2009-05
TRANSCRIPT
Target Shooter 1FTScopeReview•ClassicRifle•NewProducts•andlotsmore…..
WelcometothesecondmonthofthisfreeonlineshootingmagazineforshootersintheUK
May 2009 Issue
No 5 Jungle Carbine
Basic Rifle Maintenance
Rimfire, Air Rifle and Centerfire Benchrest
Club Features
F Class
Tactical Rifle
Gallery Rifle
2 Target Shooter
ACCURACYACCURACYACCURACYOUR FIRST PRIORITY
TI03
09U
DFor further product information and details of your local Centre of Accuracy stockist please call GMK Ltd on 01489 587500 or visit www.gmk.co.uk
Tikka T3 Hunter
Tikka T3 Lite
Tikka T3 Lite Stainless
Tikka T3 Super Varmint, Varmint Stainless & Varmint Blue
The Tikka T3 Lite features an all-black, sturdy, but lightweight, fi bre-glass reinforced polymer stock with positive checkering for improved grip and comfort. The cold hammer forged barrel has a traditional blued fi nish. Also available left handed.
Shooters facing extreme weather conditions require their rifl e to be a trusted, hard-wearing companion, offering faultless long-term performance. The Tikka T3 Lite Stainless is ideally suited; made from Tikka’s high-grade stainless steel with a glass fi bre reinforced polymer stock, this model gives the double advantage of easy maintenance combined with great looks. Also available left handed.
Tikka T3 Super Varmint,
The Tikka concept is simple, pure and performance-orientated. Now, with the introduction of factory-threaded barrels for moderators, in the
most popular right-handed calibres, this excellent rifl e just got even better.
The Tikka T3 Hunter is made for the rifl e shooter who is looking for top performance and accuracy with a classic style and feel. The high-grade walnut stock is selected and shaped by Tikka master gunsmiths. The T3 Hunter offers an extensive calibre selection and is available left handed.
All three Varmint models feature a free-fl oating precision barrel that effectively eliminates vibration and will not over-heat even in fast-paced shooting. They are produced with a synthetic stock that has an extra-wide forend for bench resting, and a swivel stud which accommodates either a bipod or a sling. The ergonomically-designed Varmint cheek piece provides comfortable head positioning with a large scope.
The Varmint Blue features a barrel and action that are made from high-grade blued Cr-Mo steel.
The T3 Varmint Stainless features a barrel and action made from heat-treated special stainless steel, which is bead-blasted to a non-glare fi nish. This model is available left handed.
The T3 Super Varmint is a new model. Like the Stainless model, it features a barrel and action made from heat-treated special stainless steel, which is bead-blasted to a non-glare fi nish. Additionally, the ergonomically-designed cheek piece on the Super Varmint is adjustable, and this model also features a Picatinny rail and large bolt handle as standard.
When it comes to consistent accuracy, be it on the range or hill, the T3 Varmint models are hard to out-shoot.
Tikka Update ad.indd 1 8/1/09 14:40:40
Target Shooter 3
ACCURACYACCURACYACCURACYOUR FIRST PRIORITY
TI03
09U
DFor further product information and details of your local Centre of Accuracy stockist please call GMK Ltd on 01489 587500 or visit www.gmk.co.uk
Tikka T3 Hunter
Tikka T3 Lite
Tikka T3 Lite Stainless
Tikka T3 Super Varmint, Varmint Stainless & Varmint Blue
The Tikka T3 Lite features an all-black, sturdy, but lightweight, fi bre-glass reinforced polymer stock with positive checkering for improved grip and comfort. The cold hammer forged barrel has a traditional blued fi nish. Also available left handed.
Shooters facing extreme weather conditions require their rifl e to be a trusted, hard-wearing companion, offering faultless long-term performance. The Tikka T3 Lite Stainless is ideally suited; made from Tikka’s high-grade stainless steel with a glass fi bre reinforced polymer stock, this model gives the double advantage of easy maintenance combined with great looks. Also available left handed.
Tikka T3 Super Varmint,
The Tikka concept is simple, pure and performance-orientated. Now, with the introduction of factory-threaded barrels for moderators, in the
most popular right-handed calibres, this excellent rifl e just got even better.
The Tikka T3 Hunter is made for the rifl e shooter who is looking for top performance and accuracy with a classic style and feel. The high-grade walnut stock is selected and shaped by Tikka master gunsmiths. The T3 Hunter offers an extensive calibre selection and is available left handed.
All three Varmint models feature a free-fl oating precision barrel that effectively eliminates vibration and will not over-heat even in fast-paced shooting. They are produced with a synthetic stock that has an extra-wide forend for bench resting, and a swivel stud which accommodates either a bipod or a sling. The ergonomically-designed Varmint cheek piece provides comfortable head positioning with a large scope.
The Varmint Blue features a barrel and action that are made from high-grade blued Cr-Mo steel.
The T3 Varmint Stainless features a barrel and action made from heat-treated special stainless steel, which is bead-blasted to a non-glare fi nish. This model is available left handed.
The T3 Super Varmint is a new model. Like the Stainless model, it features a barrel and action made from heat-treated special stainless steel, which is bead-blasted to a non-glare fi nish. Additionally, the ergonomically-designed cheek piece on the Super Varmint is adjustable, and this model also features a Picatinny rail and large bolt handle as standard.
When it comes to consistent accuracy, be it on the range or hill, the T3 Varmint models are hard to out-shoot.
Tikka Update ad.indd 1 8/1/09 14:40:40
4 Target Shooter
Sections
6 ShootingSportNews
10 ShootersCalendar
14 ‘FromtheKeg’withKenHall
19 SupportyourLocalGun Shop
28 MiniRifleCompetiton Review
30 AirRifleEquipment ScopesbyStanleyShaw 43 GallActionsbyVince Bottomley
46 SylwesterLosbyHaley Platts
76 SpringfieldUntertlbyRob Hunter
82 ShootingWebsiteofthe Month
93 YourRimfireGalleryRifle Part2byGwynRoberts
99 GunoftheMonth
103 ClubFeature
22 BasicRifleMaintenancebyVinceBottomley
35 No5Junglecarbine byRichardWild
51 SEBRestbyCarlBoswell
62 HunterFieldTarget ScopesbyTimFinley
69 ReproductionNo32ScopeBracketsbyNigelGreenaway 84 RifleTwist Rates Part1byLaurie Holland
58 SpringActionWeekendByGwynRoberts
Welcometothe2ndmonth
.......ofTargetShooter
Target Shooter 5
Association Pages105 NRA
106 UKBRA
110 UKBR22
111 FClassUK
114 GalleryRifle
116 UKPSA
118 LetterPage
Editor(s).CarlBoswellandVinceBottomley
Advertising and Office ManagerAndyDubreuil.email;[email protected]
ContributorsVinceBottomley RichardWild HayleyPlattsLaurieHolland TimFinley CarlBoswell RobHunterNigelGreenaway GwynRobertsStanleyShaw KenHall
DisclaimerThewebsitewww.targetshooter.co.ukispartofTargetShootermagazinewithallcontentsofbothelectronicmediacopyrighted.Noreproductionispermittedunlesswrittenauthorisationisprovided.Information,pricesanddataisbelievedtobecorrectatthetimeofpostingontheinternetwhichisonoraroundthe1stofeachmonth.AdvertisementsthatarefirearmrelatedarefromcompaniesorindividualsthatTargetShootermagazinebelievesarelicensedtoholdsuchfirearmsandacceptsnoresponsibilityifcompaniesorindividualsarenotsolicensed.LettersandphotographssubmittedbymembersofthepublictoTargetShootermagazinewillbeacceptedonthebasisthatthewriterhasagreedtopublicationunlessotherwisestated.TargetShootermagazinehasnocontroloverthecontentorownershipofphotographssubmitted.Theviewsexpressedinthismagazinearenotnecessarilytheviewsofthepublishersandrelatetospecificcircumstanceswithineacharticle.Thesearetheopinionsandexperiencesofwritersusingspecificequipment,firearms,componentsanddataundercontrolledconditions.Informationcontainedintheonlinemagazineoronthewebsiteisintendedtobeusedasaguideonlyandinspecificcircumstancescautionshouldbeused.TargetShooterMagazinedoesnotexceptanyresponsibilityforindividualsattemptingtorecreatesuchtestingusinganyinformation,dataorothermaterialsinitselectronicpages.PublishersofTargetShootermagazine.
Webitorial
Wow,isallIcansayabouttheresponsetothefirstmagazine!Aswegettothepublicationofthesecondinstalment,weareindoublefiguresfortheamountofuniqueviewsofthewebsiteandthefirstmagazine.Thiscurrentlystandsatapproximately15,000peopleworldwide.
Westartedthisventureoffknowingthatwewould‘market’TargetShooter,withlittlemorepublicvoicethanthatofrelyingonwordofmouthtogetthemessageacross;‘wearehere’!Sopleasecontinuetoemailyourfriends,yourshootingmates,theirwivesandtheirdogs,catsandotherpets,toletthemknowthereisanewshootingmagazineintown;andit’scalled‘TargetShooter’.Forpassingthisonwearemuchobliged.Forthegreatletterswehavehad….welltheymadeusblush!Sowiththisgoodnewswewouldliketosayabigthanksourreadersandouradvertisersforthefirstmonthofwhichpromisestobeaverysuccessfulmagazine.Itisearlydays,butwehaveplansforarticles,columnsandeventsforthenextfewmonthsandbeyond.With is inmind,pleasedocome to theUKBRA/UKBR22stand in thePavilionon thePhoenixMeeting weekend. There will be a few of us there promoting individual sports, but also thismagazine.Ialsoknowthatafewofthewriterswillbeincompetitionovertheweekendsoyoumightgettoseetheminaction.Wehavehadanumberofrequestsforarticles,someofwhichweareworkingtowardsandothersthatmightbeawayoff.Howeverourgoalisthesame;topromoteshootinginallitsformswithintheUKandapplythatdiversitywithinthemagazine.Aswebuildupissuesofthemagazine,articleswillbeplacedintoanarchive.Thiswillhappeninthenextfewmonths,sowatchoutforthisfeatureandlinkstoarticleswrittenbysomeofourwritersthathavenotbeenpublishedinthemagazine.SocomingtotheMayedition,pleasereadon,excusingtheoddtypoandspellingmistake(whichwillbeme);wehopeyouenjoyitasmuchasyoudidthefirstone.
[email protected]@targetshooter.co.uk
Copyright©TargetShooterMagazines
6 Target Shooter
NRA CHOOSES RWS 7.62mmShooterdissatisfactionwithammunitionqualityinthe2008ImperialMeetingsawtheNRAanditssupplierBAESystems-RadwayGreen(BAE-RG)underfireyetagain.Somemightaskwhat’snewaboutthis,butchangingcircumstancesbroughtmatterstoaheadlastyear.Crucially,theMoDhadadvisedtheNRAinlate2007 that itwas terminating the long-standingarrangementwherebythemilitaryshotontheBisleyrangesandpaidforuseofthefacilitywith7.62mmsnipergradecartridges,sothecivilianbodyhadtoprocureitsammunitionthroughcommercialchannels.
This changecame too late to institutea tenderingprocessandarrangeproducttestingfor lastyear’sImperial,soashorttermcontractwasenteredintowith BAE-RG for theNRA’s 2008 requirements, a
move that caused ructions amongst the body’sTR-shootingmembers!TheNRAhoped thatBAE-RGwouldrealiseitwasdrinkinginthelastchancesaloon,andgiventhatithadproducedsomegood-shooting lots in recentyears,wouldproducea topquality vintage for 2008, but this was not to be!
Four producers were approached in the secondhalfoflastyear,andquotesplusbatchesof155gn7.62/308W obtained – RG, Lapua, HPS-TR, andSwiss conglomerate RUAG which encompassesRWS and Norma ammunition brands in its rangeas well as a huge military supply business. Thefirst threewere ‘off the shelf’,whileRUAG loadedcartridges specially to meet UK TR requirements.
Volunteer TR shooters tested the quartet under‘blind’ conditions at 300 and 600 yards using arepresentative sample of TR rifle makes, barrelspecificationswith varying round-counts. ‘Loaders’were even employed to place cartridges in thetesters’ rifle actions and pick fired cases up, sotesterscouldnottellwhichbatchtheywereshootingandallowunconsciousbiastoaffectresults.Nottoosurprisingly,RGwasthefirstdropped–onaccuracygrounds. While the others performedwell, Lapuawent too thanks to its much higher cost than theothers, leaving the field to HPS-TR and RUAG.The former’s 7.62 is a proven performer, so thefocus shifted to trying the RUAG ammo at longrange,itbeingissuedfortheEuropeanLongRangeChampionshipmeetingandoneof theshort-rangetestersuseditintheSurreyOpenat900and1,000yd.
Results were good at 800 and 900yd butfell off at 1,000, apparently due to itbeing loaded on the light side. RUAGrectified this and another round ofcomparative tests at 300 and 1,000ydagainst HPS-TR’s ammo last Decembershowedtherewaslittlebetweenthepairintermsofperformance.Intheend,RUAGgotthecontractonprice, initially foroneyear.
RUAG is loading the NRA 2009contract ammo with the existing 155gnSierraMatchKing(No.2155) inRWS.308Winchester cases over a RUAG powder.Withnew155gnbulletsthatgiveimprovedlong-range ballistics in the process ofbeingintroducedbybothSierraandBerger,future ammunition supplies offer theprospect of further performance
improvements too, irrespective of who getssubsequentNRAcontracts.TheNRAwillsupplythenewammunitionat£65/1,000,describedasbeing“aroundcost”,to‘Imperial’competitorsonthestrictbasisthatallcasesarereturnedforeventualresaleto handloaders. With RWS’ reputation for makingquality.308Wbrass,wehavetohopetheydon’tallendupintheUSA!We have to congratulate the NRA forsourcingammunitionthroughsucharobustandfairprocess. Anything that improves ammunitionconsistencyinoneofourmajordisciplinesistobewelcomed–especiallyifwegetthechancetobuy
someofthefiredbrassinduecourse!
Shooting Sport News
TR shooters will be adding up scores for RWS ammunition in 2009.
Target Shooter 7
20MOAPicatinnyScoperailsThePicatinny rail hasnowbecomethepreferredcivilianmountstandardaswellasthemilitarystandardandthisisgoodnews.Itmeansthatifallyour rifles are fitted with Picatinnybasesyoucouldeasilyservicesev-eral rifles with just one scope andrings.
The Badger Ordnance, Ken FarrellandNICEbasesaresuperbbutwiththe current dollar/pound exchangerate,thecostofarailisapproaching£100bythetimeyougetitoverhere,paydutyandParcelForcehandlingcharge.Surelytheremustbesome-oneoverherewithCNCmachinerywhocouldknocktheseoutforacom-petitiveprice.Well, that’s exactly what Wayne atNorth West Custom parts thoughtand I’ve just seen the first sample(see pic). At the moment they areonlyavailableinSavagefitbutifthemarketdemandsmorewillbeavail-able.www.nwcustomparts.com
Andrew joinedELEYLimitedat thestartofApril takingover fromMikeSemens-Flanagan who was promoted within the IMI group, in whichELEYisasubsidiaryof.Prior to joiningELEY,Andrewwas theBusinessDevelopmentDirectorfor IMI IndoorClimate inSweden.Originally fromKent,Andrewbringswithhimawealthofexperienceinhighquality-volumemanufacturingand experience in developing and introducing world beating products.Andrewcommentedonhisnewappointment:“Eley is a tremendously exciting business to lead. The combinationof working with the most passionate customers and shooters, highlymotivated colleagues, and world beating products is a wonderfulopportunity. We will continue to invest in the development of our productsandprocesses, so thatEley retains
itsleadinammunitiontechnology,thatqualitycontinuesto improve,andthatEleyremainstheChoiceofChampions”Andrew’s first week at ELEY coincidedwith thestartof the2009 ISSFWorldCupshooting competition, with the firststage being held in Changwon,Korea. Results in show ELEY’sTenex brand has retained itssupremacy in accuracy from thesuccessin2008,winning13medalsat
thefirstWorldCupinKoreaincluding five gold.Andrew is looking forward to
continuedsuccessatthesecondstage,whichkicksoffnextweekinBeijing.
As an aside to the story on the opposite page,BAESystems–Radway Green advised theNRA lastNovember that itwill onlysupplygovernmentsinthefuture.Ifthisisnowcompanypolicy,itendsarelationshipwithcivilianshootingintheUKandCommonwealththatgoesbacktojustafterWorldWar2andencompassesthreegenerations of rifle ammunition – 0.303”, 7.62mm, and5.56mm. As well as the end of business with the NRA whosepurchases were likely to be much reduced orterminatedinanyeventgivenRG’svariablequalityperformance,RG7.62mmand5.56mmcartridgeswere until recently supplied to amajor gun-tradedistributorforonwardsaletoretailers.Ifthissourceofsupply is lost, therearemajor implications forBritish target shooting with RG cartridgeswidelyusedinshort-rangeclubshooting.Innormalcircumstances, imports would fill any gap, buta combination of worldwide shortages of thesecartridges thanks to huge NATO membergovernment orders, and significant realprice increases resulting from the pound’splummeting value, will see FMJ bulletedversions of these popular cartridges becomefarmoreexpensive–ifyoucanfindanyatall.Can we expect a big surge in sales of .223Rem and .308 Win die sales in 2009/10 asshortages and price increases bite?This could be a silver lining to thisparticular cloud, as it’s hardly difficult toimprove on RG accuracy through handloading!
It’s ‘Goodbye’ to Radway Green
7.62mm (and 5.56mm), it seems.
8 Target Shooter
BERGER REDUCES BULLETBCVALUESBerger Bullets has recently revised the quotedballistic coefficient (BC) values for most if not allofthebulletsinitslargerangeofMatchTargetBTandVLD (VeryLowDrag) bullets.BryanLitz, thecompany’s ballistician, explained that thisresults from a change in methodology with BCvaluesnowcalculatedthroughexperimentalresultsmeasuring velocity drops over distanceinsteadof computer generated figuresbasedon thebullet shapeandtheoreticalefficiency.Mostbullets see a BC reduction ofsomethingbetween4and7%,butsomealmost‘escape’,andthereareafewthatsuffersignificant reductions. Thenew BCs are those shownin the ‘Products’ list on thecompany’swebsite–www.bergerbullets.com. Bergerstresses that the bulletsthemselveshavenotbeenchangedinanyway.
As an example of theamountofchange,herearesomeoldandnewvaluesforaselectionof0.308”dia.Matchbullets.
Old N e w155gnMatchBT 0.453 0 . 4 3 8155gnVLD 0.472 0 . 4 3 9175gnVLD 0.528 0 . 4 9 8185gnVLD 0.569 0 . 5 4 9190gnVLD 0.574 0 . 5 7 0210gnVLD 0.631 0 . 6 1 7
It should be noted that ballistics programs suchasSierraInfinityhold theoldvalues in theirbulletdatabases, and these should be adjusted ifrunning a plot for a Berger bullet especially oververy long ranges to avoid over-optimistic results.Forinstance,intheabovesamplethe155gnVLDseesaparticularlylargeBCreduction.Runningits‘old’ and ‘new’ BCs through Sierra Infinity VI (at3,000 fpsMV)seesan increaseofnearly6-MOAneeded in elevation increase to go from a 100ydzeroto1,000yd,andtheclassic10mph3o’clockwinddeflectionincreasesby2.5-MOAatthatrange.Incidentally,BryanLitz(amemberoftheUSPalmateamandatopProneLong-RangecompetitoronthatsideoftheAtlantic)onlyrecentlyjoinedtheBergerBulletsteam.Bryanhasrecentlymadequiteanameforhimselfbypublishing1,000ydmatchbullettests
thatshowhowtheyreallyperformat longranges,and is pressing manufacturers to move fromexistingG1dragcurvebasedBCsandballistictables/programsto theG7standard.Thisgivesfarmoreaccuratevelocity,trajectory,andwinddriftprojectionsforrangesbeyond500yards.Expectsomedebateonthissubjectinlongrangeshootingcircles!BergerBullets had promised to have its first everhandloading manual in print last autumn, butpublication has been delayed with notargetdatequotednow.Onehas towonder if the‘BC-issue’ is at least partly behind this deferral.
SightronScopes
Whilst overat IWA lastmonth, I gotwindofanewUKimporter forSightron scopes. Iwas having a go at theSightron guys, telling them how we all wanted thefixed 36 power for benchrest and the 8-32 zoom for FClass but we just couldn’t get hold of them in theUK.We eventually did get an 8-32 for test but onlybecause Laurie Holland sent to America for it! Itturned out to be a cracking scope with very accurateadjustment and an optical quality equal to Nightforce.
The36powerscopewillofcourseinterestbothrimfireandcentrefirebenchrestshootersasitweighsinataroundapoundandthereisanew‘BigSky’versionavailable,whichIamgiventounderstandisnoticeablybetterthantheoldversion.I’vehadawordwiththenewUKimporterandheisconvincedthathecanbringthesescopesinatapricewhichwillbecompetitivewiththe36powerWeavers.TargetShooterishopingtoobtainoneverysoonforreview.
Berger Bullets has revised its bullets’ BCs downwards
Target Shooter 9
SPECIALREPORTLastinis thispiecebroughttous, thatwe thinkwill bewortheverybodies
timereading;
In July 2008 two prominent and well-respectedmembersoftheNRAhadtheirestatecarbrokenintowhilst away fromhomeonaweekendof shootingcompetitionsintheNorthofEngland.TheystayedatahotelthathadCCTVandgoodlightinginthecarpark. They had taken handguns, ammunition andremovablepartsofotherriflesintothehotelleavingonlythoselargerriflesconcealedinthebootofthecar,whichwasitselffittedwithanimmobiliser.Stolenfrom their car in the early hours by four maskedpersonsweretheriflesthathadbeenconcealedinaccordancewiththeHomeOfficeGuidancetoPolice.
InSeptember2008theirlocalpoliceforcerevokedtheir certificates and these revocations wereappealed.
On8thApril 2009 thecasewasheardbefore theCrown Court. However, whilst at the courtawaiting the calling of the case, through theirlegal representatives, the appellants servedon the respondent police force’s legalrepresentatives the full grounds for the Appealsupportedbylegalargumentandnumerouscharacterwitnessesfourofwhomwereatcourt.TheAppellantswereveryconfidentofsucceedingintheirappeals.
Their objective was to recover their firearmcertificates. Thepolicehadopposed theappealsevensuggestingashorttimebeforethehearingthattheappealsshouldbewithdrawnbutatcourtsawthe sense in a compromisewhereby they agreedtothecourtmakinganOrder for them,thepolice,toreinstatethecertificateswithin14daysupontheappellants agreeing to review their futurearrangements for the transit of firearms andammunition.Anamicableagreementoncostswasalsoreached.
It isclear thatdespite theappellants following thestandard advice upon security of firearms andammunition in transit and overnight away fromhome,thieveswereabletosmashthewindowsofthecarandstealfirearms.
TheFirearmsAct1968requirescertificateholderstotakereasonableprecautionsastothesecurityoffirearmsandammunitionwhennotsecuredathomeintheapprovedcabinet.Whatis“reasonable”isamatterfortheopinionofeachpoliceforcealthoughquite detailed advice is contained in the relevantpoliceandHomeOfficepublications.Inthiscasethepoliceclaimedthattheadvicehadnotbeenfollowedwhilsttheappellantsinsistedthatithadbeenfollowed.
Thecompromiseatcourtwassensibleand,forthemeritsof that case,anacceptablewayoutof thepolarised positions each side held, thus avoidingtheadditionalcostandtimeofadrawnouthearing.
What this case does show is that where the leg-islation requires such “reasonable precautions..”police may well view any situation where gunsare stolen from a parked and unattended car asNOT having had reasonable precautions takenand then revoke the loser’s certificates leavingthe holder with no guns, possible prosecution forbreach of certificate conditions and no certificate.The only resolution to the problem is to applymuchhigher security in the vehicleor keepingallthefirearmsandammunitionwiththempersonally.
Themeritsofthiscasewerenottestedinthispar-ticular court case as a sensible resolution wasfound. Whilst the law does not require absolutesecurity,thispoliceapproachtothesubjectmeansthatthelossoffirearms,whateverprecautionsaretaken, is likely to result in certificate revocation.So, preventing such loss byALL possiblemeansis the only safe way to proceed. The current ad-vice from the 2000HomeOffice document led toadifference in interpretationby thepoliceononehand and the appellants on the other and its ap-plication did not prevent the theft of these guns.
Policehadsuggestedthatphysicalmeansofsecur-ingguns to thechassisorbodyof thecar is rea-sonableortakingthemintothehotel.Anythingless,theyconsidered,wasnotreasonable.Ofcoursethecase ofR –v-ChelmsfordCrownCourt (ex parteFarrer)2000makesitimpossibleinlawforcertifi-cateholderstoleavetheirfirearmsandammunitioninhotelsevenifsecuremeansareprovidedunlessonlythatholderhasaccesstothemandthatisanunlikely situation. Enquires of hotels in the areaconcerned resulted in none having such facilitiesandnonewishingtohavefirearmstakenintotheirpremisesanywaygiventhechoice.So, for the fu-ture more diligent enquiries are suggested as toovernightstaylocationspriortoselectionandhigherphysicalsecurityfittedinvehiclesusedforthetransitorunattendedovernightstorage toprevent thefts.JeffHideKnightssolicitors
And finally....... We are thinking about running a few personal advertisements
in the magazine for selling you own items. Please contact us via the customers servic-es email address by the 17th of each month to place personal adverts.
10 Target Shooter
CalendarofeventsoverthenexttwomonthsIfyourcluborassociationhaseventsyouwanttopubliciseherethenemailus.
5 June to Sunday 7th june - Scottish OpenChampionships (Blair Atholl (Scotland). ThisyearsScottishOpenPrizeMeetingwillbeheldatBlairAtholl. Further informationandentry formsmaybeobtainedfromAllanMaboninduecourse.http://www.scottishrifleassociation.org.ukContactAllanMabon
Sat 6th – 7th JuneMLAGBNationalPistolChampionships,Bisley
6/7th June-GBFClassLeagueRound2Bisley([email protected])
6th June NRA Shooting Club Day (NationalShootingCentre(NSC),Bisley)Multi-disciplineNRAShootingClubDay.TargetshavebeenbookedonMelvilleandat100,200,300 and 1000 yards.All disciplineswelcome. IfyouwouldliketoattendyoumustbookinatleastaweekinadvancebycontactingHeatherWebbattheNRA.
12th to 14th -BritishIntl50mChampionshipsFriday,12June2009.TheChampionshipsrunfrom12thto14thJune.ContactNSRA
Fri 12 June-AGMofNationalRifleAssociation(NationalShootingCentre(NSC),Bisley)AnnualGeneralMeetingof theNRA.TobeheldatBisleyat5.30pm.Allmembersareencouragedtoattend.
18 June - NRA Shooting Club Day (NationalShooting Centre (NSC), Bisley)Multi-disciplineNRA Shooting Club Day. Targets have beenbookedonMelvilleandat100,200,500and900yards.ContactHeatherWebb.
20 June -Club InstructorCourse -NSRACost- £75.00. Fees includeNSRA registration costs,courseattendanceandassessmentswherenecessary.Theydonotincludemealsandaccommodation.
Sat 02 MayNRA Open Day(NationalShootingCentre(NSC),Bisley)Visitorswillbeabletotryshotgun,airrifle,fullborerifle, sporting rifle, laser clays, precision snap,practicalandhistoricalriflestonamebutafew,allwithone-to-onecoaching.Contact(s):LibbyGendallNRA
2nd May 100 yd Benchrest Diggle Ranges3rd May 1000 yd Benchrest Diggle RangesContact via UKBRA website
Sat 09 May to Sun 10 MayThe English Eight Club, National Rifle Club ofScotland&WelshRifleAssociationSpringMeeting.MatchRifle(F-ClassRiflesmaybeusedifdesiredbutcannottakeanyoftheprizesexceptfortheCashSweep)2+15at1000,1100&1200yardsoneachdayContact(s):EnglishVIIISecretary
Fri 22 May to Sun 24 May Phoenix Meeting (National Shooting Centre (NSC), Bisley) and Arms Fair. Thismulti-disciplinemeeting has itsroots inpistolcalibrefirearmsbuttherearealsoplentyofcompetitionsforBlackPowder,AirandFullborefrom15yardsto1000yards.AswellasallthisshootingyoucanvisittheArmsFairheldin theBisleyPavilion.Contact(s):BrianThomasNRA
Sat 16 May to Sun 17 MayRangeConductingOfficerCourse(NationalShootingCentre(NSC),Bisley).Twodaycourse-successfulcandidateswillbequalifiedtoconductlivefiringonMoDorTAVRAranges.Contact:MaureenPeachNRA
25th May Egg Shoot 100/300/500 yds Diggle Ranges Contact via UKBRAwebsite
Sat 30 MayStart of NRA Probationary Members Course 2009/3Contact(s):HeatherWebbNRA
10th May 100 yds Benchrest Bisley Ranges Contact via UKBRAwebsite
Wed 20 May NRA Shooting Club Day(NationalShooting Centre (NSC), Bisley) Multi-disciplineNRA Shooting Club Day. Targets have beenbookedonCheylesmoreandat100,200,600and900 yards. If youwould like to attend youmustbookinatleastaweekinadvancebycontactingHeatherWebb.
10 Target Shooter
Sat 20 June-MLAGBLongRangeRiflesBranch,900yardChamps.(am),1000yardpractice(pm),Bisley.
