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December 31st, 2007
If you’re looking for a great deal on a “pre-owned” precision rifle, visit Bob White’s Shooter’s Corner website and check out “The List”. Bob maintains a wide selection of used benchrest, varmint, and precision rifles. In fact, Bob offers the largest inventory of used benchrest rifles and equipment in the USA. Along with complete rifles you’ll find accessories, rests, scopes, and reloading tools. Unfortunately “The List” hasn’t been updated recently, so you may want to call Bob White directly to find out the latest offerings: (973) 663-5159; email: shootcnr [@] optonline.net.
You can find exceptional deals on “The List”, with complete custom-action BR rifles for as little as $1300.00, and Varmint Rifles starting at $500.00. Here are some representative samples (all subject to prior sale):
B10. 6PPC Light Varmint, Borden TPE R/R action w/ejector; Hart 3-groove bbl w/.262 nk, 800 rnds; Jewell 2-oz. trigger; includes Kelbly scope bases; Gunsmith: Borden Accuracy; 99% cond. Former owner J. Borden’s own rifle & very accurate. $2295.
B44. 6PPC HV & Cruiser, R/L Panda action, Lilja HV and Cruiser, and Spencer cruiser bbls all w/.262 nk, 1100 rnds, McMillan F-glass glue-in stock, Jewell 2 oz. trigger, Gunsmith Spencer. Choice components w/bbls to practice & compete. Exc. cond, $1798. w/1 bbl; $150. ea. add’l bbl.
V15. 223 Ackley Cooper, Mod 21 varminter; factory SS bbl, less than 400 rnds; factory wood stock; factory crisp 1½ lb trig; includes scope mnts, 85 loaded ctgs & 40 once fired cases; 98% cond. Great caliber-Great gun-Great deal. Also used Redding dies @ $40. $950. (New value $1200.)
V25. 22 BR Carry Varminter, Rem 700 action, Shilen SS match bbl 24″ cryoed #4 contour w/.247 nk, 400 rnds, factory wood stock w/pillar glassbedding, factory Rem 2-lb trigger, includes Leupold scope mnts and 100 loaded ctgs, Gunsmith: Kelbly, Inc, exc condition. This 7¾ lb beauty gives 4100 fps w/40 grain bullets, $795.
December 26th, 2007
This summer, Carl Bernosky became the first shooter to win the NRA High Power competition at Camp Perry using an AR-platform, semi-automatic rifle. Since that accomplishment, many folks have asked about the fire-control system in Carl’s gun. Carl used a John Holliger-built upper fitted with a Match Rifle Trigger from Geissele Automatics. Priced at $279.00, the Geissele (pronounced “Guys-lee”) Match Rifle Trigger features a 1.3 to 3 pound First Stage (2-lb nominal), with a 4 to 14 ounce Second Stage. This allows a very crisp, light final trigger release. The Geissele trigger, with its low-mass, hi-speed hammer, has a fast lock-time, and also delivers enhanced kinetic energy to the firing pin.
The Geissele Match Trigger boasts Wire EDM-cut sear surfaces for a crisp and consistent release with minimal drag. Overtravel is adjustable, and there are separate, independent adjustments for Second Stage pull weight and sear engagement.
In addition to the Match Trigger, Geissele Automatics offers a Service Rifle Trigger set up for the 4.5-lb minimum pull weight. Minimum pull weight for Service Rifle competition is 4.5 lbs, and the Geissele provides a 3.2 to 5 pounds First Stage, with a 0.5 to 1.5 pound Second Stage. The Geissele Service Rifle trigger employs an exclusive 5-coil trigger spring for a nominal 4-lb First Stage, allowing allow a light 0.5-lb (8-ounce) Second Stage with crisp, light break similar to the Match Rifle Trigger.
December 24th, 2007
A slim, compact, falling block rifle belongs in every rifle enthusiast’s collection. Falling blocks, such as the Ruger No.1, look spectacular when fitted with premium highly-figured wood “furniture”. Check out this No. 1 with a gorgeous piece of Turkish Walnut crafted by stockmaker Paul Dressels.
