND™ allows SIG BDX rangefinders to “talk” to the scope without needing a Smartphone App (30 yard range).
3. Digital Focal Plane BDX-R2 hunting reticle with wind holds and 194 LEDs.
4. KinETHIC™ display shows Kinetic Energy Transfer to target.
How the BDC System Works These scopes all feature SIG Sauer’s smart on-board BDC system which is user-selectable for cartridge (there are 9 options). Selection of the appropriate BDC is explained starting at 1:15 in the video below. You use the illumination control knob to select the right BDC for your cartridge. Then you manipulate the zoom control lever to “lock in” your choice. A wide variety of information is displayed in the illuminated reticle.
SIG states: “Our mission with the new SIERRA6BDX riflescope line was to bring all of the advanced features of the BDX 2.0 platform to a premium 6X zoom system. BDX 2.0 takes all of the advanced Applied Ballistics Ultralight and Bluetooth™ technology and adds simplified, and easy to use, functionality to get hunters and shooters on target with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The BDX 2.0 System is simple, fast, and intuitive — just connect the dot.”
This video explains how to use the “smart technology” in SIERRABDC6 Scopes:
SIERRA6BDX 2-12x40mm
Weight: 21.4 oz.
Adjustments: 0.25 MOA
Maintube Diameter: 30mm
Field of View: 52.5 ft. at 100 yd.
Reticle: BDX-R2 Digital Ballistic Reticle
Eye Relief: 3.9 in.
Waterproof: IPX-7
Battery: (2) CR2032
MSRP: $1,169.99
SIERRA6BDX 3-18x44mm
Weight: 23.8 oz.
Adjustments: 0.25 MOA
Maintube Diameter: 30mm
Field of View: 34.9 ft. at 100 yd.
Reticle: BDX-R2 Digital Ballistic Reticle
Eye Relief: 3.7 in.
Waterproof: IPX-7
Battery: (2) CR2032
MSRP: $1,299.99
SIERRA6BDX 5-30x56mm
Weight: 30.4 oz.
Adjustments: 0.25 MOA
Maintube Diameter: 34mm
Field of View: 21 ft. at 100 yd.
Reticle: BDX-R2 Digital Ballistic Reticle
Eye Relief: 3.7 in.
Waterproof: IPX-7
Battery: (2) CR2032
MSRP: $1,689.99
Would you like to visit the Walther factory in Germany, and learn all about this German arms-maker? Panteo Productions crafted a 23-minute Walther Factory Tour Video. Panteao Productions takes you to the Walther Arms factory in Ulm, Germany. Product Manager Peter Dallhammer talks about the long history of Walther Arms. Hosted by Larry Vickers, this video showcases Walther products that have influenced modern firearms design. Click arrow on screen below to view.
Watch Other Panteo Videos for 10% Off
Panteo offers a series of high-quality, long-format gun training videos. If you want to subscribe to Panteao’s training videos, you can get 10% off streaming video subscriptions with discount CODE ammoland.
Walther Competition Rifles
Along with rimfire and centerfire handguns, Walther makes competition smallbore and air rifles. Look carefully below — this Walther LG400 Alutec air rifle is different than any gun you’ve ever shot — it has an ELECTRONIC trigger. The LG400’s sophisticated, battery-powered trigger offers a precise, super-light release that is more a “touch” than a “pull”. For top-level Olympic and World Cup competitors, the electronic trigger offers a competitive advantage.
This Walther KK500-E Anatomic .22 LR Smallbore 3P Match Rifle also features an electronic trigger.
Modern Walther Defensive and Sport Pistols
Walther Value 9mm — The Walther Creed at $269.99
While Walther makes premium pistols, such as the steel-frame Q5 shown above, Walther also makes good reliable pistols that cost much less than a Glock or Sig polymer pistol. The Walther Creed offers excellent ergonomics, good accuracy, and well-designed controls for just $269.99 at CDNN Sports. This gun, designed to be a value-leader, emulates Walther’s more expensive PPQ model (MSRP $649.00) at a much lower price. The Creed’s frame size and shape is the same as the PPQ, but the Creed lacks interchangeable backstraps. Slide and trigger are very similar.
About Walther Carl Walther and his son, Fritz, created the first blow-back semi-automatic pistol in 1908. Today, Walther’s innovative spirit continues with the PPK, PPQ, PPS, and Q5 Match Steel Frame series. Military, Police, and other government security groups worldwide utilize Walther firarms. Service and quality continue to be benchmarks of Walther success. For more information, visit www.WaltherArms.com.
Many short-range Benchresters have thought about converting their 6 PPC to shoot a 30BR for score matches, or a Dasher for mid-range (or even 1000-yard) games. That way you have a rifle that does double duty, giving you the most bang for your buck. Though an action with a PPC bolt won’t normally work with 30BR/6BR/Dasher cases with their larger .308-class rim (0.4728″ diameter), there is a pretty easy solution that allows you to cycle these bigger cartridges with a 6PPC-style bolt (designed to fit .220 Russian rims).