20 June to Sun 21 JunLMRAvWelshXX(NationalShootingCentre(NSC),Bisley)Sun 21 Jun Surrey RA Civilian Cup (NationalShootingCentre(NSC),Bisley)27th June HampshireOpenPrizeMeeting(NationalShootingCentre(NSC),Bisley)
12 Target Shooter
Priced perpack of 1000
A193 22 Hornet SP 45grA032 222 Rem SP 50grA203 222 Rem FMJ BT 55grA132 223 Rem SP 55grA188 223 Rem FMJ BT 55grA495 223 Match 75grA253 22-250 Rem SP 50grA211 22-250 Rem SP 55grA212 22-250 Rem FMJ BT 55grA270 243 Win SP 90grA134 243 Win SP 100grA047 25-06 Rem PSP 100grA208 6,5 x 52 Car FMJ BT 139grA084 6,5 x 55 SP BT 139grA083 6,5 x 55 FMJ BT 139grA227 6,5 x 55 SP RN 156grA161 270 Win SP 130grA027 270 Win SP 150grA141 7 X 57 FMJ BT 173grA400 7mm - 08 PSP 140grA024 30 Carbine FMJ RN 110grA034 308 FMJ BT 145grA020 308 SP 150grA362 308 PSP BT 165grA363 308 HP BT Match 168grA366 308 FMJ BT 175grA035 308 SP 180grA028 30-30 FSP 150grA346 7,5x54 French FMJ 139grA345 7,5x55 Swiss FMJ BT 174grA094 30-06 FMJ 150grA365 30-06 HP BT 168grA323 30-06 Grom 170grA066 30-06 SP 180grA041 7,62 X 39 FMJ 123grA169 7,62 X 54 FMJ BT 182grA143 303 British FMJ BT 174grA267 375 H&H Mag 300grA128 8x57 JS SP 196grA348 8x57 JS FMJ BT Match 198grA351 8x57 JS Grom 185gr
100 - 104 Lowtown, PudseyWest Yorkshire, LS28 9AYTel: 01132 569 163 / 565 167Fax: 01132 574 962Email: [email protected] Mon - Sat, 9am - 5pm
HenryKrank
£39.60£39.60£39.60£39.60£39.60£51.70£49.50£49.50£49.50£49.50£49.50£54.23£54.23£49.50£49.50£49.50£49.50£49.50£49.50£53.90£41.25£45.65£48.95£49.50£59.29£49.50£49.50£49.50£53.90£53.90£53.90£53.90£66.00£53.90£46.20£53.90£50.60£135.30£49.50£59.29£66.00
B008 22 FMJ BT 55grB484 6.5mm FMJ BT 110grB083 6.5mm FMJ BT 139grB127 7 FMJ BT 174grB105 7mm 158gr GromB010 30 FMJ RN 110grB009 30 FMJ BT 145grB007 30 FMJ 139grB099 30 FMJ 150grB345 30 FMJ BT 174grB366 30 FMJ BT 175grB074 7.62mm FMJ 123grB143 303 FMJ BT 174grB006 303 FMJ BT 190grB348 8mm Match FMJ BT 198grB351 8mm 185gr GromB323 30 Grom 170grB140 38 158gr RNFPB339 38 FPJ 158grB221 44 FPJ 180grB180 45 FMJ 230gr
£11.22£13.75£13.75£14.19£21.95£14.25£14.25£14.25£14.25£14.19£14.19£13.75£14.19£14.19£17.33£23.98£21.95£5.94
£13.64£15.95£15.95
C193 22 HornetC032 222 RemingtonC132 223 RemingtonC211 22/250C134 243 WinchesterC118 6,5 x 52 CarcanoC083 6,5 x 55 SwedishC027 270 WinchesterC345 7,5 x 55 SwissC030 7,62 x 39C020 308 WinchesterC346 7,5 x 54 FrenchC031 7,62 x 54RC128 8mm MauserC470 7.62 NagantC483 6.5 GrendelC385 6.5 x 51 JapC383 7.7 JapC424 7 .92 x 33 KurzC417 8 x 50 LebelC384 8 x 56 MannlicherC413 7.63 (30 Mauser)
£15.95£19.25£18.70£26.40£27.50£39.60£30.36£28.05£34.32£27.50£29.15£34.32£31.68£31.68£34.32£35.64£39.60£41.36£39.60£52.80£41.36£20.35
SP - Soft Point PSP - Pointed Soft Point SPBT - Soft Point Boat Tail PSPBT - Pointed Soft Point Boat TailSPRN - Soft Point Round Nose FSP - Flat Soft Point HPBT - Hollow Point Boat Tail FPJ - Flat Point Jacket FMJ - Full Metal Jacket
FMJRN - Full Metal Jacket Round Nose FMJBT - Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail RNFP - Round Nose Flat Point
P111 Small Pistol PrimersP222 Large Pistol PrimersP333 Small Rifle PrimersP444 Large Rifle Primers
Prvi Partizan top quality hunting & target ammunition and reloading components
PPU PRIMERSPPU PRIMERSPPU RIFLEPPU RIFLEAMMUNITIONAMMUNITIONPriced per pack of 100
PPU HANDGUNPPU HANDGUNAMMUNITIONAMMUNITION
PPU BLANKSPPU BLANKS
PPU BULLETSPPU BULLETS
PPU BRASSPPU BRASSCASESCASESPriced perpack of 100
Priced perpack of 100
Priced per pack of 100
Priced per pack of 100
A298 32 S+W Long 98gr w/cA112 9mm Luger 115gr FMJA044 9mm Luger 115gr FMJA033 9mm Luger 124gr FMJA166 9mm Luger 147gr FMJA140 38 SPL RNFP 158grA326 357 Magnum 158gr RNFPA339 357 Magnum FPJ 158grA222 44 Magnum 180gr FPSA221 44 Rem Mag FPJ 240gr
£22.44£22.44£22.44£22.44£22.44£22.44£27.94£33.66£38.28£38.28
BL18 5,56 (223)BL22 7,62 x 51 (308)BL28 7,62x39 (7,62 Russian Short)BL32 7,62x54R (7,62 Russian Long)BL40 7,92 ( 8 x 57 Mauser)BL50 303 BritishBL60 30-06 ( 7,62 x 63)BL70 9mm (9x19) ParabelumBL80 38 SPL
£37.40£46.20£46.20£46.20£46.20£46.20£49.50£22.98£22.98
Available atall good
gun shops
£22.00£23.10£22.00£23.10
Prvi Partizan CataloguePrvi Partizan Catalogueavailable on requestavailable on request
Visit our new website:Visit our new website:www.henrykrank.comwww.henrykrank.com
Target Shooter 13
Priced perpack of 1000
A193 22 Hornet SP 45grA032 222 Rem SP 50grA203 222 Rem FMJ BT 55grA132 223 Rem SP 55grA188 223 Rem FMJ BT 55grA495 223 Match 75grA253 22-250 Rem SP 50grA211 22-250 Rem SP 55grA212 22-250 Rem FMJ BT 55grA270 243 Win SP 90grA134 243 Win SP 100grA047 25-06 Rem PSP 100grA208 6,5 x 52 Car FMJ BT 139grA084 6,5 x 55 SP BT 139grA083 6,5 x 55 FMJ BT 139grA227 6,5 x 55 SP RN 156grA161 270 Win SP 130grA027 270 Win SP 150grA141 7 X 57 FMJ BT 173grA400 7mm - 08 PSP 140grA024 30 Carbine FMJ RN 110grA034 308 FMJ BT 145grA020 308 SP 150grA362 308 PSP BT 165grA363 308 HP BT Match 168grA366 308 FMJ BT 175grA035 308 SP 180grA028 30-30 FSP 150grA346 7,5x54 French FMJ 139grA345 7,5x55 Swiss FMJ BT 174grA094 30-06 FMJ 150grA365 30-06 HP BT 168grA323 30-06 Grom 170grA066 30-06 SP 180grA041 7,62 X 39 FMJ 123grA169 7,62 X 54 FMJ BT 182grA143 303 British FMJ BT 174grA267 375 H&H Mag 300grA128 8x57 JS SP 196grA348 8x57 JS FMJ BT Match 198grA351 8x57 JS Grom 185gr
100 - 104 Lowtown, PudseyWest Yorkshire, LS28 9AYTel: 01132 569 163 / 565 167Fax: 01132 574 962Email: [email protected] Mon - Sat, 9am - 5pm
HenryKrank
£39.60£39.60£39.60£39.60£39.60£51.70£49.50£49.50£49.50£49.50£49.50£54.23£54.23£49.50£49.50£49.50£49.50£49.50£49.50£53.90£41.25£45.65£48.95£49.50£59.29£49.50£49.50£49.50£53.90£53.90£53.90£53.90£66.00£53.90£46.20£53.90£50.60£135.30£49.50£59.29£66.00
B008 22 FMJ BT 55grB484 6.5mm FMJ BT 110grB083 6.5mm FMJ BT 139grB127 7 FMJ BT 174grB105 7mm 158gr GromB010 30 FMJ RN 110grB009 30 FMJ BT 145grB007 30 FMJ 139grB099 30 FMJ 150grB345 30 FMJ BT 174grB366 30 FMJ BT 175grB074 7.62mm FMJ 123grB143 303 FMJ BT 174grB006 303 FMJ BT 190grB348 8mm Match FMJ BT 198grB351 8mm 185gr GromB323 30 Grom 170grB140 38 158gr RNFPB339 38 FPJ 158grB221 44 FPJ 180grB180 45 FMJ 230gr
£11.22£13.75£13.75£14.19£21.95£14.25£14.25£14.25£14.25£14.19£14.19£13.75£14.19£14.19£17.33£23.98£21.95£5.94
£13.64£15.95£15.95
C193 22 HornetC032 222 RemingtonC132 223 RemingtonC211 22/250C134 243 WinchesterC118 6,5 x 52 CarcanoC083 6,5 x 55 SwedishC027 270 WinchesterC345 7,5 x 55 SwissC030 7,62 x 39C020 308 WinchesterC346 7,5 x 54 FrenchC031 7,62 x 54RC128 8mm MauserC470 7.62 NagantC483 6.5 GrendelC385 6.5 x 51 JapC383 7.7 JapC424 7 .92 x 33 KurzC417 8 x 50 LebelC384 8 x 56 MannlicherC413 7.63 (30 Mauser)
£15.95£19.25£18.70£26.40£27.50£39.60£30.36£28.05£34.32£27.50£29.15£34.32£31.68£31.68£34.32£35.64£39.60£41.36£39.60£52.80£41.36£20.35
SP - Soft Point PSP - Pointed Soft Point SPBT - Soft Point Boat Tail PSPBT - Pointed Soft Point Boat TailSPRN - Soft Point Round Nose FSP - Flat Soft Point HPBT - Hollow Point Boat Tail FPJ - Flat Point Jacket FMJ - Full Metal Jacket
FMJRN - Full Metal Jacket Round Nose FMJBT - Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail RNFP - Round Nose Flat Point
P111 Small Pistol PrimersP222 Large Pistol PrimersP333 Small Rifle PrimersP444 Large Rifle Primers
Prvi Partizan top quality hunting & target ammunition and reloading components
PPU PRIMERSPPU PRIMERSPPU RIFLEPPU RIFLEAMMUNITIONAMMUNITIONPriced per pack of 100
PPU HANDGUNPPU HANDGUNAMMUNITIONAMMUNITION
PPU BLANKSPPU BLANKS
PPU BULLETSPPU BULLETS
PPU BRASSPPU BRASSCASESCASESPriced perpack of 100
Priced perpack of 100
Priced per pack of 100
Priced per pack of 100
A298 32 S+W Long 98gr w/cA112 9mm Luger 115gr FMJA044 9mm Luger 115gr FMJA033 9mm Luger 124gr FMJA166 9mm Luger 147gr FMJA140 38 SPL RNFP 158grA326 357 Magnum 158gr RNFPA339 357 Magnum FPJ 158grA222 44 Magnum 180gr FPSA221 44 Rem Mag FPJ 240gr
£22.44£22.44£22.44£22.44£22.44£22.44£27.94£33.66£38.28£38.28
BL18 5,56 (223)BL22 7,62 x 51 (308)BL28 7,62x39 (7,62 Russian Short)BL32 7,62x54R (7,62 Russian Long)BL40 7,92 ( 8 x 57 Mauser)BL50 303 BritishBL60 30-06 ( 7,62 x 63)BL70 9mm (9x19) ParabelumBL80 38 SPL
£37.40£46.20£46.20£46.20£46.20£46.20£49.50£22.98£22.98
Available atall good
gun shops
£22.00£23.10£22.00£23.10
Prvi Partizan CataloguePrvi Partizan Catalogueavailable on requestavailable on request
Visit our new website:Visit our new website:www.henrykrank.comwww.henrykrank.com
14 Target Shooter
Thismonth Ken offers a newcomers guide to theQSAandshooting theblack-powdercartridgerifle.
The Quigley Shooting Association (QSA) and theSingle Shot Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Clubof Great Britain (SSBPCRCGB) are now firmlyestablished as the premier UK associationsdevoted to the use of black-powder ‘buffalo’ typerifles in competition. Events are heldthroughout the year and, as luck would have it,the Clubs are situated at opposite ends of thecountry (Diggle Ranges & Bisley) thus makingthis type of shooting accessible to most regions.
Theaimof thisarticle is toprovidea fewpointersfor those who have bought or are contemplatingbuying a BPCR with a view to trying theaforementioned competitions, or maybe simply
samplethefunofshootingtheseinterestingriflesontheirlocalrange.Havingsaidthat,IammainlyinvolvedwiththeQSAthough we do have a couple of inter-clubteam-shootswiththeSSBPCRCGBguyseveryyear.
The Competitions.The Quigley competitions were conceived withthe intention of offering similar challenges tothose faced by the buffalo hunters of the oldAmerican West and of course inspired by theQuigley Down Under film starring Tom Selleck.QSA events are held at Diggle Ranges in thenorth and consist mainly of rifle shoots at 400and 600 yards,where the targets are theQuigleybucket(watchtheQuigleyDownUndervideo!)andahalfsizebuffalo,oroccasionallysteelsilhouettes.Ample sighters are normally allowed and then
Accuracy in action - BP style
AregularcolumnwherebyKenHallkeepsusuptodatewithblackpowdercartridgerifleshootingintheUK.
Target Shooter 15
it’s usually fifteen shots to count at each distancebutourcompetitionrulesarenot ‘set instone’andcontinue to evolve to suit the requirements andinterests of themembership.As in any target riflecompetition,shotsare indicatedbythebutt’screw.
In addition, we also shoot the 1000 yard BillyDixon competition, which celebrates the famousAdobe Walls ‘long shot’ of 1874, when Billy wasseentohitanIndianonhorsebackwithhisSharps‘Big50’atadistancelaterverifiedas1,538yds.Asourmaximumrangeis1000yards,wereplicatethisby using a two-thirds size target.We also have afew short-range events at 200/300/400 yards –a facsimile of Colonel Berdan’s ‘sharp-shooter’US Civil War test, a mini Billy Dixon and a miniQuigleycompetition,bothshotwithpistolcalibrerifles.
The Rifles.QSArulesspecifyacut-offdateof1895forriflesandequipment,soanyoriginalorreproductionAmericanrifle coinciding with that date and having anexternal hammer is permissible. Some replicas incurrent production might include the RemingtonRolling Block, the Trapdoor Springfield, theWinchester 1885 ‘high-wall’, theWinchester 1886,theMarlin1895andofcourse,themanyvariantsofperhapsthebestknown-theSharps.
Whilst any of these rifles are up to the job, itis worth noting that those listed as ‘target’ or‘sporting’ versions are generally most suited tocompetition shooting due to their longer and
heavier barrels and the availability of good qualityfore-sights and rear tang-sights. The excellentPedersoli catalogue from Viking Arms is a goodplace to start, though models are available fromotherEuropeanmanufacturerssuchasArmiSportandUberti.Asyouwouldexpect,theUnitedStatesalsoexportssomeveryfinerifles,ShilohSharpsofMontanaandC.SharpsArmsareperhapsthebestknownoverhere,buttheydotendtospecialiseandriflesaregenerallybuilt toorderandare thereforemoreexpensive,withawaitingtimeofaroundayear.
Ammunition.This simpleword can lead tomuch consternation.Whereas it isa relativelysimplechoice toselectasuitable rifle, when we come to deciding what tofeed itwithwemeetavarietyof ideas.QSA rulesstate that any calibre over .35in is admissible.Bullets must be of lead only (no jacketedbulletsorgas-checks).Themostpopularcalibre isundoubtedlythe.45in-invariouscartridgelengths– with the 45-70 being the clear favourite. Themaller .38 and .40 cals are gaining a following inthiscountrybuttheheavier45bulletisprettymuchessential for the longer ranges. Unfortunately,commercially made ammunition is not available,you must make your own and there are manychoicesofpowder,primer,lubricantsandofcoursecompression-cueforaseparatearticleinthefuturehere!
Equipment.As with many shooting sports, buying the rifle
Two happy winners
16 Target Shooter
ELEY product rangeClass leading products across all disciplines
ww
w.el
eyam
mun
ition.
com
Please note this is a simple guide illustrating which ELEY products are suitable for different applications. NB Some of our products may also be appropriate for other applications not shown above, this may depend on how Firearms are set up and maintained.
Club: Accurate and reliable mid-range cartridge used in all disciplines up to 50m range. A consistent winner at club competitions.
Club XtraPistol Xtra
Target RifleTarget PistolStandardPistol Standard
Sport: An affordable general purpose cartridge, which is a great quality entry level round.
.17 Mach 2: Combining ELEY’s leading edge technology and Hornady’s 17 grain V-Max blue tip bullets. Quite simply the best value varmint cartridge available to smallbore shooters.
Subsonic Hollow: Super accurate and one of the quietist subsonic rounds on the market. A lower velocity hunting cartridge with target shooting accuracy.
Subsonic Hollow Xtra Plus
Tenex Pistol: The highest quality cartridge for semi automatic pistols and rifles, featuring a round nose bullet profile.
Tenex Semi-Auto
Match Pistol: ‘Softer’ round with reliable functioning and high accuracy in many popular pistols. Reduced velocity cartridge.
Pistol Match
Match OSP: With a round nose bullet profile, Match OSP has many attributes of Tenex Pistol and offers shooters high accuracy and consistent functioning.
Match Semi-AutoRapid Fire
Match: Impressive results from a competition cartridge featuring many attributes of Tenex. Amazing value for money and excellent accuracy.
Tenex Ultimate EPS
Match EPS
Tenex: Olympic standard, medal winning, premium quality cartridges used by experienced club and international shooters.
Team: Launched in 2008, Team is from the same production line as Tenex and features the same flat nose and quality features.
New Product
Rifle Semi Auto Rifle
Free Pistol
SportStandard
Pistol
RapidFire
PistolDescription Replacing
*
*
*
*
*
**
* Dependant on shooters preference, Firearm manufacturer and setup. ** In suitable firearms only.
is only the start! With the BPCR there are manychallenges to overcome and that is whatdiscouragesmanyshootersfromtryingit. When black-powder is burned it leaves behinda lot of residue and this is not user-friendly. Theproblemscausedbyfoulingaremanyandvaried.Acertainamountoffoulingisnecessaryto‘condition’thebarrel and maintain relatively constant velocities.Accuracy can actually suffer from over-cleaningthe barrel between shots, just as readily as it cansuffer from the effects of insufficient cleaning. Ahappymediumneedstobefoundthatworksforyou. The solution to the fouling problem is as variedas the number of people involved in the sport –every one has their own idea of barrel cleaning.Most shooters will bring along a cleaning-rod, dryor pre-lubricated patches, cleaning solution andperhaps a blow-tube (to breath moist air into thebore between shots – which hopefully keeps thefouling soft enough to be pushed out by the nextbullet!).Othersusetwoorthreerods,withbothdryandlubricatedpatchesandbrushesandpasseachthrough the barrel after every shot. Watch whatothers do and try and find a method that works.Consistencyfromshottoshotisthedesiredresult.Theblack-powderfoulingcreatesanotherproblem.The life of your rifle and your brass cases canbeseriouslyreducediftheharmfulsaltsleftoverfromfiring are not neutralized or removed as soon aspossible. A means of combating this effect isrequired.Someshooterswillde-capanddroptheirfired cases into a ‘neutralizing’ solution (soapywater!) immediately after firing and clean theirrifleon thepoint.Othersarehappy tocleanwhenthey get home. Either way, it is essential thatyou do not leave the rifle or cases unattendedfor any length of time or their usefulness will berapidlyimpaired.Nospecialcleaningproceduresarerequired but you must do it as soon as possible! Shooting the BPCRIf you look at any old prints of the buffaloshooters youwill almost invariably see the use of‘crossed-sticks’. Any type of shooting willbenefitfromastablefiring-positionandintheQSAtheuseofcross-sticksispermissible.Thissimplestofsupports can be fabricated by anyone of modestability and provides an excellent shooting-rest. Iknowofnosuitablecommerciallyavailableproductandsofirersareforcedtomaketheirownandasaconsequenceweseeeverythingfromtheelaboratetotherudimentary.Thekeyphrasehereis‘spiritofthe original’- in otherwords,wedon’twant to seesomething like a steel tripod with windage andelevationadjustment–keepitsimpleandauthentic-looking.
A decent shooting-mat along with good wind/waterproof clothing, whilst not compulsory, isdesirable,asshootingtakesplaceintheopeninallweathers. Although our basic aperture-sights arecapable of good accuracy, they offer nomagnification,soagoodspottingscopeisuseful ifyouwanttoseeyourfallofshot.In futurearticles,wewill lookat thecartridge itselfinmoredetailandI’llshowyouafewgadgetsandgizmos,whichmakeshootingthesefascinatingriflesmoresuccessful.
Questionsandcommentspleaseto;[email protected]
Match reportThis year’s Quigley Championship got underway on the 4thApril, sandwiched between two ofthe best days so far this year butmatch daywasprobably the windiest day for some considerabletime. Despite this, some very good scores wereachieved at 400 yards, although a few struggledsomewhat when we dressed back to 600 yards. Afterthefirstround,DennisRichardsonleadwith63points,withIanHull,DaveColeman,DaveBownassandKenHallallclosebehindwithscoresinthe50s.Thewindseemedtodotheimpossibleandgetworseasthedayprogressedandinstage2at600yards,scoresinthe30sand40swerethenorm.However,Denniskeptupthepressureandscoredanimpressive57pointstoclinchthematchwithatotalof120points.
Results.
1.DennisRichardsonBrowningHi-Wall.45/702.IanHull Sharps .45/903.DaveGregory Sharps.45/1004.RichardHealey Sharps .45/705.KenHall WinchesterHi
Wall.38/55
OurnextcompetitiontakesplaceatDiggleRangesonSaturdayMay16th.Feel free to turnupon theday and shoot with us or if you prefer, just comealongforachatandseewhat‘Quigley’isallabout.
The followingweek,May23rd,wedepart fromoutusual format with our ‘Tight Group’ competition.Thisgivesyouachance tosee justhowwellyourhand-loads are working when shot off a bench at100yards.
Please mention us when using advertising
in the magazine
Target Shooter 17
ELEY product rangeClass leading products across all disciplines
ww
w.el
eyam
mun
ition.
com
Please note this is a simple guide illustrating which ELEY products are suitable for different applications. NB Some of our products may also be appropriate for other applications not shown above, this may depend on how Firearms are set up and maintained.
Club: Accurate and reliable mid-range cartridge used in all disciplines up to 50m range. A consistent winner at club competitions.
Club XtraPistol Xtra
Target RifleTarget PistolStandardPistol Standard
Sport: An affordable general purpose cartridge, which is a great quality entry level round.
.17 Mach 2: Combining ELEY’s leading edge technology and Hornady’s 17 grain V-Max blue tip bullets. Quite simply the best value varmint cartridge available to smallbore shooters.
Subsonic Hollow: Super accurate and one of the quietist subsonic rounds on the market. A lower velocity hunting cartridge with target shooting accuracy.
Subsonic Hollow Xtra Plus
Tenex Pistol: The highest quality cartridge for semi automatic pistols and rifles, featuring a round nose bullet profile.
Tenex Semi-Auto
Match Pistol: ‘Softer’ round with reliable functioning and high accuracy in many popular pistols. Reduced velocity cartridge.
Pistol Match
Match OSP: With a round nose bullet profile, Match OSP has many attributes of Tenex Pistol and offers shooters high accuracy and consistent functioning.
Match Semi-AutoRapid Fire
Match: Impressive results from a competition cartridge featuring many attributes of Tenex. Amazing value for money and excellent accuracy.
Tenex Ultimate EPS
Match EPS
Tenex: Olympic standard, medal winning, premium quality cartridges used by experienced club and international shooters.
Team: Launched in 2008, Team is from the same production line as Tenex and features the same flat nose and quality features.
New Product
Rifle Semi Auto Rifle
Free Pistol
SportStandard
Pistol
RapidFire
PistolDescription Replacing
*
*
*
*
*
**
* Dependant on shooters preference, Firearm manufacturer and setup. ** In suitable firearms only.
Target Shooter 19
JohnSmithstartedYorkGunsuparound30yearsagoasaone-manband.Withapassion for,andencyclopaedicknowledgeof, vintageandantiquearms, thatwasa largepartof theshop’soriginalbusiness alongside the obligatory well-used BSAMartini target rifles and Brno Model 2s. Pistolsand revolvers old and new featured heavily too.After a few years the workforce doubled in sizewiththearrivalofGaryHyde,nowthecompany’smanaging director and grew steadily from thenon, but by the 1990s the original premises weremassively overcrowded at busier times andrestricting further opportunities. Somehow orother, a wholesale supply business was alsobeingrunfromadeskshoehornedintoaperenniallyovercrowded storeroom upstairs. Building andrelocating to a new bespoke shop and tradewarehouse facility on the outskirts of the villageof Dunnington east of York in early 2003 was avital step inmeetingJohnandGary’saspirationsfor the business. It provided a huge increase inthe amount of space and a quantum leap in thequalityof the ‘retailexperience’,sawfurtherrapidexpansioninproductlines,staffnumbers(now14),andwholesaleactivities.
The shop provides a full service to the shooter,not just locally, with customers throughout thecountry and abroad. One beneficiary of theincrease in spacewas clothing, there never hav-ingbeenroomforitintheoldshop.Abigincreaseinthenumberofgunsandrifleswasaccompaniedby a move upmarket. YGL is Beretta’s PremiumDealer for the North of England, and holdssimilar status for Browning, Caesar Guerini and
others.Thereissomethingfornearlyeveryclayorgameshooterthoughincluding a large choice of usedguns. Around 100 rifles are ondisplay, with yet more storedout of sight. Most are sportingmodels these days, althoughyou’ll find some heavy-barreltactical types and the odd targetmodel.WithYGLthecountry’smainsupplier of Schmidt & Benderriflescopes, a Zeiss ‘CentrePartner’ and stockist of Leica,Leupold,Nightforce,Burris,Hawkeand Steiner optics, there is plentyof choice in this field too. Nearlyeveryemployeeisakeenandactiveshooter,theworkforceabletoprovide
expertiseanddirectexperienceinanyshootingsport.
Most shotguns, rifles and optical goods instock are listed on the company’s website(www.yorkguns.com) the ‘current stock’ sectionupdated weekly, over 90% of the shotguns alsohavingimagesattached.Anonlineretailingfacilityisarecentdevelopment.Wholesale or ‘trade sales’ is an importantactivity, all products also offered to shopcustomers too. It encompasses a varied mix ofproducts and price levels providing dealers withsomeofthecheapestshotgunsgoing,whileattheotherextreme,Schmidt&Benderriflescopesofferphenomenalbuildqualityanddurability,butcannotbedescribedas‘budget’.
RecentadditionstotheproductstableincludethepopularMuckBoots rangeof ‘super-wellies’, andYorkGunshasjustbecometheimporterofGSG’s.22LR copies of the H&K MP5 machine-carbine,withanewGSG-47(‘KalashnikovAK47’)modelimminent.
Supportyourlocalgunshop‘YorkGuns’
YGL’s founder and chairman John Smith.
The customer’s view of the retail area on entering showing one part of the clothing displays.
20 Target Shooter
Jackson Rifles Parton,CastleDouglas,ScotlandDG73NL
Tel: (01644) 470223 Fax: (01644) 470227 jacksonrifles.com
• best-selling, proven design-madebyEurope'slargestmanufacturerofhigh-powerriflesilencers
• sleevedoverthebarrel–modelT4addsonly65mm(2½")tooveralllengthofrifle
• two-pointmountingsystemresistsharshuse• selectedbytheForestryCommissiontomeetthelatestEuropeannoiseatworkregulations• low-maintenanceall-weldedconstructionwithtoughparkerizedcoating-no need for internal cleaning!
centre-fire and rim-fire rifle suppressors
NEW NorthStar stainless steel telescopic rifle silencer • Calibresupto25-06Remor30-06Spr• Soundreduction-24to-28dB(C)• Sleevesoverbarrel–netlengthonly100mm(4")• 47.5mmdiameter,weighs630grams• Durable,low-maintenance,mattstainlessfinish
NEW FOR 2009
jet-Z™ CQB & COMPACT• Calibresupto25-06Remor300WinMag• Advancedultra-compactmuzzle-mounteddesign• Soundattenuation-26to-32dB(C),accordingto
calibre• 40mmdia.,520g(CQB)-560g(COMPACT)• Addsonly125or150mmtolengthofriflebarrel
Shoot to win
Jewell Triggers forRemington,Winchester,AR-15andcompetitionrifles
Jackson Rifles™ CG-Universal 2-stage trigger forRemington,Mauser,andTikkarifles
TIMNEY MFG. INC. forBrowning,CZ,Mauser,Remington,Ruger,Sako,Weatherby&
Winchesterrifles
SAK-Products Air Rifle/Rimfire silencer • Excellentperformanceon22LRandriflesupto.17and.22magnumrimfire• Blackorsilver-standard½"x20UNFor½"x28UNEFthread• 34mmdiameter,160grams,addsonly130mmtolengthofrifle
We are happy to give advice and information to retail customers, but we only supply the tradeJackson Rifles is a division of Forge Consulting Ltd, RFD 108 (Dumfries & Galloway) ts0904
Continental Shooting SuppliesNorth Ayrshire Shooting Ground, Blackstone Farm, Dalry, Ayrshire KA24 5HNTel: 01294 833297 Fax: 01294 833312 e-mail: [email protected]
Continental Shooting Supplies is based at the North Ayrshire Shooting Ground, a first class all-weather facility for the Skeet, Trap and Sporting disciplines.