 If you have been thinking about a falling block project, all you need is a nice stock blank and a barreled action. As for the latter, now’s the time to buy. Brownells currently has Ruger No. 1 barreled actions on sale for $527.57, marked down from $775.83. Barreled actions are available in four different calibers: .220 Swift, 22-250, .223 Remington, and .416 Rigby. Barrel lengths on the sale units are either 22″ or 24″. Of course you can always pull the barrel and substitute a custom match-grade barrel. The sale actions have a blued finish. FFL Required for Purchase.
The Ruger No. 1 is a single shot rifle, with Farquharson-style internal hammer falling block action. It was introduced in 1966. An underlever lowers the block allowing loading and cocks the rifle. Ruger No. 1 actions are rugged. Lenard Brownell once said: “There was never any question about the strength of the [No. 1] action….I never did manage to blow one apart.”
December 23rd, 2007
I needed a long allen wrench to remove an AR15 grip last week. Jason Baney told me that T-handle hex key sets are on sale right now at Harbor Frieght. Sure enough, I found them in the store, and purchased both a metric set and and English (SAE) set for just $3.99 each. To my surprise, each $3.99 set comes with a nice, powder-coated metal storage bracket with tool sizes clearly marked on the front. The handle tops are conveniently color-coded in bright primary colors, and key sizes are stamped in the handle.
The SAE Hex Key Set (item 37861-5VGA) contains 10 tools, 3/32″ to 3/8″. The Metric Hex Key Set (item 37862-5VGA) has 10 tools from 2mm to 10mm. The shanks are constructed from carbon steel.
Now I wouldn’t use these bargain tools to wrench a race-car engine, but for simple around-the-house tasks they are working fine. I really like fact that each tool size has a different color handle with the size stamped in the plastic. The mounting bracket is nicely made and clearly labeled. At $3.99 per set, it’s hard to beat this tool deal.
December 20th, 2007
Muzzle brakes are controversial. Some people swear by them, while others swear at them. Still, there’s no question that a good brake can reduce felt recoil up to 45%. And likewise, the best brakes, when installed properly, seem to have no negative effect on accuracy.
Roy Bertalotto has done considerable experimentation with muzzle brakes, testing dozens of brake designs on his own rifles over the past few years. Roy’s article, Adventures with Muzzle Brakes, discusses various aspects of muzzle brake design and performance. Roy doesn’t claim that his testing is definitive, but his article is definitely worth a read. Here are some of Roy’s interesting findings:
Exit Hole Diameter
“Best accuracy and effectiveness of the brake was obtained with a hole .020″ over bullet diameter. If the exit hole is too small, such as +.005″ over bullet diameter, accuracy suffers. If the depth of the exit hole is too shallow, the metal around the hole will erode very quickly.”
Hole Placement
“The most effective braking was with a brake 1″ in diameter with a 3/4″ exit hole on each side, just in front of the muzzle. The bullet passes through a cone of 35 degrees before it exits the brake. (Like the tank example), Incredible reduction of recoil. But loud and ugly. Very easy to make since you don’t need a spin fixture or a dividing head.”
Bottom Gas Venting Helps Accuracy
“In my tests, not having holes all around the brake effects accuracy a bit. I believe it does something to the bullet by the air pushed ahead of the bullet creating unequal turbulence in the bullet path. I’ve tried a few brakes where I drilled only holes on the top, test fired, and then completed holes on the bottom and in every case, accuracy improved.” Below you see some spiral-ported brakes crafted by Clay Spencer.
Brakes Work Best with High-Pressure Cartridges
“The higher the pressure of the particular round, the more effective the brake. I have over 20 rifles with brakes. The 220 Swift is the king of reduction. Followed very closely by the 25-06, 6mm Remington, any Weatherby small bore. With a proper brake and a hot handload under a 40 gr bullet, the Swift will move 1/2″ to the rear and 0 muzzle rise! Big boomers with low pressure like 45-70s and shot guns benefit the least.” [Editor’s Note: Roy is judging effectiveness by the percentage of recoil reduction rather than absolute levels of recoil. Obviously if you start with a heavier-recoiling round, the absolute amount of recoil energy reduction is greater. Roy is really talking about efficiency–brakes are most efficient when used with high-pressure cartridges.]
Installation is Key to Accuracy
Roy’s findings are fascinating and suggest that further study of muzzle brakes is warranted. But we can all agree that precision installation of the brake is essential for accuracy. A poorly-installed, mis-aligned brake will degrade accuracy, that is well-known.