“Rebating case rims … lets you shoot a 30BR in score matches using your PPC action. All you need is a new barrel. This saves buying another bolt, receiver, or rifle.” — Butch Lambert
Butch Lambert of ShadeTree Engineering provided this tip. Butch notes that many 6 PPC benchrest group shooters also enjoy shooting in score matches. But to be really competitive in the BR for score game, that means shooting a 30BR, which has a wider, .308-class rim (0.4728″ diameter). Likewise, if you want to compete in 600-yard registered BR events or in varmint matches, you probably want to run a bigger case, such as the 6BR, 6mm Dasher, or 6-6.5×47. Those cartridges also have the larger 0.4728″ rims.
Cutting Head for Rebating Rims
To convert a PPC-boltface action to shoot the bigger cases you can spend a ton of money and buy a new bolt. That can cost hundreds of dollars. The simpler solution is to turn down the diameter of the larger cases on a lathe. Butch explains: “We’ve seen plenty of interest in rebating case rims. This lets you shoot a 30BR in score matches using your PPC action. All you need is a new barrel. This saves buying another bolt, receiver, or rifle if you have a PPC boltface. Anyone who has access to a lathe can do this job pretty easily. Yesterday I turned 150 case in about an hour.” At right is the lathe form tool Butch uses to rebate the case rims.
Problem: NRA Meetings cancelled due to COVID-19 | Solution: RECOIL’s NRA ROADSHOW
RECOIL Magazine has collected dozens of new product videos on its website. This product showcase features many products that were to be unveiled at the 2020 NRA Convention. Right now there are 45 videos on RECOIL’s 2020 Product Showcase, and we expect many more to be added. You’ll find Rifles, Pistols, Optics, Holsters, Ammo, Hearing Protection, and much more. Noteworthy products include the AMP Annealing System, Timney Triggers, Trijicon Optics, and Alien holsters.
Here is one of the Featured Videos, showcasing AMP Annealers…
RECOIL has created a channel on RECOIL-TV to showcase products originally intended to be featured at the 2020 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Nashville. Unfortunately the NRA event was cancelled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. RECOIL-TV’s NRA ROADSHOW channel is currently presenting 45 different new product videos from one to four minutes in length. This should provides some firearms-focused entertainment for our readers stuck at home under Executive health orders.
Kelbly makes outstanding actions, including the Stolle Pandas. In the past 20 years, Pandas have probably won more benchrest matches than any other action (though BATs and Bordens are increasingly in the winning circle). Recently gunsmith Alex Wheeler of Wheeler Accuracy worked his magic on an aluminum Panda, optimizing the “ignition timing” of the action. This involves many small mods to bolt, camming surfaces, trigger, and firing pin: “The whole cam helix and detent shelf is re-cut. The firing pin and cocking piece are modified as well.” When executed properly, Ignition Timing has a number of benefits, including a smoother bolt opening/closing, improved firing pin fall, and enhanced accuracy (though the accuracy improvements can be subtle).
BEFORE Action Timing — Stiff and Clunky
Alex reports: “Normally Panda actions have plenty of firing pin fall. For one reason or another this one was very low. Before timing, firing pin fall was .210 with a Bix’N Andy (BNA) trigger. After trigger timing firing pin fall is .244 with zero cock on close.” Here is how the action functioned before timing work:
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Alex notes: “As you can see, after the cocking piece rides out of the detent notch it thenfalls to the trigger and is then re-cocked. This is normal on most un-timed actions.”
AFTER Action Timing — Smooth and Refined
Alex explains the modifications he made for this Panda action: “Moving the trigger back adds cock on close. The whole cam helix and detent shelf is re-cut. The firing pin and cocking piece are modified as well. I do love a timed Panda. In fact, I like aluminum actions, I think there is something to them. But yes, I also recommend Borden as my first choice.’
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Fix for Right-Bolt Actions Only
After seeing these videos on Facebook, one poster asked: “I do like my Panda but this is exactly why I bought a Borden action and I love it. It’s good to know you can make a Panda better. Alex, can you time a left bolt Panda?”
Alex replied: “No, the tooling I built is all for right hand actions sorry….”
I do all my own gunsmithing, including chambering, bedding, and stock work. I’m no Keith Weil, Alex Wheeler, or some of those other guys, but I feel pretty good about the work I do. I know that when there’s a mistake or imperfection, it’s MY mistake and I can live with that. I like to keep things as minimal as possible, so I shoot off a SEB Mini (no mods) and SEB rear bag.
Amazing Accuracy from 6mmBR Tubegun
You Can’t Believe How This Gun Shoots
These scopes all feature SIG Sauer’s smart on-board BDC system which is user-selectable for cartridge (there are 9 options). Selection of the appropriate BDC is explained starting at 1:15 in the video below. You use the illumination control knob to select the right BDC for your cartridge. Then you manipulate the zoom control lever to “lock in” your choice. A wide variety of information is displayed in the illuminated reticle.
Carl Walther and his son, Fritz, created the first blow-back semi-automatic pistol in 1908. Today, Walther’s innovative spirit continues with the PPK, PPQ, PPS, and Q5 Match Steel Frame series. Military, Police, and other government security groups worldwide utilize Walther firarms. Service and quality continue to be benchmarks of Walther success. For more information, visit 