We welcome customers to our shop, where a friendly chat and expert advice are always available.
You can also purchase goods from us by mail order. Our online catalogue can be viewed at www.continentalshooting.co.uk and orders placed over the internet.
We carry an extensive range of products covering all aspects of shooting including:
Calls and whistlesCartridges and cartridge casesClothing and footwearDecoysDog training equipmentGun care materials and repair serviceGun casesHearing protectionKnivesLamping equipmentOptics Rifle accessoriesRecoil reduction padsShotguns and firearms (both new and second hand)
If you are looking for something and can not see it on our web site please give us a phone - we usually know where things can be found! Also keep an eye out for our special offers each month.
Target Shooter 21
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Winchesterrifles
SAK-Products Air Rifle/Rimfire silencer • Excellentperformanceon22LRandriflesupto.17and.22magnumrimfire• Blackorsilver-standard½"x20UNFor½"x28UNEFthread• 34mmdiameter,160grams,addsonly130mmtolengthofrifle
We are happy to give advice and information to retail customers, but we only supply the tradeJackson Rifles is a division of Forge Consulting Ltd, RFD 108 (Dumfries & Galloway) ts0904
22 Target Shooter
Wementioned thepossibilityofanarticlecoveringbasic riflemaintenance in theApril issueofTargetShooterandenoughofyourespondedtomakeitareality,soheregoes.
We’llkeepitsimpleandrestrictitatthisstagetothecentrefirebolt-action rifleandwewillstartwith theboltitself.Theboltisakeypartofourrifle.Notonlydoesitclosethe breech, sealing the pressure-chamber, it alsoextracts the fired case and provides ignition viathe firing-pin striking the primer. It is this latterfunction that concerns us most when it comes tomaintenance.
Lock-time-thetimetakenforthefiring-pintostrike
the primer after we have pulled the trigger - ismeasured in milli-seconds. Even though thelock-time is unimaginably small, movement of therifle can occur in this time-period and if it does,accuracy will obviously suffer. Clearly, a fastlock-time isdesirable-evenmoredesirablewithahand-held rifle, wheremovement is more likely tooccur.
A number of factors will influence lock-timebut the one that we can do something aboutis the firing-pin/spring assembly. But first, let’sdismantle our bolt. Most bolts are designed toeasily ‘field-strip’ and even if our featured boltsare different from your rifle, you’ll be surprisedwhat you can find on the internet. (In less than aminuteIhadaYouTubevideoofaMauserboltstrip).Thespringassemblyusuallyscrews into themainbolt-body (e.g.Remington,Winchester, Stolle) butsome bolts employ a bayonet-style engagement(e.g. Howa, BAT) or even a screw-on cap (e.g.Savage,Barnard,RPA).Picture one shows a few types – from the left:Remington, Winchester, Howa and Barnard.We will concentrate on the Remington as it isone of the most popular and I just happen to betrouble-shooting a light-striking problem with one.
Using a suitable stripping tool, we can compressthe spring and easily unscrew the firing-pin/springassembly.Wenowhavetwoparts–picturetwo-
Vince Bottomley
22 Target Shooter
pictureone
Basic Rifle Maintenance
Target Shooter 23
putthespringassemblytoonesideandwe’lldealwiththebolt-bodyfirst.The problem here is the likelihood of crudaccumulatingdeepdowninsidethenarrowpassagethatguidesthefiring-pin.Gasesblowbackthroughthe firing-pin hole and if you’ve ever pierced aprimer,thisiswherethesmallmetaldiscendsup.Anaerosol of auto carburettor cleaner (Halfords) isuseful here . Spray inside the body and swill outthecrud.If it looksverydirty,useapointedstick–like a kebab stick with a cleaning patch attached.Shine a torch inside to ensure it’s clean. Whilstyou’re at it, spray the bolt-facewith the cleaner –particularly around the extractor and ejector pin.Depressthepinafewtimestomakesure it’s running free. If you haveaccesstoanair-line,giveitablastinsideandoutandthejobisdone.
Now for the spring assembly. I’mintending to fully dismantle theRemington spring assembly asthereisaproblemwithlight-strikesbut for normal maintenance it’snot necessary and we are simplygoingtocleanthespring-assemblywith our aerosol carb. cleaner toremovealltracesofcrudandgrease.WedonotwantANYgreaseoroilon thespringorpin– itwillcausedragandincreaselock-time!Again,dry offwith anair-line if youhaveone.AlightspraywithWD40isallweneed–nooilorgreaseonthespring or pin please! You can put
a very small amount ofgreaseonthethreadsorbayonet prior toassembly.Picture three, below,shows the angledcocking ramp. Thisshould be completelyfree of burrs to ensuresmooth operation. Youcan put a tiny dab ofgrease on the ramp.That’s it, apart froma visual inspection tosee that the pin is notundulywornorbentandtherearenosignsofrustanywhere. Dry off anyexcess WD40 withkitchen roll andre-assemble using thestripping tool tocompressthespring.
The bolt is now ready to use but don’t forget togrease the back of the bolt-lugs lightly and a tinybit of grease on the camming-point before use.(Picturefour).Pleasebeverysparingwiththegrease– do not get grease anywhere near the bolt-face.Unfortunately, we need to take things a bitfurtherwithourRemingtonaswehaveaproblem.Light-strikes can be due to a number of things:
Firing-pin protrusion: Generally we are lookingfor something around 0.05 inches (fifty thou.) TheRemmyisspot-onat51thou.sothisisnottheproblem.Excessiveheadspace:Ifheadspaceistoogreat,it will have the same effect as lack of firing-pin
picturethree
picturetwo
Target Shooter 23
24 Target Shooter
protrusion– leavingasmallgapbetween thebolt-face and case-head but when the go-gauge wasinserted,headspacewasspot-on.Again,ifyouover-
bumpthecasesonre-sizing,itwillshortenthemandexhibitthesameproblemasexcessiveheadspace.
Primerproblem: This is rarebutnotunknownsoworth checking.Duff primersareuncommonbut iftheygetdamporoil on them, theywon’t fire.Theremedyistoreplaceafewprimersandtryagain.IpoppedouttheCCIprimers(usingaLeeuniversal
de-priming die) and replaced themwith Federal –no difference. There was an indentation from thefiring-pinimpactbutnotquiteenoughtofiretheprimer.On taking thepinandspringapart, theproblem isrevealed.Moisturehasfounditswayintotheboltandthepinisrusty.Lookatpicturefiveandyoucanseethatcorrosionisparticularlybadunderthespring(I’dactuallycleanedofftheexcessrustwithsteel-woolbeforethispicwastaken)butwearemoreconcernedwiththebitthatslidesinsidetheshroud.It’saclosefitandthelightcorrosionwascausingthepintodragveryslightly–enoughtocauseanignitionproblem.Theriflehadbeenlaidupoverthewinter,allowingthecorrosiontoform.Agoodcleanwithwet‘n’drypaper soon had it looking as good as new and alightapplicationofWD40willpreventre-occurrence.
Whilst the bolt was in pieces, it was a simple jobto fit a new spring. Springs for the popular riflesare available from www.brownells.com for a fewdollars -pictureeight.Fora fewdollarsmore,youcanbuyaslightlystronger(longer)onewhichwillintheorygiveyouashorterlock-time.Itarrivedwithinaweek!Onelastthingtocheck-particularlyifyourrifleisn’tasaccurateasyouthinkitshouldbe.Checkthatbothbolt-lugsaremakingcontactwiththeactionlugs.The
picturefour
picturefive
24 Target Shooter
picturessixandseven
Target Shooter 25
backofbothlugsshouldappearshiny.Ifonelooksshinybuttheotherdoesn’t,there’snotalotyoucandoaboutit–it’sreallyamachiningjobtotrue‘emupanditprobablyisn’tworththecostasyoucouldenduphaving to adjust the headspace but at least you
know what could be caus-ing the accuracy problem.
Finally,neverstoreyourriflewiththe bolt cocked or the springwill soon lose its tension. If youprefer to leave the bolt in therifle, close it on an emptychamber and pull the trigger toun-cock it. If you store the boltseparately – best for safety –de-cock itby twisting theshroudto drop the pin. Re-cock usingthe stripping tool. Bolt strippingtools for popular actions can beobtained from SinclairInternational in America. www.sinclairintl.com Barnard boltscomeapartwithoutanytools,asdo RPA and Savage – exceptforanAllen-key. In theabsence
ofastripping tool,youcan improvise(seepicturessixandseven)withabitofwireandawasher(or5pcoin)inthecaseofRemingtonbolts!
Morebasicriflemaintenancenextmonth.
pictureeight
Target Shooter 25
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28 Target Shooter
Sunday 19th April saw the first Mini Riflecompetition held at Thurnscoe Rifle Club locateda couple of miles from South Yorkshire ShootingSuppliesbetweenBarnsleyandDoncaster.OriginallyarangebuiltfortheHomeGuardduringthewarandsincepurchasedbytheclub,therangeisoutdoorandoffersrangesupto100ydscateringfor.22rifle,AirRifle,andBlackpowderpistol.Theclubalsohasshared
accesstoa100mfull-borerangeusedonceamonth.Mini Rifle was introduced as an alternative topractical pistol shooting after the handgun banbut for unknown reasons has never achieved thestatus or popularity of the previous discipline.Thecompetitionnaturallylendsitselfto.22semiautoriflesandvarioustypesincludingtheBrowningBuckmark,obligatory Ruger 10/22 and, increasingly, the newGSG-5(.22MP5replica)areevidentatcompetitions.Earlier thisyearsomeof theguys fromThurnscoevisited Worcester Norton Shooting Club on oneof their Mini Rifle Open Shoots to take part andhopefully learn how to stage competitions ofthis type at our own club. Bob Oakley and theguys at Worcester Norton gave us a warmwelcomeandgaveusagreatdaysshootingduringwhich we learnt all about the Mini Rifle disciplineincludingsafetyprocedures,coursesoffire,targets,andscoring. Worcester Norton run these competitionson a regular basis and are extremely experiencedin setting up safe and challenging courses whichprove to be great fun. On our return to Yorkshirewe began the process of gathering the requiredinstructionsandequipmentnecessarytostagethistype of competition ourselves. Sunday saw thisproject come to fruition when we held our firstcompetition.Although starting off overcast the sun graduallyburnt through giving us a rarity in Yorkshire that
being a warm sunny day. The range had beenprepared and 3 separate stages set out ready forthethirteencompetitorstakingpart.AftertheRangeActionSafetyPlanhadbeencommunicated to theshootersawalkthroughofthefirststagetookplace.Themainaimof this discipline is to challenge theshooter by introducing obstacles and differentshooting stances. The shooter is accompaniedthrough each course by a Range Officer whoensures that the competitor follows all safety andcompetitionprocedures.Thecourseoffireistimedwiththetotalpointsscoreddividedbythetimetakentogiveafinalscoreforthecompetition.Gotoofastand you can loose accuracy or go too slowly andincrease the time taken, the idea is to achieve ahappymediumtogivethebestoverallresult.Preplanning also becomes important as somecourses require magazine changes which canextended your time if you are caught by surprisehalfwaythroughshootingastring.Thecompetitionstartedataround10amandfinishedjustbefore2pm.Theoverallresultswereasfollows:
1st Dave Wylde 327 points2nd Jeff Steed 292 points3rd Mark Hardcastle 280 points.
Full stage results available at www.freewebs.com/thurnscoerifleclub
The main aim of the day was realised aseverybodywhotookpartexpressedtheirenjoymentandarenowlookingforwardtothenextcompetition.Thiswas initiallyset forJunebutduetopopularityanother may now be staged next month. Ourthanks go to Bob, Gareth and all the guys atWorcesterNortonforintroducingandinstructingusinthischallengingandaddictiveshootingdiscipline.
Thurnscoe Rifle Club Mini Rifle CompetitionBy Ross Burrough
Mini Rifle in action
Prizegiving at the match
30 Target Shooter
Inissuenumber1ofTargetShootermagazinewehada lookat thepossiblestarterair riflesforonetopursueoutdoordisciplinesmainly,FieldTarget,HunterFieldTargetandAirRifleBenchRest.Now
thatwe took a decision on the type of air rifle topurchase, it’s time todecide thescope to fit.ThescoperequirementsvarybetweenFT,HFTandAirRifleBenchRestdisciplines.Wemustfirstunderstandthese requirments before attempting to purchaseanallrounderscope,soasnottobedisappointed.
InHFTyourequireascopethatisabletoshowyouclearlyattargetfromdistancesof7yardsto41yards,withoutadjustingtheparallax.Thismeansthatrangefindingthroughparallaxadjustmentisnotpossible.Onecan’tdialintheturretsforthetargetrange.AnHFTascopemusthavelowmagnificationtoallowclearviewofalltargetrangesandavisualcapabilitytoaidtheshooterinestimatingtherangeofaknowntargetsize.Theshootermustalsohavemeansto
determineandcalculate thepointof impact (POI)onthetargetwithouttouchinganypartofthescope.
In Field Target the shooter is able to utilize allfunctions of a scope. Here one can use parallaxadjustment todeterminethetargetrangeanduseturrets todial inzero foreachrange.TheshooterinFT isable tomanipulateanymagnification thatsuits him for all targets in ranges between 10 to50meters.TheFTshooterwouldrequireascopethat is capable of providing him with accuraterangeestimationatahighmagnification formoreaccuracy. He would prefer a side wheel parallaxadjustment. This design is more ergonomic thenfront objective lens focusing bell which issometimeshardtoreachwhenshoulderingtheairrifle. This side wheel parallax adjustment allowsthe shooter to keep target in sight whilst finetuningonthefocusingtogetthebestrangeindication. InBenchRestlikeFTtheshooterisabletoutilizehis scope to the full. However Bench Restscoringtargetsarestaticataoneknownmeasureddistanceso therewillnotbe theneed to focusorfind the range for each shot. The bench restshooterismoreinclinedtouseturretstofinetunehisshotsontargetatahighmagnification.Heneedsto do this by dialing in or calculate from reticulethe POI according to the wind direction andconditionsdevelopingduringhisshootingtime.Highmagnification and crisp image enables the benchrest shooter to clearly define the scoring ringsoutlineontargetsatsetrangesof25or50meters.
Thenovicetargetshooterwillask,ifthereascopethatIcanbeusedforallthesedisciplines?TheanswerisYES.Howeverthehugediversityofscopes on themarketwill confuseoneinstantly.Wewillbediscussingsome scopes that are ideal asstarter scopes, but before wementionspecificscopesweshouldconcentrateonscopefeatureswhichoneneedtoknowbeforepurchasingathebestpossibleallrounderscope.
OutdoorAirriflesports–StarterEquipmentPart2
Stanley Shaw
Which scope to get ? You need a starter scope capable of handline both ft and hft.
Hawke Varmint scopes are a good choice amoungst airgunners.
Target Shooter 31
Mostscopeswillbefeaturedwithstrangenumbersforexample6-24X44or10X50. This isaway todefine thescopemagnificationand lensdiameter.The first number or two numbers separated by adash (-) is referring to the scopemagnification.A6-24 means that the scope has a variable zoomfrom 6 to 24 times.A single number means thatthescopehasafixedzoomforexample10times.A 10X magnification scope in theory must showyou the image10 timescloser thenwhenviewedwith the naked eye. The number followed by theX sign is the objective lens diameter. The biggerthe diameter of the objective lens, themore lightwill reach your eye. This results in a brighterimage.ScopesmanufacturerswillspecifyalsotheTube Diameter. The most common is the 25mmand the 30mm. The tube diameter is referring tothecentraltubedimension.Herethelightenteringthe objective lens is converged onto the reticuleand finally towards the eye bell lens. The biggerthe tube the more bright and crisp is the image.
The next very important feature is the MOA(minute of angle) setting. There are 3 typesavailable the ½” at 100 Yards, ¼” at Yards and1/8” @ 100 Yards. Without going in detailed
explanation of MOA this means the distancechangedinpointofimpact(POI)ofaprojectilewhentheturretismovedby1clickatafixedrange.Ona½”@100Yardsscopeoneclickmovesthepointofimpactby½“at100yards.2clicksonthesamescopewillshiftthePOIby1”alwaysat100yards.Thisalsomeansthatat200yards,1clickshiftsthePOIby1”andat400yards1clickshifts thePOIby2”.Thesamescoperequires4clickstoshift1”at50yards.Ascopewhichhasasettingof1/8”at100yardsrequires8clickstoshiftthePOIby1“at100yards.At400yardsthisscoperequires2clicksto shift 1”. The same scope requires 16 clicks toshift1”at50yards.Thisautomaticallyshowsyouthata1/8”MOAscopegive youmore fine tuningcapabilitiesonyourPOIatfarandcloseranges.Alltherestdisplayedinthespecificationsofascopearecosmeticorqualityfeaturesavailableforthescope.
So what should one look for in a starter scope?1. Variable magnification and parallax thatallows us to see clearly with with the lowestmagnificationtargetsascloseas7yardsandasfaras41yards.(HFT)2. A variable magnification and parallax thatallowsus toseeatahighermagnification targetsbetween10and50meters.(FT)3. AreliableParallaxthatisaccurateenoughataparticularmagnification.(FT)4. AnMOAsettingthatcangiveustheflexibilityoffinertuninginourscopezeroing.(BR)5. A crisp clear image. Lens quality – Scope
scope mounts. one piece mounts are a must on spring air rifles.
For Air Rifle BR – quality over gadgets. good magnification (min 24x) & a clear image (min 44mm objective lens and min 1” tube). avoid ½” @ 100 yard for air rifle short range shooting. ¼” moa is a good choice, 1/8” moa is better.
32 Target Shooter
Quality.(FT,HFT,BR)6. A reticule that enablesus to determine thepoint of impact at all ranges from 7 yards to 50meters.(HFT-FT-BR)7. A reticule that enablesus to determine thetargetdistancebycomparison.(HFT)
Nowweknowwhatexactlyweare lookingfor theproblem is theprice rangewindow.Scopecanbeascheapasdirtormoreexpensivethentheairrifleit self.Here you need to take a certain approachinyourdecision.Rememberyoudecided togetastarterairrifle. Itdoesn’tmakesensetopurchaseatopnotchscopecosting3or4timesasmuchas
yourairrifle!Afterallyou’reshootingyourairrifleatrangesnotlongerthen50meters.Goforthe1/3ruleitworksquitefine.Ifyouinvested£360inanairriflegetascopewithinapricerangeof£120.Youwillencounteralotofscopes,allwithdifferent specs for the same value,however we can narrow our searchfurther by applying our basicrequirements. The scope choice alsodepends on the type of air rifle youpurchased. A scope on a PCP willnot sustain any damage from recoil.Howeverascopeonaspringairriflewill
suffer.Acheapscopeonaspringairriflewithoutthecorrectmountscaneasilybedestroyedinlessthen100shots.Thefollowingcondensedspecificationswill give you good results in all the 3 disciplines.
1. Heliumfilledscope.2. VariableMagnificationfrom6to24times (minimum).3. Objectivediameter44mm(minimum).4. Tubediameterofatleast25mm(minimum).5. MOAof¼“@100Y(minimum).6. Amil-dotreticule.7. Sunshade.
Ifyouaremountingascopeonaspringairriflegoforlesscosmeticfeaturesandconcentrateonbuiltquality.IfaPCPairrifleiswhatyouhave,thenonecanaffordtogoforslightlylessqualitybuild,andmorecosmeticfeatures,butbecareful.Alwaysuseagood1piecemountforspringersandhavegoodmountsfor PCP’s.Mountmanufacturers likeSportsmatchorHawkearegoodenoughonsub12ftlbsairrifles.
Various scope manufacturers offer a goodselection of scope in this price range,Nikko Stirling Platinum Nighteater 6-24x56 &Hawke Varmint II 6-24x44 are two of the best
entries,caninstallwithacertainassuranceonspringersandPCP’s. IfyouboughtastarterPCPsystemandwouldliketoinstallan exotic variable high magnificationscope, with side wheel parallaxadjustment that is impressively accurateat its maximum magnification, includessniper type turretswith1/8”MOAclicks,a30mmtubeplusanilluminatedMilDotreticule,includingasidewheelandasunshade get a ZOS 10-40X50 AE scope.Thisis“amadeinChinascope”likemostbig name scopes anyway, but it offersvalueformoney.
In the next issue we will startsetting up our air rifle – scopecombination and explore the
different testsweneed tocarryout tounderstandbetterourair rifleand the rightpelletcombinationrequired in outdoor air rifle target shooting.
Scope turrets. ½’ – ¼ “ – 1/8 “ moa to fine tune your point of impact.
Zos scopes not a bad starter choice for pcp air rifles
34 Target Shooter
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Target Shooter 35
TheLeeEnfieldrifleNumber5Mark1carrieswithitacuriousmixtureofromanticismandmystic.TheJungleCarbinebringswithitareputationforbrutalrecoilandawanderingzerothatoftenmakesaccurateshootingafrustratingexerciseborderingoncruelty.
The Jungle Carbine is the epitome of Georgianmilitary beauty. Conceived of during the greydaysofWorldWarTwo, itcarrieswith itechoesofamoreextravagantera. Thefineraspectsof rifleaesthetics rarely impact on the design of militaryrifles, let aloneon thedesignof a riflewhose keydevelopment period occurred in the last 12 – 18monthsoftheSecondWorldWar.
A Design Enigma
However, the little carbinecarriesanairof viciousbeauty. From the flashhider,which provides little
more than an aesthetic embellishment and mayactually erode accuracy, to the lightened receiverthatflexesunderhighpressurecorditeloads,tothehardrubberrecoilpadthatmagnifiesfeltrecoil,the.303JungleCarbineappearsbuilt for itsmenacingmilitaryappeal than itsability toproduceaccuracy.
Nevertheless, the Jungle Carbine has a numberof characteristics that shouldmake it popular withtheInfantry,especiallythoseoperatinginthedensejungles of Southeast Asia. And when on militaryoperationsindense,darkrainforests,battlingsteep
LEE ENFIELD No5 Mk1 JUNGLE CARBINE
Richard Wild
The lineage of the Jungle Carbine can clearly be seen when compared with a Martini-Enfield and Lee Metford cavalry carbine. (Photo by Daniel Cotterill)
The Mk. 5 Jungle Carbine (above) is a rugged and attractive military rifle but brings with it a reputation for brutal recoil and a wandering zero that can make accurate shooting a frustrating exercise. Keen observers will note a successful 1Bn Green Howards patrol taken during the Malaya Emergency, June 1952.
36 Target Shooter
terrain,humidityandpoorfood,thesepointsshouldnot be overlooked. It certainly fulfils the basicrequirementsofamilitaryweapon. It isshort, it isbothsimpleandhandytouseforanaveragesized
shooter. It is light to carry, compact and it canquicklyputdownalotoffirepowerwithitstenshotmagazineandchargerloader–evenunderstress.A short sight radius with a large ‘ghost ring’ rearpeep sight are not handicaps when averagedistances during conflict can be measured infeet andwhere the enemy is rarely seen. Itwasalso issued with a short, functional Bowie-stylebayonet thatcouldbeusedinavarietyofsupportrolesasidefromfighting.Butalightweightrifleisrarelyasuccesswhenthecartridgeitusesdeliversanuncomfortableamountofrecoilandmuzzleblast.ButwhenyoudouseitwithMkVIIcorditeroundsyou certainly begin to notice its idiosyncrasies.When it simplifies the logistics support for
war-fighting,usingoneammunitionloadforall303riflesandmachinegunsisunderstandable.Butthe174grainMarkVIIbulletandcordite loadsarenotthebestchoiceofcomponentswhentherifleweighstwo thirds that of its parent rifle, the No 4. Butwhenamainlineweaponfailstoreachitspotentialbecauseof this,hardquestionsneedtobeaskedandamoredetailedexplanationofhowandwhythiscarbinedidn’tmakethegradeneedstobesought.
History and Development Lightened rifles wereunder consideration during late 1942. Theconcept is far from new as the thousands ofMartini-Henry cavalry andartillery carbinesnot tomentiontheLee-MetfordandLeeEnfieldcarbinesofthe1890scanprove.TheSMLENo1MkIIIwasaradicalstepforwardin1907because,forthefirsttime,allArmsandBranchesof theArmedForceswere issued with the same size and weight rifle.
Given the speed that the basic dimensions ofthe Jungle Carbine were decided on it becomesapparent that the designers were probablyworking from a known pattern. A check ofotherBritishmilitarycarbinesfromthelastdecadesof the 19th century reinforces that view. A LeeMetfordcavalrycarbinemadein1891andaMartiniEnfield cavalry carbine from 1895 are the samelengthasa1945manufacturedMk.5JungleCarbine.
ExceptforthechangetotheNo.4styleactionandpeep sights, the Lee Metford is much the samerifle as the JungleCarbine. Handling theMetfordcarbineislikeitsLeeEnfieldsuccessorastheybothsharethesamehandlingcharacteristicsaswellas
manyof thesameflawsas the Jungle Carbine.In June 1943, theInfantry WeaponsDevelopmentCommittee forwardeda proposal for lighterrifle for use mainly inthe battlefields of SouthandSoutheastAsia. Ofnote was the realisationthat long rangeaccuracywasnottobeamajorfactorinitsdesign.Rather it should seekto be as accurate as aNo. 4 up to 400 yards.Initial tests at Bisley inmid-July 1943 usingshortened No. 4 riflesfoundthataccuracyfromthe carbine was com-parable to the long rifle
Projectiles used for testing. (l - r) 85 grain Hornady XTP, 125 grain Sierra, 150 grain Taipan, 174 Sierra Match and 185 grain lead.
Close up of the front stock and flash hider. The amount of wood removed saves weight but prolonged exposure to tropical heat and humidity would have had to have caused warping. The flash hider looks like a bell and rings like one too after every shot.
Target Shooter 37
out to 500 yardsbut recoil andmuzzle flashwereconsidered“excessive”.After further troop trials toaddress problems with muzzle flash and endur-ance, the design of the “jungle carbine” was ap-provedon21March1944- less thanayearaftertheconceptwasproposed.TheofficialdesignationofMk.VwasannouncedintheListofChangeson12September1944.
A Lightened Rifle
The JungleCarbine is truly a lightened version oftheNo.4rifleandatrueNo.5immediatelystandsoutagainstanyafter-marketbuilds. Non-essentialmetalhasbeenremovedfromtheNo.4buildwhere-everpossible.Theknox-form,wherethebarreljoinstheaction,isscallopedwhilepartsoftheactionhashadmetal removed. The bolt handle on the JungleCarbinehasalsobeendrilledout.Disassembleyofthecarbinealsoexposestheamountofextrawoodthat has been removed. Space under the barrelchannelhasbeenroutedoutandthebuttstocknotonlyhasashorterscrewholding it to theaction, ithasalsobeensubstantiallyhollowed.
Myths and Misconceptions - RecoilTherecoilpad isacontradiction inbothtermsand
design. Logically, a softer and larger recoil padwouldbe thebestoptionbut rubber technologyatthe time could not survive the rigours of militarylife. The option that became standard is harderand thinner at the butt than required and actuallymagnifiesperceivedrecoilduetoitswedge-likeshape.
Other problems were encountered once the rifleenteredserviceinthetropics.Storingtheriflesinaconventional manner caused the rubber tocompress. The oils of the time also caused therubber to deteriorate over time. But the recoilgeneratedbyaNo.5using serviceammunition isnomoreseverethanaNo1MkIII*withitsbrassbuttplate–fortheoddangryshotortwo.Bothwillbruiseafter a while but the Jungle Carbine will nomorebreakshouldersthanasimilarweightriflein308.
Barrel Life
Hot cordite rounds in the MkVIIz with corrosiveBerdan primers will wear the lighter barrel of theJungle Carbine out faster than a No. 4 used in asimilarfashion.Trooptrialssuggestthatmaximumusefulbarrellifeisbetween6000and12000rounds.BearinginmindtheservicethattheaveragesurplusJungleCarbinehasseen,acheckof yourbarrel’sconditionintheleaduptoanyloadtestingisadvisable.
A close up view of the Jungle Carbine receiver. A simple bedding technique using light carboard holds the action tight in the stock. The pink colour produces a tighter hold.
38 Target Shooter
Wandering Zero
The biggest challenge to working with the JungleCarbine is its habit of wandering around thetarget. This “wandering zero” at long range isinteresting to watch and the author has recordeda perfect figure of eight pattern that emergedduringa12shotDeliberateapplicationat300yards.
There are two main causes for this habit andmany more theories. The first is the use ofpowerful 303 loads in a lighter action. Loads thatshoot well in the thicker steel of the No. 4 actionappeartocausethebodyoftheNo.5toflexatapointaround where the locking shoulders are located.
The simple solution when shooting Mk. VIIammunitionistoreplacetheNo.5actionwithaNo.4action. But thenyoudon’thaveaJungleCarbineanymore.Thesecondcauseof inaccuracy,andperhaps themost serious, is the use of the bell-shaped flasheliminator. The flash eliminator we see is theproduct of wartime conditions and was designed,testedandapprovedinperiodoflessthansixmonths.IftheMk.5designwasunderscrutinytoday,thereis littledoubtthatadifferentdesignwouldemerge.