Harrell’s Precision has made tens of thousands of muzzle brakes, in many styles and port arrangements. The Harrell brothers offer some good advice for gunsmiths installing brakes: “Muzzle brakes aren’t magic, they reduce recoil by redirecting exiting gas. What’s important is that they are straight and the threads are perpendicular with the base. The only way to get the base and threads perpendicular is to thread, not tap, them on a lathe.”
November 16th, 2007
Gunsmith Mike Sosenko and long-time 6mmBR.com supporter John Adams have been using a modified .243 Winchester case with great success in California Varmint Silhouette matches. Officially called the “243 BR-K” (and informally dubbed the “6BR Long”), the wildcat is basically a .243 Winchester with less body taper and a 30-degree shoulder. The design essentially grafts a 6mmBR Norma “top end” to the .243 Winchester case. After fire-forming, Mike and John can reload this case using normal, unmodified 6BR neck-sizing and seater dies.
Compared to a .243 Winchester, the 243 BR-K’s body length is about .006″ longer, and the shoulder is about .0055″ wider. The main difference is the shoulder angle (30° vs. 20°), and the location of the neck-shoulder junction (“NSJ”). Based on reamer prints, the base to NSJ dimension is 1.718″ on the 6BR Long, compared to 1.804″ for the .243 Winchester. Neck length is a bit shorter because “the neck shrinks a little when the shoulder blows out” according to Sosenko. We’ve provided a mock-up diagram of the 243 BR-K, but you should check with Dave Kiff of Pacific Tool & Gauge for exact dimensions. Dave created the reamers for both the 6mm and 22-caliber versions of this wildcat. Ask for the “22 BR-K” or “243 BR-K” reamer designs.
Wicked Velocity with Stable Brass
The main advantage of the 243 BR-K is serious velocity in a case that is very stable. Mike’s favorite load is the 95gr Berger VLD pushed by Reloader 22. With a stout load of RL22 and Federal 210m Primers, Sosenko is getting 3450 fps with the 95-grainer, with no bullet blow-ups. This is with a 1:8.5″ twist Broughton 5R barrel finished at 28.5″. The cases are holding up very well. Mike has a half-dozen loads on his brass and he hasn’t had to full-length size yet. Mike runs a .262″ tight neck, but there is also a no-turn version of the case (see illustration). Accuracy is excellent. Mike says the round delivers repeatable 1/4 MOA groups at 100 yards in testing. He has also experimented with N160, but, thus far, Reloader 22 has delivered smaller groups with better ES and SD.
VIEW 243 BR-K REAMER PRINT (No-Turn Neck)
John Adams shoots a no-turn (.274″) neck 243 BR-K with 105gr Berger VLDs. He’s getting about 3230 fps using Reloader 22. John says he can push the 105s faster, but 3220-3240 fps “seems to be the sweet spot.” John notes that “after about 5 reloadings on a case, it gets a little tight”. John then full-length sizes with a custom Hornady FL bushing die. “The Hornady custom shop dies work great” according to John. Adams also shoots a version of this wildcat necked down to 22-caliber. It has demonstrated outstanding velocity and good accuracy in initial testing with a 9-twist barrel. Using the 80gr Amax bullets, John is getting 3570+ fps speeds. John feels that his 22 BR-K needs some more development work. “The 243 BR-K is proven. We know what works. With the 22 I want to try different seating depths, experiment with a few different bullets, and fine-tune the velocity.”
243 BR-K in Competition
John Adams and Mike Sosenko developed the 243 BR-K Wildcat for use in monthly varmint silhouette matches at the Pala range in Southern California. Shooting prone with front rest (as in F-Class), participants engage metal targets at multiple distances out to 600 yards. It can get very windy at Pala, so you need a cartridge with great inherent accuracy, plus good wind-bucking ability. With its capacity to drive the .514 BC Berger 95s at 3450 fps, the 243 BR-K has what it takes to win at Pala. Shooting his 243 BR-K wildcat, Mike Sosenko has won many relays at Pala, and he is the only shooter to have shot a perfect 50 score, knocking down every target. Interestingly though, John tells us that “Mike’s five best scores this year, including his perfect 50, were shot using my guns with no-turn necks.”