In the first place, the flash eliminator acts like apiece of plasticine on the end of a tuning fork.In effect it interferes with the harmonics of thebarrelandmeansthebulletismorelikelytoleavethemuzzleatadifferentpointinspacefromshottoshot.
Inaddition, thebellshape “rings”whenstruckandwouldappeartosetupadifferentharmonicfieldattheendof the lightandwhippybarrelduring rapidfire.Whilethisisimportanttocreatetheturbulanceand extra burn area needed to break up thegases that cause the muzzle flash, more modernoptions are lighter in both profile and design andprobablywouldnotaffectthebasicaccuracyoftherifle.Removaloftheflasheliminatorissupposedtotighten groups and remove much of the zero’s
randomwandering.Ifyouwishtoremovetheflasheliminator from the barrel be aware that the pinsenterfromdifferentsideswiththeoneclosesttothemuzzle entering from the right and thepin closestto the action entering from the left. Be preparedto find light corrosion in the join but this shouldpolish up well with oil and fine wet & dry paper.
Reloading for the Jungle Carbine
With hand loading these days, however, thereis an alternative to being beaten black and bluewith expensive surplus ammunition. With theavailability of light bullets in .311 produced for the7.62 x 39 cartridge as well as pistol bullets in 32calibre we have a range of suitable candidatesto begin experimenting with. However, with 60plusyearold, rear lockingandwartimeproductionactions it is important that the reloadermakesurethat their rifle is up to the loads being developed.ForburnratecomparisionswithAustralianpowderscited below see: www.reloadbench.com/burn.html.ThelightenedcarbineloadowesitsgenesistothedifferencesinrecoilbetweenMartini-Henryrifleandthecarbineversion.Itwasfoundthatshootingtheshorter,lightercarbinewiththe480grainbulletand85grainsofblackpowderdesignedfortherifledidnothingforaccuracyormoraleofthetroopsusingit.Theintroductionofalessharshloadingusinga410grainbulletand70grainsofblackpowderwentalongwaytomakingamoreuser-friendlyunit.Furthermore,eitherloadcouldbeusedintherifleandthecarbine.
TheaimtodevelopanworkableloadwiththeJungleCarbinewassimilar. Finda load thatwouldshootaccuratelywithacceptablerecoil thatwoulddelivertherequiredresultsineithermilitaryriflecompetitionorinthefield.
There are three different jacketed bullet weightsworth spending time experimenting with andwhichwill cover theneedsofmost shooters. Thelightestbulletforthe303isthe85grainXTPpistolbulletsfromHornady. Speer125grainsoftpoints,
The Jungle Carbine bayonet. A Bowie design and a collectors’ delight when found in good condition.
Target Shooter 39
and 150 grain Taipan hollow points appear to fallinto the idealweight range for use in the carbine.
Theaimwastofinda loadthatwouldduplicateorexceedtheresultsofthe174grainSierraMatchkingloadshotfromacompetitiontunedNo1MkIII*witha new Lithgow heavy barrel. This load averages2360fpsfromthelongerbarrel.Allgroupswouldbetestedat50yardsusingafourpowerscopemountedinasetofCad-Technicmounts.Theobjectwastoduplicate“jungledistances”andseehowthecarbinewouldperformatthecloserangesitwasdesignedfor. Unfortunately,groupshoveredaround the12inchmarkatthisdistanceusingtheoriginalbarrel.
Good examples of Jungle Carbine barrels doexist but be prepared to spend both time andmoney finding one. Barrels produced during the1946 production run have a Proof mark on themandagoodexampleisworthgrabbing.Fittingthebarrel is easy but if the rifle has seen tropicalservice theactionwillbe tightandapressure ringneedstobecutintotheKnoxformtorelievetension.
Test Results
Hornady 85 grain XTP: This is the land of pureexperimentation. No loading data exists for this
projectile in this cartridge and so I set off intothe unknown watching intently for the signs ofdanger.Twopowderswereused:13grainsofAP-100pistol powder with a dacron filler and 40.5 grainsofAR2206. AP-100 averaged 1870 fps and wasverypleasanttoshoot.TheAR2206loadaveraged2640 fps. Recoil during the test session was notunpleasantand fast follow-upshotswerepossible.
Speer125grainsoftpoints: Thesearebeautifullydesigned and manufactured projectiles originallyintended for SKS and SKK reloaders after betterballistic performance than offered by ex-militaryammunition. The load used with this bullet wasmade up of 43 grains ofAR2208which averaged2350 fps. Recoil during the test session wasnoticable and fast follow-up shots were possible.
Taipan 150 grain hollow points: Weighinghalfway between the Speers and the SierraMatchkings these bullets appear to offer a goodheavy weight alternative for shooting out to 300metres as well as hunting the larger species ofgame. Using 43 grains of AR2208, this loadaveraged 2200 fps.Recoil during the test sessionwas intense and fast follow-up shots were notpossible. (Taipans are anAustralianmanufacturedbullet).
The top view of the receiver with the forewood removed. There is a different sight graduated to 800 yards instead of 1300 yards for the No4 and count the lightening
groves in the action and knox form.
40 Target Shooter
Sierra 174 grain Match: This is the load used ina competition-tuned SMLE. Using 39.1 grains ofAR2208,thisloadaveraged1980fpsoralossof370fps in the shorter barrel. Recoil during the testsession was mild and fast follow-up shots werepossible.185grainlead:Bang,poof.Acloudofleadjustbeyondthemuzzle.Moreworkneeded.
Using pistol powder offered a possible low recoilalternativetoheavyloads.Whencoupledwiththe125grainand150grainbulletsaloadof12.5grainsof AP-100 with a cotton wool wad produced anaccurateshortrangeloadthathadverylittlerecoil.
The 125 grain Speer soft points gave the bestaccuracywithinchgroupsat50metres.Theyalsorecordedadecentvelocityof1100fps. Withsuchasmallamountoffastburningpowderinthelargecase it is extremely important that a filler is usedotherwiseignitionandpressureproblemswilloccur.
ConclusionThe Mk.V Jungle Carbine was rushed intoservice at the end of a six year World War withlittle testing and a poor understanding of theconditions it would see service in. If history is tobeanyjudgethentheJungleCarbinewasafailureasamilitaryweapon.Butthen,theintroductionoftheSLR intoBritishservice in1957, increased thefirepowerfortheinfantryandconsignedthemilitaryboltactionrifletohighlyspecialisedroles.
Butmanyofitscharacteristicsarebeingreinventedtoday.JeffCooper’sScoutcarbineconceptsharesmanyofthebasicconceptsdevelopedfortheJungleCarbine in its lightweightandsimplicity. With thebenefit of hindsight, a Jungle Carbine designedtoday would have a different flash suppressor ormaybeamuzzlebrakeandastrongeraction. Butmanyofthethingsintheexistingdesign,itsportabilityanditspointabilitystandout,wouldremainthesame.
Osprey Rifles‘The Savage Specialists’
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Tel : 0161 4083555
Target Shooter 41
Chris Potter Country Sports
Over 900 new & used guns in stock at any time.Shotguns, Centrefire, rim & air rifles.
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42 Target Shooter
System Gemini TR701 and TR702 Fullbore Rifle Stocks, FR703 Smallbore Rifle Stocks, FC704 F-Class/Bench Rest Rifle Stocks, Butt Plates, Handstops, Bipods and Other Accessories plus Smallbore and Fullbore Test Rigs.
SYSTEM GEMINI – FOR TOP CLASS SHOOTING
Target Master Ammunition: The stock range currently comprises:
.223 Rem., .308 Win., .303 British, 6mm BR Remington/Norma.
Machine or Hand Loaded all using Sierra as our standard bullet.
However, other makes of bullets such as (but not restricted to): Berger, Tubb D-Tac , Lapua, Hornady, Speer, Nosler, etc. can be supplied upon request.
Other calibres to special order including: (but not limited to):
22-250, .243 Win, 6.5 x 47, 6.5 x 55, 6.5 x 284, 7mm WSM, 7.62 x 39, 7.62 x 54R, .300 Win Magnum., 300 WSM, and .338 Lap Magnum.
All ammunition available in minimum lots of 50 rounds, 400, 500, 800 or 1000 round containers, depending on calibre.
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Traditional Wooden Stocks, Rifle Barrels and Actions Point Master Shooting Mats Gloves, Caps, Slings, Gun Bags, Rifle Boxes, Weatherwriters, Capes RPA and Centra Parts & Accessories Complete Rifles Built to Customer Specifications Plus Re-Barrelling, Full Rifle Servicing, Repairs, and Refurbishment Service
HPS Target Rifles Limited The Home of System Gemini Equipment and Target Master Ammunition
PO Box 308 Quedgeley, Gloucestershire
England GL2 2YF
Tel: +44 (0) 1452 729 888 Fax: +44 (0) 1452 729 894
E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.hps-tr.com
HPS BRIN GIN G Q UA LITY A N D
IN NO VA T IO N TO THE S HO O TER
HPS is an HSE Licensed Commercial Manufacturer of
ammunition since 1993. All HPS ammunition is CIP approved, packaged and labelled according to UN regulations for UK and International Transport.
HPS are also Liability Insured.
Visit our Home page:
www.hps-tr.com
for a list of this year’s trade shows that HPS
will be attending.
On Bisley Camp: The NRA Armoury stocks
our .223 Rem Sierra 69 & 77 grain & our .308 Win Sierra
190 grain ammunition. The NSRA shop stocks our .223 Rem Sierra 69 grain & our .308
Win Sierra 155 grain & 175 grain ammunition.
Target Shooter 43
When I heard that Scottish gunsmith andbenchrestshooter,RussGall,wasbuildinghisownactions,youcan imagine Igot justa littlebitexcited.
Of course, there are dozens of action-makersin the world – the major manufacturers likeRemingtonandWinchesterforexamplebutyourarely find their products forming the basis ofanaccurate competition rifle.Whynot? It’s alldowntodesign–andtoapplythatdesign,youneedknowledge.Manufacturersmayhave theknowledgebuttheirobjectiveisusuallysteeredtowards a ‘do-all’ product for price-drivenhuntingmarket.Yes, theirproductswill ‘do thejob’ but unfortunately, the ‘job’ isn’t winning
benchrestmatches!Thatwouldmeanworkingto far higher tolerances than mass-productionallows.
Irrespective of tolerances, most ‘factory’actions just aren’t stiff enough to carry aheavybarrelandiftheactionflexesduringthefiring-cycle, accuracy obviously suffers. Onceyou cut a massive hole in the bottom of theaction for a magazine and then complimentit with an over-size feed/ejection port, thereis very little metal left to resist distortion andunfortunately, there are few solid-bottommass-produced actions out there. Admittedly,SavageArms havewoken up to this glaringlyobvious fact and now offer a solid-bottom
New Rifle Actions from RG Rifles Scotland
Vince Bottomley
System Gemini TR701 and TR702 Fullbore Rifle Stocks, FR703 Smallbore Rifle Stocks, FC704 F-Class/Bench Rest Rifle Stocks, Butt Plates, Handstops, Bipods and Other Accessories plus Smallbore and Fullbore Test Rigs.
SYSTEM GEMINI – FOR TOP CLASS SHOOTING
Target Master Ammunition: The stock range currently comprises:
.223 Rem., .308 Win., .303 British, 6mm BR Remington/Norma.
Machine or Hand Loaded all using Sierra as our standard bullet.
However, other makes of bullets such as (but not restricted to): Berger, Tubb D-Tac , Lapua, Hornady, Speer, Nosler, etc. can be supplied upon request.
Other calibres to special order including: (but not limited to):
22-250, .243 Win, 6.5 x 47, 6.5 x 55, 6.5 x 284, 7mm WSM, 7.62 x 39, 7.62 x 54R, .300 Win Magnum., 300 WSM, and .338 Lap Magnum.
All ammunition available in minimum lots of 50 rounds, 400, 500, 800 or 1000 round containers, depending on calibre.
HPS TARGET MASTER - WHEN YOU WANT THE VERY BEST
Also:
Reloading components:
CHECK OUT OUR VERY COMPETITIVE VIHTAVUORI
POWDER PRICES !
Traditional Wooden Stocks, Rifle Barrels and Actions Point Master Shooting Mats Gloves, Caps, Slings, Gun Bags, Rifle Boxes, Weatherwriters, Capes RPA and Centra Parts & Accessories Complete Rifles Built to Customer Specifications Plus Re-Barrelling, Full Rifle Servicing, Repairs, and Refurbishment Service
HPS Target Rifles Limited The Home of System Gemini Equipment and Target Master Ammunition
PO Box 308 Quedgeley, Gloucestershire
England GL2 2YF
Tel: +44 (0) 1452 729 888 Fax: +44 (0) 1452 729 894
E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.hps-tr.com
HPS BRIN GIN G Q UA LITY A N D
IN NO VA T IO N TO THE S HO O TER
HPS is an HSE Licensed Commercial Manufacturer of
ammunition since 1993. All HPS ammunition is CIP approved, packaged and labelled according to UN regulations for UK and International Transport.
HPS are also Liability Insured.
Visit our Home page:
www.hps-tr.com
for a list of this year’s trade shows that HPS
will be attending.
On Bisley Camp: The NRA Armoury stocks
our .223 Rem Sierra 69 & 77 grain & our .308 Win Sierra
190 grain ammunition. The NSRA shop stocks our .223 Rem Sierra 69 grain & our .308
Win Sierra 155 grain & 175 grain ammunition.
44 Target Shooter
action with tiny ejection-port. Not only that,Savagewill sell their ‘target’ action separatelyand havemade them available to shooters atreasonable cost. Rifles built on these actionstendtoshootverywell.
Incidentally, I’ll point out at this stage thatthe Savage target action has just had amassive price-hike but I happen to know thatOsprey Rifles have two or three left at theold price of £500 which includes a trigger.Subsequentactionsarelikelytocost70%[email protected].
The Savages are still a mass-producedproduct however and stiffness is only partof the problem we need to address if we areto design an action for ultimate accuracy. Inddition to stiffness and trueness, we needprecise bolt to body fit, good support for thebarrel-tenon, provision for a quality trigger, adecent bedding-area and perfect ‘timing’ andlock-up.
Some may question the wisdom of launchinganyexpensive‘luxury’itemintoday’sclimate–
especiallyshooting-relatedbut,mostgunsmithswithanysortofreputationreportfullorderbooksand because 90%of customactions currentlyemanate from the US, Russ is able to takeadvantageof theweakpoundwhich is forcingup the price ofAmerican sourced products bya significant amount. In addition, a swingeing$2500 license is nowmandatory forAmericanfirearmsexporters.
RusshasrepresentedhiscountryWorldlevelinBenchrestcompetitionandhehasalsobuiltriflesformanyUKbenchrestshooters–whatbetter pedigree could we ask of an action-designer/manufacturer?Hisnewactionsfollowconventionaltwo-lugdesignandaremadeonhisHaasCNCmachines.Aselectionofactionssuitableforvariousapplicationsarenowinthepipeline.AlthoughdisciplineslikebenchrestandFClassare the destination for many custom-actions,there isalsoabigmarket for the foxing-rifle–oraccurate ‘field’ rifle.Youdon’t need tobeacompetitionshootertoenjoyusingafinerifleandifyouarehavinganewriflebuilt,youwillneedtosourceanactionfromsomewhere!Littlepoint
Target Shooter 45
in choosinga rattleyoldRemy– yes, itmightsave you a few pounds but the second-handvalueofariflebuiltonaRemingtonwillbenowherenearthatofonebuiltonapropercustomaction.Remember,onceyouhaveyourcustomaction,itcanbere-barrelledandre-stockedadinfinitum.InthepicturesaretwoofRuss’sactions-onesingle-shot with heavy tang area suitablefor competition rifles and one repeater withRemington-pattern tang and magazinecut-out which would form the basis of anaccuratefieldrifle.Bothare8”longanddesignedtotaketheshortercartridges.Alongactionandmini action for PPC/BR cartridges will follow.AGall action starts life as a lump of 17/4 PHstainless-steel, which is hardened to 39Rockwell before machining to 1.36 inches indiameter. The raceways and internal cam areEDMcut.Thetenon-threadisthepopular1.0625inches indiameterby18 tpiasusedonmanyUS custom actions and they will accept anyRemingtonstyletrigger.TheRemington-patternactionwill acceptbottom-metaldesigned foraRemmy and employs a pinned recoil-lug. Thereceiversaredrilledandtapped6x48forscopebases.The bolt is machined from one piece of
high-carbon EN30B tool steel. It starts off asa 10 lb. blockwhich produces two8 oz. boltscompletewithhandle.Theseareheat-treatedto45Rockwellafterroughmachiningthengroundto final dimensions. A Sako-style extractorand spring-plunger ejector are employed. Thebolt-face is offered in 223, 308, PPC andmagnum,withstainless-steelshroudandflutedbody.All work is done by Russ in-house with theexceptionoftheEDMworkandheat-treatment.The recoil-lugs and firing-pins are sourcedfrom Pacific Tool & Gauge – for themoment.
As you can see from the photographs, theactions have gone well beyond the prototypestagebuttherearestilloneortwominorissuesto be addressed before Russ is totally happywith his product and hewill not release theseactionsuntilheis100%satisfied.However,hehopes tobe in fullproduction later in theyearand he is currently building himself a 1000yard benchgun and a 100 yard benchgun toshow-case his actions and you can bet thatTargetShooterwillbefirstwithareview.Meanwhile,check out Russ’s website at www.rgrifles.com
ABSOLUTE PRECISION
www.rpainternational.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 845 880 3222
RPA Interceptor
RPA Ranger
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Probably the most accurate rifle you will own
46 Target Shooter
SYLWESTERLOSREPRESENTINGTHERODINGRIFLE&PISTOLCLUB
Sylwester came to the UK in 2005 havingalready succeeded at the highest levels inshooting. Sylwester’s shooting career beganaged 9 in Poland having grudgingly landeda place on the school team for the nationalprimary school league. Finding the sportenjoyableandchallengingSylwestereventuallyspenttenyearsinthePolishnationalteam.In1997inHelsinkihebecameEuropeanChampionfor50metrefreepistolandayearlaterinSpainbecameWorld 10 metre air pistol Champion.
Sinceresuminghis10metreshootingcareerinthis country and coachedbygirlfriendMonikaBaraniakhehaswon theNSRABritishOpen,SurreyOpen,BritishPistolClubOpenwherehevirtuallystayed in themid tohigh570scores.At the February 2009 British Champions atBisleySylwesterwonthemenstitlewithascoreof584.Justtoputthisinpercpective,584would
havegivenSylvesterasilvermedalattheBeijingOlympics.
Roding is Sylwester’s homeclub and offers him asmuchsupportasaclubcan,however it would be greatto see Sylwester attractinga sponsor to enable him totrain and compete towardsan Olympic medal. Hisproven track record as aformer European andWorld Champion shows hispedigree and he is a greatbetforanywould-bebacker.Tocontacthimemailat;[email protected]
Sylwester_and_his_winnings
Sylwester winning another award
SYLWESTERLOS;upandcomingChampion
HayleyPlatts
Target Shooter 47
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50 Target Shooter
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Postage & packing £4.00 per order. Additional p&p charges apply for firearms + explosives. Above prices correct at time of printing.
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Long Land Pattern Brown BessOn licence £390 Inert £357
Short Land Pattern Brown Bess On licence £380 Inert £341Used by english troops during colonisation of indian + amercian territories.
Brown Bess Flintlock Musket ( India Pattern ) On licence £306 Inert £247Brown Bess Flintlock Carbine On licence £306 Inert £247
Baker Inert Flintlock RifleOn licence £504 Inert £434
Baker rifle of the early 19th Century.
Brown Bess Mod 1778 Musket On licence £380 Inert £341Specification similar to Short Land Pattern Brown Bess but without the brass nose cup.
1 x Brunox 100ml Gun Oil1 x Brunox 300ml Gun Oil1x Roll 4x2
Pietta Le Mat Cavalry Model £838Pietta Le Mat Army Model £838Pietta Le Mat Navy Model £838
All pistols and long guns are availble:� On licence (firearms licence required for pistols and shotgun licence required for long guns)
- available to collect in store or delivered to your local registered firearms dealer.� Inert (no licence required) - available to collect in store or delivered direct to your door.
Essential Accessories
Indian Charleville MusketOn licence £318 Inert £280
Doglock Musket 17th Century On licence £375 Inert £345
Leather Shot Flask £40.80Brass rocker type double shut-ter top which has two settings,throwing 1• or 1• oz.Length 216mm.
Flat Powder HornSupplied with a 72g spout.
Brass spring loaded button dispenser.Length 28cm. £41.40
Large Horn FlaskBrass buttondispenser.
Length 33cm. £49.80
Hawksley CopperRope Flask £42.00Adjustable nozzle
which has 4 settings -throwing from 2• to 3• dramsin quarter dram increments.Length 197mm.
Pistol Loading/Cleaning Kit £27.60Suitable for use with all pistols and re-volvers. Comprises of one 20.3cmsteel rod, nylon filament & phosphorbronze brushes, wool mop and bulletpuller. Available in 36 or 44cal.Rifle Loading/Cleaning Kit £31.20As above but with three steel rods.Available in .36 to .45 or .50 to .75 cal.Extension Rod Additional extensionrod for muskets. £4.80
Pietta Rem 1858 Texas £196Pietta Rem 1858 Competition £598P. Rem 1858 Competition Stainless £738P. Rem 1858 New ModelArmy Target £243P. Rem 1858 Army Target Stainless £330
Pietta Colt 1851 Navy Steel £216Pietta Colt 1851 Conf. Sheriff's £177Pietta Colt 1851 Navy Ni. D/L Grips £336Pietta Colt 1860 Army Steel £243Pietta Colt 1862 Spiller & Burr £206
Pietta Black Powder RevolversPietta Black Powder Revolvers
Lancer PercussionPistol
On licence £169 Inert £147A faithful reproduction of the1842 percussion Lancer pistol.
English Pattern DragoonOn licence £216 Inert £203
Early Dragoon holster pistol dating fromaround the 1740's. Barrel 30cm.English Short Light Dragoon PistolOn licence £216 Inert £203As above but with 23cm barrel.
Coast GuardPercussion Pistol
On licence £153 Inert £107Coast Guard pistol circa 1855.
English Pattern DoglockPistol
On licence £246 Inert £218Early English doglock pistol dating fromaround the middle of the 17th century.
Target Shooter 51
Coaxialrestshavebeenaroundforanumberofyears.Whatarethey?For those who shoot any form ofbenchrestorFClassrifle,theyarewellknown.
For those new to the sport, theymay seem a little more obscure.The coaxial rest works througha couple of linear bearings andsimple clutch system to allow freemovement of the front ‘bag’whichthe rifle rests in. This allows upto 40 MOA of movement on thetarget horizontally and vertically,controlled only by a joystick.Goneare themariner’swheelandwindage adjustments onthe rests that we all know. The joystickallows precise movement both quickly and
easilyfromonetargetdiagramtoanother.Thiscanbeamajoradvantageinamatchastimeispreciousand taking advantage of a specificwind condition
Seb Rest on Review
CarlBoswell
The SEB rest - a new mechanism to me, but for ease of use is
excellent
The whole rest looks and feels fantastic and ‘does what it says on the tin’
52 Target Shooter
canbeverybeneficial.Nothavingtocompletetwooperations - vertical and horizontal movements -to get precisely onto the next target is amassiveboon, as this time can be used to observe thesurrounding conditions and let your handautomaticallyguidetherifleintothenexttargetdia-gram.
New ToyWhen I first unpacked therest I must admit there was afeeling of excitement as this isaproductIhaveseen,butusedvery briefly. (It’s all about havinganewtoytoplaywith).AlltheotherrestsIhaveownedorreviewedhavebeenthestandard
pedestal rests with mariner’swheel et al! This was somethingcompletely different and novel.At first glance the one thing thatanyonewould say - and have - isthat the SEB rest is built like abattleship. It is well constructedand engineered. The toleranceswithin the engineering are veryfine and this goes to show thelevel of precision of its designerand manufacturer, SebastianLambangwho is anaccomplishedBR shooter who competes at‘world’ level. The base has a‘hammertone’ finish, althoughcustomfinishescanbe requested– including polishing to a mirror-
finish. I think this service may have lapsed butit is worthc o n t a c t i n gthe companyviatheirwebsite to findout.
Thewholethingweighs in at21.3 lbs or 9.7kilo’s,whichisalot,
especially ifyouhavetotransportit and your otherequipment anydistance or from onecountry to another but,once on the firing-point,weightisabonus.Howeverthisprovidesagoodinsightinto how well the design has beenconsideredanddeveloped.
Development of the SEB restIfyougototheSEBwebsite,thereisa gallery feature that shows the restthrough its various stages ofdevelopment. This is interestingfeature to the website and providesgreaterunderstandingof theproduct.OneofthemostinterestinginnovationsformeisthefactthattheSEBresthasdualposts.Incomparisonmost-ifnotall - front rests have a single post,
Compression on the front bag can be added to fit the rifle
being used
The joystick controls all movement and ‘locks’ into position when released. No need for the mariners wheel or speedscrew
any more
Target Shooter 53
columnorpedestalthatsupportstheresttopwiththebagmountedonitandthereforethefrontoftherifle.Theseareeitherfromthecentreofthebaseorfromthesideasacantilever.Everythingrestsonthisonecolumn.Ipresumethethinkingbehindthedualpostisthiscreatesmorestability?Wellitwouldanddoes.Not only are there two posts, but also a centralmariner’swheel for initial height setup toget yoursightswhereyouwantthem,sothewhole targetcanbecoveredwith thecoaxial
mechanism. The posts are lockedwith
s e p a r a t ethum-screws.
Stability and gooddesignsenseindeed!
However,afurtherfeatureis that the dual posts are set
onapivotalbaseso thesecanberotated,greatlyaidingrapidset-up,with-outhaving tomove the restonceyouhavesetitonthebenchorfiring-point.Set-up time is often limited in majorcompetitions and this is a greatfeature which doesn’t appear on anyother rests.Other features are similarto those you will be familiar with onother rests, such as the bubble level,
adjustablefore-endstop,levellingscrews,etc.Using the restUsingthecoaxialrestischild’splayintheextremeas you have a joystick to manoeuvre the aimof the rifle around the target. The new range ofSEBrestshavea40MOAadjustment,sothiswill
allowthewhole target tobeviewedeasily.Thefrontbag,thatisalsomadebySEBtofittherest,iswellconstructedwithwideparallel sides that keep their shape. Itismade from leatherandamicrofibrematerialthatisdesignedtohavebetter‘slick’
properties than Condura, for smoothtracking.Atthepresenttimethebagonlycomesinathree-inchwideformatfortheLightVarmintandHeavyVarmintclasses.I youwant to shoot sporter classusingthis rest then you will need to lookelsewhere for a bag but the fitting isstandard.
SEB’s rear bags are constructed in thesame way, with the same materials and
very well made, sturdy and well designed.Although not available at the time of review Ihave actually ordered one for my own use. Thecradle or plate the front bag sits in isstrongly constructed from aluminium alloy andlike the restof theseparts ishighlypolished.Twoadjustable side plates provide compression to the
Compression of the front bag is altered using the large knobs - a handy feature that is
The central joystick mechanism runs on plates and bearing mechanism
54 Target Shooter
bag depending on what is needed for the rifleyou are using. The knobs controlling these arelarge enough to get the compression you needwithoutrippingyourfingersapart.(Forthosethathavehadthisexperiencethisisanaddedbonus).Setting the coaxial mechanism does take abit of practice, and this iswheresomemaygetfrustrated.(NowIsaythiswithbaitedbreathastherestcomessetupandcalibratedforheavyriflesover13lbssonomessingaround.Myrifleweighsinat10.5poundssoIhadtoadjustotherwisetheactionbecamesloppy).Setthepinstootightandthemechanisms can seema bit sluggishwhenmovingthejoystickaroundthetarget.Setthemtoolowandthecradlewillproverbiallyfall.Thereforeyouwillneedtoplayaroundwiththisabitifyouareshootinglightvarmintat10.5poundsoroneofthesporterclasses.Onceadjusted,therestworkswellandSebastianwillhelpyououttoconfigureifyougetstuck–likeme–sosendhimanemail.In centrefire benchrestwhere group shooting isthenameofthegame,it’softennecessarytogetfive shots off in around 15 seconds – to ‘catch’thewind.This isthetechniqueemployedbythe600and1000yardshooters,sosomeprefertheresttobesetonwhatIwouldcall ‘sloppy’–toosloppy tosupport theweightof the rifle–but inthismode, itcanbereturnedveryquicklytotheaim-pointwithout‘stiction’orjerkyness.Ifyoudoliketheresttosupportyourriflein‘sloppy’mode,tryfixingaweighttothefrontofthejoystickspin-dle.Thiswill then‘counterbalance’ theweightoftherifleandyourrestwillworkassmoothassilk.TheonethingthatIcouldnotgetusedtoduring
testingisthattheSEBrestdidnotneedpartslocking down after Ihavesetuponatarget.After going throughthis process for solong it now feelsaliento not do otherwiseand this is my only‘beef’withthissystem;even though the restwillnotmove,ifsetupproperly. Having usedthe SEB rest for anumber of practices Ican safely say that it‘doesasitsaysonthetin’!It is relatively easyto set up, thequality and finishare the best andthis says a lot aboutthe manufacturer
Large adjustable pins are very useful for getting height just right
The SEB rest in situe with LV rifle
Target Shooter 55
of this product. I have had products from somemanufacturers who seem to think that they comein kit-form and the consumer is the one whofinishesoffanyroughparts.NotsotheSEB-itisasuperblymadeproduct!I am not sure about giving up my pedestal restjust yet, as it is something I have got used to; italsodoesallthatitismeanttoandhasservedmewellovertheyears.Maybeitisthecontrolfreakinme that likes to lock everything down and say tomyself ‘this is precisely aimed and locked’.Possibly this says more about my ownpsychological makeup than anything else, or it isjustthewayIhavedevelopedinthissport?IfIdidtradeupthenacoaxialsystemwouldbemyfirstpointofcall.IwouldliketotaketheSEBrestawayforafewmonthsandreallywork it incompetition,get ittunedtomyneedsandgetmyselftunedtoitaswell.Thecostisalsoadeterminingfactor,asinvestmentin thisproductdoesnot comecheap.At£498 theSEB is not the cheapest rest on the market, butother‘coaxial’restsareevenmoreexpensive,soitisfairtosayitisthecheapestcoaxialaround.ItisimportedintotheUKbyBrianatFoxFirearms.Thisisgoodnews,ascurrentlyweonlygettheCaldwellrange of rests that are commonly found in thiscountry through a number of retailers. (Over thelastfewyearswehavetendedtoimportequipmentourselvesasgroupsor individuals from theUSor
Italy).Brianalsosuppliesthefrontandrearbags,bothofwhichIhavealreadysaidareverygoodproducts.Soifyouwantarestthathasaninnovativedesign,isextremelywellconstructedandemploysallofthecurrentbestpracticeinthebenchrestsportthenthisiswhatyouarelookingfor.LikeanyoftheproductsI review it issomethingyouwillhave toworkwithtogetthebestoutifitandyourself.Untilnexttime!
Final thoughts - SEB rest modificationOneof the issueswithaSEB rest is rifle-support.If you set the joystick tension tight enough tosupport a heavy rifle you will find that themovement becomes stiffer and jerky, making itdifficult to get back exactly on aim-point quickly.
Thealternativeistoback-offthetensionsotheactiononce again becomes silky-smooth and add acounterbalance weight to the front of the joystickspindlewhereitprotrudesfromthefrontoftherest.Thesizeoftheweightwilldependontheweightofyourriflebutthisshooterhascomeupwithanad-justableone.Ifyoulookcloselyatthepic,theweightslidesbackandforthsoitcanaccommodatedifferentweightsofrifles.ThebardiameterisaboutaninchandIknowthataninchofbarrelweighsabout4oz.soiftheweightis4to5incheslongitwillbejustoverapound.ItworksreallywellandIcan’twaittomakeone.
The SEB with counter balance weight for lighter rifles
56 Target Shooter
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Vince (sitting behind) talking to fellow benchrest and F-Class shooter Ian (Willie) Dixon in the foreground at Diggle.
“What is Vince describing with his hands?”
Target Shooter 57 Target Shooter 57
The LaserScope is the successful integration of a laser rangefi nder with a quality rifl escope to create an affordable, compact and lightweight package that stands up under severe recoil.
The LaserScope is a technologically sophisticated instrument that looks and handles a bit differently to a conventional rifl escope. It functions not only as a self-contained single unit, but also comes with a remote activation switch that straps to the forend of the rifl e to allow more convenient and steady operation of the laser.
Additional features include:-
● micro-sized advance circuitry
● high performance lens system
● unique ultra-low Burris mounting confi guration
For further product information and details of your local stockist, please call GMK on 01489 587500 or visit www.gmk.co.uk www burrisoptics.co.uk
The LaserScope is
handles a bit differently to a conventional rifl escope. It functions not only as a self-contained
Quad ScopeNOW 40mm Objective 3–9 x 40mm Ballistic Plex ReticuleThe new Burris Fullfi eld II Quad Scope is the ultimate aid to the Sako Quad rifl e. The rifl e has the option of up to four interchangeable barrels; in .22LR, 17 Mach II, 17 HMR and .22 Magnum. The new Quad 3-9 x 40mm rifl escope has four resettable adjustment dials, colour coded to match the colour coding on the Sako barrels. Once all four barrels have been sighted in, the scope can be adjusted to the corresponding dial colour when the barrels are interchanged, with no loss of zero.
The scope will work just as well on other rifl es with interchangeable barrels, or on standard rifl es used to shoot different types of ammunition for different applications. Long-range rifl emen can also customise settings for shooting multiple distances.
The scope will work just as well on other rifl es with interchangeable barrels, or on standard rifl es used to shoot different types of ammunition for different applications. Long-range rifl emen can also customise settings for shooting multiple distances.
LaserScopeIn Ballistic Plex and now NEW Ballistic Mil-Dot reticules
Burris Laserscope/quad advert.indd 1 4/2/09 10:49:14
58 Target Shooter
Arecordnumberof180shootersshotthefirstopenGalleryRiflecompetitionof theyearatBisleyovertheweekend28th&29thofMarchunderwhatturnedouttobeverychallengingconditions,dependingonwhatdayyoushoton.Fridaywas reallyamixtureof clear skies followed by a bit ofwind, then rain,thenbacktoniceclearskiesagainandtheonlythingthat remained constant all day was the cold.Andbelieveme,itreallywascold!OntheSaturdaytheconditionscertainlyworsenedandattimesthegustsofwindwereenoughtoblowthesightscompletelyoffthetargetduringsomematches,ascanbeseenclearlybysomeofthefinalscoresthatwereposted.Ataround10.30amIturneduptoshoottheBianchiBarricade match on Stickledown and thewind was simply horrendous! When thetargets turned to face you they looked more likemelons in the scope as the flimsy backingboards being used were bending so much, whichmeantthatsomeshotswentlowandothersstraightdependingonwheretheboardwasatthetimeyoureleasedeachshot!At25ydsagustofwindblewmeright off the target halfway througha stringof sixsoIsimplystoppedpullingthetrigger,unloadedandproved clear to theR.O, thenpackedmy riflesupfortheday.Inconditionslikethis,ifIcan’tkeepthesightsonthetargetthenIwon’tpullthetrigger!TheweatherontheSundayhowevercouldn’thavebeenbetterandthiswaswhenmanyofthewinningscoreswere shot.As well as being warm and sunny the
wholetime,thewindflagsdidn’tmovealldayeitherwhichisveryunusualonStickledownthat’sforsure!
It was nice to see some new faces attendingBisleyforthefirsttimethisyearandI’mgladthatitdidn’tendupbeingtoodauntingforthemintheend,althoughsomedidhaveafewrestlessnightsleadinguptoit!Attheendofthedayit’sjustagatheringofshootersfromdifferentclubsenjoyingtheirsport,andahelpinghandisalwaysavailabletothosethatneedone.
Oneshooterwhodidn’tneedanyhelpwasNormanBrownwhowastheonlyshooterat themeetingtosetanewBritishRecordusinghisLBRintheTimed&Precision1match.Scoringamaximumof300ptsand19x,hebeatCharlieSears’recordof17xthatwassetbackin2006soabigwelldonemustgotoNorm!Anothershooter toput inafirstclassperformancewasMelBeardintheBianchiGRCFmatchfinishingjust2pointsoffthemaximumof1920.ItwouldhavebeengreattoseeMelcleanitasit’sonlybeendoneoncebeforebyLayneChisholm,whenhewentovertotheU.Stoshootitafewyearsago.Unfortunatelythough a single 8 dropped on his last match, theMover,putanendtothatbutI’msurehe’llbeouttomakeamendsatthePhoenix!TaffWilcoxwasalsoonforaneasywinwitha30028xintheT&P1GRCFuntilaleverlockupinoneoftheshorterstagescausedhim to shoot a “skidder.” This meant he dropped10 points off in the end to finish with 27x, which
Gwyn Roberts
Saturday…. and Sundays weather!
Tony Cooper enjoying his first Bisley experience
Target Shooter 59
is still an excellent x count though. Other notableperformancesovertheweekendwere:25mPrecisionNeilJones30018x,T&P1LBRPhilCowling30015x(withironsights),SpeedSteelChallengeGRSBChrisLewis50.04s,SpeedSteelChallengeLBRMelBeard54.98s,BDMPEmbassyCupSGS/AutoRobSanders119andMcQueenMichaelDeakin555v.
The standard in some of the shorts events willcertainly give the national team selectorssomething to think about at the end of the yearwith a lot of them being put up by our up andcomingshooters.Havingahighxcountisnice,butconsistencyisreallythekeyifyouwanttoget intooneoftheteamsandthisiswhatwearelookingfor,aswellascommitmentofcourse!Bytheway,ifanyofyouareeligibletoshootforWales,pleasemakesureyoudropmeane-mailbeforetheendoftheseason.
ToholdacompetitionofanysizeyoumustfirstofallhaveenoughhelpandR.O’sonthedayotherwiseit’sjustnotgoingtohappen.Withthisinmind,ifanyofyouarethinkingofgoingtothePhoenix(MayBankHolidayweekend) andwon’t be doing thatmuch shooting,then why not volunteerto help run one of theranges?Itdoesn’tmatterif you aren’t a qualifiedRCOor youhaven’t gotthat much experienceas there will always besomeone there to guideyouand it’sagreatway
togettoknowtheotherrangeofficersandshootersatthesametime.Youcanthentakethisexperiencebacktoyourclubandhelpbuildupoursportatgrassroots level as itwere.E-mailBrianThomasat theNSCifyoucanspareabitoftime!
As a start to the season the Spring Actionweekend was a good warm-up for those goingon to shoot the rest of the years’ competitions.Atatimethoughwhenitisgettingconsiderablymoreexpensive to shoot competitions (at somevenues)it was quite annoying for some of the small boreshooters to find out they were having to shoot atpaper photocopies in their 1500 match, andvery poor ones at that they were too! Evenmoreannoyingthoughwasthatonlyoneoutofthethreebays on Melville had their turning targets work-ing properly as they hadn’t been checked or ser-vicedtheweekbeforethemeeting!Consideringtheentry fee’swehad topay, I foronecertainlydon’tthinkthis isacceptableand it isn’t thefirst time it’shappened either! To be fair though I have sincebrought thesepoints toBrian’s’attentionandhe isnowintheprocessofputtinginplaceamaintenanceprogram with the target manufacturers to ensurefuture reliability. He is also trying to find a good
qualityprintingfirmtoproducethetargetsforfuturecompetitions,soyoucan’taskforafairerresponsethan that! There is a huge variety of competitionsavailableintheGalleryRifleworldforpeopletoenjoy,regardlessofwhattypeoffirearmyouownsowhynotcomeoutandhaveagowithus.I’msureyou’llhaveagoodtime!AfullsetofresultsfortheSpringActionWeekendisavailableontheGalleryrifle.comwebsite!
15yr old Marianne Skinner from Derby RPC shot a very creditable 1417 in her first full 1500 GRSBmatch and is certainly one to look out for over the next couple of years!
These guys have probably “heard it all” but have you?
Dave Holt shooting with one of his “bigger” rifles.
LBR shooting with Team Derby
60 Target Shooter
Westlake Engineering Manufacturer of Target Pistols Walnut Tree Cottage Camp Cottages
Druids Lodge Salisbury Wiltshire England
SP3 4UQ
Tel/Fax 01722782432 Email [email protected] www.westlakeengineering.com
RFD Wilts. 157 Taurus .357 Muzzle Loading Revolver
The Taurus ML Revolver is converted from a Taurus .357 Magnum Long Barrelled Revolver. The cylinder is removed and a Yoke extension fitted, this contains the spring loaded plunger that frees the action when the yoke is closed. As this extension cannot be removed, it prevents the re-fitting of the original cylinder. The Barrel is shortened to approximately 5 ¼ inches and the wristbrace is removed. A new cylinder is made which has pockets for shotgun primers at the rear with a small flash hole through into the chamber at the front. The chamber is made to accept .357” lead wadcutter bullets. Each chamber is charged with Herco powder ( as per .38 S&W Spl data) and then the bullet is pressed in. Once the chambers are charged the shotgun primers are inserted into the primer pockets at the rear of the cylinder. The loaded cylinder is slid onto the yoke from the rear and the yoke closed. The pistol is then ready to fire. A loading press is provided to facilitate seating of the bullets at a uniform distance into the chambers. The conversion of your pistol costs £270.00. Extra Cylinders are £150.00 each. If you do not have a pistol I can order a new pistol from the Importers. A Taurus .357 Magnum LBR costs £675.00 You will need a variation on your FAC for a .357/.38 Muzzle Loading Revolver, and for each extra Cylinder you want.
Complete Sierra range distributed to the trade exclusively through highland outdoors
For Trade enquiries contact Highland OutdoorsPh: 01858 410 683Fax: 01857 341 111
[email protected] Price List now available
to download online
GameKing 3-9x40 with Mil Dot Reticle £55.95 RRPGameKing 4-16x44 with Mil Dot Reticle and adj objective £87.95 RRPGameKing 4-16x50 with Mil Dot Reticle and adj objective £94.95 RRPGameKing 6-24x50 with Mil Dot Reticle and adj objective £105.95 RRP
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be the king of your domain
gameking illuminated
GameKing 3-9x40 with illum Mil Dot Reticle £99.95 RRPGameKing 3.5-10x40 with illum Mil Dot Reticle and adj obj £115.95 RRPGameKing 4-16x44 with illum Mil Dot Reticle and adj obj £121.95 RRPGameKing 4-16x50 with illum Mil Dot Reticle and adj obj £127.95 RRPGameKing 6-24x50 with illum Mil Dot Reticle and adj obj £154.95 RRP
www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk
HIGHLANDOUTDOORS
High Grade Lenses Premium grade optical coatings Adjustable objective on most modelsFinger adjustable windage and elevation
Fast eye focusAvailable with glass etched illuminatedreticle modelsMil Dot reticle standard on all models
GAMEKING
one inch seriesg gamekin
Mil Dot Reticle
illuminatedMil Dot Reticlewww.sierrabullets.com
It’s simple. When you addup the accuracy, performanceand value of our Match, Huntingand Varmint bullets, it makes choosing Sierra easy.
Target Shooter 61
Complete Sierra range distributed to the trade exclusively through highland outdoors
For Trade enquiries contact Highland OutdoorsPh: 01858 410 683Fax: 01857 341 111
[email protected] Price List now available
to download online
GameKing 3-9x40 with Mil Dot Reticle £55.95 RRPGameKing 4-16x44 with Mil Dot Reticle and adj objective £87.95 RRPGameKing 4-16x50 with Mil Dot Reticle and adj objective £94.95 RRPGameKing 6-24x50 with Mil Dot Reticle and adj objective £105.95 RRP
gameking
be the king of your domain
gameking illuminated
GameKing 3-9x40 with illum Mil Dot Reticle £99.95 RRPGameKing 3.5-10x40 with illum Mil Dot Reticle and adj obj £115.95 RRPGameKing 4-16x44 with illum Mil Dot Reticle and adj obj £121.95 RRPGameKing 4-16x50 with illum Mil Dot Reticle and adj obj £127.95 RRPGameKing 6-24x50 with illum Mil Dot Reticle and adj obj £154.95 RRP
www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk
HIGHLANDOUTDOORS
High Grade Lenses Premium grade optical coatings Adjustable objective on most modelsFinger adjustable windage and elevation
Fast eye focusAvailable with glass etched illuminatedreticle modelsMil Dot reticle standard on all models
GAMEKING
one inch seriesg gamekin
Mil Dot Reticle
illuminatedMil Dot Reticlewww.sierrabullets.com
It’s simple. When you addup the accuracy, performanceand value of our Match, Huntingand Varmint bullets, it makes choosing Sierra easy.
62 Target Shooter
Hunter Field Target Scope Test
Tim FinleyThisisthefirstpartofafourpartseriesonscopeswhich lendthemselvesto thesportofHunterFieldTargetorHFTforTargetShooteronlinemagazine.HFThasnotbeengoingfor that longbut,asFieldTargetdid,ithasdrivenforwardthetechnologyand
understandingoftheriflesandscopesthatareusedinthediscipline.
Theover-riding factorwithHFT is the ‘scoperule’-theaimingdevicecannotbealteredbytheshooter
oncetheyhaveshotthefirsttargetonthecourse.Withtargetsfrom8yardsto45yardsitisaskingalotofthescopesandlenses,Why?Because scopes suffer fromparallaxerror.Theyellowstaristhereticle and the coloured squaresthe target as viewed through thescope.. In real terms the reticleis not focused in the same imageplane as the target, so it movesposition on the intended target asyoumove your eye/head about attherearofthescope.
The practical upshot of whichis, if you do not have your eye inexactlythecorrectsamespotinthecenterofthescope,thereticlewillnotactuallybeaimingwhereyouwantit.Thatisifthescopehasnothad
itsobjective lensadjusted toeliminate theparallaxerror.
InFTweusethisadjustingoftheobjectivelenstofocus the image and eliminate parallax error andit also rangefind’s the distance to the targetwhenwe read off the ranges marked on the parallaxadjustmentfrontlensorside-wheel.Not so in HFT, the objective and therefore theparallax,cannotbechangedonceyouhavestartedZeiss eye bell
Target Shooter 63
shooting. Sowith the 25 yard parallax, eight yardtargetswilllookblurredandsowill45yardtargets.Onlythe25yarder’swilllookpin-sharpandhavenoparallaxerroratall.Ifyoumoveyourheadfromsidetosidethereticlewillremaininthesameplace,butonlyat25yards.
Therefore inHFT a compromisemust be reachedfor scopemagnification and parallax settings. Thebiggerthemagnificationthemoreblurredthescopewill beat theextreme rangesbut - andhere’s theflyintheointment-thelowerthemagnificationthebigger the exit pupil size and the greater thepotentialparallaxerror.
Exitpupil=ObjectivelenssizeMagnification
Throwintothemixthereticlesneededtorange-findthediscsizesatvariousyardagesanditadds
anotherlayertotheproblem.90%ofHFTshootersuseamildotreticletorange-find.Althoughoriginallymadefortacticalsnipingat longranges,themildotreticledscopescanbeusedtobracketrange-findonthekillzonesofHFTtargetsthemselves.
Bushnell 4-12 Balistic Plex
Bushnell 10 mag mildot
Bushnell 4-12 front end
Hawke SR6 reticle
Zeiss3-9 reticle
64 Target Shooter
Discsarenormally40,25or15mmindiameter.Forexample with a 40mm disc the size it appears atcertainrangeswithatruemildotscopeare:
YARDS MILDOTS8 5.59 4.910 4.512 3.715 2.917 2.620 2.225 1.830 1.535 1.340 1.145 1.0 The magnification power usedonHFThasreallybeenchosenbytheuseofmildotscopes.Tentimesmagnificationhasalwaysbeen the favoredmagnificationin the sniping world and so ithasproven inHFT,as itallowstheshooterenoughmagtoaimaccurately at 45 yards and stillbe able to see blurred 8 yardtargets.
The aim of this introductoryarticleistosetthesceneforthebiggesteversidebysideHFTscopetestofall thefavoured HFT scopes, giving their good and badpoints and what parallax error you can expect atcertainranges,alongwitharundownonthe idealsettingsusedbythetopHFTshooterintheworld.
I enlisted the help of Pete Sparkes early on inthe project and obtained two of the test scopes
throughhim-thanksPete.I’mnotabadHFTshotmyself,winingtheoddUKAHFTround,twoPlatinumbadges in our NEFTA Hunter series (Five Goldawards) and theGathering title in 2005 and 2007(coming3rdin2004and2008).So,IreckonIknowwhatmakesagoodHFTscope.
Nextmonth,PartTwowilllookateightscopes.Thefirst is the EB Sniper 10x42Mildotscope,afavouriteofPeteSparkes,ithasthemostwinsofanyotherHFTscopeoutthere.Next a pair of Bushnell’s, the10x403200EliteMildotwhichIusedtowintheGatheringasdidPaulWilsonin2006.Anewonein 2007was the 4-12x40 3200ElitewithaBallisticPlex -veryuseful for aiming off in a wind.A brace of Lightstreams next -the one first focal plane scopein the test, the 4.5-14x44 andtheir new 3-12x40 Mildot 2ndfocal plane scope - this is apre-production prototype.The MTC Viper 10x42 is
Bushnell 10-40 rainguard
Targets for the test
HFT scope test lineup
Target Shooter 65
next and is, at the time of writing, the secondpre-production test scope featured here - kindlyloaned for this test by Gary Cooper of MTC. It isaimedsquarelyattheHFTmarketsothatiswhyitisincluded, it does have their SCB reticle fitted too.Hot on the heels of those twopreproductionscopesisanother,infacttheonlyoneintheworldso far. A Schmidt and Bender10x42 Klassik fitted with a P3Mildot reticle and re-parallaxedto20m.
Whilst Iwasworkingwith themon thenewFTscope, I lookedthrough their spec. sheetof scopes and thought thefixed 10 mag., 25mm bodiedhunting scope - if fitted with amildot reticle and re-parallaxedto 20m - would make a topHFT scope. The Klassik is notavailablewithaP3 truemil-dot
reticle but S&B kindly agreedtobuildone formeas Ihelpedthemoutwith thedesignof thefirst focal plane reticle in their12-50x56 FT scope. I won the2007 Gathering with the S&Band came 9th in the first HFTWorldChampionshipsin2009.The next is another Germanscopebutfromthe1980’sworldofFT-theZeiss3-9x36isusedbyafewoftoday’stopHFTboysfor its quality of glass. Thanksto Pete Dutton for the loan ofthe scope. Lastly is theHawkeSR6 - with the Nick JenkinsondesignedreticleitgivestheHFTshootertheopportunitytoaimoffinamoreprecisemannerandI
haveusedoneinHFTcompsmyself.
So, those are the scopes.The testwillinvolve using mildot calibrated testsheets devised by Brian Samson, atop HFT shot and the man behind theNEFTA Hunter Series. These sheetshavetheexactsizeinMildotsthatshouldappear at given ranges. I will be using15, 25 and 45 yard sheets as the asisfor the test but other sheets every fiveyardswouldbeputouttoo.ThescopeshadtobeplacedinacradlebuiltbyPeteDutton attached to a camera tripod soI could freelymovemyheadaround tomeasure the parallax error. Damn, Iappeartorunoutofspaceforthismonth
now! You will have to look at next month’s freeon-lineissuetofindoutmyresults.
MTC sidewheel
Bushnell 4-12 turrets
line up for the next few issues
66 Target Shooter
West Newlands, Somersham, Cambridgeshire PE28 3EB UKTelephone: +44 (0) 1487 740744 Fax: +44 (0) 1487 740040 Web: www.theoben.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
Rapid S-Type
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Target Shooter 67
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Gas Ram Riflesoffer a truly unique shooting experience. The lack of mechanical parts significantly reduces noise andbenefits from a super-quick locktime.Other stock options are left handed walnutsporter, thumbhole or beech ambidextrous.
Theoben produce and export quality air rifles and shooting accessories.We also undertake custom work, centre fire/rim fire rifles – includingscrew cutting for moderators and barrel shortening.
The Rapid RangeThe hunters choice foraccuracy and power
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THEOBEN TSAM 29/3/07 11:50 am Page 68
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68 Target Shooter
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Target Shooter 69
Over the years the value of complete, shootableNo.4(T)sniperrifleshascontinuedtorise–nodoubt
helpedbytheintroductionin1989ofanew600yardsnipingcompetitionrunaspartoftheSouthLondonRifleClubclassicevent.Thesecompetitionsevolvedin to the famous Trafalgar meeting and there arenowseveral200yardMcQueen,snap,doublesnap,600yardand900yardsnipercompetitionsforwhichNo.4(T)andthelaterL42A1sniperriflesareeligible.Thedemand for theseriflesremains insatiable thetotalpriceforevenamiss-matchedrifleandscope
is likely tobe£2,000. Foracorrectmatching riflewithitsscopetin,leatherslingandlenscaps,ScoutRegimentspottingscopeandwoodentransitcases-thenthepricewillbeupwardsof£3,500andmore.Allthishasresultedinaveritablecottageindustryofmiss-matchedrebuildsmadeupfromgenuinerifles,non-matching scopes andmount brackets, all thewaythroughtorifleswheretheonlygenuinesniper
itemistheNo.32sniperscope.For those lucky enough to have a correct No.32scopeitisrelativelyeasytofitittoasuitablescopelessNo.4(T) or even a basic No.4 or tomake an
Scopes Brackets – Three original No.32 scopes
Rose KD – close up of the rounded profile Rose Brothers brackets, marked JG or KD
Dalglish Bracket & Dalglish N92 – close up of
the squarer profile Dalglish bracket and its
distinctive N92 code.
Dalglish plus Repro – close up of an original Dalglish compared to a part finished reproduction
which matches the Dalglish style
Reproduction No.32 Scope Brackets
Nigel Greenaway
70 Target Shooter
L42A1 lookalike. However thisprocessof refittingscopesonlystartedwhenRogerPayne,anRFDandanexpertontheserifles,whoregularlyhasastandattheBirminghamInternationalArmsFair,decidedin1990tomakereproductionscopebrackets.Without the bracket you really are stuck andthe rifle is only eligible to enter the military classcompetitionsifacontemporarymountingsystemisused.
Rogerhas,overtheyears,madefivebatchesof100brackets, castoutofmalleable ironandmachinedjust like the originals, using original blue prints.Experience and minor tweaks have made eachsuccessive batch better and the quality is so highthat, to quote the noted authority on the subject,Peter Laidler, when answering a question on oneof the internet collector forums “…about 50 or soof Roger Payne’s brackets were utilised on thelatter rebuilds of the L42’s destined for WarReserve stocks and theywere indeed perfect. It’sironicthatsomeoftheL42ownersouttherewhowouldprobably shudder at a repro anything, probablyhaveanMoDfittedreprobracket.Doesthatmakeit a repro?Theownersof those riflescanat leastbeassuredthattheyhaveoneofthededicatedWarReserveStocksheldatxxxxxxxxinBerkshire.Thesteelstockandqualityassessmentwasdoneatthe
materiallabsatShrivenhamandeventhatwasthesamehorribleblack-heart(orwasitwhite-heart...?)malleablecast! It’ssuchanoldformulathatIcan’tfind the mix in Machinerys handbook any more!”
The purpose of this article is to show theconsiderable effort that goes in to making thebrackets – something that I know about becauseI have joined Roger in helping tomake the latestbatch.Theyaremadetotighttolerancestoensurethat they collimate within acceptable limits whenfittedtogenuinerifles(somethingthatcan’talwaysbesaidaboutsomeoftheIndianmadecopiesthathave recently appeared). Roger’s brackets aredifficult to distinguish from an original and havehelpedpairupmanyaNo.32scopewithasuitableriflewhichwouldotherwisehavecontinuedtogatherdustinacorner.Thevalueofacompleterifle,eveniftherifleandscopearemismatched,isfargreaterthanthesumofitspartssothebracketsareagreatinvestment.However,beforedescribing this labour
oflove,ahistorylessonisinorder.WW2 Scope BracketsThere were two British and one Canadianmanufacturer of the brackets that held the No.32scope to the rifle.RoseBrothersofGainsboroughinLincolnshiremarkedtheirbracketswitheitherJGorKDandDalglishofGlasgowmarkedtheirsN92.Other markings will be successive numbers,like18and19or202and203,on thesideof thecradlecrampsorscoperingsaswewouldcallthemtoday.Someoftheearlyscopeshavingsingleletterprefixesorsuffixes.Thereasonforthesenumbersistopreventthecapsbeingputbackonthewrongcradle. After 1950 the bracket had the rifle serialnumberstampedonit.Originalbracketswithoutanumber will have been sold out of service before1950.Sometimesyouwillfindbracketswithtwoorthreedifferentriflenumbersstampedonthemwiththe previous numbers struck through. TheCanadian REL made brackets always had therifle serial number engraved on them. Rose
Dalglish Rose – Looking down on the scope rings and fitted cradle screws of a Dalglish bracket above a Rose bracket.
Pattern – one half of the Pattern to cast 8 brackets
T h u m b screws –
the two o r i g i n a l s with springs are at the
top.
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Brothers’bracketshavemoreroundededgeswhilsttheDalglish brackets have more square edges – asyoucanseefromthepicture.Roger’sbracketsarecopiedfromtheDalglishtype.
DuringthewarHollandandHollandcarriedoutmostoftheconversions–intheprocessmatchingscopestorifleswithprecisemachiningofthemountingpadsfixedtothesideofrifleactionssothatscopeswouldbeprecisely in linewith theboresof therifleswithreticules centred so that themaximum number ofadjustment clicks are available for elevation andwindage.Henceeachscopeiscollimatedtoitsrifleand the scope number is then stamped on to thebuttof theriflesothatscopeandrifleremainasamatching pair. Bracketsmight be swappedwhentryingtosalvagearifleorscope–henceitisquitecommontoseedifferentriflenumbersstampedonthe bracket but this could be a laborious processwith armourers trying different barrels to ensurecorrect collimation. Having said that, I’ve neverhad toomuch of a problem trying different brack-ets,awellmadeoneofthecorrectdimensionsandmachiningwilllineupwellenoughtoensureenough
adjustment is left in the scope for relaxed civilianshooting. Notice the emphasis on well made assome of the foreign made reproductions needconsiderable work to make them even fit on tooriginal mounting pads and collimation is oftennon-existentsothatmostofthescope’sadjustmentisusedupinonedirectiontoevengetclosetothetarget.
So what work is involved to produce accuratereproductionbracketsthathavebeendescribedas“perfect” by Peter Laidler? The answer is lots oftime,effortandconsiderableexpense.Specificallythefollowingelementsarerequired:
1.A“pattern” ishandmadebyapatternmakersothatanumberofcastscanbemadeinonego–inthiscaseeightbrackets.Thepatternismadeintwohalves–onehalf isshown in thepicture.Askilledjob in itself which is then followed by the skill ofcasting inmalleable iron. Acastbracket isshownfromapreviousbatchwhichwasbrokenoutofthemouldtoosoonandthenproceededtobendslightlybeforecooling–henceithadtoberejected.
2. Cradle screws - a special tapered pattern thatcannotbepurchasedoff theshelf.Thesearewhatholdthescopesringsandeightareneededforeachbracketsoitmakessensetoget1000made(Ihavesomesparesifanyoneneedsthem).