How good are the ballistics for the 243 BR-K? Consider this… launched at 3450 fps, the 95 Bergers drift just 18.57″ in a 10 mph crosswind at 600 yards. By contrast, a 105gr Scenar shot from a standard 6BR at 2900 fps will drift 22.95″ at the same distance. The 243 BR-K exhibits nearly 20% LESS DRIFT at 600 yards–clearly enough to make the difference between a hit and a miss. (Ballistics calculated with Point Blank software for 70° temp, 1000 feet elevation, using manufacturers’ BCs.)
Click HERE for GIANT SIZE Range Photo.
October 27th, 2007
Forum member K. Dickerson (“kend”) has put up a truckload of chambering reamers for sale in our Forum. He has listed over 350 reamers for scores of calibers, including many popular wildcats. The list includes both roughing and finishing reamers, solid and well as floating (bushing-style) pilots. Most of the reamers were made by Pacific Tool & Gauge (PTG), but there are examples from Clymer and JGS as well. Scanning through the list, the majority of the reamers for sale are brand new, and they are about evenly divided between bushing and solid pilot type. Prices range from $40 to $105, with most of the reamers priced from $65.00 to $85.00, plus shipping. You’ll find some fantastic deals on this list, with most examples selling at 30% to 50% off regular new retail price. You should probably respond soon if you want a reamer as the more popular chamberings will be snapped up at these attractive prices.
CLICK HERE for Complete List of Reamers FOR SALE
Dickerson is also offering a package deal:
Any Five (5) Reamers for $300.00 Delivered
Any Ten (10) Reamers for $500.00 Delivered.
Photo courtesy Pacific Tool & Gauge for illustration. This does not show actual sale items.
October 23rd, 2007
Preston Pritchet, the “main man” at Surgeon Rifles, wanted to create a special rifle for his daughter, to use in varmint and fun matches at his local club. Preston explained: “Here are a couple pictures of my daughter’s rifle. I’ve never built a flashy rifle before, because I have always felt most rifles are for hunting and should be a dull color and not flashy. But my daughter shoots the club matches with me, and after getting a lot of harassment because she was shooting a Remington, this is the result. I took our Surgeon single-shot action and stoned the surface to get rid of the tool marks. Then I sent it to a friend for engraving, and I had the action nickel-plated. Finally, the gun was fitted with a 28” Krieger 1:8.5 twist barrel, chambered in 6.5 x 47 Lapua. The barreled action was set in a McMillan F-class stock.”
Preston said his daughter had immediate success with her new rifle. “We had a match coming up and no time for testing loads. From the information on this website, I knew that 123gr Lapua Scenars and Reloader 15 should be an accurate combination for the 6.5×47. I took 123 Scenars, 37.5 grains RL 15, Fed 205M, Lapua brass. I got the rifle to the range and found a zero for her at 100 and 500 yards. To make a long story short, she took her new rifle and out-scored me at the most recent balloon match at our club. Lesson learned–with a good rifle, young ladies can definitely compete with the guys.”
October 23rd, 2007
Now through October 31, 2007, the Jewell AR15 trigger is on sale at MidwayUSA for $189.99, $14.00 off the regular price. This quality two-stage trigger, item 709049, allows sear engagement and trigger pull weight adjustment from the top of the lower receiver without disassembly of the firearm. Since it adjusts from 1.5 to 6 pounds, the Jewell trigger suits many disciplines–paper punching, Service Rifle Matches, and hunting or defensive uses.
The trigger kit includes trigger, trigger spring, disconnector, hammer and hammer spring. Installation tools and detailed instructions are included. This editor fitted the Jewell trigger in a couple ARs–installation is not that difficult. But if you are all thumbs, you may want to have a gunsmith mount the trigger and adjust it to your desired pull weight.
October 21st, 2007
 The Howa 1500 is a nice rifle, offering good performance for the price. We like the Howa 1500 Varminter in particular, which comes with a quality laminated stock and smooth-working, stainless action. One of the few issues with a factory Howa has been the heavy trigger pull weight. You can fix that with a drop-in trigger from JARD. The recently-introduced, all-steel JARD trigger adjusts for overtravel, sear engagement, and pull weight. The trigger includes a Rem-style lever safety. Internals are precision-machined and hardened. Priced at $132 (item 100-003-169) at Brownell’s, the JARD trigger for the Howa 1500 can be ordered in a variety of pull weights from 14 to 28 ounces. Along with the Howa 1500, the JARD trigger fits S&W 1500, and Weatherby Vanguard rifles.
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