3.Thumbscrews–twoperbracket,usedtosecurethebrackettotherifle.Theyarespeciallydesignedsothatthecircumferenceoftheroundthumbpieceallows the correct tension to be applied by thumbandindexfinger.Therehavebeenmanyreportsthatthe foreignmade thumbscrewshavebeenknownto shear off under thumb /finger pressure leaving
the threaded portion stuck inthe mount pads! Again moresparesareavilable ifneeded.The picture shows a batch– the two originals are at thetop with the small springsthat help achive the righttensionwithout damaging thebracket.
4. Machining jigs – anotherhand made and expensiveitemwhich is required toholdeach bracket prior toprecisionmachining.Thesamecompany has been usedfor the last three batches soquality and accuracy is veryhigh.
Machining Jigs
Box of Machined Brackets prior to hand finishing
72 Target Shooter
5.Machinedbracketspriortohandfinishingwithapowerfile.Ittakesaboutonehourtohandfinisheachbracket prior to stamping the rings so that remainmatching thenshotblasting,parkerisingandspraypaintingwithblacksuncorite(theofficialBritishmilitaryfinish). The original brackets had quite a roughwartime finish with obvious pits and marks fromcasting and finishing. Too smooth a finishmakesareproductionbracketstandoutfromanoriginal–hencewedeliberatelytrytoretainthewartimelook.
Over the years Roger has found that the skillsneeded to fabricate these brackets seem to bedisappearing. With each batch of 100 bracketstakingabout2ormoreyearstosell,toaselectbandof shooters and collectors, it might be as long asthreeyearsbefore,forexample,thecompanywhocast thebrackets isapproachedforanotherbatch.More often than not, Roger has found that theoriginal company has gone bust – taking the
expensive“pattern”withthem.Moretimeandeffortwould thenbe taken tofindanother companyandmore money expended to pay the pattern maker.ThistimeitwasmyjobtofindthepatternmakerandImadesurethatIretrievedthepattern.Hopefully it is now fully appreciated just howmuch time and effort goes in to making thesereproductionbrackets.TheavailablityofthesehighqualitybracketshasresultedinadramaticincreaseinthevalueofNo.32scopes–theytypiucallyfetchbetween £700-£1000 depending on condition andthemark(Mark3or2/1scopesareeasier tozeroso they tend to fetchmore). If the scope comeswith a bracket then this adds £300-£400 to the
package.Ifyouareluckyenoughtohaveoneofthesescopesthenpurchasingthebracketwillbeasoundinvestment. This latest batch of British madebracketscost£200each,butthenqualityneverdidcomecheap.
Reproduction bracket prior to hand finishing – red areas are those where metal needs to be removed.
Reproduction - not quite finished
Can you tell them apart????
Target Shooter 73
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Tel: 01132 569 163 / 565 167Fax: 01132 574 962
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Ardesa PistolsDerringer .31 Percussion £97.80Underhammer .40 Percussion £510.00W.Parker .45 Match Percussion £276.00W.Parker .45 Match Flintlock £348.00Buckhunter Blue .50 Percussion £238.80Buckhunter Blue .45 Percussion £238.80Buckhunter Allweather .45 Perc £260.40Patriot .45 Percussion £178.80Kentucky .45 Percussion £178.80Kentucky .45 Flintlock £141.601871 Duelling Pistol Percussion £339.60
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1876 Rifle 50-95 £10141860 Henry Steel 44/40 £10621873 Carbine 19” Barrel 44/40 £8801873 Special Short Rifle 44Mag £10041873 Sporting Rifle .357 £916High Wall 32” Barrel 45/70 £8761866 Yellowboy Carbine 38SP £7701866 Short Rifle 20” Barrel £8041866 Sporting Rifle 24 ¼” Barrel 38SP£804
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Remington Stainless 8” Barrel £324Remington Stainless 5 ½” Barrel £324Remington Stainless Target £342Remington Navy Blue £234Colt 1851 Navy 7 ½” Barrel £216Colt 1860 Army 8” Barrel £246Colt 1860 Army Fluted 8” Barrel £248Colt 1849 Fargo £216Colt 1861 Navy 7 ½” Barrel £229Colt 1849 Pocket £218Siber £795
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74 Target Shooter
76 Target Shooter
I’lldeclareattheonsetthatI’mnotespeciallyafanof old firearms. Yes, they’re very interesting fromanhistoricalperspective/curiosity/collectingpointofviewand,ifthat’syourthing,thenavisittotheRoyalArmouriesinLeedsisamust.
It’s fine if youcanafford tobuystuff to just polishandhangonyourwallbutjusthowgoodweretheserifles,consideringthequalityofsteelsandmethodsof production? Or perhaps I should say -howaccuratewerethey-comparedtowhatwehavecometoexpectofmodernrifles?
The Plan Havingmademy dismissive statement onhistoricalarms,IshouldsayIdohaveamorethanpassinginterestintheVietnamwaranditsweaponsso,sometimeago,afterreadingabout theextraordinary shotsandexploitsof the famous snipers from that era, suchasCarlosHathcockandChuckMarwhinny,I got to wondering, given their age andproductionmethods,justhowaccurateweretheirrifles.Orwerethesewell-documentedextraordinary shots just a case of thesemen being truly exceptional marksmen. Only one way to find out...aquire one! Orshould I say re-create one - to the samespecificationastheoriginalsniperrifleandtestit.Agreatideamaybebutnaïvetosaytheleast.TheproblembeingIdidn’trealisethatthenecessarybitsandpiecestocreatethis test are becoming increasing hard togetholdof.Sorry,let’samendthat-Ishouldhavesaidvery(hensteethtype)hardtoget.
Choose your weaponsThat’s a tough one - there were several different‘sniper’riflesusedthroughouttheVietnamconflict-thatisrifleswhichwerepressedintoservicetofulfiltheroleofasniperrifle.Theoldadage‘today’swarsare fought with yesterday’s technology’ is as truetodayasitwasthen. AtthestartoftheconflictinVietnamin1959,there
OLD‘FRIENDSRE-UNITED’-SPRINGFIELD&UNERTL
RobHunter
Scope and rifle togehter in
perfect harmony
Target Shooter 77
was no official sniper training program or definedweapons. Everything was mothballed after WW2andonlyslightly‘re-kindled’fortheKoreanconflict. So, shortly after the start of the Vietnam war,LieutenantJimLandmanagedtoconvincetheupperechelonsoftheUSMCofthevalueofscoutsnipersfor reconnaissance and harassment of the enemyontheirownground.In1960,thefirstoftheMarineCorpsscoutsnipersgraduatedfromtheirtwoweekcourseattheHawaianbasedsniperschool(oneofwhomwasonePrivateCarlosHathcock)thoughatthistimetherewasnoofficialissuedsniperrifleanditwasacaseofwhatever the localarmourershadat hand - this inevitably meant left-overs andad-hocweaponsfromWW2andtheKoreanconflict. M1903A1 Sniper In order tomake this a tough test, I ruled out theRemington and Winchester rifles that stayed inservice throughout the major part of the Vietnamwar as they are basically the same rifles that can
beboughtoff theshelf today.Ofcourse, thesemi-auto rifles such as the Garand were out becauseof our nanny-state government has ruled thatwe can’t be trustedwith suchWMD.So I decidedon a real tough test - the Springfield M1903A1. To be totally historically correct, this riflewaswellpast its sell-by date when the Vietnam conflictstarted,havingseenthemajorityofitsuseinWW2andKoreabut thereareactualdocumentedcasesandpicturesofthisriflebeingusedinactionagainsttheVC. Thesniperriflewasusuallybuilton,oraround,theSpringfield30-06NationalMatchriflewhichwasfirstaccuracy tested and gauged and then fitted withwhatwas the current top of the lineUnertl scope. The ScopeThe Unertl 8X scope was based on the Unertltarget scope. This was quite a bold step for themilitary, inassuchthat theofficial thoughtson theuseofscopesformilitaryusewasinfavourofverylow power - i.e. 2X or 4X - at the most 6X. Therationalebehind this lowmagnificationwas togivetheshooterthebiggestfieldofviewpossible.Thisisfinebutitdoesn’thelpthesnipertodeliverpinpointaccuracyasweunderstandittoday.TheUnertlreticleishoweveraveryfinecross-hairwhichaffordstheuseranunclutteredviewandbestofall,averypreciseaim-point. Itsworth noting that it’s only in the past couple ofyearsthattheBritishArmyhasmovedupfromasetmagnificationofan8powerSchmidt&Bendertothevariable12power,amovethatwaswayoverdue;soasyousee,theUSArmywaswayaheadofitstime.
TheUnertl scopehasa fewother thingsgoing forit too. The rear mount or housing has externalmicrometer ¼MOA clicks for windage andelevation. This external adjustment may look a
The Scope looking nearly new
The Unertl8Xreticle
78 Target Shooter
bit crude but it’s actually a very good method ofmakingadjustmentsonascopeasitdoesawaywithalltheverysmallmovingpartsthatwouldnormallybehiddeninsidethetubeandthusinaccessible.Thedownsideis,itdoesbecomeaplacewheredirtandgeneral junkcanaccumulate incombatconditions. Notsurprisingly,thereisstillahealthysecond-handmarket for Unerlt scopes. They do have asomewhat cult-following around the world andthe holy-grail amongst collectors is a true USMC8X sniper scope. These were stamped and serialnumberedon thesideof the tubeand if youhave
oneontopofyourwardrobethat a long-forgotten uncleleft you, it’sprobablywortharoundthefive-grandmark!So for those – like me -who want to recreate theSpringfield sniper rifle, thenext best thing is the 8Xtarget scope, which is ineffect exactly the samescope but even these arebecoming increasinglyhard to get hold of. It tookme thebestpartofyear tofind a good one and get itover from the States. Notethe original wooden boxand brass fittings that theUnertl scopes weredispatched in - no card
boardhere! The other question I always get asked aboutthis scope is “What is the spring for?”. Well, thescope was designed to move within its mountsunder the recoil of the rifle and the spring issimply there to return the scope to its originalposition so maintaining the correct eye relief.
The RifleIstartedthesearchforaSpringfield’03riflearoundthesametimeasthescopeandIthoughtthispartwasgoingtobereasonablystraightforward,afterall
An amazing group size - better than imagined
The old and the new!
Target Shooter 79
therewerethousandsofSpringfieldNationalMatchriflesmade.WhenIstartedtoringroundthedealers,Iwasgreetedbyeitherastunnedsilence,asharp‘suckingofair’typenoiseorjustplainlaughter.Notanencouragingstartbuttheonenamethatdidcropup timeafter timewas thatofAndrewKukielski ofColensoArms.NotonlyisAndrewacollectorofthistypeofriflebutheisalsooneofthefewpeopleinthecountrywhoisregardedasanexpertandassuchthatmakeshimaninvaluablesourceofknowledgeofwheretogetthevariousbitsandpieces.Great,soIhandedtheproblemovertohim(aproblemshared,aproblemhalved...)andtruetohisword,6monthslaterIgotacallsayinghefoundone,inverynearlymintcondition.Itwasingreatnickforariflethatwasbuiltaroundthe1920`s. OK, got the rifle, got the scope, just a case ofgetting them together. Did I say just? As usualnothing is thatsimple - thescopemounting-blockshave to be fixed in set designated positions, oneon the barrel, one on the action. This pre-deter-mineddistanceiswhatsetsthevalueforthescopeadjustment clicks. Probably the only gunsmith incountrywithsuchajigtodothisjobisgunsmithRogerMasonofEssex,wholuckilywasafriendofAndrew’s. A fewphonecalls laterandall thebitswereoff toRoger to be assembled. Three weeks later, thewoodwork on the fore-piece had been alteredand the scope-blocks fitted and the scope wason. The whole rifle had been stripped, servicedand cleaned to bring it back to almost as-newcondition. Several days later and project that Ihad worked on for a year -without seeing themajorityoftheparts-landedassembledinmylap.
Given that I said at the start of this project thatI wasn’t a fan of old military rifles, I fell in lovewith this rifle as soon as I un-packed it. It’s light,well balanced and comes up to the shoulderreally well. Andrew had even managed to getme an authentic leather sling to finish it all off.
Howeverthepointofthisexercisewasnottostrokeit but to shoot it and find outwhat it’s capable of. Feed MeLuckily there’s lots of loading information outthere for this rifle and the 30-06 cartridge. Asearch on the net soon throws up loads foreverythingfrom155to220grainbullets.Ihadplentyof 155 and 168 grain Lapuamatch bullets and inordertogivetheriflethebestchance,Igaveitthebest equipment to work with - Lapua brass andReddingcompetitiondiesandinordertobealittlemoregentleonthebore,Imoly-coatedthebullets.
Ithenrantwotestbatchesandbothshowedsimilarpromisingresults.Interestingly,thebestgroupswerewith48.5grainsofVihtavuoriN140whichdeliveredamuzzlevelocityof2650fps.Bothbatchesshowinggroupsat100yardswithallfiveshotstouching.Itookthetwobestloadsandranthesametestat300yds.The168grainScenars reallycame into theirown,givingmea10shotgroupof2¾inches-that’ssubMOA!
Buthowwould it fareagainstamodernrifle?Asacomparison test with a typical current sniper-typerifle,IshottheSpringfieldalongsideafriend`sSakoTRGwitha8x32Nightforcescopeat300yards.TheSakodoeshavesmallerfive-shotgroupat3incheswhichwasonly tobeexpectedbut theoldrifledidputupagoodshowonthedaywitha3¾inchgroup.This was not very a scientific experiment but Ididwind the power down to 8X on theNightforceto make it a more level playing-field but it doesshowwhatthis70yearoldriflecando.Iwouldgofurther by saying that with some more loaddevelopmentand inmoreexperiencedhands thanmine, I’m sure that this rifle could domuchmore. ConclusionGoingbacktothebeginningofthisarticleIaskedthequestion“Howaccurateweretheserifles?”Theansweris-moreaccuratethanIeverimagined-subMOA!!
Please mention
when using advertising in the magazine
80 Target Shooter
14 LAMINGTON ST, TAIN, ROSS-SHIRE IV19 1AA TEL: 01862 892171 FAX: 01862 892859 www.rmacleod.co.uk [email protected]
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SCHMIDT & BENDER 6x42 GERMAN S/H AS NEW £425.00
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SCHMIDT & BENDER 6x42 HUNGARIAN 1" RET A7 £260.00
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Z61 2.5-15x56 £1,579.00
S/H . 375 BLASER OFF ROAD PRO (AS NEW)£1,675.00
Z61 2.5-15x56 BT £1,659.00
S/H .30-06 MAUSER 03 BARREL ONLY £330.00
NEW SWAROVSKI AV
S/H . 308 SAKO A11 £475.00
4-12x50 £819.00
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6-18x50 £910.00
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8x50 £599.00
S/H . 308 HEYM £975.00
8x56 £649.00
S/H . 308 STEYR £450.00S/H . 308 TIKKA T3 ST SYN L/HAND £650.00NEW 6.5x55 SAKO 75 HUNTER L/HAND £990.00S/H 6.5x55 TIKKA T3 AS NEW INC MOUNTS £650.00NEW 6.5x55 PRO MOUNTAIN INC MOD £890.00S/H 7MM REM MAG RUGER No1 £400.00
S/H 7x57 RUGER M77 £325.00S/H BLASER LUXUS WOOD - STOCK ONLY£1,095.00S/H BLASER LUXUS
WOOD UPGRADE - STOCK ONLY£1,995.00S/H BLASER OFF ROAD - STOCK ONLY AS NEW£550.00
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Target Shooter 81
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82 Target Shooter
WebsiteoftheMonth–VarmintAl’swww.varmintal.comTheword‘varmint’hasn’tfounditswayintomycopy of the Oxford English dictionary as yetbut,asfarasIcanmakeout,it’sanAmericanterm for an animal that isn’tworth eating butstill fun to shoot. I therefore avoided VarmintAl’ssiteasI’mnotreallyfondoflookingatdeadanimals-unlesstheyareonaplatewithgravyandvegetables.
However, I did stumble across one of hisstress-analysis features on another websiteand decided to take a look.Remarkable – isthe best word I can think of to describe hiswork and un-missable to anyone interestedinwhatreallyhappenstobarrels,actionsetc.whenwepull the trigger.Please takea look,youwillbeamazed–thegraphicsarefantastic.
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ShootingWebsiteoftheMonth
Target Shooter 83
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84 Target Shooter
Although rifling twist and bullet stability fall underthe ‘external ballistics’ heading, understanding thisissueisimportanttothehandloadertochoosebulletsthatarebothoptimised for theshootingpurposeandmatchthebarreltwistrateinuse.It’salsoanimportantconsideration for those purchasing custom rifles orhavingexistingshootingsticksrebarreled–it’snogooddiscoveringthat theriflewon’tperformwith thebulletyouwant to use after receiving it from the gunsmithbecausethetwistrateisn’toptimal,orintheworst-casescenario,suitable.The very name ‘rifle’ indicates that this feature is atthe heart of our tools. Rifling imparts stability to thebullet during its flight by making it spin around itslongitudinalaxis.Takethisstabilisationawayandanyelongated projectile tumbles in flight producing nilaccuracyandaseverelycurtailedrange.‘Stability’meansimparting a force to a projectile that keeps its tippointingatthetarget,butachievingthisisn’trestrictedtorifling.Finsorarrowflight-feathersattherearendoftheprojectilerepresentanoldermethodwhichisstillusedinmodern devices including missiles, aerial bombs,and tankcannonshells. Ithasnotbeensuccessfullyadapted to smallarms so far, the American ‘SPIW’project to producea supposedly lethalwhile virtuallynearly recoilless ‘individual weapon’ that fired‘flechettes’(small-calibredarts)atveryhighvelocitiesprovedafailureaftermuchworkandexpenditure.
Take away rifling and you’re restricted to the roundmusket ball which has lots of disadvantages –low weight for calibre; tiny bearing surface to sealpowdergassesbehinditinthebarrelrequiringwaddingorapatch;poorexternalballistics.Someofyoumightcommentthatearlyrifledarmsfiredroundballswhichseemsstrangeasspinseemssuperfluousgiven thisshapepresentsthesameshapetotheairirrespectiveof its orientation, and the centre of gravity shouldcoincide with its physical centre, so a degree oftumbling in flight shouldn’t affect the trajectory.Riflingdidinfactimproveaccuracythroughimpartingconsistentspintotheball,aproblemwithsmoothboremusketsbeingatendencytoimpartspininarandommannerleadingtoinconsistenttrajectories.
GyroscopeSpin-stabilisation utilises gyroscopic force tostabilise the bullet. A gyroscope always tries toreturn to its original alignment, so spin-stabilisationprovidesaninbuilt‘steeringeffect’.Ourkeymeasureindetermining whether a bullet will be stable is thecoefficient of gyroscopic spin or Sg, a value of1.0 or more deemed stable, but with 1.4 usuallyrecommended as a minimum. The Sg for anycombination of bullet, velocity and rifling twist rateis easily found usingMiller’sTwistRule, butwhy dowe need to stabilise our bullets, gyroscopically or
otherwise, at all? Thetechnical reason is thata projectile encountersconsiderable resistanceas it pushes its waythrough the air and thishas the effect ofimparting an equal andopposite force pushingbackwards on its frontend.Thisisnotfocussedon the extreme tip asyou’d expect, but on aspotlyingfurtherbackonthecentralaxis–uptoa
The HANDLOADING BENCHRIFLING TWIST RATES (Part 1)
Bullets and their larger cousins, artillery shells, come in all shapes and sizes, and all must be stabilised except for round balls (and even they
benefit from being fired in a rifled barrel).
Laurie Holland
Target Shooter 85
third of the projectile’s length back from the tip. Theexact spot depends on shape– close to the front inbluntdesigns,fartherbackinthosewithalong,pointednose.Thecentreofgravity(CG)alsoliesontheaxis,butstillfartherback,sayaroundathirdofthebullet’slengthaheadofthebaseinatypicalHPBTmatchtype.WithairresistanceactingonapointwellaheadoftheCG it quickly causes the projectile to turn and starttumblingintheabsenceofanystabilisation,andwiththe CG lying towards the rear in the sorts of bulletdesignswe’re interested in, thebasenaturallywantstoovertake thepoint (which isexactlywhathappenswhen a military FMJBT type penetrates soft tissue).Different calibres, shapes, weights and lengths seevaryingdistancesbetweenthesetwokeypoints–thefurther apart, the greater the turning motion in play,hence the greater the amount of stabilising forceneededtocounterit,inourcaseafasterrateofspin.This iswhy longthinmatchbulletswhichhavethesepointswidelyseparatedneeda‘tighter’or‘faster’riflingtwist,thanshortfatbullets.(TodownloadacopyoftheMillerTwistRateFormulaspreadsheet,gotowww.ac-curateshooter.net/Blog/millerformula.xls)To illustrate this, let’s look at two very differentcartridgesandbullets.A6mmBRNorma riflefiresa105gnBergerTargetMatchVLDataround2,800 fpsand needs a one turn in eight inches rifling twist tostabiliseit.Early.444Marlinrifleshaveamuchslower(one turn in 38”) twist barrel, but stabilise the265gnHornadyFNJSPat2,200-2,350 fpsMV.Let’s lookathowfastthesebulletsarebeingspun:the6mmrotatesat 252,000 rpm at 2,800 fps, while the .44 only has41,684 rpm at 2,200 fps, under 17% of the former’srotational speed. (Current Marlin 444s have a 20”twist rate, somodern examples see the bullet rotateat79,200 rpmat2,200 fpsMV, fasterbutstillonlyafractionofthatusedinthe6mm.)Hangon,howoftenhavepeople told you that heavybulletsneeda fast-ertwistratethanlightones,soourfirstfindingisthatbulletweight isnotwhatdetermines the rateofspin.Thereasonforthevastdifferenceinspin-rateneededisdownprimarily to thedifference in their lengthsas
measured in calibres, and to a lesser extent to theirvery different shapes. Measuring 6mm Berger VLDsgaveanaverage lengthof1.238”,andtheirdiameteris 0.243”, so a typical bullet is 5.095 calibres long,let’s say5.1 calibres for the longestexamples in thecarton.Hornady265gn forty-fourbullets cameoutat0.807”±0.001”andtheirdiameteris0.429”,soabulletisonly1.88calibreslong,orjustoverathird(37.5%)thatofthe6mmmatchbullet’slengthusingthisformofmeasurement. The Miller formula gives Sg valuesof 1.47 and 1.39 for my 6BR and .444 examplesrespectively under standard atmospheric conditions(59ºF, 29.92” Hg pressure). Turning to 0.22 calibre,Table1givesthelengths,Sgsandrequiredtwistratesforaselectionof0.224”calibrebulletsat .22Hornet,.222, and .223 Remington velocities. You’ll note arelativelysmallchangeinbulletlengthismagnifiedonconversiontocalibresandthiscanhaveasubstantialeffectontherequiredtwistrate.
MilitaryI started my fullbore shooting with vintage militaryarmswhichledmetothemistakenbeliefthatthereisone‘correct’twistforeachcalibre–oneturnin10”for0.30”and0.303”,8.8” for8mmandsoon. (Toavoidconstant repetition of the ‘one turn in….’ formula, I’lluse the actual twist figure from now on as in ‘10T’for a full turn every ten inches.) This still applies tomilitary smallarms, to a lesser extent to factorysporting arms, and not at all with custom target andpestrifles.All7.62X51mm(7.62Nato)serviceriflesthatIknowofretainthelate19thcentury10Ttwistasusedintheoriginal.30-06and0.303”,despite7.62mmballcartridges being loaded with relatively short 144-
As soon as the round ball was replaced by elongated bullets, rifling became essential.
The cover of the 1980s Speer No. 10 manual shows a bullet in flight and the shock-waves it
generates as it passes through the air. This resistance acts on the bullet attempting to force
its nose out of alignment, and leading to tumbling if there is insufficient spin to stabilise
it.
86 Target Shooter
148gn FMJBT bullets which were successfullystabilised in 14T TR rifle barrels in the pre-155gnera.ThecurrentNatostandard for5.56X45mm riflesandmachine-guns is an even faster 7T. The civiliansporting equivalents in factory rifles are 10T for .30-06,12Tfor.308Win,and12Tfor.223Rem,albeityoucan find 9T variations for this cartridge (Remington‘tactical’ models such as the ‘Police Rifle’ and700SPSTactical;andallSavage.223Remrifles), theoccasional 8T as in the Tikka T3 Tactical. You canevenspecifythemilitary7TrateintheSavageModel12 LRPV (Long range Precision Varmint) riflealongside 9T barrelled versions. Now this is a hugevariation insomecases,especiallyamongst5.56mmand.223Remmodels!
The UK L2A2 military 5.56mmcartridge uses a 61.7gn FMJBTbulletwhich has two cores – leadin the rear; (lighter) steelup front.Throw in an airspace in the bul-let tip,andyouhavea longbulletfor its weight at 0.915”, but notethat it is shorter than the 105gn6mmBergerVLDwhenconvertedto calibres (4.1 v 5.1). Moreover,rotational speed is a combinationoftheriflingtwistrateandMV,andweknowthe5.56mmisahotlittlenumberinitscurrentmilspecguise.Let’sdothenumbers–6BRgivesthe 105gnBerger 252,000 rpm at2,800 fps MV from an 8T barrel,while the 5.56mm has a nominal3,100fpsMVinBritishL2A2/US
M855forms,equatingtonearly320,000rpmfroma7Tbarrel,anincreaseofmorethanaquarterdespitetheshorterbullet.
Whatthistellsusisthatthemilitarychooses‘over-fast’twist rates. Why? It lets them use any availableammunition that will chamber in the rifle in anemergency,saytracerorarmour-piercingroundsthatlikelyemploy longerbullets;secondly,Sgfiguresandthe twist rates needed to achieve sufficiently highvalues are calculated for standard environmentalconditions,or reasonabledeviations fromsuch,whilearmies prepare to fight in extreme conditions, inparticular the polar regions in winter with theirexceptionally cold, dense air – I’ll return toenvironment.Evenso,7Tseemsexcessivefor5.56mm,at least with the standard 62gn ball round, Miller’stwistformulacomputinganSgof2.43understandardconditions, and 1.99 in Arctic winter temperatures.Weknow that thisbullet is fully stabilisedwhenfiredfrom9TbarrelledriflessuchasthestandardSouthernGunCo.SSR-15orRemy700PSS,theMillerformulapredictinganSgof1.47fromthis twist rate. Ifyou’reamong themanyshooterswho’ve tried tousecheap62gn5.56mmfodderina12Tbarrelled.223Remrifle,you’llknowitdoesn’twork,andtheMillerformulatellsyouwhy–anSgof0.83,wellbelowtheminimum1.0stabilityfactor.
Air DensityWe’vesaidtheobjective istostabiliseabulletwithagiven set of characteristics composed of its weight,shape, and by far the most important factor, lengthin calibres. Achievement involves three ingredients:riflingtwistrate,muzzlevelocity,andtheenvironmentintowhichthebullet is launched.Let’sdisposeofthelastofthesefirst.DespiteconstantmoaningabouttheBritishweather,weseefewextremes,anditisunusualforatargetshootertobeoutinairtemperaturesbelow0ºCorabove25.Likewise,ourriflerangesliebetweensea level and around 1,000ft altitude. This may notapply elsewhere with American shooters testing
Blair Atholl in the Scottish Highlands is probably the UK’s highest rifle range for civilian target shooting. Its altitude reduces air density, but the region’s prevailing cool temperatures partly
counter this.
The 6mm (0.243” dia) 105gn Berger VLD on the left needs an 8T barrel, while the short, fat Hornady 0.429” 265gn JSP bullet on the right manages
with 38T
Target Shooter 87
ammunition inmuch lowerwinter temperatureswhilecompetingoversomerangesatmuchhigheraltitudes.With the destabilising force on the front of the bulletcausedbyairresistance,itvariesaccordingtoaltitudeandtemperature, thickening it and increasing resistanceappreciably ifbothare low,thinningitandhavingtheoppositeeffectifbotharehigh.Youcannotdoanythingaboutthisapartfromensuringthatyouspinthebulletfastenoughtocopewiththeworstconditionsthatyou’llshoot in.Let’s lookat the1.131” (3.67calibres) long155gn0.308”SierraMatchKingfiredfroma.308Win/ 7.62mm TR rifle at 2,950 fps MV through a 13Tbarrel, this twist rate now the most common in TRandPalmarifles. I’ve listedarangeofenvironmentalconditionsinTable2,andyoucanseethatthecalculatedSGvariesbetween1.51atstandardbarometricpressurefor sea level (29.92”Hg) in 0 degrees F (-18ºC) air,exceptionallycoldfordaytimeintheBritishIsles,to1.82inahotsummer’sdayontheuplandrangesofDiggleorBlairAtholl. In fact,14TismorethanadequateforanylikelyconditionswiththisbulletintheBritishIsles.Let’ssayyou’reonlyevergoingtoloadtheSMKandusetheresulting.308Winroundsin‘PalmaRifle’attheAmericanNRAWhittingtonCentrerangecomplexnearRaton,NewMexico.Assumingtherangeissituatedatasimilaraltitudetothetownwhichislistedat6,680ftabovesealevel,youwouldexpecttoencounterlowerairpressure,standardbarometricpressurebeing23.7”Hgatthisheight.Withsummertemperaturesreaching80ºF according to the localweather station, our 13Tbarrelnowgivesthe155gnSMKSgsthatcouldreach2.24.Asrateswithvaluesabove2degradeaccuracy,you’dbebetteroffwitha14Tbarrelifyouconfinedyourshooting to thisbulletover this range,andyoucouldevensafelyspecify16T.
MV + TwistTherateofspin,hencestabilisingforceisaresultoftheinteractionoftheriflingtwistrateandMV(muzzlevelocity).Rotational speed in revolutionsperminute
(rpm)iscalculatedbydividingthetwistrateby12andthendividingMVbytheresultofthefirstcalculationtogetrevolutionspersecond,multiplyingby60forrpm.My6mmBRexamplesees8 (inch-twist)dividedby12=0.6666.Divide2,800 (fpsMV)by0.66666andweget4,200andmultiplyingby60givesus252,000rpm.Werarelyifeverneedtoknowwhatthebullet’srpmis,butit’sinstructivetoknowjusthowfastabulletspins inone loadcombinationcompared toanother,especiallywhendoingsomethingextremelikefiringatiny40gn0.224”Varmintpilloutofa7Tbarrelathighvelocity! The reason I bring rpm up here is that it’sregularlysaidby‘firing-pointexperts’thatifatwistrateis inadequateforabullet, just increasethe loadandMV‘abit’,andallwillbewell.
Let’s take the cartridge that probably causes moreconfusion thanmost – .223 Remington. The widely
62 RG + 64 Berger FB Match + 55 M193
0.224” bullets (2). 35gn – 45gn 0.224” Hornet bullets with a 55gn M193 alongside for scale. This old .22 centrefire normally uses a 16T twist rate, and bullets have to be very
short to be stabilised.
88 Target Shooter
usedruleofthumbisthat12Tcatersforbulletswithamaximumweightof55gn;9Tdoes60-75gn,and8Tisneededforthe77sand80s.Weknowthatthe69gnSierraMatchKingworkswitha10Trate (itsays “7”-10”twistbblsonly”ontheendofthebox),let’ssayatamodest2,700fps.You’vegota .223Remriflewitha12Tbarrel.Canyou load thecartridgeupenoughto get a suitably high spin-rate on the bullet? 2,700fpsmakes thebullet rotateat194,400rpm ina10Tbarrel,or216,000rpminthemorecommon9Trate.Howabout12T?Evenan impressive3,100 fpsonlygives186,000rpm,stillwellshort.WewouldhavetoincreasetheMVto3,250fps–whichwecan’tgetwith69gnbullets inthiscartridge,notsafelyanyway–toproduce195,000rpm.Changethebarreltwistratebyonepointto11T,andahighbutachievable3,050fpsMVproducesjustunder200,000rpmwhichshoulddothetrick,however.Let’s check these combinations out with the Millerformula.The 69gnSMK is just under 0.9” long, thelongest example in a sample I measured being0.897”.Atstandardpressure/temperature,2,700fpsfroma9TbarrelgivesanSgof1.65,andtheSierraquotedminimumrateof10Treducesthatto1.34,still
comfortablystabilised.Movingtoan11TbarrelatthesameMVshouldstilljustseethe69gnSMKstabilisedwithanSgvalueof1.11,butusingthestandard12Tdropsitbelowstabilitylevelto0.93.EvenraisingtheMVtoavery‘hot’3,100fpsinthisriflingtwistrateonlyproducesanSgof0.97whichismarginallyunstablebut might just work in some circumstances,especiallygivenafactorI’llcovernextmonth.Notethatthis significant change to the cartridge’s load andchamber pressures represented by raising the MVfrom2,700to3,100fpsonlyincreasestheSgby0.04,or4.3%.Let’s lookattheSMK’smaincompetitor inthisclass,the68gnHornadyHPBTMatch,slightlylightersowhatworksfortheSMKwillsuitittoo,surely?(Italsosays“twist rate 1/7-10” on the carton end.) However, thisbulletisnearlyatenthofaninchlongerthantheSMKataround0.991”.RunitthroughtheMillerformulaand10Tat2,900fpsbarelyworkswithacomputedSgof1.01,3,100fpsonlyraisingitto1.05,bothrightontheline.A12Tbarrel hasno chancewithanSgof 0.72evenat3,100fps.
Alright, the Miller Twist Rule is only a mathematicalmodelrunonasmallMicrosoft Excelspreadsheet. Howdoes it translateto real bullets andbarrels? I can quotean example fromdirect experiencerelating to thesetwo bullets. Someyears back animporter loaned mea newly introduced.223 Rem ‘HeavyVarmint’ variant ofa popular rifle forreview. The nominaltwist was 9T, so Iloadedup50rounds
0.224” bullets (3). Bullets designed for .222 Remington with its 14T barrels, plus one or two later .223Rem (12T) examples. Left to right: 50gn Sako FMJ, 50gn Norma FMJ, 52gn Speer Match, 53gn Hornady HP Match, 52gn Sierra MK, 52gn Hornady A-Max Match (.223Rem), and 55gn M193
FMJBT (.223Rem)
62 RG + 68 HDY + 69 SMK + 70 B VLD + 70 JLK VLD
Target Shooter 89
split between the 68gn Hornady and 69gn Sierrabullets,chargesrisinginsmallstepsfromrecognisedstarting loads. Isightedtherifle inat200ydusinganexisting load with 52gn Hornady A-Maxes thatperformedwell inmy 12TRemy 700VS, and resultswere good, easily holding theNRATR targetV-Bull,1-MOAorless.
Switching to the heavier bullet loads saw adramaticdeterioration:theSierrasfoundthetargetbutstruggled to hold the4-ring, 3-MOAplus; theHorna-dy68loadswouldn’thitthetargetframereliably.Theeasonwasofcoursethatthetwistratewas12”,not9,despitewhatthemanufacturerhadquoted(rectifiedinsubsequentbatchesfromthefactory).Imeasuredthisasafairlyaccurate12Trateinthisparticularbarrel,sotheMillerresultsweren’tfarout–SierraMKsnotquitefullystabilisedcausingaseriousdeterioration ingroupingability,thelongerHornady68scompletelyunstable.Infact,Millerwasa littlepessimistic,asIwouldn’thavebeenanywherenearachieving3,100fpswithmytestloads, 2,700-2,900 beingmore likely, or SGs for the69gnSMKinthe0.93-0.95rangecomparedto0.97atmaximumvelocity.
So,let’ssummarisewhatwe’veseensofar.First,don’tgethunguponbulletweightasthiscanbemisleadingwith same-weight bullets in a calibrehavingdifferentlengthsandrequiringdifferentamountsofstabilisation,hence twist rate. Secondly, changing MV hasconsiderably less effect than changing the twistrate,so ‘loadingacartridgeup’ forahigherMVonlyrarelyworks.Thirdly,airtemperatureanddensityaffect
bulletstability,butBritishconditionsareunlikelytovaryenoughtorequireachangeintheriflingtwistrate–ineitherdirection.Let’ssay theMiller formulasaysabullet / twist /MVcombinationproducesanSgbarelyabove1.0,(asinthe 0.308” 155gn LapuaScenar at 3,000 fps from a13.5TbarrelforanSgofonly1.07),butitgroupswellin 100yd testing / load development?Won’t it be allovertheplaceat1,000yardsasweknoweveryaspectof bullet performancedegradeswith range? I’ll finishoff this lookat the rifling twist rate issuenextmonth,covering this and other factors, also introduceanothertypeofbulletstabilitythatisseparatefromthegyroscopicvariety.
Table 1Bullet Length/Cals MV Sg.22Hornet(16Tisthestandardtwistrate)35gnHornadyV-Max 0.516”/2.3 2,900 1.6440gnSierraHornet 0.488”/2.18 2,800 1.6745gnSierraHornet 0.533”/2.74 2,650 1.4645gnHornadySPT 0.615”/2.74 2,650 0.9945gnNoslerHornet 0.561”/2.5 2,650 1.27
.222Remington(14Tisthestandardtwistrate)50gnSakoFMJFB 0.655”/2.92 3,200 1.350gnNormaFMJFB 0.645”/2.88 3,200 1.3452gnSpeerHPMatch 0.712”/3.173,100 1.0552gnSierraMK 0.710”/3.17 3,100 1.0552gnHornadyA-Max 0.798”/3.56 3,100 0.7553gnHornadyHPMatch 0.715”/3.19 3,100 1.0555gnLapuaFMJFB 0.720”/3.21 3,000 1.0655gnFMJBT(M193mil) 0.734”/3.28
55 M193 + 77 SMK + 80 SMK + 80 Bgr VLD + 80 A-M
Makers are increasingly putting the minimum barrel twist rates on specialist bullet boxes
90 Target Shooter
3,000 1.00
40gnHornadyV-Max 0.686”/3.06 3,400 0.9250gnSierraSPTVarminter 0.691”/3.08 3,200 1.10
.223Remington(12TBarrels)50gnSakoFMJFB 0.655”/2.92 3,400 1.7850gnNormaFMJFB 0.645”/2.88 3,400 1.8552gnSpeerHPMatch0.712”/3.17 3,300 1.4652gnSierraMK 0.710”/3.17 3,300 1.4652gnHornadyA-Max 0.798”/3.56 3,300 1.0553gnHornadyHPMatch 0.715”/3.19 3,300 1.4655gnLapuaFMJFB 0.720”/3.21 3,200 1.4755gnFMJBT(M193mil) 0.734”/3.28 3,200 1.39
36gnBarnesVarGrenade 0.701”/3.13 3,800 1.1040gnHornadyV-Max 0.686”/3.06 3,700 1.2850gnSierraSPTVarminter 0.691”/3.08 3,400 1.5353gnBarnesTSX 0.795”/3.55 3,300 1.0855gnNoslerBTSP 0.735”/3.28 3,200 1.3960gnNoslerBTSP 0.782”/3.49 3,100 1.25
.223Remington(9TBarrels)50gnSakoFMJFB 0.655”/2.92 3,400 3.1650gnNormaFMJFB 0.645”/2.88 3,400 3.3052gnSpeerHPMatch0.712”/3.17 3,300 2.5952gnSierraMK 0.710”/3.17 3,300 2.5952gnHornadyA-Max 0.798”/3.56 3,300 1.8653gnHornadyHPMatch 0.715”/3.19 3,300 2.5455gnLapuaFMJFB 0.720”/3.21 3,200 2.4955gnFMJBT(M193mil) 0.734”/3.28 3,200 2.34
68gnHornadyHPBTM 0.991”/4.42 3,000 1.2669gnSierraMK 0.892”/3.98 3,000 1.7470gnLapuaScenar 0.951”/4.24
3,000 1.4770gnJLKVLD 0.991/4.42 3,000 1.3070gnBergerVLD 0.967”/4.32 3,000 1.4075gnHornadyHPBTM 0.997”/4.45 2,900 1.3575gnHornadyA-Max 1.095”/4.89 2,900 1.03
62gnBarnesTSXBT 0.944”/4.21 3,100 1.34
.223Remington(8TBarrels)
68gnHornadyHPBTM 0.991”/4.42 3,000 1.6069gnSierraMK 0.892”/3.98 3,000 2.2070gnLapuaScenar 0.951”/4.24 3,000 1.8670gnJLKVLD 0.991/4.42 3,000 1.6570gnBergerVLD 0.967”/4.32 3,000 1.7775gnHornadyHPBTM 0.997”/4.45 2,900 1.6175gnHornadyA-Max 1.095”/4.89 2,900 1.22
77gnSierraMK 0.981”/4.38 2,700 1.8080gnSierraMK 1.076”/4.80 2,800 1.4380gnBergerVLD 1.106”/4.93 2,800 1.3280gnHornadyA-Max 1.153”/5.15 2,800 1.1880gnNoslerHPBTM 1.070”/4.78 2,800 1.47
Table 2Effect on a 155gn SierraMK’s Sg at 2,950 fpsMVcaused by Temperature and Altitude (BarometricPressure)Changes
Altitude(ft) AirTemperature 1 3 TBarrel 14TBarrel0ft(SeaLevel) 0ºF(-18ºC) 1.51 1.310ft(SeaLevel) 32ºF(0ºC) 1.62 1.400ft(SeaLevel) 75ºF(24ºC) 1.76 1.521,000ft(Diggle) 75ºF(24ºC) 1.82 1.576,680ft(RatonNM) 80ºF(27ºC) 2.24 1.94
Target Shooter 91
more full-power shots
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Webley (International) LimitedUniverse House, Key Industrial Park, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV13 3YA, England
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Thumbhole .177/.22 £399 + VAT
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Sports
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• Webley-developed, choked barrel
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• Offered in both .177 and .22 calibres
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92 Target Shooter
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We are a well established gun shop in surrey for the last 36 years now under new ownership of Peter Friend. Over the years the surrey guns has built a reputation for specialist target shooting and stock a large range of match air rifles, pistols as well as .22 target guns and accessories
COUNTRYMAN OF DERBY LTD
31 QUEEN ST, DERBY, DE1 3DS
ESTABLISHED 1986.
WEBSITE AND ONLINE WEBSHOP - www.countrymanofderby.co.uk
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LARGE SELECTION OF NEW AND USED RIFLES SHOTGUNS AND AIRGUNS IN STOCK AT VERY
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Target Shooter 93
Weleftofflastmonthwithreceivers,hereisthefinalinstalment.Triggers –Tohelpyoureachyourpotential,especially in theprecisiontypematches,youshouldreallytryaKIDunit and then you’ll probably end up buying one!AlthoughI’vealwayspreferredasinglestagetriggeritdoesn’ttakelongtogetusedtotakeupthefirststageadjustmentontheKID,(especiallywhenalotof the travel can be taken out) then you are leftwitha very crisp releasewhichcanbefine tuneddown to around 6 to 8 ounces if you like. GregGoldsworthyfromRudeFatDoginDevonimportsthem and will set them exactly how you want itbeforesendingthemifyouarenotsurewhattodo.These reallyare thebest availableon themarketat the moment but due to the current exchangerate against the dollar, they unfortunately aren’tcheap! From an investment point of view myJewel trigger cost me nearly £200 11 years ago,and apart from a spring breakage last year, it isstill going strong. That’s less than £20 a year fora first class trigger and taking a look at the buildquality of the KID unit I see no reason why they
shouldnotlastatleastaslongasthis,ifnotlonger!There are two other trigger units out there that Ihavetried,onehasthetriggerweightpresetwhilsttheotherismadeupof‘dropin’componentsbutinmyopiniontheyarereallynotworthbotheringwithas theyarea lotofmoney forpoorquality. If youcan’tstretchtobuyingaKIDatthemoment,whynotjusthavesomeonewhoknowswhattheyaredoingtoslickupyourstandardRugertriggerunitinstead?Withabitof timeandeffort theresultwillbea lotbetter than justfittingoneof the ‘drop in’ kitsandcostlessmoneytoo.Youshouldbeabletoachieveatriggerreleasearoundthe2½to3lbmarkquiteeasily, and thisalongwithanABRshould seeanimprovement on the range.Another thing to bearinmind regarding your trigger group is that someofthematchesweshootinrequireyoutodropthemagazineandlocktheactionopenquicklytomovebetweenshootingpositions.With this inmindyoushouldhaveaspeedlevermagazinereleasefittedthat will enable you to drop the magazine bypushing it forwards, and then allow you to locktheactionopenbypulling it to therearalongwiththe bolt.These canbeoperated very quickly andsmoothlyanddon’tcosttheearthtobuyeither.
Barrels – Standard, lightweight or heavy?
ThestandardRugerbarrelsareusuallyveryreliable
Gwyn Roberts
KID triggers (bottom and right) are top quality but a two stage trigger may not
suit everyone so try one first.
Part 2The Sequel
94 Target Shooter
forfunctioningandyoucanputalmostanytypeof ammunition through them and they’ll work justfine,whichisprobablyduetothe‘generous’sizingof the standard chamber. Typically though, theywillgroupatleastaquartertohalfinchplusbigger
groupsat50mcomparedtotheaftermarket‘match’varieties depending on the ammunition used,whichisn’ttoomuchofaproblemifshootingspeedsteels or the Bianchi match. Using one of the‘match’ barrels however to shoot at the muchsmallertargetsusedinthe1500andother‘precision’typeeventsthoughwillcertainlyhelpimproveyourscores, so it’s definitely something to think about.Looking at the aftermarket barrels the first thingtoconsidershouldbe theweight,especiallywhenbuildinganewrifle.Astainlessonecanweighupto3½lbsonitsowncomparedtoaround14oztoa
VQ Stainless fluted (weight 3lbs)
KID stainless Match (3 - 3½lbs)
Left - Whistle Pig (14oz)Middle - VQ Carbon fibre shrouded (approx 1¼lbs)
Right - Tactical Solutions (14oz)
Target Shooter 95
1lb for one that’s made of alloy or carbon fibre.That’sabigdifferenceandisintheregionofwhatalarge scope would weigh! If you do opt for astainlessone,makesurethatyoutryoneoutontherange first as the longer ones can really make arifle very front end heavymaking them a pain toshootwith and carry around all day, although theflutedshorterversionsareallprettycomfortabletouse.
The conclusion from testing in the States is thatthere really isn’tmuch tobegainedbya20”plusbarrel over a 12 – 16” version accuracy wise soit’s really down to what the rifle will be used for,although a heavy stainless version will prove tobebetterfortheBenchresttypecompetitions.Forpurelyhuntingusea12½”tubewouldprobablybethebest choice,whilst themostpopular onesouton theGRcircuitseemtobebetween16” -18½”inlength.Shilen,VolquartsenandKIDareprobablythe ones to go for if you are after a stainlessbarrel with Whistle Pig, Volquartsen and TacticalSolutions seeming to be the most popular of thealloy and carbon fibre offerings. Another thing toconsider is the type of chambers usedwhich aregenerally either termed as Match or Bentz type.The ‘match’ chambers are cut to allow the roundfar enough into the chamber so that the bullet isgripped by the rifling, which couldmean that anyunfired round cannot be ejected.Thismay causeaproblemduringsomeofourmatchesifa jamormisfire occurs as the rules generally state amaximumnumberof roundstobefiredfromeachposition or that the rifle must be unloaded withno round in the chamber when moving betweenshootingpositions.WiththisinmindIalwaysoptforaBentzchamberedbarrelasremovingaliveroundiseasyandall the test results that Icanfindshotwithour typesof rifles indicate that thedifferencein accuracy between the two types is negligible
really.Theonlyotherthinglefttoconsiderthenisthecolourofwhichtheremany,andfinallytheprice.
Sights – Iron, Red dot or Telescopic?Mostof thecompetitions thatweshootare ‘open’regardingthesightsusedalthoughthereareafewthatarerestrictedtoironsightsonly,butthesearegenerally inleaguesorattheTrafalgarMeetingatBisley.Thereareacoupleofshootersouttherewhocan shoot very well with ‘irons’ but it has provedimpossibletobeatthetopguyswhoareusingthevariablepoweredscopes.Reddotsightsgenerallyoffer a faster target acquisition which is great forspeedsteelsandsomeof the3gunmatches,butcertainly not for the majority of matches that weshoot.Although it’sobviouslyalldowntopersonalpreference, on a multiple target layout you mayfindthatalarger42mmor45mmreddotwillallowyoutoseethebiggerpictureasitwere,whichwillallow you to pick up the individual targets easiercompared toa30mm tube.The3or4MOAdots
42 & 30mm red dot scopes
Marking your scope will give you precise zero at every distance
96 Target Shooter
are usually the ones that shooters go for as theygiveadefinitiveaimingmarkasopposedtoan8or10moaonethatwillcoverhalfof the target.Quiteafewpeoplehavecommentedtomeovertheyearsabout not being able to shoot with a telescopicscopeusing theirweakshoulderas theireyesightonthatsideisverypoor.Thistypeofscopewhilstnot being ideal for the longer range stuff or therimfire sized targets, can overcome a lot of thisproblemformanyshootersasthesheersizeoftherear lensenablesyouto lookthroughitandfocusonthedotusingbotheyes,regardlessofwhetheryou are shooting from a strong orweak shoulderposition.
Moving on to the various telescopic type scopes,I think it’s fair to say that unless you shoot themajorityoftheGRmatcheswithoneofthesefittedon top of your rifle then your successwill alwaysremain limited. I experimented with variousmagnifications and objective sizes over the firstcoupleofyearsofshootingGRtofindwhatwhichcombinationworkedbestandthetwomainfactorsthatwillenableyoutoscorewellishavingenoughmagnification to see the X ring on the 50m tar-gets,alongwiththelargestpossibleobjectivelensthat you can find. Recent discussions with somefriends’ who shoot at the top of the ladder as itwere,allagreedandusedthesameprincipleswhenchoosingthecurrentscopesthattheyuse.
Lookdown the lineona1500or ‘shorts’ lineandyouwillseethatmostofthetopshootersareusingthehigherpowered5-20x50,6.5-20x50or6-24x50scopes.Evenattheclosestrangeof10myouwillbeable topickup themiddleof the targetquicklyoneither5or6x.Ifyoucan’t,thentheproblemhasto do with your preparation i.e. stance, headpositionandpresentationandnotthescope.Atthisdistance I rarely use a setting of less than 12xwhichevercalibreI’mshooting.Havinganupperlimitof20or24xdoesn’tmeanthatyoueverhavetoturn
it up that far, but it’s always available should youever progress to use it.As well as being able toaimmorepreciselyratherthanguessingwherethecentreofthetargetis,probablythebestthingaboutusing a higher powered scope is being able tosee your point of impact on the target. This thenallows you to either adjust your aiming point orquickly dial in a couple of clicks should yourhits be off centre due to different lighting or windconditions.Withalowpoweredscopetheonlytimeyou will get to know about this problem is whenyougodown toscoreyour targetandby then it’stoolateandthepointshavegone!I thinktheonlyexceptiontousingahigherpoweredopticwouldbefor shooterswhohavededicatedBianchi orSteelplateriflesthatareeitherfittedwithareddotoralower powered scope in the region of 2-10x56 or3-12x50.Beingabletoturndownthepowerto2or3x combinedwith a large objective lensmakes itmuch easier to pick up the shorter range targetsmuchmorequickly,especiallyontheplatesandthemoverasyoudon’thavemuchtimetoplaywithinthistypeofmatch.
Many people have told me that the reason theystickwiththeircurrentscope(mostlyintheregionof3-9x40or50) is that theycannotkeeptheriflestillonamagnificationsettinggreaterthan9or12etcat 50m – but neither can anyone else! Yourcrosshairs will always be moving on the targetwhateverstandardofshooteryouareandit’ssimplyamatteroflearninghowtoreleaseeachshotasthereticulemovesover thecentreof the target.Overthe last3or4monthssomefriendsofminehavetried shootingwith bothmy1500GRSB&GRCFrifles thatwerefittedwithEdgarBrothers5-20x50scopes.After abit of timeon the rangegraduallyincreasing themagnification settings and learningbetter trigger control, they were certainly allgrouping better and getting higher scores on the target. They all now own, or have on order ahigher powered scope which should ensure theirperformanceandclassificationimprovestothenextlevel. Using a high magnification scope over theyearshascertainlyhelpedmetopostsomegoodXcountscoresduringmymatches.
The reason to go for the largest objective sizepossibleissothatyouwillhaveamuchgreaterfieldofview when you bring the rifle up into the aim, ateverydistancewhatevertargetsyouareshootingat.Usinga 1-5x20on full power at certain distancescanmeanhavingtoscandownthetargettocheckthatyouareshootingonthecorrect2targetsoutofthe34others,duringaMultiTargetmatch.Onthesame setting with a 50mm plus lens you shouldallowyoutoseethetargetnumberswhilstonaim,saving you at least a couple of seconds in some
1.5 – 5 x 24, 6 – 20 x 50 and 4 – 18 x 75 scopes
Target Shooter 97
cases,andturningthepowerrightupat50mwillgiveyou a much clearer and brighter sight picture asopposedtothatgivenwithanequivalent40or42mmitem. If you canafford to buy a top quality scopeliketheLeopold’s’orsimilarthenthequalitywillbeimproved evenmore as the power is turned up -they also comewith a lifetimewarranty!Whetherthe scope is front or side focusing isn’t really anissue but ideally it should be fitted with targetturrets. These will enable you to sight in andmark off of on a piece of tapewrappedaround itpreciselyyourzeropointforeverydistanceatwhichyouwillshoot.Simplywalkuptotheline,dialinthedistance, adjust the focus and then load whentold to, it’s justa routine thatyouget intoand forthe people who tell me that they don’t do it thisway because they’ll forget to change the settingseachtime...you’llonlydoitonce...... Icanassureyou!Nearlyallof the topshootersdo thisso thatthey don’t have to aim off and can therefore just
concentrate on the middle of the target andget onwith the job.At the end of the day itmaywell beworth considering having 2 scopes if youwant to shoot awide variety of disciplineswith aparticularcalibreandinvestinagoodsetofquickrelease mounts to go with them. They really dohold theirzerowellprovidedyoufit themproperlyandcouldwellbethedifferencebetweenacurrentcompromise and reaching your potential inthe varied types of competitions that youcompete in. Remember that in order to get thebestfromanyscopeithastobefittedandalignedproperly so that every time the rifle is broughtup into the aiming position, the eye isconsistently at the correct height and the correctdistanceawayinrelationtotheeyepiece,sothataclearandfasttargetacquisitionisattainedeverytime!
Finally, after taking the time and effort to set upyourriflessothattheyfitandworkproperlyforyou,
Scope covers will help keep the lenses clear and in top condition
98 Target Shooter
you should finish the job off and make sure thattheoverallbalanceisrighttoo!Quitealotofriflestendtobefront(ratherthanrear)endheavybutthiscan easily be corrected by simply adding weightto theappropriateend.Toaddweight to the frontit’susuallybesttoremovesomematerialfromthebarrel channel towards the front of the fore endand fit some epoxy covered lead or a piece ofstainless or mild steel bar. At the rear, you canremovethebuttpadandhollowoutpartofthissectionthenfillwiththesamematerialsasthefront.Eithermodification will be discreet and should provideyou with a properly balanced rifle that enhancesyourstabilityinalloftheshootingpositionsthatweshootfrom.Thisinturnwillreducefatigueandshouldhelp to improve your performance at the sametime.
To summarise then regarding either your currentrimfirerifleor thoseyou intendtoownin thenearfuture,makesurethatyouendupwith:
An assembled rifle combination that is of thecorrect weight and balance.A Stock that fits youand is contoured to enable you to easily shootfromany of the positions required in the types ofcompetitionsinwhichyouintendtoshoot.A trigger set up that enables you to releaseeach shot easily, smoothly and consistently.Ascopethatwillgiveyou the largestfieldofviewandthemagnificationpowerthatwillallowyouseethe centre of any target, at every target distanceused.
Once these are achieved the rest as they say,is up to you! I hope that this has been of somehelp and that it’s got you thinking more aboutwhat should be achieved before you step up tothe line for a competition.Also,watchwhat othershootersdoandneverbeafraidtoaskquestionsontherangeasno-oneknowsalloftheanswers,andit’s theonlywaythatwewillallget to learnmore!
Please mention us when using advertising
in the magazine
Target Shooter 99
Ifyouwanttoputyourrifleorpistolinas‘Gunofthemonth,pleasecontactuseat;
Ourthanks
“Thismonth’s ‘GunoftheMonth’wasbuiltbyScottish gunsmith Russ Gall to show casesomeof his skills,which include the startlingredKGGunKotefinish,themuzzlebrakeandthebarley-twistfluting.
Incidentally,theGunKotefinishisnotjustforshow–it’sverydurableandwasoriginallyde-velopedasaprotectivecoatingforfirearms.Itis available in a full range of colours - if youprefersomethingmoresubdued!
RussisakeenbenchrestshooterandtheriflewasbuilttoLightGun(17lbs.)specificationfor1000yardbenchrestcompetition.
TheheartoftherifleisaKelblystainlesssteelGrizzlyactionbeddedinaKelblyBRfibreglassstockand thestainlesssteelKriegerbarrel is
chamberedin7mmWSM.ThescopeisaNight-forceBRmodelmountedinKelblyrings.
The7mmWSMcartridgewillpusha180grainbullet at velocities inexcessof 3000 fpsandRuss’sbestfive-shotgroupat1000yardswiththisrifleis4.4inches!”
GunoftheMonth
100 Target Shooter
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Target Shooter 101
44 Harrowby Street LONDON W1H 5HY Tel: 020 7262 1881 Fax: 020 7402 0959
Armalon „PR‟ Custom Rem 700s: The truly practical rifle for stalking, foxing, PR, SR, ‘F‘ Class, Sporting and Benchrest. Choice of calibre and options, e.g. H-S Precision, AICS, Bell & Carlson stocks, RH or LH, a premier optical sight, plus our superb Picatinny 20 moa inclined bases and 30/34mm rings. Please call/email for prices and options list.
Only from Armalon–L/H „AICS‟ with AI or Armalon „PR‟ mag conversions
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Armalon 30mm & 34mm ‘PicT‟ Tactical scope rings‘steel (shown) or ali magnum from £125 + p&p
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Email : [email protected] www.armalon.com
We accept most major credit/debit cards
102 Target Shooter
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Target Shooter 103
The foundations of Havant Rifle and Pistol Clubwere laid when, in 1943, Havant & HorndeanHomeGuardaskedforeveningstobesetasideattheir Drill Hall range solely for their own shootingpractice. Havant Home Guard Rifle Club wasaffiliated to the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs(now theNational SmallboreRifleAssociation) in1944,andthefirstmatch,againstSouthernRailwayRifleClub,washeldon13thNovemberinthatyear.In1947theclubwasrenamedHavantRifleClub.
The early seventies saw the club move to itscurrent location at Southleigh Forest. The sitewascleared,aclub roomand indoor rangesbuilt,and outdoor ranges laid out and equipped. TheoutdoorrangeswereofficiallyopenedattheendofSeptember 1978, with an invitation team event,still known as the ‘Final Fling’. Double Olympicchampion, Malcolm Cooper was Club President1988-2001.
The Club’s facilities include a large clubroomwith kitchen and two indoor ranges with eightlanes; outdoors there is a fifty metre rangewith ten lanes, and a hundred yard range (alsousable at 50 metres) with twelve lanes, bothoutdoor ranges having covered firing points.New target frames have been constructed for the100-yard range out of corrugated plastic sheets,allowinguseofalltwelvefiringpointsateitherdistance.
During the last three years the butts in bothindoor ranges have been moved back to 25metres, making more room at the firing point forchangeovers. As part of the new guidelines onrangeconstructionweareinstallingairextractiontogive the requirednumberofair changesperhour.
Following a few quotes from local companies, itwas discovered that one of our own membersdesignedairextractionsystems,andhaddesignedone for a large rifle range in Dubai. Constructionis well under way, utilising a method known as a‘plenumchamber’,where the air pressure is evenacross the width of the chamber. It is expelledacross a grid of holes, resulting in the requiredair flow without a cold draught! Alterations to thesmallerrangehavealsoenabledustoenlargetheclubroom, whilst future plans also involveenlargingandimprovingthelayoutofourkitchenarea.
Memberscanchoosefrom:
• .22pronerifleat25yards,50metresand100yards,including3-position
• targetairriflesatsixyardsandtenmetres• target air pistols at six yards, tenmetres and
twentyyards,• including ‘PolicePistol’ at tenmetreswith ten
turningtargets• lightsportingrifleattwentyyardsandfifty• metres,bothproneandstanding• underleverpistolcalibrerifle
landscape view of the ranges from the top of the butts
The clubhouse and indoor ranges
Club Feature
Havant Rifle and Pistol Club
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• blackpowderfirearms.During the week, the range is open two morningand three evenings. The remaining two weekdayevenings are for light sporting rifle and proneshoulder-to-shouldermatches.Attheweekendbothmornings and Saturday evenings are utilised.Wehavejacketsandslingsfornewmembersinterestedinproneshooting,andclubgunsforsomedisciplines.
Our membership currently stands at 165 fullmembers, which includes half a dozen Honorarymembers, a good number of young people whocome with their parents, and a fair proportion offemale members. Although some people decidetarget shooting is not for them, a steady trickle ofnewapplicantsusuallymeanswehavearoundthirtyprobationers.Manyofourmembershavecomefromotherclubsinthearea,sometimesduetotheirclubclosingorbecausetheywanttousethe50metreand100yardranges.Absolutebeginnersattendsessionson Sunday mornings, when they are shown safeweaponshandlingproceduresandrangeetiquette.Whentheirmentorishappywiththeirprogress,theyaregivenacertificatetoshowtotheRangeOfficeron the appropriate evening for their discipline(s).
Havant Rifle & Pistol Club hosts several openevents, including a Double Dewar in May, thePortsmouthAssociationShootingDayinJune,andthe‘FinalFling’eventmentionedabove.Afewyearsago the Club hosted the shooting events as part
of theHampshireand IsleofWightGames.Openevents are usually accompanied by an excellentbarbecue,often includingrabbitburgersandgamestew!
A local Pony Club practice air pistol at sevenmetres,using the turning targets,as thisdisciplineis part of their tetrathlon competition, and a localdisabledgrouphasalsovisitedforairriflepractice.
Members are kept informed of club ac-tivities via the club newsletter ‘On Target’,with issues in Spring, Summer and Autumn,and our website, www.havant-rpc.org.uk.
A view of the 100 yard firing point
TointroduceourselveswearetheUnitedKingdomAssociationofRimfireandAirRifleBenchrestShooting.Bythatwemean"True
BenchrestShooting".TheAssociationisrecognisedbyrimfireshootersacrossintheUK,withpartnersacrossEuropeandtherestoftheworld,asthepresentativebodythatpromotesrimfireandairriflebenchrestacrossthiscountryandwithotherpartnersinEuropeanandWorldevents.
Visitourwebsitefornewsaboutnationalandinternationalcompetitionsthatallcan‘haveagoat’.Fromnovicetochampion
shooter,everyoneiswelcomewww.benchrest22.org
106 Target Shooter
CompetitionsThe UKBRA’s opening shoots of the 2009season took place as usual at Diggle Ranges ona bitterly cold weekend at the beginning of April.
We welcomed a clutch of new shooters to oursport, inparticularGerrit vanRooynanall thewayfrom Namibia. Gerrit is living and working in theUKandwill be part of theGBBenchrestTeam toSouth Africa for the 2009 World Championships.
At 100 yards, the wind was so switchy it wasvirtually un-readable, with several wind-flagsactuallyblownoverandonly thewinner, IanDixonhad a respectable agg. Jack Searle took awell-deservedsecondplacewithMartinEldershaw– returning from a two year sabbatical – in third.I’m still persevering with the 220 Beggs, whichrewarded me with two groups in the ‘ones’but I also had a couple of horrific half-inchersyet still managed to scrape into fourth place.
TargetShootercontributor,LaurieHollanddecidedthat it was about time he tried benchrest and socontestedtheFactorySporterclasswithhis‘outofthe box’ Savage LRPV chambered in 204 Ruger.Amazingly,LauriewonhisClass,shotsomesuper
groups in theprocessandembarrasseda fewHVshooters along the way! I’m sure the 204 RugercartridgewillformthebasisofafullreloadingarticleforTargetShooterveryshortly.
Results: Heavy Varmint:
1st IanDixon 6PPCWalkerBAT 0.27542nd JackSearle 6PPCStolle 0.32763rd MartinEldershaw6PPCStolle 0.3372
Smallgroup: IanDixon 0 . 1 6 3inches
Factory Sporter:
1st LaurieHolland204SavageLRPV 0.37482nd DarrellEvans 6PPCSako 0.5552
Smallgroup: LaurieHolland 0.219 inches204SavageLRVP
The following day, it was a trek up to the hill toDiggle’s1000yardfiringpoint.Wewereswampedwith entries and shooting continued long into theafternoon.Windsontheearlyrelayswerefairlylight
VINCE’S REGULAR COLUMN WHEREBY ACCURACY NUTS CAN KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF THE UKBRA
The cap says it all – Dave Jackson did the double with a Light Gun win and small group at 1000 yards.
Target Shooter 107
andsomegoodgroupswerepostedDiggles’DaveJacksontooktheLightGunwinandsmallgroupofthe day with a fabulous 4.585 incher. There wereplentyofothersingle-figuregroupsfromLightGunClass but Ross Burrough and Gerrit Van Rooyanwere the only other competitors to dip below six-inches,bothshootinglow‘fives’.Ross’sriflewasputtogetherbyDaveWyldeofSYSSandalthoughitisoftacticalconfiguration,itshootsexceptionallywellinalldisciplines.Gerritwasshootinga6mmSmackputtogetherbyRussGallofRGRifles.
In Factory Sporter it was a nail-biting finish withToni Young and her bog standard 308 Remmyalmostbeatingatrioofguysshootingtheir6.5-284Savages-untilPhilGibbonpopped-inastunning7.533incherforhisfinalgroupontheverylastrelaytostealthewinandpostFactorySportersmallgroupintheprocess.
Ian Kellet and Bruce Lenton also dipped underten-incheswiththeirFactorySavages.
Results: Light Gun
1stDaveJackson6.5TooleyMusgrave7.942in2ndSteveDunn7mmDunnBAT 8.3713rdRossBurrough 6.5x47Surgeon8.887 Smallgroup: DaveJackson4.585inches
Factory Sporter
1st PhilGibbon 6.5-284Savage12.967in2nd ToniYoung 308Remington13.9563rd IanKellet 6.5-284Savage13.961
Smallgroup: PhilGibbon 7.533inches
On a personal note, I had an uneventful daywith a best group of ten inches. I have beenexperimenting with a 284 Win. necked-down to6mmandshortenedby50thou.whichIcallthe6mmXtreme. It’s clearlypast itsbest, though thebarreldoesn’tlooktoobadthroughtheborescope.It’snow
had about 450 rounds up it, which appears to bearound the effective maximum for many overborewildcatsincludingthe6.5and7mmWSM.
However I can’t complain as the 6mm Xtremeservedmewell in2008,winningmethe1000yardUKBRAChampionship,settinganewUK600yardBRrecord and winning my club’s Open F ClassChampionship. I love the little ‘sixes’ so I’m goingforanotherbutthistimea243Win.Improved.Thisis not a newwildcat – in fact it’s one of themorepopular ‘improved’ cartridges and I’m hoping thatit will performwellwith the 115DTACs that Iwasshooting in the Xtreme. The Xtreme gave bestaccuracyat3250 fpsalthough itwascapableofalotmorevelocity.I’mhopingthatthe243Win.Imp.willstillgiveme3200fpswiththeDTACsandmaybebetterbarrel-life!Hopefully,itshouldbereadyforthenextcompetition.
Your Target Shooter writers are all keencompetitionshooters,outthereontherangeeveryweekendandLaurieHollandandmyselfwereat itagainthefollowingweekendatthefirstGBFClassLeagueshootoftheyear.LauriegavehisEliseotubegunit’sfirstrealcompetitiveoutingandIalsoshotF/TRwithmynew308.Webothcameawaywithtopfiveplacingsandyoucanreadafullwrite-upofthiseventinLesHolgate’s‘TheLongView’elsewhereinTargetShooter.
New Stuff Lastmonth,IgotnewsofanewBritishmadeactionbut,ratherthanprinthalfastorywethoughtitbesttoinvestigatefurtherandyouwillfindafullwrite-upelsewhereinTargetShooter.
Forthcoming eventsMayisabusymonthforallaccuracy-nutsfornotonlydowehaveournext100yd&1000ydBRshootsonMay2/3rdwealsohavethefamousDiggleEggShootonMayBankHolidayMonday(25th)andourfinal600yardshootoftheyearonSunday31stMay.Ihopetoseeyouatsomeof [email protected].
108 Target Shooter
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Target Shooter 109
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Inassociationwith
The three nations match between Germany, Irelandand the UK derived from the World Championship,whenMarkus Feldmann of theGerman team said thatheandotherswould like tocome to theUK toshootafriendlymatch.AfewwordswiththeIrishteamlaterandwehadanongoingconcern,sotheplanningstarted.AtthispointitreallyistimetosayamassivethankstoKenStockhamofPortisheadclub,whoorganised thiseventandranthingswithflawlessaccuracyfromstarttofinish.Withouthimand thegoodwillofhisclubwewouldnothavemanagedtohavesuchaneventintheUK.Arriving on the practice day the weather was calm but raining and misty – so calm that there was no windmovementatall.Forsomethisisaboon,forothersnotsomuch.Well thelattergroupgottheirwishasthetwomatchdayswereatadbitgusty.ThefirstdayIwouldsayblowinginalldirections,atsomepointsatabout20plusmph.Thisknockeda fewoff their feet,butwerecoveredandshoton.Thewindremainedwithusfortherestofthedaywithsuncomingupveryquickly in theafternoon,whichbroughtmirage.AverymixedEnglishSpringday!Daytwowasbetter,withthewindstilltherebutthesunwaswithusfortheentireday.(Shootingbenchrestdressedinyourbestthermals,aswewereondayone,isnotconducivetothenatureofthissport).The German team shot brilliantly, as did a number ofindividuals in the UK and Irish teams. The Germansare very good shots anyway, as they gained silvermedalsasindividualsandasateamatlastyear’sworldchampionship.This ishelpedonby thecustomkit theyareusing.AlotoftheseriflesarebuiltbyMartinMenke,thecaptainoftheteam,whoisawellrenownedcenter-fireandrimfiregunsmithinGermany.Heisalsothe1999worldcenterfirebenchrestchampion.JustfromtalkingtohimI learnta lot,asyou tend toat thesehead toheadmatches.AndyDubreuildidverywellintheUnlimitedclasscomingin5th,withBrianKellycomingin4thoverallintheaggregatescoresandCarlBoswellcomingin6thoverallfromthetwodaysshooting.Infactthetoptenaggregate
resultswereallUKandGermanshooters,withtheTop5being4Germanand1UKshooter.Thewholeteameventwasasuccessand theaggregatescoresofeach teamarebelow.HopefullytherewillbemoreofthesematchesaroundEuropeinthenextyear.IknowthatGermany,ItalyandHollandhaveheldmatchesalready.1stGermany-Total87961962ndUK–Total86551333rdIreland–8250110Thetwoshootersthatreallystoodoutweretheeventualwinners of course, which were Martin Menke for Light
VarmintandMarkusFeldmannforUnlimited.IhaveknownMarkusforafewyears–lotsoffunandagreatguytobearound.Hewastheaggregateoverallwinnerfromthetwodaysshootingwithagreatscoreof147835x’s.WeintheUKwouldbenefitfrommoreofthesetypesofhead to headmatches in the future. Hopefully this willhappen as the UK nationals looks as if it will be verypopularIfanythingwhatwecanlearnfromthisisthatweneedtolookmoreatmovingtowardscustomactionsandbarrels.Thisiswhatothernationsaredoing,asrelyingaloneonfactoryfirearmsisnotgoingtocut themustard inyearsto come. This game is getting increasingly competitiveat international level, so it isabout keepingupwith theJones’s.AttheendoftheweekendtheGermanteamwentawaywithmostofthetrophiesandmedals,withoneexception,Anthony Nolan of Ireland won Bronze in the Unlimitedclass–well done. Itwasagreat shootand thepeopletakingparthadagreattime.Somuchso,thattheMartinandJooftheGermanteamhaveinvitedtheUKteamtoshootinGermanysometimeinOctoberorNovember.Wearedefinitely thinkingabout it,withfourpeopleshowinginterestsofar.Willtheresultbethesame……..wellonlytimewilltell,solookforareportagaininDecember!
All teams together - the UK won best dressed.
Seated Markus Feldmann - the overall Aggregate
winners
Target Shooter 111
The 2009 F class league would once again startwiththefirstroundatDiggleRangesnearOldhaminGreaterManchester.
Many of the F Class League shooters thought itwouldbeamistaketohavethefirstcompetitionofthe year at Diggle. Not because of the range butbecauseoftheweather.ItisalongheldbeliefwasthatDiggleonlygetsoneor twoweekendsayearwithoutrain,snoworsomekindofterribleweatherofbiblicalproportions!The previous year hadn’t helped Diggle’s casebecause it had snowed but, with only a finitenumberofweekendsavailable,theLeaguejusthadtotakeit’schancesandallthoseattending-iftheyhadanysense-shouldbringasmuchwet-weathergearastheycouldmuster.ThatwaswhatIdid-Ievenbroughtsomeoldski-gloveswhichIassumedIwouldneedtofightoffthecold.
Once again though the Diggle weather managedtotrickeveryoneanditturnedouttobeoneofthewarmestEastershootsIcanremember.Theglovesnever even came out of the car and if youwouldhave set up a sun-tan lotion stall, you could havemadeafortune!
Butenoughof theweather, this isRound1of the2009GBFClassLeague,scheduledtobeshotonEasterSaturdayandSundaywiththeFridaybeingapracticedayforthosewhowantedit.Thecourseof
firewouldbe2&15at800yardsfollowedby2&15at1000yardsontheSaturday.Sundaywouldbe2&15at900yards,followedby2&10at1000yards.
OurLeagueshootswillnormallymusteraround60competitorsbut itbecameclearearlyonthatmak-ingthefirstshootontheEasterweekendcouldlimitthe amount of shooters to those brave enough toabandonwivesandgirlfriendsatthistimeofyear!Sothemaximumnumberofcompetitorswasreducedto48butmostof theusual faceswere inattendanceandAnthonyDunneandJoeMeliamadetheirusuallongtripfromIreland.
Restricting the field to 48 competitors meant thatwewouldonlyneedfourdetailsoftwelveshootersratherthanfive,thususefullycuttingdownontimewhich always seems to be a premium at Diggleshoots,especiallywhentheweatherdelaysthestarttimeasitdidlastyear.
Arounda dozen shooters turnedupon theFridaytotakeadvantageofthepracticedaywithshootingstartingoffat600yards.UnfortunatelythedreadedDiggleweatherhadotherideasandmostjustusedthetimetogetaquickzerothencalleditaday.
The competition started bright and early Saturdaymorningwith theplan for thefirstshot tobedownrange by 8.30 am. This was always going to bedifficult for the local contingent as Diggle shoots
The Long View – News from the GB F Class Association
When the sun shines there ain’t no finer place than Diggle!
112 Target Shooter
normally start around 10.30 am and most of theprevious evening was spent answering the phonetelling the ‘Dollopers’ – “Yes 8.30 am was not amiss-printontheentryformandno,wedon’tneedfloodlights!”
FirstupwouldbetheOpenClassshootersandmostof the highest placed League shooters from lastyearhadentered,ashadtheF/TRguys,soitwouldhopefully shape up to be a good competition. Aswithpreviousyears,theorderwouldbereversedthefollowingday tohopefullygiveeveryone thesameweather ‘window’.Once the ‘sneaky’sighterswereover (sorry, Imeanblow-offshots) thecompetitionpropergotunderwayat9.00am.,soalmostontime.
Thefirstdistancetobecontestedwas800yardsandtherewasonlyalightwindblowingdownthevalleybutstill,atthisdistanceeveninalightwind,hittingsomethingnotmuchbiggerthanaCD(ourfive-inchVbull)withanydegreeofregularityisstilladifficulttask.BythetimetheOpenClassguyshadfinished,sevenofthemhadmanagedtokeepitinthe5-ringandtwoshooters,SimonRodgersandPaulHillputinscoresof75.10v.
Oncount-backthehonourswenttoSimonwithAndyMassinghamaclosethirdon75.8v.The conditions remained the same formost of the morning and by the time the FT/R guys took to the firing-point they alsoposted some impressive scores withDiggle’sIanDixonshootingthehighestwitha73.4v.The 2008 F/TR League Champion, Russell Sim-mondsandSteveRigbywereclosebehind,bothon72.6v.
For Match 2 we dressed back to 1000yards and just adding that extra 200 yardscertainly brought the scores down.Conditions hadn’t changed thatmuch but the wind was nowfish-tailing. One Open Class score was head andshoulders above the others, with John Campbellposting a very impressive 72.7v.The next highestGrantTayloron70.4v,thenPeterWilsonon69.4v.Asyouwouldexpect,scoresalsotumbledinF/TR,
with the highest being a 63.2v posted by StuartAnselmwithyourTargetShooterwritersVinceBottomleyandLaurieHollandnotfarbehindon62.1vand59.2vrespec-tively.WhenyouconsiderthatF/TRislimitedtothe308Win.cartridge,unlikeanOpenClasscompeti-torwhocanpickanycalibrehelikes,Stuart’sscorewasgoodenoughtohavebestedalmosthalfoftheOpenClassshooters.
So by the end of day one, John Campbell wasleadingtheOpenClasson146.8v,withGrantTaylorclosebehindon145.12v-aremarkablyhighVcount,especially as this was the first outing for Grant’shome-smithed rifle in 284Win. Improved. The F/TRcompetitionwasalsofiercelycontestedwith2ndplaceonthedaygoingtoVinceBottomleyon133.4vbutjustinthelead,StuartAnselmon134.7v.
We finished the shoot in scorching sun and allshooters who were members of the GB F ClassAssociation made their way into the DiggleclubhousefortheAnnualGeneralMeeting.which you can read about on the Associationwebsiteatwww.f-class.org.ukOncetheAGMwasover, the traditional shoot dinner - or obligatoryDigglecurryevening-wastheorderoftheday.
Daytwoagainstartedbrightandearlywithyetagainmoresun,possiblythefirsttimeinthehundredyearhistoryoftherangethatthesunhadshoneontwoconsecutivedays!Thesquaddingwasnowreversedto hopefully even out the weather conditions andallow everyone to shoot early morning whenconditionsweremostfavourable.This time we started at 900 yards with the F/TRshooterstakingtothepointandagain,theconditionsappeared to be fairly benign but that light breezewasfish-tailingdangerously.Nonetheless,severalof the F/TR guys posted great scores with StuartAnselm shooting an excellent 71.6v but the firstplacewenttoPaulHarkinswithastunning73.6v.
You will see further down this article that Paul’sscore also beat every Open Class shooter at thisdistance-wellshotPaul.Theconditionsappeared
Eventual F/TR winner, Stuart Anselm - 308 Barnard, Robertson stock, Sinclair bi-pod
The Open Class guys at 900 yards
Target Shooter 113
tobeprettymuchthesamefortheOpenguysbutnotmanyofthemcouldputina70plusscorewiththetoptwobeingTonyMarshon72.1vandinfirstplace,GrantTayloron73.2v.ThegapbetweenOpenClassandF/TRClasshascertainlyclosed,evenwiththedisadvantageofbeinglimitedto308’s.
Thefinalmatchof theweekendwasanother1000yard stagebut thiswould only bea 2&10 roundstage. As per usual, the Diggle wind-flags onlytell part of the story and just three F/TR shootersmanagedtobreakthe40barrier-PaulDobsonandIanDixonon40.1vbutinthelead,SteveDonaldsonon41.2v.Conditions remainedprettymuch thesame for theOpenClassguyswithGregThompsonandAnthony
Dunne finishing on 46.2v andPeterHuntwinningthefinaldistanceoftheweekendwith46.4v.With the final shot going down rangebefore four o’clock, it was time for the trophypresentations.EachstagewinnerisgivenaGBFClassAssociation medal and seeing as it was Easter,Cadbury’screameggswerealsohandedout.IntheF/TRClass,thirdplaceawardwenttoSteveRigby with 239.10v, Ian Dixon was runner-up byvirtueoftwoextraVbullson239.12vbutfirstplacewenttoGBFClassTeamCaptainStuartAnselmon242.14v,sowelldoneStuart.
In theOpenClass, thesamethinghappenedwithsecondandthirdplacesdecidedonVbullcountwithJohnCampbelljustbeatingPeterWilson258.21vto258.14v but the clearwinnerwasGrantTaylor on262.15v;congratulationsGrant.It had been a great weekend, thanks in no smallpart to the superb weather and the competitionhad run without a hitch thanks to several peoplewho had given up their time to ensure this wouldhappen.SothanksgotoJeanetteWhitneyforactingasRangeOfficerforthewholeweekend,IanDixonformaking our targets and Mik Maksimovik andStuartAnselmfordoingthestatsandfinally,Digglechairman Mike Weatherhead for coming along tohandouttheprizes.
So that’s it, Round 1 is over in this, our mostimportantyearastheWorldFClassChampionshipswillbeheldatBisleyinJuly.Appropriately,thenextLeague Shoot will be at Bisley on the firstweekendofJuneso,ifyouarereadingthisandhaveascopedrifleandfancyhavingago,pleasee-mailtheorganiser of the next shoot, Mik Maksimovic [email protected].
2009 World F Class ChampionshipsIt’slessthanthreemonthstotheWFCCatBisleyinJulyandmanyGBFClassAssociationmemberswillbeshootingeitherasofficialGBTeammembersorasindividuals.John Dean of Aimfield Sports has provided hisexcellent drag-bags and shooting mats for prizesand hewill continue to do so for the ‘Worlds’ and‘Europeans’.AimfieldSportsarenowUKimportersfortheexcellentSightronscopesandSightronhavegenerously agreed to donate one of their superb8-32scopesasaprizefortheWorldChampionships.This prestigious event is held every four yearsand clearly will not return to Bisley for someconsiderable time. It will generate world-widepublicity so this is a great opportunity formanufacturers toget their products showcasedontheworldstage.AnyfurtheroffersofprizesshouldbemadetoMikMaksimovicatmik@mikdolphin.de-mon.co.uk
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Grant Taylor (left) collects his winner’s medal from Diggle
Club Chairman, Mike Weatherhead
114 Target Shooter
First of all a piece of really good news.Two well known GR competitors wereunlucky enough to have their firearmcertificates revokedafter the theft of someof their guns. A couple of weeks ago anagreement was reached at the CrownCourt which resulted in the certificatesbeing returned. A full summary is in thisissue. A wake up call to us all – thinkabout security when you are away fromhome whether it is just a visit to the clubor a trip to Bisley or even abroad – youmust ‘t be complacent and hopethat it won’t happen to you.The first big meeting of the year, theSpring Action Weekend, was a greatsuccess, apart from the weather andsome of the scores, with a record entry.Havealookatthereport inthisissueand,if you didn’t go, see what you missed.This month you have the WesternWinneratBristoland theMatterseyTen tochose from as well as the Shield SteelChallenge. Please do your best tosupport one or more of these. They arefriendly competitions put on by hardworkingclubmembers.At the end of the month, the premiermeeting in the GR calendar, the PhoenixMeeting takes place at the NationalShootingCentre.It’snotjustforGRthoughas there so many events you willprobablyfindatleastoneforeverygunyouown. See the article in this issuewhich explains what it’s all about.(Don’t forget that your scores in therelevanteventsgointothenationaldatabaseto get you onto another rung on the
classificationladderandgetyounoticedbythenationalselectors.)Also at the Phoenix, teams from England,Germany, Ireland, Scotland and Waleswill be competing in the EuropeanTeams Match for short events. On theMonday the national teams of Germany,Ireland and the UK compete in the 1500GREuropeanChampionship.June has the Derby 1500 and not muchelse we are aware of so no excuse fornotheadingthere!COMPETITION CALENDARMay 3 GR&P The Mattersey Ten - 1500,ShortEventsetc.MatterseyRPC,NottsMay 9GR&PTheWesternWinner–1500FromeRPCat FailandRange near BristolMay 10GR&PSteelChallengeShield Shooting Centre, DorsetMay 21-24 Almost any gun! The PhoenixMeeting National Shooting Centre, Bisley,SurreyJune 27-28GR&PDerby1500DerbyR&PC(Either contact the organisers director go to www.galleryrifle.com for entryforms.)GR&P=GalleryRifleCentreFire (GRCF),Gallery Rifle Small Bore (GRSB), LongBarrelled Pistol (LBP) and Long BarrelledRevolver(LBR)RESULTSMarch 28-29 Spring Action WeekendAvailable in full on the NRA/NSCwebsite or at www.galleryrifle.com.Please go to the Gallery Rifle websitewww.galleryrifle.com for more news andinformation.
GalleryRifleNews
Target Shooter 115
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116 Target Shooter
Practical shooting is a high speed multitargetdisciplinewhich testsall theaspectsofa competitor’s shooting ability by means ofvaried targetarrays tobeshotas fastandasaccuratelyaspossible.Topreventitbeingsolelyatestofstaticspeedshooting,penaltytargetsareincludedanddifficultshootingpositionsareforcedbymeansofvisionbarriersandscreens.In accordance with the motto Diligentia VisCeleritas(DVC=accuracy,power,speed)onlyfirearms developing a minimum power factor(bullet mass * velocity) are permitted. Withinthe Rules, competitors are allowed to solvetheshootingproblemsastheyseefit,e.g.theymaychoosetomovefromthestartpositiontoapointwhichoffersaclearershotatthetargetortoremainstaticandshootslowerbutmoreaccurately.
Matches can involve the use of Handguns,RiflesorShotguns;mostmatcheswithintheUKinvolve theuseofSection1shotguns. Inanymatchthereareanumberofstages,whichmaycontain from 1 to 28 targets of varying typesand distances; in Shotgun matches, differentcartridge loadings (birdshot,buckshotorsolidslug)areusedasafurthertestofskill.
PracticalorIPSCshootingisconductedunderthe auspices of the International PracticalShootingConfederationwhose representativebodyintheUKistheUnitedKingdomPracticalShooting Association (U.K.P.S.A.). This bodyadministersthesportanddistributestheRulesaswell assanctioningmatchesandselectingtheNationalTeams.GloballytheIPSChasover75membernationsandisthefastestgrowingof the shooting sports because of its highlychallenging fast and dynamic style and thevariednatureofthecompetitions.
Given that no two stages are ever alike, thevarietyofmatches is immensebutall haveacommonfactorandthatisSAFETY.Because IPSC shooting involves movementwith a loaded Firearm, a high level ofcompetenceisrequired.TocompeteinUKPSA
sanctionedmatchesyouneedtohaveattendedAND successfully completed to competitionlevel a Basic Safety Course. These coursesare run throughout the year byClubs aroundthe country and consist of 2 days of intensetraining by a certified instructor in all aspectsof Firearm safety, gun handling, movementand positional shooting as well as rangecommands and other necessary information.Because of this mandatory training and thefact thatashooter isalwayssupervisedbyatleast one Range Officer, IPSC shooting hasthe best safety record of all shooting sports.All Range Officers are experienced shooterswhohavepassedadditionaltrainingcoursesinadditiontotheBasicSafetyCourseandareinturnsupervisedbyaChiefROwhohasmoreexperi-enceandtrainingandfinallytheRangeMasterwhohashad,you’veguessed,evenmoretraining.
Tofindoutmoreaboutpracticalshootingandhowtoregister forabasicsafetycourse,visitwww.ukpsa.co.uk or email [email protected].
VanessaDuffyChairmanUKPSA
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Target Shooter 117
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118 Target Shooter
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customer.services@targetshooter.co.ukHappyreadingandwehopeyouenjoythemagazine.TheteamatTargetShooter.Ifyouhaveanylettersornewsthatyouwouldliketoaironanationalbasisthenpleasecontactusatthemagazine.Thiscouldbeforthosebuddingwritersouttherethatwouldliketosubmitafullarticleonspecificfirearms,competitions,shootingsports,etc.TheaimofthemagazineistoincludeyoutheshootersintheUnitedKingdom.Sohavingaregularletterspageorevenaquestionandanswersectionwouldbereallyusefulforalotofpeopleoutthere.Letusknowwhatyouthink!?Wewouldalsoliketohaveagunofthemonthsection-sosendusyourpicandspecandwe’llincludeitin‘gunofthemonth’.Anynewsthatyourcluborassociationthinksisworthviewingcanalsobesentinforselection.Whatwewouldlikeistogetaletterspagestartedwithyourviews,newsandperceptionsaboutallall theaspectsof targetshooting.So letsseethose letterscoming inandwewill readyourthoughtsinthesepages.
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